A board of the United States Patent and Trademark Office recently found the Washington “Redskins” name “disparaging of Native Americans.” It consequently canceled the federal trademark registration of that controversial Washington nickname.
I’m not about to defend the National Football League’s “Redskins,” but I do find their history ironic–even as society evolves.
For the record, George Preston Marshall was awarded ownership of the NFL’s new Boston Braves back in 1932. Since the team played in the same facility as Major League Baseball’s Boston Braves, he wanted the same name for his football team.
The following year, Marshall’s Braves moved to Fenway Park. He then changed the name to Boston Redskins. He also brought in a new head coach: Lone Star Dietz, a Native American who seemingly had no problem with the new variation on an Indian-themed name.
But that was then–and this is not.