indians
The Indians said they will "determine the best path forward" in regard to the possibility of changing the team's name, according to Noga & Hoynes of the Cleveland PLAIN DEALER. The team in a statement emphasized that it is “'committed to making a positive impact in the community' and embracing its responsibility to advance social justice and equality." A source said that the club "will not change its name this year." However, Noga & Hoynes noted the "revelation that conversations are ongoing is the first indication of an organizational shift on the 'Indians' name" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 7/4). A source said that the statement is a "clear indication the Indians are prepared to consider changing the team name more seriously than they have before." THE ATHLETIC's Rosenthal & Meisel wrote a "complete rebrand, including the name, could help to solve the club’s ongoing logo dilemma" (THEATHLETIC.com, 7/3). In Cleveland, Terry Pluto noted FedEx and Nike "began pressuring" the Redskins to change their nickname and "obviously, that had an impact on the Indians." No one from the Indians "plans to speak publicly about the issue right now." They want their tweet to "stand as the franchise’s statement." It "wasn’t until the recent protests and the soul-searching by the Indians that followed when the discussion for dropping the name began in earnest." Pluto: "My guess is they will start all over, a new nickname and a new logo. But my sources keep saying no final decision has been made" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 7/5).
CAN'T SEPARATE NAME, LOGO: In N.Y., David Waldstein noted the Indians "phased out the Chief Wahoo logo last year, removing it from their uniforms and from walls and banners in the stadium." However, the logo still was "used on items for sale at the team store last year" (N.Y. TIMES. 7/4). In Akron, Marla Ridenour wrote the Indians name "will never lose its connotation to Chief Wahoo." Ridenour: "Even if the Indians are a year or years too late, it is time to step into 2020. It is time to acknowledge that a 105-year-old name will be forever linked to the toothy Wahoo and represents something other than what was first intended" (AKRON BEACON JOURNAL, 7/4). ESPN's Jeff Passan said, "There just comes a point where you have to recognize that as times change, a name can change too. It doesn’t take away from the fabric of the franchise. It doesn't take away from what the original intent of the name was, which was to honor Lewis Sockalexis. ... Our eyes are open now” (“Get Up,” ESPN, 7/6).
NOT EXPECTED FOR THIS SEASON: The PLAIN DEALER's Hoynes wrote a name change "won’t happen in this coronavirus-riddled season of 60 games." The Indians "don’t do anything that quickly." Pluto: "If you’re going to change a team’s name, you have to have a new name to give it. The Indians aren’t close to that." The "search engine, however, has started" (Cleveland PLAIN DEALER, 7/5).
