Why Are the Cleveland Indians Dragging Their Feet?

Ok, now that I've gotten the click-bait pic out of the way, since either pictures of hot women or sunsets draw more pageviews than the actual words written or a serious picture....

A couple weeks ago I WROTE about the the Cleveland Indians making the decision to look into changing their name as The Washington Redskins were taking heat about their name...Washington has officially changed their name, for now to the Washington Football Team...That's because a really smart dickhead bought up the Trademarks to the top contenders...Dozens of names he owns now...But that's a different story....It was also the right after SEATTLE put on a huge production for their new Hockey team's name and logo...As the kids would say (by kids I mean 25-30-somethings who think they're being cool) IT'S FIRE!

Since the Indians announced they were looking into a name change, people have wrestled with the idea...Shit, I sit here writing this, drinking out of a Indians coffee mug my son got me...

I may have accepted that a name change is a good thing, but it's a good mug, I'm not throwing it away...

Why are people wrestling with it?  Because they have these great memories from childhood, and young adulthood, and even middle aged...Going to games with dad...taking your kids to their first game...those teams in the 90's...Bob Feller...10 cent beer night...But then there's this....

The majority of us realized, and understand that "Blackface" is/was wrong and racist as fuck...Guess what? "Redface" is racist as fuck too! If you dig deep (I hate the term deep dive so I avoid saying that) into history you'll see that the name and logo aren't a good thing...

Since the organization came out talking about a name change, fans and talented artists have pumped out tons of mock-ups for the new name and logo...With The Cleveland Spiders being the front runner...While I don't love it, and my wife hates it because of her fear of spiders, it has a history tied to Cleveland Baseball...

Last week ownership met with players, discussing the name change...Owner, Paul Dolan also told the media, "we will engage Native American leaders to better understand their perspectives, meet with local civic leaders, and continue to listen to the perceptions of our players, fans, partners and employees.”

Dolan continued, “We feel a real sense of urgency to discuss these perspectives with key stakeholders while also taking the time needed to ensure those conversations are inclusive and meaningful.”

Thing is, the team is playing games, with the word Indians across their chests, and Chief Wahoo on their shoulder and it doesn't feel like there is really a sense of urgency...Just ask the Indigenous groups the team said it was going to meet with...The Cleveland American Indian Movement of Ohio told the Washington Post, "They have made statements now that they are going to reach out to the Native community, but no one in the Native community has heard anything from them.” 

Am I and other expecting too much...Is Dolan dragging his feet...The Cleveland Indians brand is 105 years old...The Chief Wahoo cap one consistently one of the top selling for years and years...Rebranding does seem like a big move...I think some fans wanting the name change think it should be done just like ripping off a band-aid, real quick...Once you say you're considering something like that, the people onboard with the idea get geared up and want that instant gratification...

Personally, I think the organization is taking it slow purposely...I think they are hoping for the racial and social tension in this country calm down and the majority of people will forget about all this...I think saying they will discuss a name change was a PR move but they really don't want to change the brand...I expect a few more vague statements and then just hoping it all fades...

I hope I'm wrong...I grew up an Indians fan and I always loved Chief Wahoo...I have so many great memories from Municipal Stadium and Jacob's Field. (yeah I still call it the Jake)...But hey, I'm from Cleveland, and have many friends and family still there...the actual Cleveland Browns are in Baltimore, but everyone was able to move on with the new franchise that held onto the history and name...Cleveland can keep the history of The Indians and move forward with a new name...And maybe some sweet new merch that is thousand times better than the lame-ass block "C"....

What Should the Cleveland Indians Do?

In 1915 Cleveland's American League Baseball team needed a new name...They had been known as 'The Naps" in honor of their player-manager, Napoleon Lajoie...Look him up, he was a helluva ballplayer...There was a contest and the winning submission "Indians" was sent in by a fan that said it was in honor of former Cleveland Spiders player, Louis Sockalexis...Sockalexis was a Penobscot Indian, born in Maine on a Penobscot Resevation...For the Spiders Sockalexis played 66 games in 1897, batting .338...He became an alcoholic and in 1898 only appeared in 21 games, batting .224...His career ended after only playing in 7 games in 1899...He spent the rest of his days as a drifter and died in Maine...

