Native Americans
Washington Commanders president Jason Wright speaks during an event to unveil the NFL football team's new identity, Wednesday, Feb. 2, 2022, in Landover, Md. The new name comes 18 months after the once-storied franchise dropped its old moniker following decades of criticism that it was offensive to Native Americans. (AP Photo/Patrick Semansky)
Washington's NFL team unveils new name as Commanders

By Stephen Whyno Feb. 02, 2022 08:17 AM EST

FILE - Washington Football team players run into an empty stadium prior to the start of the Baltimore Ravens at Washington Football Team NFL football game on Sunday, Oct. 4, 2020, in Landover, Md. Washington’s NFL team said Tuesday, Jan. 4, 2022, it will unveil its new name on Feb. 2. Team president Jason Wright confirmed that the name will not be Wolves or RedWolves. He cited trademark challenges for not going down that path that was popular among fans. (AP Photo/Steve Helber, File)
Washington to reveal new name on Feb. 2; won't be RedWolves

By Stephen Whyno Jan. 04, 2022 09:15 AM EST

A small bird walks along the field at the team's NFL football training camp practice in Ashburn, Va., Thursday, Aug. 5, 2021. The bird has been on the field at practice each day this week since training camp resumed in Ashburn, Va., and has caught the eye of the team. (AP Photo/Andrew Harnik)
The perfect tweet: Bird is the word at Washington's camp

By Stephen Whyno Aug. 05, 2021 02:07 PM EDT

Cleveland Indians starting pitcher Triston McKenzie delivers in the first inning of a baseball game against the Kansas City Royals, Friday, July 9, 2021, in Cleveland. (AP Photo/Tony Dejak)
Cleveland's baseball team goes from Indians to Guardians

By Tom Withers Jul. 23, 2021 11:37 AM EDT

FILE — Alina Balasoiu, a student at Lamar High School, walks back to school after playing in a soccer game in the fields behind the school in this file photograph taken March 31, 2015. Colorado lawmakers are considering a proposal to ban Native American mascots in public schools and colleges. the state Senate Education Committee is scheduled to discuss a measure Thursday, April 1, 2021 that would impose a $25,000 monthly fine on public schools, colleges and universities that continue to use an American Indian-themed mascot after June 1, 2022. (RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post via The AP)
Colorado is latest to weigh ban on Native American mascots

By Patty Nieberg Apr. 01, 2021 01:53 PM EDT

FILE - In this Oct. 5, 2020, file photo, Kansas City Chiefs fans do "the chop" at the start of the team's NFL football game against the New England Patriots in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs barred headdresses and war paint amid the nationwide push for racial justice, but its effort to make its popular “war chant” more palatable is getting a fresh round of scrutiny from Native American groups as the team prepares to make its second straight Super Bowl appearance. (AP Photo/Reed Hoffmann, File)
Chiefs under pressure to ditch the tomahawk chop celebration

By Heather Hollingsworth Feb. 03, 2021 11:46 PM EST

FILE - James Watson, left, protests before a baseball game between the Chicago White Sox and the Cleveland Indians, Monday, April 1, 2019, in Cleveland. The Cleveland Indians are changing their name _ they just don't know to what or when. Expressing that “it's time," team owner Paul Dolan said that after months of internal discussions and meetings with groups, including Native Americans who have sought to have the team stop using a moniker many deem racist, the American League franchise is dropping the name it has been known by since 1915. In an exclusive interview with The Associated Press on Monday, Dec. 14, 2020, Dolan said: “The name is no longer acceptable in our world.”(AP Photo/Tony Dejak, File)
Teams say Indian names show respect, history says otherwise

By Jim Litke Dec. 16, 2020 06:12 PM EST

FILE - Clark Hunt, chairman and CEO of the Kansas City Chiefs, follows warmups before an NFL football game against the Denver Broncos, Sunday, Dec. 15, 2019, in Kansas City, Mo. Lamar Hunt was a champion of Black rights during the Civil Rights era of the 1960s. He grew up in conservative circles yet formed his own opinions of right and wrong. And when his football-loving son was born in 1965, those principles that Hunt instilled in his football franchise became instilled in Clark, who years later would succeed him as chairman of the Chiefs. (AP Photo/Charlie Riedel, File)
From top down, Chiefs pushing for social justice initiatives

By Dave Skretta Aug. 31, 2020 02:08 PM EDT

FILE In this July 8, 2020 file photo, the Olympic rings stand atop a sign at the entrance to the Squaw Valley Ski Resort in Olympic Valley, Calif. Officials announced Tuesday, Aug. 25 California’s popular Squaw Valley Ski Resort will change its name because the word “squaw” is a derogatory term for Native American women. The site was the scene of the 1960 Winter Olympics. (AP Photo/Haven Daley,File)
California ski resort changing name, citing offensive word

Aug. 26, 2020 02:00 AM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 19, 2020, file photo, Kansas City Chiefs fans arrive before the NFL AFC Championship football game against the Tennessee Titans Sunday, in Kansas City, Mo. The Chiefs will prohibit the wearing of Native American headdresses, face paint and clothing at Arrowhead Stadium and are discussing the future of the iconic tomahawk chop as they address what many consider racist imagery associated with their franchise. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall, File)
Chiefs to prohibit Native American imagery at Arrowhead

