The Most Offensive Team Names in Sports: A Definitive Ranking

The Most Offensive Team Names in Sports: A Definitive Ranking
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 02: Danny Salazar #31 of the Cleveland Indians looks on against the Tampa Bay Rays during the American League Wild Card game at Progressive Field on October 2, 2013 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - OCTOBER 02: Danny Salazar #31 of the Cleveland Indians looks on against the Tampa Bay Rays during the American League Wild Card game at Progressive Field on October 2, 2013 in Cleveland, Ohio. (Photo by Jared Wickerham/Getty Images)

“Like devoted fans of the Atlanta Braves, the Cleveland Indians and the Chicago Blackhawks (from President Obama's home town),” said Lanny Davis, speaking officially for Washington, D.C.’s football team, “we love our team and its name and, like those fans, we do not intend to disparage or disrespect a racial or ethnic group.” He inadvertently made a completely different point, though: It makes little sense for fans to focus exclusively on changing the Washington team’s name. As Davis accidentally noted, there are other awful ones, too, and—with apologies to Maureen Dowd’s big sister—they should also change their names.

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