Josh Harris Speaks... Commanders is permanent name.

You had Snyder,Rivera and Wright say they wanted fan input and took submissions. At the same time, we were told they were going to be careful and honor our history and tradition.
Commanders was never in the top ten much less top five of any pool of names fans saw. So it's my belief, that because Rivera had an affinity for everything military, he pushed for Commanders and they chose a name they wanted instead of going off of fan sentiment.
Then they turned around and completely changed the uniforms to the God awful mess they are now. And in the subsequent years before Harris, the league set out to scrub the logo and eradicate Redskins history.

So then the Harris group buys the team. Hope is given to fans. All the talk and banter around the Harris group is that Harris and Rales grew up as Redskins Fans and knew what that meant to the fanbase and community.
When asked about the name, Harris,at one point stated: "It's not what I think,it's what the fans think."
What followed was almost two years of ambiguity anytime he was asked about the name.

So after 30+ years of never reaching 11 wins,they have an amazing season of 12 wins and with all the good will banked in last season,Harris takes the opportunity to crap on the fanbase much like his predecessors did. We are keeping the name because the guys who cash my checks like it...not the actual customers but the folks on his payroll.

Then a few days later you say you want to get back to our brand? Do you have any idea where you are at Josh?

Tone deaf and no balls
 
DieselPwr44 said:
You had Snyder,Rivera and Wright say they wanted fan input and took submissions. At the same time, we were told they were going to be careful and honor our history and tradition.
Commanders was never in the top ten much less top five of any pool of names fans saw. So it's my belief, that because Rivera had an affinity for everything military, he pushed for Commanders and they chose a name they wanted instead of going off of fan sentiment.
Then they turned around and completely changed the uniforms to the God awful mess they are now. And in the subsequent years before Harris, the league set out to scrub the logo and eradicate Redskins history.

So then the Harris group buys the team. Hope is given to fans. All the talk and banter around the Harris group is that Harris and Rales grew up as Redskins Fans and knew what that meant to the fanbase and community.
When asked about the name, Harris,at one point stated: "It's not what I think,it's what the fans think."
What followed was almost two years of ambiguity anytime he was asked about the name.

So after 30+ years of never reaching 11 wins,they have an amazing season of 12 wins and with all the good will banked in last season,Harris takes the opportunity to crap on the fanbase much like his predecessors did. We are keeping the name because the guys who cash my checks like it...not the actual customers but the folks on his payroll.

Then a few days later you say you want to get back to our brand? Do you have any idea where you are at Josh?

Tone deaf and no balls
Click to expand...

I think you're forgetting the amazing 1991 season. But, yeah. I agree with your point.
 
My signature here will remain.

As long as the uniforms get fixed, I won't cry (too much).
 
Letthepointssoar said:
I'll share my thoughts. For me it's two things-

1. While I am a fan BECAUSE I'm a Native American and the term "Redskins" originated in a sense of pride for my people, even I knew the name finally had to go because for as many in the NA community who are endeared to the name, that doesn't change the fact that some DID still find it to be offensive. So in this day and age, that meant Redskins had to go and was never coming back. However, there were so many options that could have been a win-win to still appease to the Native American fanbase - RedWolves, Warriors, Wolves, Brave. But by completely disassociating altogether, you in turn potentially lose a significant portion of the fanbase.

2. Even if the ownership didn't agree with #1, you have to at least handle it properly if you actually care about the history of the franchise and the entire fanbase. But the current handling of the rebranding conversation has been abysmal. They've tried to avoid it saying "other things are more important". But that merely proves the disconnect to what the fanbase cares about, because there are a whole lot of us that would give back this 12 win season in a hurry if it was in exchange for the next multiple decades we could cheer for a better mascot than the "Commanders" to represent our history.

Hail.
Click to expand...
Personally, I feel like Harris bought the Washington Commanders, not the Skins. I don’t think he owes anyone another rebrand. The name change and prior rebranding by the Snyder’s has nothing to do with him and was complete before the team was even for sale.

Of course they weren’t 100% firm on anything when being asked about it. But I thought it was rather clear when it was never publicly identified as a priority that a name change was a pipe dream.

I fully expect them to honor the past in other ways outside the name, via the uniforms and other touches they’ve added in such a short time of ownership.

While I do think this lightning in a bottle season had some level of influence on the decision, I don’t think ownership was in any way obligated to change the name no matter how it ended.
 
Little Piggy said:
The name sounds tough and strong. It fits what a football team should be.
Click to expand...
Good to hear that perspective. Also, I respect you sharing it. It can be tough going into a place where many of the most vocal share a different point of view. Good on you!
 
burgold said:
To me, even "that’s not a priority but we are looking at everything. Everything is on the table." can be translated as "It ain't happening, but you never say never."

