The definite argument among people regarding whether or not the term “Redskins” is considered racially offensive to the Native Americans continues to exist. Some leaders within the sports organizations, politics, or religion consider the “Redskins” a derogatory term. Despite the fact that some leaders consider this term racially offensive, Redskins owner Dan Snyder hopes that the organization doesn’t have to change its name legally.
According to the multiple media reports, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) found the term “Redskins” offensive to the Native Americans. The USPTO cancelled the Redskins’ trademark and might do everything in its power to increase political pressure on the Redskins organization to change the team name. The Trademark Trail and Appeal Board within the USPTO spent time with five Native Americans in a political discussion to advocate its change.
“Petitioners have found a preponderance of evidence that a substantial amount of Native Americans found the term Redskins to be disparaging when used in connection with professional football,” the ruling told the ESPN Sports Business reporter. “While this may reveal differing opinions within the community, it does not negate the opinions of those who find it disparaging.”
Bob Raskopt, the trademark attorney for the Redskins, said the team is going to appeal immediately. He also said that this story occurred like this previously. Basically, it was not the first time for him to hear the story regarding this “Redskins” issue. He believes that the U.S. District Court has the ability to cancel the case successfully because the team’s trademark registration will protect the Washington Redskins’ name validly.
“We’ve seen this story before,” Raskopt told Fox News of the appeal. “And just like last time, today’s ruling will have no effect at all on the team’s ownership of and right to use the Redskins name and logo. We are confident that we will prevail once again.”
Snyder has reason why he refuses to remove the Redskins’ name. Since he personally values the Redskins, he didn’t consider this term “Redskins” a racially offensive to the Native Americans. Snyder perceives Redskins with the “respect and honor” and “source of pride among many Native Americans.” Regardless of the trademark ruling, Snyder absolutely has no intention of changing the team name at all.
According to Forbes, the Redskins are the third most valuable franchise in the NFL. What would happen if the Redskins organization loses an appeal to the court? Could the trademark loss affect the team economically? Yes, it could. Due to the possible trademark loss, it could affect the team economically when they lose the trademark, which prevents the team from selling and promoting Redskins’ apparel to the global spectators.
Mark Conrad, a director of sports business at Fordham University told the International Business Times reporter in a phone interview, “Indeed there would be a loss of value. In theory, the exclusivity world be affected, and there could be hundreds of places using that name, mark and design and they would lose value in exclusiveness for the team and the NFL.”
There are several arguments that people don’t consider Redskins racially offensive to the Native Americans. Last year, an ESPN writer Kelly Reilly said his wife’s father Bob Burns, who is a bundle holder in the Blackfeet tribe, felt that this “Redskins” issue was completely getting out of control. Barns told Reilly that this issue was not bothering him. He also felt that this issue should not be an issue at all.
Tim Ames, a superintendent of Wellpinit schools told Reilly in an interview that Ames had discussed with the Native Americans students, parents, and community regarding this issue. According to Ames, they didn’t find this issue very offensive. They absolutely advocated that “the Redskins are an honorable name we wear such with pride.” It is difficult to judge whether this term is considered racially offensive or not.
The whole world knows that the President of the United States Barack Obama is an avid sports fan. Last fall, he said he would change the name if he were the owner of the Redskins. He publicly stated, “If I were the owner of the team and I knew that there was a name of my team — even if it had a storied history — that was offending a sizeable group of people, I’d think about changing it.”
The congressman from Capitol Hill wrote the letter to the NFL stating that the team name needs to change because they have zero tolerance for racism in professional sports. The opinions of people regarding whether this term “Redskins” is offensive or not are absolutely essential, but the congressman within the federal government has the power to inform the NFL that the Redskins are racially offensive to the Native Americans.
When the 2014 NFL season arrives in the fall, the Redskins personnel and spectators anticipate that the team will not change its name. However, the federal government is getting very sensitive regarding this term. So, is it possible that the name will be removed in the near future? Probably. If the Redskins organization needs the assistance for creating a new team name in the future, the people outside the organization may be available for assistance.
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