The Washington Redskins continue to get a lot of attention for all of the wrong reasons. The main story for them has been the team name and whether or not they should change it because many Native Americans are offended. The Redskins get all of the attention for offending people with their nickname even though there are other teams out there that could be just as offensive.
Carolina Hurricanes
Every couple of years there is a major hurricane that sweeps over the ocean and makes landfall causing unimaginable damages and death. Even though this act of nature kills people, there is a hockey team named after it. The Carolina Coast often has hurricanes pass by and the name is relatable the area. This still does not excuse why this is not an offensive team name.
One of the newer teams in the NHL due to relocation, the franchise originally played in Hartford and were called the Whalers. You know, the occupation known for killing a living species. Maybe it was in the team’s deal to keep with the death theme?
Milwaukee Brewers
The Milwaukee Brewers will forever have Bud Selig’s blessing while he has power so they have no worries about having to change their team name. Thinking about it though, the name promotes the consumption of alcoholic beverages, which for a sport that does everything to make the game a family-friendly atmosphere, feels a little contradictory.
Alcohol kills people directly and through the use people are impaired and accidents do happen, sometimes resulting in death. Until team mascot ‘Bernie the Brewer’ actually gets a DUI, the team will not have too much controversy.
New Orleans Saints/San Diego Padres/Los Angeles Angels
Religion is always a topic that one must handle with care as not to offend others. The New Orleans Saints, San Diego Padres, and Los Angeles Angels may have a different opinion. For the atheist, it might be hard to root for these teams promoting an afterlife.
Another team to possibly include in this category would be the New Jersey Devils. They have not been included since the team name has no religious connotation as they are named after a piece of folklore. The only offensive thing about the Devils is the lack of fans in the seats.
Pittsburgh Pirates/Oakland Raiders/Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Pirates might be cool when Johnny Depp puts on some makeup and plays pretend. Real life pirates are lot different. From the pirate days of old where they were raiding private owned ships and killing everyone on board to the modern days where buccaneers are raiding private owned ships and killing everyone on board, this time with machine guns, pirates are not people that should be idolized.
The scurvy having, ship-sinking, seadogs scoundrels are essentially murderers with friendly parrots on their shoulders.
Minnesota Twins
The Olsens, the two from ‘The Shining,’ and Lindsay Lohan in ‘The Parent Trap’ are all examples of evil twins. No further explanation is needed to explain why the Minnesota Twins are very offensive.
Calgary Flames
Harnessing fire did a lot to help the evolution of mankind. However, when flames from a fire get out of hand they can be very deadly. Flames burn down homes, emits deadly smoke, and permanently destroys whatever they can. Yet no one ever has a problem with the hockey team named deadly fires.
Interestingly enough flames might be the last thing anyone would associate with Calgary or anywhere in Canada. A snowy place like that with a low temperature, maybe benefit of the doubt can be given and the name was only given as a psychological way to warm up its citizens.
Los Angeles Kings/Sacramento Kings/Kansas City Royals
Monarchy is never peaceful. Kings and other members of royal parties are a more polite way of saying “dictator” in most forms. History shows just how evil many monarchs were to its citizens or people living in rival territories with invasions and the distribution of wealth.
The fact that these teams are all in America, a place many people traveled to in hopes to escape tyrannical rule says something about how little we pay attention to the past, or maybe how ironically sick our mocking senses of humor are.