That's the history lesson of the name...

Last week after more pressure was put on the Washington Redskins to change their logo and name...The Cleveland Indians ownership jumped forward and said they were actively looking at a name change...In recent years, they have pushed out the classic Chief Wahoo logo and have locked onto the very boring and lame "Block C"....

 As an outsider, who doesn't give a fuck about the Washington Redskins and who's a white guy, I would think the name "Redskins" is much more offensive then the logo...I always thought the logo was solid...Unlike the Indians, smiling, red-faced cartoon character...But if the name goes, obviously the logo goes...

I get Redskins being offensive...And for a long time I fought against the idea of Indians as a term and a team name as being offensive...And I wasn't alone...I did a few polls on Twitter, asking if The Indians, The Braves and The Blackhawks team names were offensive....

But I looked up some shit, did a little studying and well, it's not cool...Now back in 1915 it was a common term...People didn't no all the details of treaties broken by the U.S. government and well, it was a pretty racist world...Yes, even more racist then the one we are living in now...So, while I have so many memories wrapped up in the Cleveland Indians, I won't fight the change...I'm in...Now...Don't fuck the change up!

Ideas so far have sucked...Naps...No, did that all ready and it was dumb then too...Fellers...STOP! How lame and unoriginal is Cleveland...Stop naming after people...The Browns are already named after Paul Brown, and it's stupid name...Yes, Bob Feller was a Great Indians pitcher and War hero...But no...

The Rockers...No...The Cleveland WNBA team did that...Cleveland is obsessed with promoting the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and the city's History with music..But it's corny and lame...

Blues is also suggested...It was the name of the Cleveland National League baseball team from 1879-1884...

Blue Sox...Jesus like MLB needs another franchise named for a color of socks...Holy fucking stupid!

Buckeyes...This was the name of the Cleveland Negro League team from 1942-1950...I don't like the name Buckeyes but the history is a nice touch...But then you have to worry about Trademark and Licensing issues with Ohio State...

Cuyahogas...Ugh...Cuyahoga County is the county Cleveland is in and is named for the Cuyahoga River...It's a Iroquoian word, meaning "crooked river"...The Cuyahoga River world famous for catching fire twice, thanks to pollution! No, no, no, God no!

Spiders...This is a very popular one...Many fans are onboard with this...Reaching way back into Cleveland's Baseball History...The Spiders was Cleveland's professional baseball team name from 1887-1899...There are a shitload of logos and uniforms mocked up already.... 

......

Buzzards...One of Cleveland's biggest radio stations was WMMS, "Home of the Buzzard!" Clevelanders love their pride and history and Rock and Roll and this reaching for that again...Seems like there would be serious legal wrangling's for this one... 


Crows...This one surprised me...There are plenty of Crows throughout Northeast Ohio...There is an ominous feel with crows...Then you have the movie "The Crow"...Dead dude taking out his vengeance on people...






Honestly, right now Crows is my frontrunner...Maybe because I'm in a dark mood and want to watch an old movie with a dead guy killing a bunch of evil mother fuckers from Detroit....


Whatever The Cleveland Indians do...Don't fuck up this decision!

Monday Moaning

I hope all you dads out there got what we all deserve on Father's Day!

Me, I had a good weekend...Saturday morning the wife got her hair done, then we took all the kids to the mall...The oldest and my wife got some needed clothes...I took Tommy and Molly to Build-A-Bear to keep them out of the big girls hair...Young kids/the boy suck when shopping is being done, not for them...So the $60 B-A-B scam was worth the peace...Then we stopped at one of my favorite store, LIDS, where I picked out Father's Day gifts for myself...They had a buy one, get the second half going on, so I got two 47 Brand caps...Both Cleveland Indians caps...One, was the classic blue, red brim, Chief Wahoo cap...My old one was retired some time ago...And I love the Chief...Eat my ass haters!  The second cap was the newer block "C" logo...All red, with a cream face...It's a nice cap...

