Cleveland Should Really Alter Their Mascot?

The Cleveland Browns have unveiled their new dog logo, chosen by the team’s fans and players, following years of lobbying by Native American groups. The logo, which won the fan vote, will become another team logo for the Browns, joining the franchise’s staple helmet logo and classic Brownie. The announcement came seven months after Cleveland announced it would discontinue the use of “Indians” as its mascot following the 2021 season. The team was founded in 1946 by former Massillon Washington and Ohio State football coach Paul Brown and Cleveland businessman Arthur B. McBride.

The Cleveland Browns logo has seen aesthetic tweaks but has always honored its origins, with slight color adjustments and modernizing. The team’s name, “elves”, has been the on-again-off-again mascot of the Cleveland Browns for close to 80 years. Former owner Richard Jacobs vowed not to drop the logo as long as he owned the team. When owner Larry Dolan bought the team in 2000, he said, “I have no problem with Chief Wahoo”.

The Cleveland Indians changed their name to the Guardians following the 2021 season due to ongoing debate about usage of Native American names and imagery. The team plans to phase out the name in 2021 and then have a new team moniker by 2022. The decision to change the team’s mascot from “Indians” to “Guardians” finally has broken the Curse of Rocky Colavito. The Cleveland Indians formally announced the change in the offseason following years of lobbying by Native American groups.

Why did Cleveland change their logo?

In 2014, the Chief Wahoo logo was officially reduced to secondary status in favor of a block “C”. Some fans resisted this by “de-chiefing” their team apparel, while maintaining their support of the team. Team management declined to comment on the issue, but pro-Wahoo fans made angry comments on social media. Chief Wahoo hats continued to be worn by players with home white jerseys and alternate navy blue jerseys, attracting attention in the United States and Canada during the 2016 American League Championship Series and the 2016 World Series.

Renu Mandhane, chief commissioner of the Ontario Human Rights Commission, called upon Canadian media outlets to stop using the name due to the commission’s general policy against indigenous names and images in sports. Douglas Cardinal, a Blackfoot descent architect and architect of the National Museum of the American Indian, filed a human rights complaint with Ontario’s Superior Court of Justice and human rights tribunal seeking to ban the use of the name and logo of other sports teams deemed offensive in Ontario.

What was the Cleveland Indians greatest comeback?

In the 1924 Major League Baseball game, the Cleveland Indians achieved a remarkable comeback, surpassing the previous record set in 1911. In the ninth inning, the Indians scored five runs against the Seattle Mariners bullpen, which was perceived to be inept, thereby establishing a new major league record.

Do Cleveland fans still wear Indians gear?

The team did not formally declare its intention to prohibit fans from wearing specific emblems. However, the erstwhile logo director, Wahoo, articulated his individual disapproval.

Why are there so many Indians in Cleveland?

The first wave of immigration from India to the US began in the early 20th century, with changes in immigration laws in the 1960s. Cleveland’s Asian Indian population began to expand, with Shanti Bahadur being the first and one of the oldest residents. The number of Indians in Cleveland rose significantly due to the Immigration Act of 1965, which eliminated previous quotas for medical professionals, engineers, and business professionals from India. Many sought lucrative employment in Cleveland’s medical institutions, universities, corporate sector, and small and large business firms.

The Indian community in Cleveland adopted and assimilated new cultural affiliations with a new culture in Northeast Ohio, but efforts were made to maintain continuity with India, the country of origin. The formation of The India Association of Cleveland in October 1963 aimed to share and present the rich cultural tradition and customs to American friends, provide opportunities for cultural exchange, and encourage close ties amongst Indians in Cleveland.

The Constitution of the India Association of Cleveland underwent modifications between 1968 and 1973, and a year later proposed the establishment of an India House to serve the Indian community in Cleveland.

