Trump needing a distraction, demands Cleveland revert to old name | Opinion
Every day, President Donald Trump invents an outrage to chew up a news cycle and turn the media away from Jeffrey Epstein, who was once one of Trump’s good friends.
Epstein was a convicted child sex offender who died in prison in 2019 while awaiting trial on charges of sex trafficking and conspiracy to traffic minors for sex. Trump campaigned on releasing the so-called “Epstein files,” or “Epstein client list,” but he has hedged on that promise. This has displeased those who believe that powerful forces within the government are suppressing information. On this subject, some throaty influencers are rather sore.
Let us dispense with the latest invented outrage – the names of certain sports teams – so we can get back to Epstein.
“The Washington ‘Whatever’s’ should IMMEDIATELY change their name back to the Washington Redskins Football Team,” Trump posted on Truth Social. "There is a big clamoring for this. Likewise, the Cleveland Indians, one of the six original baseball teams, with a storied past.
“Our great Indian people, in massive numbers, want this to happen. Their heritage and prestige is systematically being taken away from them. Times are different now than they were three or four years ago. We are a Country of passion and common sense. OWNERS, GET IT DONE!!!”
My friend Jim Underwood grew up in D.C. projects in the 1950s and ‘60s. He matriculated to Ohio Dominican College (now U), where he became (and remains) the all-time leading scorer and rebounder in the history of the basketball program. After a stint playing pro ball, he taught English in the Columbus City Schools system.
Underwood understands that “Redskins” is a racial slur but, like many folks who grew up in his time and place, he once clung to the old, politically incorrect nickname when the Washington Football Team became the Commanders. But that has changed.
“It was a part of our childhood we were trying to hold on to,” Underwood said. “Now, I’m dead set against (Redskins) and all for Commanders. In my old neighborhood, we hate Trump more than the people who changed the name to Commanders. And you can quote me on that. Hail to the Commanders! Hail victory!”
This cannot be considered a shocking response, not if you look at the president’s current approval ratings. On the other side of things, there are certainly people out there who wish to embrace the racial slur as an anti-woke statement of sorts. These folks should visit Underwood’s old neighborhood and test out any number of racial slurs to combat anti-wokeness. A serious clamoring will ensue.
My lawyer, Randy Kilbride, did most of his growing up in suburban Cleveland in the 1970s and ‘80s. He was a huge baseball fan and found it easy to switch from “Indians” to “Guardians” because to him, one of those was offensive.
Randy lost a battle with cancer in February. At a memorial service earlier this month, his brother, Terry, stepped up to say a few words and he brought up the “Indians.” He was corrected – as Randy would have wished – and said that he couldn’t help it because he grew up an Indians fan. It’s like growing up in D.C. and being a Redskins fan, right? Terry apologized and committed himself to retooling his brain to say, “Guardians,” as he is a man of passion and common sense.
Our great Indian people, in massive numbers, want this to happen. Chief Wahoo was a cruel caricature of an entire race, and Cleveland is better for his riddance. As far as heritage and prestige is being systematically taken away, this is absolutely true. It started with white people taking away all the Native Americans’ land. It continues today:
ICT, a nonprofit news organization focused on Indigenous issues, cited a recent report that said the “Trump administration’s proposed freeze on federal grants would cut $2.45 billion in funding to Native communities for health, law enforcement, education and key social services.” ... The cuts, “would violate treaty obligations to tribal nations and impact nearly every tribe across the United States.”
Social truth. Wahoo!
Now, out with the Epstein files.