Then I took the two young ones to the playground area...Eventually we met with the girls for lunch...Then a stop at FYE...A look at the pet store, which makes them all sad, and wanting to buy another dog for me to walk...Oh, and a hefty price tag...Screw that...The one APL is in need of homes for dogs, at the low price of $60, or they're going to start whacking some...The wife was looking at that site, but I think I talked her off that ledge...

After that it was a mostly relaxing evening...The oldest went and hung out with some friends...I picked her up around 10:30 and we got some ice cream...

Sunday I woke up to the sound of everyone...I got up to see my wife making me breakfast with Molly...I so did not want breakfast...My normal breakfast is two-three cups of coffee...She knew I didn't want it, but Molly is a forceful little boss, especially on "holidays"...The kids gave me cards they made...My oldest included two pics of her, when she was little...Thanks for reminding me you're 13 and time is flying...The boy made me a clay Optimus Prime Angry Bird head, and awesome card...I ate a bit, the wife sent the kids off to play for a bit, and then she gave me her gift!  (Wink-wink, nudge-nudge)

Then she took the kids to a movie...I played some guitar, poorly because I don't play anymore...Then I watched the Indians game...Something sweet about a three hit, 1-0 walk-off, sac-fly victory...

-So since I brought up Baseball...I've grown to hate the "All-Star Game" ever since they started that whole, "it counts" shit...Mainly, since they decided to make an exhibition game count for something, fan voting should be done away with...Proven by the fact that right now 8 Kansas City Royals are slotted to start...I'm sorry, no fucking .228 hitter, Omar Infante should ever be invited to the "All-Star Game"...NEVER!  

Even worse, MLB has admitted to normally throwing out 20% of the fan votes each year...They have canceled out 60-65 million votes so far this year for "fear of improper voting"...Well, considering Omar Infante is in right now, you fucking missed a whole lot of improper voting!

But let's rewind...They throw away 20% on average every year...Well, if Baseball isn't counting our votes America, I'm feeling like those people who say the elections are rigged may actually be right...Listen Baseball, I love ya, but 1. get rid of the "All-Star Game"...2. If not, no more Fan Voting...Fan voting sucks, and you know it, because you've been tampering with the vote...Fuck it!

-I'm keeping this post a bit shorter because I would like you to follow a couple links I'm about to share...First to our Lovely YouGab  EYE CANDY page...There is also a link at the top of the site....Then a link to a post I did on the sick bastards in CHINA ....

Here, before I go let me leave you with this teaser...

Have a week!

Monday Moaning

 

Well that looks tasty!

It's a beautiful Monday...Today I start a week of vacation from work...No real plans, just getting stuff done that needs to get done, and I had to use the time before I lost it...Also, today is Mrs. Beeze and my 14 year anniversary...We've made it 14 years and she hasn't killed me yet...I most be doing something right! I know she hasn't stuck around for all my riches, because I'm fucking broke!

-As I predicted two weeks ago, the NCAA Hockey Championship came down to an all New England showdown, as Providence took on Boston University at the TD Garden in Boston...A month ago I wrote about talented BU freshman, Jack Eichel, who won the Hobey Baker, (Hockey Heisman) and how he'll be the number two player taken in the NHL draft this year...and how no one should be upset about landing this kid...In every game of the tourney, the 18 year old Eichel was the best player on the ice...

But Saturday night, as the championship game moved through the third period, BU leading 3-2, it became the tale of two goalies...Boston U.'s Matt O'Connor, and Providence's John Gillies...Gillies the top U.S. Goaltending prospect, drafted by the Calgary Flames has been college hockey's elite goalie...O'Connor has been solid, and a workhorse for BU, but it was seen more then once in the tourney that O'Connor had issues when handling the puck...He let in a fluke goal in the semifinal after mishandling the puck behind the goal...And Saturday, another fluke play turned the tide in the championship...

O'Connor had caught a shot in his glove, and was looking to drop it at the side of the goal for a defenseman, and lost it too soon, and the puck bounced between his legs, and into the goal...3-3 tie...And the kid was visibly shaken...

