By Bill Derby
Since the NFL has been in turmoil over kneeling for the National Anthem, NFL commissioner pay, low attendance, discounted ticket prices, dropped passes and last week’s lousy fake official changing Pittsburg’s last second touchdown against New England, I thought I would share this correspondence between a reader and Clarence Page, a column writer at the Chicago Tribune a few years ago. It’s actually funny.
Oh yeah, in 2017 NFL Commissioner, Roger Goodell will net about $465,673 dollars a week (after taxes) for doing such a good job, but only if he files jointly with his wife.
What’s in a name…?
After Clarence Page of The Chicago Tribune wrote a column urging the Washington Redskins to change their name, Mr. Larry McGrorty responded to Mr. Page with a satirical email which has been edited here for the sake of good taste:
Dear Mr. Page
“A new Washington Post poll finds 9 out of 10 Native Americans say they are not offended by the Washington Redskins name. That, the Post tells us, is a sign of “how few ordinary Indians” — instead of, you know, those inflammatory identity-politics activist types — “have been persuaded by a national movement to change the football team’s moniker.”
Actually “how few” is how I would describe the number of people surveyed. But that doesn’t mean the poll wasn’t scientific.
The five-month survey of 504 people, according to the Post, includes Native Americans from every state and the District of Columbia.
It also agrees with a 2004 poll by the Annenberg Public Policy Center, the Post notes, and the responses were “broadly consistent” regardless of age, income, education, political party or proximity to Indian reservations.
I agree with our Native American population. I am highly insulted by the racially charged name of the Washington Redskins. One might argue that to name a professional football team after Native Americans would exalt them as fine warriors, but nay, nay. We must be careful not to offend, and in the spirit of political correctness and courtesy, we must move forward.
Let’s ditch the Kansas City Chiefs, the Atlanta Braves and the Cleveland Indians. If your shorts are in a wad because of the reference the name Redskins makes to skin color, then we need to get rid of the Cleveland Browns.
The Carolina Panthers obviously were named to keep the memory of militant Blacks from the 60’s alive. Gone. It’s offensive to us white folk.
The New York Yankees offend the Southern population. Do you see a team named for the Confederacy? No! There is no room for any reference to that tragic war that cost this country so many young men’s lives.
I am also offended by the blatant references to the Catholic religion among our sports team names. Totally inappropriate to have the New Orleans Saints, the Los Angeles Angels, or the San Diego Padres. Then there are the team names that glorify criminals who raped and pillaged. We are talking about the horrible Oakland Raiders, the Minnesota Vikings, the Tampa Bay Buccaneers and the Pittsburgh Pirates!
Now, let us address those teams that clearly send the wrong message to our children. The San Diego Chargers promote irresponsible fighting or even spending habits. Wrong message to our children. The New York Giants and the San Francisco Giants promote obesity, a growing childhood epidemic. Wrong message to our children. The Cincinnati Reds promote downers/barbiturates. Wrong message to our children. The Milwaukee Brewers. Well that goes without saying. Wrong message to our children.
So, there you go. We need to support any legislation that comes out to rectify this travesty, because the government will likely become involved with this issue, as they should. Just the kind of thing the do-nothing Congress loves.”
Sincerely,
Mr. Larry McGrorty
