Much like he did a year ago with the issues of guns after the murder-suicide of the Kansas City Chiefs’ Jovan Belcher, Bob Costas used his platform on NBC to comment on the team name of the NFL’s Washington Redskins during his network’s broadcast of the Redskins-Dallas Cowboys game on Sunday.
The Redskins’ name has been under fire recently because some have said it is offensive to Native Americans. Costas prefaced his comments against the name by explaining he didn’t think Redskins owner Daniel Snyder or anyone associated with the team harbored racial animosity toward Native Americans.
“Let’s start here,” he said. “There’s no reason to believe that owner Daniel Snyder or any official or player from his team harbors animus toward Native Americans or wishes to disrespect them. This is undoubtedly also true of those who don’t think twice about the long-standing moniker. And in fact, as best as can be determined, even a majority of Native Americans say they are not offended.”
Costas explained the names Braves, Chiefs and Warriors honored instead of demean, whereas the name Redskins does just the opposite.
“Think for a moment about the term ‘Redskins’ and how it truly differs from all the others,” Costas said. “Ask yourself what the equivalent would be if directed toward African-Americans, Hispanics, Asians or members of any other ethnic group? When considered that way, ‘Redskins’ can’t possibly honor a heritage or a noble character trait. Nor can it possibly be considered a neutral term. It’s an insult, a slur, no matter how benign the present-day intent.”
(h/t The Blaze)