By Dave Skretta Aug. 20, 2020 04:53 PM EDT

Native American advocate Carl Moore sits near the phrase "We Bleed These Colors" along a walkway which leads from the Bountiful High School parking lot up to the football field Tuesday, July 28, 2020, in Bountiful, Utah. While advocates have made strides in getting Native American symbols and names changed in sports, they say there's still work to do mainly at the high school level, where mascots like Braves, Indians, Warriors, Chiefs and Redskins persist. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
America FC MG vs Urt MG 7/29/2020

Aug. 09, 2020 11:12 AM EDT

Native American advocate Carl Moore sits near the phrase "We Bleed These Colors" along a walkway which leads from the Bountiful High School parking lot up to the football field Tuesday, July 28, 2020, in Bountiful, Utah. While advocates have made strides in getting Native American symbols and names changed in sports, they say there's still work to do mainly at the high school level, where mascots like Braves, Indians, Warriors, Chiefs and Redskins persist. (AP Photo/Rick Bowmer)
Native mascots still a sticking point in high school sports

By Sophia Eppolito And Felicia Fonseca Aug. 09, 2020 11:11 AM EDT

This artist's rendering provided by the Washington Football team shows the back of the NFL football team's new burgundy uniform. (Washington Football via AP)
Ex-Redskins become Washington Football Team for 2020 season

By Stephen Whyno Jul. 23, 2020 12:51 PM EDT

Rodney Johnson of Chesapeake, Va., sits in his truck outside FedEx Field in Landover, Md., Monday, July 13, 2020. The Washington NFL franchise announced Monday that it will drop the "Redskins" name and Indian head logo immediately, bowing to decades of criticism that they are offensive to Native Americans. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Post-Redskins, Washington has long road toward new name

By Stephen Whyno Jul. 14, 2020 03:39 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 26, 2015, file photo, Washington Redskins owner Daniel Snyder walks the sidelines during an NFL football game against the Philadelphia Eagles, in Philadelphia. A new name must still be selected for the Washington Redskins football team, one of the oldest and most storied teams in the National Football League, and it was unclear how soon that will happen. But for now, arguably the most polarizing name in North American professional sports is gone at a time of reckoning over racial injustice, iconography and racism in the U.S. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)
Column: What's in a Name? Stubborn Snyder About to Find Out

By Jim Litke Jul. 14, 2020 03:09 AM EDT

Signs for the Washington Redskins are displayed outside FedEx Field in Landover, Md., Monday, July 13, 2020. The Washington NFL franchise announced Monday that it will drop the “Redskins” name and Indian head logo immediately, bowing to decades of criticism that they are offensive to Native Americans. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh)
Washington's NFL team drops 'Redskins' name after 87 years

By Stephen Whyno Jul. 13, 2020 08:58 AM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 2, 2020, file photo, Washington Redskins head coach Ron Rivera holds up a helmet during a news conference at the team's NFL football training facility in Ashburn, Va. The Washington Redskins are undergoing what the team calls a “thorough review” of the nickname. In a statement released Friday, July 3, 2020, the team says it has been talking to the NFL for weeks about the subject. Owner Dan Snyder says the process will include input from alumni, sponsors, the league, community and members of the organization. FedEx on Thursday called for the team to change its name, and Nike appeared to remove all Redskins gear from its online store. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
Reports: Washington to shed 'Redskins' name Monday

Jul. 13, 2020 12:02 AM EDT

FILE - In this Jan. 2, 2020, file photo, Washington Redskins head coach Ron Rivera holds up a helmet during a news conference at the team's NFL football training facility in Ashburn, Va. The Washington Redskins are undergoing what the team calls a “thorough review” of the nickname. In a statement released Friday, July 3, 2020, the team says it has been talking to the NFL for weeks about the subject. Owner Dan Snyder says the process will include input from alumni, sponsors, the league, community and members of the organization. FedEx on Thursday called for the team to change its name, and Nike appeared to remove all Redskins gear from its online store. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon, File)
Redskins to have 'thorough review' of name amid race debate

By Stephen Whyno Jul. 03, 2020 11:45 AM EDT

FILE - These are 2020 file photos showing District of Columbia Mayor Muriel Bowser, left, and Washington Redskins NFL football team owner Dan Snyder, right. The recent national conversation about racism has renewed calls for the Washington Redskins to change their name. D.C. mayor Muriel Bowser called the name an "obstacle" to the team building its stadium and headquarters in the District, but owner Dan Snyder over the years has shown no indications he'd consider it. (AP Photo/File)
Debate on racism renews calls for Redskins to change name

By Stephen Whyno Jun. 17, 2020 05:36 PM EDT

In this Nov. 18, 2019 photo, a patron visits a betting kiosk in the sports betting area of Twin River Casino in Lincoln, R.I. Legalized sports betting's rapid march across the U.S. could face some bigger tests in 2020. Less than two years after a U.S. Supreme Court ruling opened the door to sportsbooks outside Nevada, they have been legalized in states that are home to about one-third of the nation's population. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)
Sports betting's rapid expansion faces more tests in 2020

By Jennifer Mcdermott And Geoff Mulvihill Dec. 18, 2019 03:19 PM EST