First, I apologize for the lengthy delay in getting to this column. I am also a full-time college professor helping my students through the tribulations of remote learning. I also have a large number of students for whom English is their second language, and I'm had to schedule special sessions to explain technical computer science terms to a group of (essentially) foreigners who don't understand the terms or the references.
That said, one of the most interesting situations in sports reporting this season is name calling, or specifically, what to call the Washington Football Team. That is the title the team itself has given themselves, like a can of generic brand Kernel Corn at the supermarket. Ironically, like many generic foods, the Washington Football Team has been bland and tasteless on the field. Whether it is a result of what is happening to the team I do not know, but it would not surprise. Often, off-field and front-office turmoil can affect the players of a professional sports team.
What turmoil is referenced here? How did the Washington Football Team find themselves without a name, without an identity, and without a logo? For years, Native American advocates have been pressing the Redskins organization to change the name of the team, citing the use of the term "redskin" to speaking of Native American in a derogatory manner. For years, owner Daniel Snyder and his administration has steadfastly refused to change the name. So why now? Did Daniel Snyder finally grow a social conscience? Or was it a way to gain some positive press after the push of negative stories.
For those who have not followed the #MeToo movement or the Washington Post, several current and former female employees of the team have complained that Snyder has made unwanted sexual advances. He has also been accused of conspiring with the photographer of the 2008 cheerleader calendar to compile a video of moments of the girls in various stages of undress. While there have been no claims yet of actual sexual activity with these ladies, the sheer quantity of complaints that have cropped up does nothing to help the reputation of an owner who had already generated animosity among most of the community of team owners.
Snyder has also experienced pressure from outside the organization. In the past sixteen months, he has suffered boycotts from sponsors and rescinding of funding from many sources due to his stubborn stance to retain the Redskins name. Finally, faced with financial difficulties from all of the pressure, in July Snyder announced that he was dropping the name "Redskins" from the team.
However, this step was obviously done under diress, and he has turned it into even more of an embarrasment. He is clearly showing that it was not his idea, as he had no new team name ready, and took no actions to create one. Did he assign a group to brainstorm a new team name and logo? No. That certainly would not take long. When Albany NY was granted an Arena Football franchise three years ago, they came up with the name (Albany Empire), logo, color scheme, and administration team within six weeks. He could have had a new name before the start of the season. Now he claims that there probably won't be a new name or logo until 2022. Why so long? Because he is not doing anything about it.
Does that indicate he doesn't care? Perhaps. Certainly he doesn't care about the fans, and players have complained for over 16 years that it seemed that the front office didn't care about them, or even about the team's success. I mean, if he really wanted to reconnect with the fans, despite all of the negative #MeToo publicity, he could have turned the search for a new team name and logo into a contest, letting the fans submit ideas. It would be fun, and it would let the fans feel more connected to the team. But no, Daniel Snyder wants no "outsiders" to be involved with his team, ignoring the fact that the money paid by those "outsiders" help keep the team running.
Perhaps Daniel Snyder doesn't care because he doesn't think he'll be involved with the team much longer. There are rumors that one item on the agenda of the next owners' meeting will be voting to remove Daniel Snyder as owner. Certainly the team has the power to do that. When former Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson ran afoul over alleged inappropriate behavior with female employees, the league and his fellow owners forced him to sell the team. The same thing could happen to Snyder.
So where does that leave the team and the fans? Basically in Limbo. They are dealing with an owner who really doesn't care about them, is fighting off numerous allegations of harrassing and inappropriate behavior, and facing the likelihood that he will lose his team, apparently the only thing he has to measure his self-worth. In more ways than one, 2020 is a "throw away" year for the Washington Football Team, and it mostly points back to owner Daniel Snyder.
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