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Cleveland Indians are dropping their Chief Wahoo logo in 2019

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2018 12:16 pm
by WestCoastJoe
http://money.cnn.com/2018/01/29/news/co ... index.html
Cleveland Indians are dropping the Chief Wahoo logo from their uniforms

The logo won't be available on any gear available for purchase online at Major League Baseball's store after 2019. But fans will still be able to buy it at souvenir shops in the stadium and at select retailers.

The decision to wait until 2019 was meant to give fans and the team time to transition, according to a source familiar with the change.

The source added that the selective sale of Chief Wahoo gear is being made in order to keep other parties from profiting from the logo. If MLB and the Indians stopped selling the logo, they could risk losing the trademark rights.

The Indians and the NFL's Washington Redskins were two of the long-time holdouts in the shift away from Native American mascots and logos by many teams and universities.

San Diego State University continues to use an Aztec warrior for its logo after moving away from the more offensive Monty Montezuma.

Coachella Valley High School is still home to the "Mighty Arabs" although the school dropped the cartoonish mascot it once used.

One notable exception to this is Florida State University -- the Seminoles. The university enjoys a cooperative relationship with the Seminole Tribe of Florida and has consulted the tribe on players' uniforms and the school's symbol.

The Redskins continue to use the name and a logo showing the profile of a Native American.

Re: Cleveland Indians are dropping their Chief Wahoo logo in 2019

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2018 12:18 pm
by WestCoastJoe
The logo ...

wahoo.png

Re: Cleveland Indians are dropping their Chief Wahoo logo in 2019

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2018 12:24 pm
by Sir Purrcival
That one is particular is probably long overdue. Now if he Braves can get rid of their tomahawk chop chant....

Re: Cleveland Indians are dropping their Chief Wahoo logo in 2019

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2018 12:30 pm
by WestCoastJoe
There must be better cultural references for an American baseball team than this logo.

Especially since Native Americans take offence to it.

With my Irish ancestry, do I take offence to the Boston Celtics? No. What if it was the Boston Micks? Maybe. If I had English ancestry would I take offence to London Limeys? Maybe.

Could I take offence if someone from another nation said something derogatory about Canada? Yeah.

Is it acceptable to make fun of someone's looks? No. The handicapped? No. Another race? No.

Racism is an issue. Insensitivity is an issue. No cultural context is an issue. What an image says can be an issue.

Is it just political correctness? I don't think so.

Sometimes it is true that "them's fightin' words."

An insult one way brings back an insult the other way.

I grew up liking these logos that are now deemed offensive. But I have no stake in the issue as one of the aggrieved parties. Despite the fact that I grew up liking the Redskins logo, et cetera, and that I played Cowboys and Indians as a child, happily enough taking on the role of an Indian, with my fair skin and blue eyes, LOL, I am letting go of my fondness for these old logos.

Time for change. Just IMO ...

Re: Cleveland Indians are dropping their Chief Wahoo logo in 2019

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2018 12:35 pm
by WestCoastJoe
Another view ...
chief.png

Re: Cleveland Indians are dropping their Chief Wahoo logo in 2019

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2018 12:46 pm
by Robbie
I mentioned before a topic about fan vs. fashion statement when it comes to wearing sports team apparel in that sometimes a person is wearing clothing of a particular sports team NOT because they are truly a fan of that team but rather, they simply love the design of that team and as such, it's a fashion statement.

I'd say that the two most popular baseball caps that are associated with fashion statements would be those of the New York Yankees and the Cleveland Indians. Now that the Indians will be dropping their logo, I wonder if that will lead to a drop in wearing the current Cleveland Indians cap. Ten years from now, will those who are wearing the cap be asking for trouble - similar to what John McClane was forced to wear on the streets of Harlem in the movie Die Hard with a Vengeance?

Re: Cleveland Indians are dropping their Chief Wahoo logo in 2019

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2018 5:59 pm
by maxlion
The fans need time to "transition"? They are so sensitive.

500 years ago, Columbus sailed nearby North America and met a few brown skinned people whom he erroneously labelled as Indians, an error we still haven't bothered to correct. He then kidnaps them, sells them into slavery, and is subsequently celebrated with a national holiday.

Retiring Chief Wahoo isn't enough. Cleveland is so far behind the times, its laughable.

Re: Cleveland Indians are dropping their Chief Wahoo logo in 2019

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2018 11:09 pm
by TheLionKing
Only the logo is gone; the name stays.

