A few things are bothering me about Bob Costas calling the term “Redskins” a slur on Sunday night.
One, Democrats had absolutely no issue when then senate candidate Elizabeth Warren justified her Native American heritage with her “high cheekbones.” That’s the same as me saying, “Can’t you see I’m half-Jewish from the size of my nose?” If it was anybody but liberal-darling Warren, there would be outrage at her saying such a thing. But since Democrats have tacitly endorsed “high cheekbones” as politically acceptable, I vote to rename the Redskins “The High Cheekbones.”
The song even works, “Hail to the Cheekbones! Hail Victory!”
Two, since we’re talking about the Redskins fight song, here are the lyrics:
Hail to the Redskins! Hail Victory! Braves on the Warpath! Fight for old D.C.!
Run or pass and score — we want a lot more! Beat ‘em, Swamp ‘em, Touchdown! — Let the points soar!
Fight on, fight on ‘Til you have won, Sons of Wash-ing-ton. Rah!, Rah!, Rah!
Hail to the Redskins! Hail Victory! Braves on the Warpath! Fight for old D.C.!
Go back and watch the Bob Costas piece again. He specifically says “Braves” as a team name is not only acceptable, but opposition to it is political correctness run amok. So, if the Redskins don’t accept my Democratic-approved “High Cheekbones” name changes, are we to believe Native Americans would be OK with calling the team the “Braves?” (Note: the Redskins, originally from Boston, were then known as the “Braves.”)
But I doubt calling them the “Braves” would work because there is the same opposition to that term — except for NBC’s conscience, Bob Costas. He’s cool with “Braves.”
And finally, Bob Costas will be hosting NBC’s Olympic coverage in Sochi, Russia. Since Bob Costas sees fit to use his platform at NBC Sports to share his political beliefs, first on guns and now on the Redskins, doubtless we’ll hear his views on Russia’s anti-gay laws. And if he doesn’t support them, as I assume is the case, he can explain to us what public demonstrations against Russia’s policy he has planned throughout the games.