names of sport teams

 It is, or was, common practice to name teams after symbols of strength or courage like Eagles and hawks or after things to be feared like devils, tornadoes, or hurricanes.  Another source of names   is animals like cougars, lion, bears, and tigers.  Fierce fighting men like cowboys, Vikings, Indians, redskins, and Spartans come to mind. 

No one is suggesting that the fighting Irish is offensive to people of Irish descent and as a North Carolinian I am not in the least offended by the University of North Carolina calling themselves the tar heels. That was a name earned by North Carolina soldiers who were willing to stand and fight, like their heels were stuck in tar, rather than turn and run. 

Somehow people have got on this kick that any thing to do with native Americans has to be offensive.  The college I graduated from was know as the Braves when I attended but now they are the sissies (no wait, that might be offensive to gays.   Maybe it was the girlies.  No, that is offensive to women.  You know, I think they just call themselves "team".  They even leave off the name of the school because the school is named after a whole tribe of Indians, oh excuse me, Native Americans.  Certainly don't want to offend anyone from India. 

If we can't name a sports team after a group of people based on their brave character then we should also drop animal names.  After all they can't speak for themselves and they may only attack humans in the wild because they were offended and have no way to express their embarrassment. 

I don't think we should use names even if the animals are small and creepy like the crawdads or grasshoppers.  And what about peoples occupation?  After all maybe the steel workers of Pittsburg don't like being referred to as Steelers or   the workers in Wisconsin may be upset being referred to as Packers.   I'm sure they are capably of doing other things.  Would they be less capable if they were called the Green Bay Office workers or the Pittsburgh secretaries. 

We might have to be careful even if we name them after inanimate objects.  After all the Chicago neckties might offend some that prefer bowties or Texas ties.  Oh wait, can you call them Texas ties?

We can't even name them after plants.  The roses might be offended if you call them the Colorado Orchids.  Can't just call them flowers because the Detroit dandelions might be offended because they aren't included. 

Since congress wants the Washington football franchise to change the name from Redskins and the Washington baseball teams once used the name Senators, maybe calling the football team the "stupid Politian's" has some merit.  Or is that offensive too.