Here’s What Mike Tyson Thinks of The Washington Redskins Name
Mike Tyson has always been one to speak his mind. He won’t shy away from the media and he’ll simply tell it like it is. Tyson weighed in on a topic that’s been discussed for years but has recently picked up steam – the Washington Redskins name change. As expected, Tyson’s remarks were straight to the point.
The Washington Redskins name controversy
Washington Redskins team owner Dan Snyder once said the Redskins will never change their team name. Funny what a lot of pressure and potential financial losses can change. Despite being called the Washington Redskins for more than 85 years, the team’s nickname has been under scrutiny and the pressure is on to make a change soon.
With a heightened focus on racial equality ever since the death of George Floyd on May 25, pressure has been mounting on Snyder to change the name as many see Redskins as a derogatory term for Native Americans. FedEx has threatened to pull out of its naming-rights deal. Nike won’t feature any Redskins gear until there is a name change, according to cbssports.com. Amazon has stopped selling Redskins merchandise.
Under the intense pressure, Snyder has seemed to soften his stance. The team put out a statement that read in part, “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.”
‘Warriors’ the frontrunner as the new nickname?
According to a cbssports.com report Thursday, the nickname ‘Warriors’ would be the favorite to replace ‘Redskins.’ The story said it’s a foregone conclusion that the name will be replaced. Kevin Sheehan, a radio host on The TEAM 989 posted on Twitter that ‘Warriors’ was the definite leader in the clubhouse.
Sheehan has said he’s heard “on pretty good authority” that ‘Warriors’ is the leading contender to replace ‘Redskins’ and it will take place before the 2020 season. “I don’t think that’s a reveal by any stretch,” Sheehan said. “I think people do know that the Redskins have marked ‘Washington Warriors’ just in case, and I would bet big money on the ‘Warriors’ being the new name for the football team.”
ESPN reported that the color scheme will likely remain the same. The team will continue to use the burgundy and gold. ESPN Insider Adam Schefter also said the team would no longer use any Native American imagery.
Mike Tyson’s thoughts on the Redskins name change
Former heavyweight boxing champion Mike Tyson is one of those people who has been talking about the topic well before it heated up a month or so ago. In fact, the subject came up during a 2014 conversation at the Turning Stone Casino Resort in New York. Tyson didn’t pull any punches when giving his opinion.
“What’s the difference between the Washington Redskins and the Washington Black Bucks or Black Coons?” Tyson asked when the topic was brought up. “It’s just common sense.
“The Washington Redskins. That’s what the Army in the 19th century called them: Redskins,” he said. “The cavalry called them Redskins, a derogatory term. Redskins. Even the kids know that’s derogatory.”