Re: Cleveland Indians are dropping their Chief Wahoo logo in 2019

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 9:07 am
by Robbie
I wonder how the real Indians (people from India) will react to this and if they feel that their ethnicity is being mocked. As you may know, America and Canada has a huge Indian population especially in the hi-tech field. I dare say over 50% of hi-tech company employees consist of Indians.

Re: Cleveland Indians are dropping their Chief Wahoo logo in 2019

Posted: Tue Jan 30, 2018 10:37 am
by maxlion
Robbie wrote:
Tue Jan 30, 2018 9:07 am
I wonder how the real Indians (people from India) will react to this and if they feel that their ethnicity is being mocked. As you may know, America and Canada has a huge Indian population especially in the hi-tech field. I dare say over 50% of hi-tech company employees consist of Indians.
Their new mascot:
all-american-apu.png

Re: Cleveland Indians are dropping their Chief Wahoo logo in 2019

Posted: Mon Mar 05, 2018 3:49 pm
by Robbie
Speaking of logos, here's a history of all the CFL logos.



Kudos to all CFL teams in using non-offensive logos.....unless you want to argue that a cowboy riding a horse or an armoured man is offensive. But the most important aspect is the Eskimos always used the interlocking EE and in some cases a polar bear. All the teams often simply non-offensive animals and stylized letters for their logos. :thup:

Re: Cleveland Indians are dropping their Chief Wahoo logo in 2019

Posted: Wed Sep 27, 2023 2:27 pm
by Toppy Vann
Washington Commanders being sued for new name with an interesting argument filed by The Native American Guardians Association (NAGA) that suggests this is an oppressor's name.

https://www.wusa9.com/article/sports/nf ... 8abfd61f64


NAGA's motto is Educate, not Eradicate - a view I like when it comes to complex people like Begbie the hanging judge and his statue that used to be at the New West courthouse and Sir John A MacDonald.
That online petition says the new name is not best for the team.

"It lacks the uniqueness, emotional connection, and pride that our team's original name embodies," the petition reads. "The change to 'Commanders' dilutes our team's identity and weakens the connection with its devoted fanbase."
Native American Guardians Association Project Manager Tony Andrews would like to see a return to the original team name.

Andrews cited several "Washington Post" studies, including one in 2016 that noted that 9 in 10 Native Americans are not offended by the original team name.

The lawsuit references that study as well, and says the original name, "carries deep cultural, historical, and emotional significance, honoring the bravery, resilience, and warrior spirit associated with Native American culture. It was never intended as a derogatory or offensive term but as a symbol of respect and admiration."
Irrespective of what side of the issue folks come down on - and I get the objections to Redskins and the team whoops and fan chopping motions seen even now at some sporting events (eg KC Chiefs) that make people feel they are depicted as savages - it's always good to hear the other side of the issue.

I thought NAGA was some crazy white group but they aren't.

Having said all this I doubt it's a winning case but it illustrates that there are positives too in names like Chiefs, Braves etc.

I know that there are still phrases you hear even today on TV that are deeply offensive such as:

"off the reservation" on that last play - heard that this season on an US sports cast

"Too many chiefs, and not enough Indians" ...
"Circle the wagons" ...
"Hold down the fort" ...
"They're on the warpath" ...
"We should get together and have a powwow about that" ...
"Rain dance"

The worst word is to call indigenous peoples of Canada "stakeholders" which is not just offensive legally and constitutionally but it represents people staking their lands.

Re: Cleveland Indians are dropping their Chief Wahoo logo in 2019

Posted: Wed Feb 21, 2024 8:40 am
by Foxhound
maxlion wrote:
Mon Jan 29, 2018 5:59 pm
The fans need time to "transition"? They are so sensitive.

500 years ago, Columbus sailed nearby North America and met a few brown skinned people whom he erroneously labelled as Indians, an error we still haven't bothered to correct. He then kidnaps them, sells them into slavery, and is subsequently celebrated with a national holiday.

Retiring Chief Wahoo isn't enough. Cleveland is so far behind the times, its laughable.
A pox on the professional agitators who pushed for these changes! The Cleveland Indians together with the Oakland Athletics had been my favourite American League team since the late 1960's. And I'd embraced the Edmonton Eskimos as my favourite CFL team way back in 1959 when I bought my first cards in the summer after grade one. My anger and resentment for the losses of these teams of mine hasn't faded a single bit. I'll never forget, never forgive.

:crow: