About the name

"That team from Cleveland," it doesn't exactly roll off the tongue. However, I want my first entry and the official statement of my site to be clear. The Cleveland Indians should change their name. The rest of this site and my entries will be dedicated to baseball analysis, but I don't want anyone to ever forget that I think the name must be changed.

Look I am not going to get into a "who is the biggest fan" debate. Let me concede; I am not number one. But I have followed the Cleveland baseball team (get used to ttfc-that team from Cleveland) all of my life. I was born in 1971. So, I haven't suffered as much as some of you. But I do remember Jerry Dybzinski, and damn it if I can't help but remember the season of Super Joe and smile. I believed the Sports Illustrated cover. I have seen the hard times, and I have never left my team.

This is why I can't leave my team. Yes, I hate our name. I am embarrassed by our name. But just like you can't disown your drunken uncle, I am with the team until I die.

I know this is not a new topic for Cleveland fans. So, let me get to the meat of my argument. This is not some politically correct mantra. I have two simple points that I think should appeal to all rational people. One, if you are a classy organization, you shouldn't have a tacky name. Two, I live by some rules. Among my rules is: Don't associate with racists.

I am proud of ttfc (that team from Cleveland-get used to it) for being the first American League team to have a black ballplayer. I think every fan should be proud of this. I think the Tris Speaker story is a great story of redemption. But isn't ironic to celebrate Dolby with Chief Wahoo on our caps? Can anyone possibly argue Chief Wahoo is classy? Let me answer this one for you. No. If you don't agree with me that our name is full on racist, don't you at least agree that it isn't classy?

I think very highly of the present management of ttfc. They say that they want a thorough and professional approach to every detail of the game. How is it, then, that Chief Wahoo fits into this approach? And can we ever separate the name "Cleveland Indians" with Chief Wahoo? They both must go.

I don't want to associate with racists. Plain and simple. But this is my team. The team of my childhood. I am conflicted. There should be no crying in baseball, and there should be no moral conflicts in baseball either.

Some will say that the name is a tribute to the first native American to play professional baseball. Here a picture is worth a thousand words. You think the present depiction of Chief Wahoo is offensive? Take a look at his predecessors.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chief_Wahoo

We know black face is racist. We know this is racist.

Please change the name of my beloved team. Not because, I am some screaming liberal. Because I am an adult, and this is offensive.


ttfc