Advertisement
Eventually the nickname and logo of Washington's NFL franchise is headed to the dustbin of history, where future generations will look back in bafflement that it was ever allowed.
This is undeniable.
You can support the name and logo all you want. You can decry the excesses of political correctness (no "Dukes of Hazzard"?) You can find a Native American cloaked in an RG3 jersey in an attempt to prove your point. That's fine. This column isn't about trying to change anyone's opinion because too many opinions have already changed that it doesn't matter.
You can hum the fight song in your sleep and still realize that the die is cast here. It's just a matter of time. That's just being practical.
Last year, team owner Daniel Snyder declared the nickname and logo would never change. That was last year though. This year is this year and the winds of change have swept swiftly across the nation.
Last year no one would have predicted South Carolina politicians would vote in a bipartisan manner on the issue of removing the battle flag of the Army of Northern Virginia from the state capitol grounds. Let alone Alabama would do it via decree of its governor or the flag would become so toxic that even a couple of anti-establishment cousins such as Bo and Luke Duke would be banished from the airwaves. Hate it or not, it happened.
This is a whole new day and Daniel Snyder is on the wrong side of quickly moving public sentiment.
That's the backdrop to Wednesday's decision by U.S. District Court in Virginia, ruling against Snyder and affirming a 2014 Trademark Trial and Appeal Board decision that deemed the name and logo offensive to Native Americans and thus ineligible for trademark protection.
How fast are things moving? In his ruling, Judge Gerald Bruce Lee rejected the franchise's First Amendment argument. He cited a U.S. Supreme Court decision that allowed the state of Texas to ban Confederate battle flags on license plates. That decision came last month.
Washington can appeal again and it's worth noting, that even if it loses all its legal challenges, the franchise can still continue to use the name and logo. No one can make it go away. It just becomes more difficult to protect exclusivity of the brand. Others can likely use the term also, allowing them to cut into merchandise sales, marketing and so on.
The ruling hits the bottom line, of both Washington and the NFL, which enjoys revenue sharing and thus is in position to pressure Snyder.
shogun86 wrote:well, looks like oakland might be on the verge of their first playoff season is years. hope they dont maange to fuck things up.
bwawm wrote:shogun86 wrote:well, looks like oakland might be on the verge of their first playoff season is years. hope they dont maange to fuck things up.
No they'll make playoffs for sure brother-one of the best wideouts in the game, a pretty consistant developing QB and a disgusting front line on defense...looks good for yall
Advertisement