Sponsor FedEx asks Redskins to change their name

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https://www.startribune.com/sponsor-fedex-asks-redskins-to-change-their-name/571609282/

Sponsor FedEx asks Redskins to change their name
The title sponsor of the Washington Redskins' stadium wants the NFL team to change its name.

"We have communicated to the team in Washington our request that they change the team name," FedEx said in a statement Thursday.

The company paid the team $205 million in 1999 for the naming rights to FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland.

In addition to the stadium name and sponsorship agreement, FedEx CEO Frederik Smith is a minority owner. Majority owner Daniel Snyder has shown no indications he'll change the name since buying the team in 1999.

Amid the national debate over race, pressure has been mounting on the organization to abandon the name called a "dictionary-defined racial slur" by experts and advocates.

Investors this week wrote to FedEx, PepsiCo and other sponsors asking them to request a change. FedEx is believed to be the first to take action.

On Thursday night, Nike appeared to remove all Redskins gear from its online store. The other 31 NFL teams were listed and a search for "Redskins" came up with no results. Nike did not immediately respond to an email message seeking comment.
 

Nike has apparently pulled all their merchandise from its website. If FedEx doesn't sway them, that will.
 

Swedish hockey side Frölunda Indians from Gothenburg have been pressured before to do the same.

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They are the current champions since this season never finished.
 

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29405011/redskins-undergo-thorough-review-nickname

Redskins to undergo 'thorough' review of nickname

The Washington Redskins on Friday issued a statement that they will "undergo a thorough review of the team's name" amid renewed pressure.

"In light of recent events around our country and feedback from our community, the Washington Redskins are announcing the team will undergo a thorough review of the team's name. This review formalizes the initial discussions the team has been having with the league in recent weeks.

"... We believe this review can and will be conducted with the best interest of all in mind."

Team owner Dan Snyder has been under more pressure in recent weeks to change the name given the social climate following the death of George Floyd in Minnesota.

"This process allows the team to take into account not only the proud tradition and history of the franchise but also input from our alumni, the organization, sponsors, the National Football League and the local community it is proud to represent on and off the field," Snyder said in a statement Friday.

NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said in a statement Friday that the league has had "ongoing discussions" with Snyder and was "supportive of this important step."
 

Well, they call always try the "Fighting Sioux." I don't think that one is being used anymore.....

Seriously - I can't see Native Americans approving of any nickname that incorporates Native culture in any way, so it would have to be a completely new nickname.

On the plus side - think of the merchandise sales. All the Fans of the team would have to buy new gear.
 


Maybe the title of this thread should change to "Professional sports teams changing their Native American names?"

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/29406956/cleveland-indians-determine-best-path-forward-team-name

Cleveland Indians to 'determine the best path forward' for team name
They have been known as the Cleveland Indians since 1915. But those days could be over.

Amid new pressure sparked by a national movement to correct racial wrongdoings, the Indians said Friday night that they will review their long-debated nickname, which has been in place for 105 years.

"We are committed to making a positive impact in our community and embrace our responsibility to advance social justice and equality," the team said in a statement that came hours after the NFL's Washington Redskins announced a similar move. "Our organization fully recognizes our team name is among the most visible ways in which we connect with the community."
 

In MN HS sports, there was a big move to get rid of all the Native American nicknames a few years back. Looked it up - it was in 1988 and '89. But the State Dept of Education issued it as a "strong recommendation," so some schools did not follow suit.

found an article from '94 that said at least 7 HS's in MN still had "Indian"-themed nicknames. Two I know of are the Sleepy Eye Indians and the Benson Braves.

as of 2012 there were 157 different nicknames used by MN HS's. Most common were Eagles, Tigers, Panthers, Cardinals, Huskies and Knights.

FWIW - my HS, Houston MN - is the only school in the state with "Hurricanes" as a nickname.
 

Not surprisingly these bastions of corporate righteous, are also two of the biggest corporate predators with Nike using slave labor & child labor to manufacture goods to pay Collin Kaepernick, while FedEx forces their drivers to be 1099 independent contractors, to undercut their competition UPS which is union, and pays their drivers more than double + full benefits.
 

Washington’s NFL team chose FedEx, and the NFL chose Nike.

Now those two companies, no matter their warts, are asking the NFL and Washington’s team to choose to be better.

There is no counter-argument possible for that.
 



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