(July 3, 2020 at 5:48 pm)BrianSoddingBoru4 Wrote:(July 3, 2020 at 5:21 pm)Brian37 Wrote: Not at all. You really are reading too much into this. I grew up around DC and believe me, the "Wizards" was not chosen because of the KKK, it was just a stupid name, like Miami Dolphins.
It was like going from the "Washington Nazis" to the "Washington Ladybugs" they overcorrected.
I do think the "Wizard" name was more along the lines of fantasy like a si fi movie or Dungeons and Dragons, and not that Harry Potter existed back then. I think most of the name choice was matching "W" as in "Washington" with "W" as in si fi wizard.
But if you can find proof that the "Wizard" name was directed to honoring the KKK, please show us a credible link.
I never said the name was picked to honour the KKK. I’m sure it wasn’t, any more than the name ‘Bullets’ had anything to do with violence.
But their reason for choosing that name is immaterial (especially since they clearly didn’t mean it in any racist or derogatory sense). But people tend to read things into a name that aren’t there. Not sure if you recall, but you and I had a discussion several months ago regarding the name of the national New Zealand rugby team, the All Blacks. You said something along the lines of that name not being workable in the US because of racist connotations.
It’s the same thing with ‘Wizards’. Some people will be bound to read racism in the name, even though that’s obviously not the case.
Boru
True. But that most certainly cannot be said about the word "Redskin". And you are talking to a lifetime fan.
Back when the "Bullets" considered changing their name I would have argued, "It has nothing to do with violence, but mere speed." But again, at that time DC was the murder capital of America, so it makes sense now.
But even with the "Redskins" name. Long ago prior to understanding history that I do now, I would have argued "It means pride and fearlessness and a warrior pride". But again, "Bullets, Redskins", there are simply times in history where doing the right thing matters more than a name.