Barry Melrose sat in the booth suggesting the Friars just keep throwing the puck on net, or dumping it in, and make the shaken goalie handle it...It didn't take long for Providence long to ride the momentum, and go ahead 4-3...From there, the Friars kept grinding and gaining confidence, as Gillies made save after save...BU had a huge advantage winning face-offs, but late in the third period, Providence took control of that as well...And Gillies and his 49 saves bested O'Connor and his 39 saves leading the Providence Friars to the NCAA title...

Talent-wise, I would take BU any day, but a little momentum and a great goalie go a long way...I felt terrible for O'Connor...I hope the kid can get past this...Fucking nightmares!

Now I'm wondering will Eichel stick around with his young, talented Terrier teammates, or will he dash for the NHL?


-In NHL news, the Buffalo Sabres who have a great shot at landing Connor McDavid or Jack Eichel, fired head coach Ted Nolan...AGAIN...Yes, they have fired Nolan before...The first time it was an unjust firing, and while they sucked this year, and actually looked like they were tanking late in the year, I can't blame that all on the coach...Maybe look at the GM who gave him a pile of shit for a team...Some bad contracts, traded away their franchise goalie last year, and brought in 4 different teams backups to try and be the guy...3rd liners and a couple 20 year olds who you haven't even let  hit their full potential yet, aren't going to get it done...If you're rebuilding, rebuild...Give the guy time to get them there...If you're rebuilding, keeping a consistent coaching staff should be a key starting point...The Buffalo Sabres, are the Cleveland Browns of Hockey!

-Since its all been hockey so far, I thought I'd share this funny bit Jimmy Fallon did this week...





-Baseball season has started...And Friday was the Home Opener here in Cleveland...It's become an unofficial holiday here, just like I'm sure it is in many other cities...With every opening day comes in Cleveland comes a handful of protesters...LITERALLY  a  HANDFUL...Protesting the partially the Indians name, but mostly, the Chief Wahoo logo...Now while the organization says they won't get rid of the Chief, (because they know how many fans will be pissed) they have been slowly scaling him back...First with a script I and now the block C...Chief Wahoo is awesome...If they cave I'll be pissed...My wife is one of the most liberal human beings alive, and she doesn't get why this handful of people have an issue with the Chief...

But if it's that big of deal, feel free to not offend me by making a smiling white guy the new logo...The Cleveland Caucasians!

Go White Boys!


Have a week!

Taking a Stand, Only When it's Trending

Call me old fashioned, but I have no problem with the Washington Redskins name and logo...But lately, it's become the trendy topic...The latest PC cause that every dolt wants to get behind...Even while the government has shutdown, and we sit on the edge of a possible economic collapse, because our politicians act like children, and could give a fuck what the people think, our President took time to give his two cents, on how the Redskins name is offensive....The fact that he's going to fuck around and waste time on that question is offensive...And the fact that a media member thought at this time, that asking the President about the Redskins was an important question, is offensive...

Then there was Sunday Night Football, and Bob Costas on his soap box again...




It wasn't just Costas...That gas-bag Peter King suddenly has a problem with the Redskins name...Now refusing to write the word...Others in the media are piling on...But I'm calling out Costas and King...These two fucking blowhards have been covering football for at least 30 years...Now, suddenly, when it's the big trend, when the topic is getting a bit of traction, these guys have a fucking epiphany...Now Redskins is a slur...Now Redskins is Offensive...This team was started in 1932...Now we're offended...

Costas compared the team name to others, including the Vikings and the Cowboys...Last I recall Vikings weren't the nicest of people...They did quite a bit of killing didn't they?  Maybe we should be offended by that...And holy fuck, the Cowboys...Cowboys killed Indians, AKA: Redskins...SO shouldn't we find that offensive...Dan Snyder needs to tell the NFL, 'Okay, if that prick Jerry Jones changes the Cowboys name, I'll change the Redskins name.'  We all know Jerry would tell Goddell to go fuck his mother over that...

This country has become far too sensitive...Hey, half my family is from Ireland...The Notre Dame Fighting Irish name doesn't bother me...I don't take as some asshole stereotype that all Irish people do is fight...We drink and eat potatoes too!

