The Cleveland Indians plan on getting rid of the Chief Wahoo logo for the 2019 season. This is according the AP’s Twitter account, one of my favorite oracles of truth and knowledge:
BREAKING: Cleveland Indians removing Chief Wahoo logo from game jerseys and caps, starting in 2019 season
— AP Sports (@AP_Sports) January 29, 2018
This from the New York Times:
The Cleveland Indians will stop using the Chief Wahoo logo on their uniforms beginning in 2019, according to Major League Baseball, which said the popular symbol was no longer appropriate for use on the field.
The logo has long been the source of anguish and frustration for those who consider it offensive, outdated and racist, but for many of the team’s fans it is a cherished insignia — a divide that has played out at all levels of sports in recent years with teams featuring such nicknames and insignias.
I can’t even pretend to imagine what it would be like to experience “anguish and frustration” over a cartoon character. I’m quite picky when it comes to what I anguish over. The same with what I experience frustration over.
Cartoon images don’t make the cut.
I can’t help but notice how Major League Baseball worded the message about Chief Wahoo. They said it was no longer appropriate for use on the field. What about the gift shop or in the stands?
My guess is that they will still sell merchandise with Chief Wahoo on it because people like Chief Wahoo.
The Washington Bullets changed their name years ago to the Washington Wizards because they didn’t want their name associated with gun violence. Guess what? You can still buy lots and lots of Washington Bullets merchandise.
If I cared about sports, this story might mean more to me than it does. I find the older I get, the less I care about sports. In fact, I’m starting to go the other way.
I’m starting to believe sports and the consumption of sports is more harmful to our society than it is beneficial. It feels like whatever one benefit sports give to our society as a whole, it also generates at least five other problems that we are too willing to ignore.