In 1964, the India Association of Cleveland celebrated the first Indian Republic Day in Cleveland, and Mr. Hari Prakash Sharma was elected as its first President. This marked a significant landmark in the history of the trajectories of Indians in Cleveland. A monthly newspaper called The Lotus was founded in 1967 to better connect the residents of Cleveland with India. It acted as a mouthpiece for the dissemination of information to the Indian community and its friends in the greater Cleveland area, bringing regular updates on issues relating to politics, sports, social and economic developments, and sharing ideas about small businesses, theaters, diversity, immigration, and social and entertainment events taking place in Cleveland.

The Lotus also shared India’s achievements regularly, such as the maiden underground nuclear test conducted by India on 18 May 1974. Issues of “brain drain” from India attracted the attention of the Indian community in Cleveland, who initially intended to stay in the West for further training, specialization, and guidance. As their stay increased, they decided to make the West their home, as it was the Mecca of aspiring writers, scientists, and engineers, providing an incentive for good Asian students to stay and carve a niche for themselves.

What MLB teams don’t have a mascot?

Despite the rich history of mascots, four of the 30 Major League Baseball teams—the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim—still lack an official mascot.

Do people want the Cleveland Indians back?

The Cleveland Indians are attempting to bring the “Redskins” back to Cleveland, Ohio, by launching a petition drive. The group aims to convince team ownership that renaming their team against the wishes of the majority of fans and season ticket holders was a mistake. If successful, the “Cleveland Indians” could become the first professional sports team to do so, possibly alongside the Redskins. Supporters can sign the petition at chng. it/YdVDBJ5gdD.

Why did Cleveland change their name to the Guardians?

The Cleveland Guardians are named in reference to the Art Deco statues on the Hope Memorial Bridge, which are colloquially known as the “Guardians of traffic.” A lawsuit was filed against the Cleveland Guardians regarding the name change, but the dispute was ultimately settled by the local roller derby team. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays underwent a name change from 1998 to 2007, during which time they played under the same moniker.

Why did Atlanta Braves not change their name?

In 2013, the Atlanta Braves faced controversy for using the Native American head logo on their spring training caps. After two months of controversy, the team replaced the cap with a different design that did not feature the old mascot. In July 2020, the Washington Redskins and Cleveland Indians announced they were reevaluating their Native American mascots, focusing on the Atlanta Braves team name. The Braves announced that discussions were still ongoing about the chop, but the team name would not be changed.

In an interview, Braves president Terry McGuirk expressed pride in the team’s name and expected to remain the Atlanta Braves. In July 2020, the EBCI released a statement about the tribe’s conversations with the Braves, stating that candid, thoughtful conversations are crucial for educating leaders and bringing about positive change. The NCAI criticized MLB commissioner Manfred’s defense of the mascot and “chop” and reiterated the viewpoint of Native Americans that any caricature representation is harmful.

Why was Cleveland called the Indians?

The name “Indians” is often attributed to the old Cleveland Spiders baseball club, which was named after Louis Sockalexis, a Native American player. However, this attribution is discredited due to the discriminatory treatment of Native Americans during that era. Opponents of Native American mascots argue that there is an intention to honor them while retaining their current representations. Stereotypical and historically inaccurate images of Indians interfere with learning about them, creating oversimplified and inaccurate views of indigenous peoples and their cultures.

Stereotypical representations contribute to the development of cultural biases and prejudices. Opponents of Native American mascots argue that respectful or disparaging usage is based on stereotypes and contribute to the development of cultural biases and prejudices.

Is slider still the Cleveland mascot?

The Cleveland Guardians have a mascot named Slider.

Why won’t the chiefs change their name?

The Chiefs team’s name has no connection to American Indian culture, but early promotional activities heavily used racially insensitive imagery and messaging. The nickname “Lone Bear” was given to Bartle, who wore a chicken-feather headdress and referred to himself as “Lone Bear”. The word “chief” is not inherently offensive, but it is tied to Native American imagery and stereotypes, making it difficult to untie the association. The team’s name, “Fire Chiefs”, could be a Dalmatian or a combination of both, but the association with Native American imagery and stereotypes makes it difficult to untie.