And why aren't King and Costas screaming for all the high schools in this country to change their Redskins nickname...In the Southwest there are at least 30 high schools with the Redskins nickname...Many on Indian Reservations...If you twats really want to go all Politically Correct, then go all the fucking way in...Don't just go after the big name with the big money...Go get all the little guys too...But Costas and King won't do that...That's not trendy and sexy...I just heard King on Mad Dog Radio, get asked that question, and he hid behind this...

"I don't write about that. I don't cover the Chicago Blackhawks, or Cleveland Indians, I don't cover High School Football. I write about the NFL, so I can only speak about Washington."

What a big, fat, pussy stance!  Typical of that gas-bag King!  He should change the name of his website to "Monday Morning Fat Fuck!"  (I'm totally buying that URL)

I'm sorry...Maybe the term Redskins is offensive...But there is no law...There is now ruling or writing that says we aren't allowed to be offended...People get offended...People get their feelings hurt...It's called life...Knuckle up...I'm fine with that logo and name up top...I'm not liking this idea...

As for the Cleveland Indians, and the mighty Chief Wahoo...Yeah, maybe he looks like a drunk, smiling red-faced Indian...Again, over-sensitive...It's a cartoon....And people are upset...Christ...Look at this comparison...

Now look at that...Does the Chief really look as over the top racist as the "Jews" and the "Chinamen?"  Personally, they could have gone harsher on the Chinamen to really push their point...But the pussied out...And lets be honest...Look at those two...Those would sell like hotcakes if they were minor league teams...BOOM!  I've got it...Time to make my Millions...I'm Starting a minor league baseball league...(yeah dropping league twice that quick felt weird)...Every team is having a cartoonish, "offensive" logo, to go along with their ethnic slur name!

Am I going too far...I don't think so...Some one has to try and balance out all this PC Bullshit!

The Beeze.

 

Leave the Chief Alone

There he is...The good old days, perched up on top of the old Cleveland Municipal Stadium...The Mighty Chief Wahoo...But as we wait for opening day to get started, we have to remember, outside of Progressive Field there will be a small group of "Activists" protesting...It happens every year for opening day...Then the number of protesters drops as the rest of opening weekend goes on...Then you don't see them for the rest of the year...Not much conviction there huh!?!

And what are they protesting? Two things...The Cleveland Indians name itself...But more so, Chief Wahoo...The Indians mascot/logo since 1915...He's changed over the years, and there are people who continue to cry about the changes...


Many feel the smiling, red faced Chief is offensive, disrespectful, and racist...I have no problem with the name Indians, and it annoys me when ever I hear people complain about it, along with The Braves, Redskins, Blackhawks, Seminoles, and Fighting Sioux, just to name a few...These names were given out of respect for the many Native American tribes...

Is Chief Wahoo the best depiction of an Indian...Maybe not, but look at the rest of those logos...All those Indians are portrayed as fierce, or angry, or ready for war, or at least very serious...At least our guy actually has a smile on his face...Would these P C obsessed dolts prefer a honest representation of Native American life...

How about we show the Chief and his tribe being killed off by disease the white man brought with him...Or how about showing the Chief having his land stolen from him, and then turning to alcohol abuse to drown his sorrows...But don't worry, we'll update the Chief...Because now he's been handed the keys to a Casino, paying squat in taxes, and living the dream...I bet he'd look something like this...


Holy shit, we don't have to change it...They nailed it already!

The organization has tried to quietly, tried to squeeze the Chief out...Around 5 or 6 years ago they introduced a cap with a script I as an alternate cap...This was the hat the entire stadium staff was wearing...But it didn't take off...Then a few years ago, they brought back the block C that they had worn back in the early '80s...They have to versions of this...A red one for the alternate home uniform...A blue one for the road gray uniform...But we have the Chief with the home uniform and the away dark jersey...

I hope the block C falters like the script I...Leave Chief Wahoo alone...He's been fine all these years...I'm tired of this overly PC world always sticking their noses in everything and messing with it...I'm tired of some many people thinking they aren't suppose to be offended...Listen, the world is offensive, get use to it!

The Beeze.