Maybe I was alone in hearing it that way, but that's how I heard it. Even when I had fun daydreaming about Werewolves I cautioned that against believing the name change was likely although I'll admit I did occassionally get swept up in the dream of it because at its best Commanders is meh.
Click to expand...
I’ll admit to feeling this way. I always felt like it should’ve been done last off-season, and that the longer they waited the more difficult it was going to be. Not that I didn’t still believe it was on the table (and I was never going to give up until they finally said something definitively), but I definitely thought the chances went down considerably—especially if we had a great year and/or Jayden blossomed into a star. Sure enough both happened, so great short term news on the field but a long term disaster because we are stuck with the Snyder name forever. It was like a cancer that needed to be cut out immediately, but they let it fester for a year and it spread to the point where it was no longer curable.
 
Thinking out loud here, I wonder if there's ways that the team could continue to honor the legacy of the old name in the same way that e.g. the Carolina Hurricanes wear Hartford Whalers jerseys from time to time and they play Brass Bonanza.

There's a way to do it artfully that doesn't trip up the considerations that gave rise to the name change movement in the first instance: I'm sure there's way better examples but as a basic one, use the Rs on the helmets from the 70s, uniforms from the 80s with the sole difference being "Commanders" written where "Redskins" was.

Small things but perhaps a way to bridge the gap that is a compromise for all but palatable to just about everyone if fundamentally imperfect.

Going to the crux of the frustration which has been repeated in the thread, if I've understood it, it's to do with presenting something that was of major importance to many (obviously less so to others) that was purported to be a choice or in flux when it never was and absolutely bungling the comms. I get that even if I'm not as bothered by it.

It's pretty painful when the appearance of choice turns out to be an illusion on a matter that you care about deeply.
 
Canadian Hog said:
I am speaking on behalf of Little Piggy here, but I know he has no issue with the name right now because: a) he is too young to be connected to Redskins, b) they are winning with a potential superstar at QB. That's ultimately what young kids are drawn to. Believe it or not, he also likes those abominations they call uniforms...kids these days
Click to expand...
fwiw…My daughters, 15 and 16, think it’s a dumb name so I guess all kids are not on the same page. Of course, being a few years older than your son makes a difference here I think. They are old enough to remember how much Snyder was despised by their father and other fans.
 
HTTR said:
fwiw…My daughters, 15 and 16, think it’s a dumb name so I guess all kids are not on the same page. Of course, being a few years older than your son makes a difference here I think. They are old enough to remember how much Snyder was despised by their father and other fans.
Click to expand...
My 13 and 15 yr old nephews have clowned it pretty hard....always have to say it like, "commanDERrrs" with a little something extra on it 😆
 
I'm gonna call them Commies. I have my reasons.

snyderczar.png
 
So semi-related, many of my generation love the original Star Wars films (Star Wars, ESB, and Return,) but strongly disliked the prequels. I'm in that subset who thought the prequels could have been so much better and only the last one really worked for me. However! I have spoken to Star Wars fans (now adults) who are of a different generation and they love the prequels. It's what they grew up with and what they knew.

I suspect we who know the originals were great and the prequels were rough are the correct ones, but also recognize that it just doesn't matter. When it comes to entertainment if you enjoy something it's good for you. So, maybe the Commanders are Phantom Menace and Clone Wars to us, but to those just coming into football... They are Star Wars.
 
burgold said:
So semi-related, many of my generation love the original Star Wars films (Star Wars, ESB, and Return,) but strongly disliked the prequels. I'm in that subset who thought the prequels could have been so much better and only the last one really worked for me. However! I have spoken to Star Wars fans (now adults) who are of a different generation and they love the prequels. It's what they grew up with and what they knew.

I suspect we who know the originals were great and the prequels were rough are the correct ones, but also recognize that it just doesn't matter. When it comes to entertainment if you enjoy something it's good for you. So, maybe the Commanders are Phantom Menace and Clone Wars to us, but to those just coming into football... They are Star Wars.
Click to expand...

Go Dark Helmet GIF
 
Love it, Boone.

(In my mind, SpaceBalls was one of the best Star Wars films and it counts! Love that film)
 
Random anecdote. I was out in San Diego (I think it was probably 1987-ish) for the summer. I had just gotten into the Marine Corps commissioning program, and prior to going to college they sent us all to a 'prep' course, an all summer refresher course in San Diego. First of all, let me tell you, at least back then there were few better places to find yourself as a Marine than San Diego. I had a memorable summer. Second of all, a bunch of us Marines (in uniform at the time) were approached by members of a production team and asked if we wanted to play as extras in a movie shooting that weekend. I had just made a date with a woman I'd met and no way was I not going to go. But some of my buddies agreed.

The movie turned out to be 'Spaceballs'. And the guys 'combing the desert' with the giant comb were members of our prep course group and friends.



I could've been immortal, but I chose love (or maybe lust) instead.
 
Ah dude. Combing the desert was one of the greatest good bad jokes of all time!

You better have married that girl ;)

And yeah, San Diego was pretty great back then. May still be. It's been a long time since I was down there.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Users Who Are Viewing This Thread (Total: 2, Members: 0, Guests: 2)

Help Users

You haven't joined any rooms.

    You haven't joined any rooms.
    Top