I do understand that Indian imagery in sports — logos, tomahawk chops, and so on — can be offensive. But I went through and looked up Indian team names and mascots for pro and NCAA teams, and for the most part these names and mascots were chosen for positive reasons.

Dartmouth’s team was very likely called the Indians because it was established by Wheelock for Indians. When the Tennessee Titans were looking for a mascot, they wanted something that reflected “power, strength, leadership and other heroic qualities.” Apparently, most of the “Redmen” teams were called that because the players wore red uniforms; they were the men in red. Afterwards, the Indian imagery was attached.

The name of Washington’s football team was likely changed to Redskins because of the team’s popular coach at the time, Lone Star Dietz. The Cleveland Indians became that informally after Sockalexis played for them in 1897 through 99. Yes, “redskin” is offensive, and that stupid Cleveland Indian cartoon is, too. But there should be some sort of compromise. Do we really want to erase Dietz and Sockalexis from sports history?

Other teams, like the Chicago Blackhawks, aren’t really named after Indians. The Blackhawks were named after 333rd MGB of the 86th Inf Div during WWI, nicknamed “Blackhawk Division.” (Okay, so the Blackhawk Division was named after chief of Sauk nation.) The Atlanta Braves came from a Tammany Hall symbol when J. Gaffney (of Tammany Hall) took over team in 1912. The KC Chiefs were named, in a contest, after Mayor Bartle of KC; his nickname was “Chief.”

Of the teams from the NBA, the NHL, the NFL, and MLB, and some of the major NCAA conferences, the ones named after people — not Native Americans and not mythical – include:

49ers, 76ers, Athletics, Bills, Boilermakers, Brewers, Buccaneers, Canadiens, Canucks, Cavaliers, Celtics, Commodores, Cornhuskers, Cowboys, Demon Deacons, (Trolley) Dodgers, Friars, Hoosiers, Irish, Islanders, Kings, Knick(erbocker)s, Mariners, Met(troplitan)s, Mountaineers, Nationals, Oilers, Orange, Packers, Padres, Patriots, Phillies, Pirates, Quakers, Raiders, Rangers, Rebels, Red Raiders, Royals, Scarlet Knights, Senators, Sooners, Spartans, Steelers, Tar Heels, Texans, Trail Blazers, Trojans, Twins, Vikings, Volunteers, Warriors, Yankees . . .

I am of Irish descent, and while I #$*&-ing HATE that stupid little leprechaun, I do take some pride, despite being a University of Michigan alumna, in the Fighting Irish. I would take more pride if they picked something a little more like “Braveheart.” And I am also from Indiana — go Hoosiers!!

Loretta Sheridan