Atlanta Braves Mascot (Washington, Homer, White: home, live, rank)

[Psykomonkee]

Over many many years, there has been protest after protest after protest to several sports teams for using Native American themes that are actually offensive to many Native Americans...
(Personally, I think the whole Washington Redskins thing is just down right horribly wrong. But Braves, not nearly as much).

I know the Braves were one of those teams, but it seems the protest has died down a lot. Probably because it's been a LONG TIME since I've seen "Chief Noc-a-homa" dancing around his tee-pee at the stadium. I can understand how it can be offensive though...

So, I'm wondering, in the spirit of being progressive and a stand-up human being, what if the Braves made a statement to the other organizations by changing the team theme (NOT the name)?

Braves would still associate with the Tomahawk, but distance itself from depictions of Nativa Americans anywhere, but instead replace it with another, also valid mascot...

A BALD EAGLE.

How valid? Well...
Being that the Braves already wear Red, White & Blue
The Braves namesake is in the national anthem (which, BTW is a major part of baseball as America's pastime) "...and the home of the Brave!!!!"

The Braves could adopt a Bald Eagle (Bravo) and maybe even a Hawk (Tom the Hawk).

Once apon a time, someone tried to rename the team to the Eagles anyway... Why not adopt the Eagle mascot and just keep the name. Have the best of both worlds...

I know many will feel it to be uneccessary, but think of it this way. If the Braves adopt the Bald Eagle main mascot, that puts the Braves inline with the rest of Atlanta's sports teams, sticking to a Bird theme...

Hawks, Falcons, (former Thrashers) and now the Braves (Eagle).


Any thoughts?

[HH82]

Originally Posted by Psykomonkee

Over many many years, there has been protest after protest after protest to several sports teams for using Native American themes that are actually offensive to many Native Americans...
(Personally, I think the whole Washington Redskins thing is just down right horribly wrong. But Braves, not nearly as much).

I know the Braves were one of those teams, but it seems the protest has died down a lot. Probably because it's been a LONG TIME since I've seen "Chief Noc-a-homa" dancing around his tee-pee at the stadium. I can understand how it can be offensive though...

So, I'm wondering, in the spirit of being progressive and a stand-up human being, what if the Braves made a statement to the other organizations by changing the team theme (NOT the name)?

Braves would still associate with the Tomahawk, but distance itself from depictions of Nativa Americans anywhere, but instead replace it with another, also valid mascot...

A BALD EAGLE.

How valid? Well...
Being that the Braves already wear Red, White & Blue
The Braves namesake is in the national anthem (which, BTW is a major part of baseball as America's pastime) "...and the home of the Brave!!!!"

The Braves could adopt a Bald Eagle (Bravo) and maybe even a Hawk (Tom the Hawk).

Once apon a time, someone tried to rename the team to the Eagles anyway... Why not adopt the Eagle mascot and just keep the name. Have the best of both worlds...

I know many will feel it to be uneccessary, but think of it this way. If the Braves adopt the Bald Eagle main mascot, that puts the Braves inline with the rest of Atlanta's sports teams, sticking to a Bird theme...

Hawks, Falcons, (former Thrashers) and now the Braves (Eagle).


Any thoughts?

The Washington Nationals already use the Bald Eagle as a mascot. Not a live one, mind you, but a guy in a cartoony foam suit. They've already stolen our color scheme. (Have you SEEN how similar their new hats are to ours?) Stealing their mascot would be tantamount to bringing them up to our level....and that just can't happen. And by the way, C.B. Bucknor is the worst umpire in baseball. Go Braves.

[HH82]

And another thing...I find it hilarious that the Washington Bullets were pressured into changing their name to the Wizards so as not to be offensive to victims of gun violence, but they have a team called the Redskins in the same town, and they flat out REFUSE to budge on it.

[DTL3000]

The Eagles?

Helllllllllllllllll naw

Why would the Braves want to be anything like other Atlanta teams? They all suck.

The Braves are fine as the Braves, one of the oldest baseball mascots. I don't see why anyone gets offended by their name. It's basically the equivalent of a Japanese baseball team calling itself the Samurai in my opinion. The Redskins are a completely different story and I don't know how they get away with still calling themselves that, especially in such a PC area as DC. That would be like a South African rugby team calling itself the Darkies or something similarly offensive.

[arjay57]

Bring back Izzy.

[DTL3000]

Originally Posted by HH82

The Washington Nationals already use the Bald Eagle as a mascot. Not a live one, mind you, but a guy in a cartoony foam suit. They've already stolen our color scheme. (Have you SEEN how similar their new hats are to ours?) Stealing their mascot would be tantamount to bringing them up to our level....and that just can't happen. And by the way, C.B. Bucknor is the worst umpire in baseball. Go Braves.

Heh, this is true and funny. I wore one of the old red Sunday home Braves jerseys(blank back) to the game last night and I think a few people confused it for a Nats jersey based on some comments they made before they saw the front of it.

[DJDeadParrot]

Originally Posted by HH82

And by the way, C.B. Bucknor is the worst umpire in baseball. Go Braves.

Was about to say Angel Hernandez, but after looking up Bucknor, your argument is valid.

[HH82]

Originally Posted by DJDeadParrot

Was about to say Angel Hernandez, but after looking up Bucknor, your argument is valid.

The players always rank him dead last in the anonymous player polls. That has to mean something. And you're right about Angel Hernandez. Joe West too. And "Balk-a-day" Bob Davidson. And Sam "225-foot infield fly" Holbrook.

[Saintmarks]

Seems I remember Ted Turner toying with the idea of changing the name of the Braves to the Eagles back when he first bought the team so it would go with the bird theme of the other pro teams. Thank goodness the natives (pun intended) rose up and tomahawk chopped that idea.

[Psykomonkee]

Originally Posted by HH82

The Washington Nationals already use the Bald Eagle as a mascot. Not a live one, mind you, but a guy in a cartoony foam suit. They've already stolen our color scheme. (Have you SEEN how similar their new hats are to ours?) Stealing their mascot would be tantamount to bringing them up to our level....and that just can't happen. And by the way, C.B. Bucknor is the worst umpire in baseball. Go Braves.

LOL!!! I love your post!
And I see what you mean, however I don't think it matters. (I could be wrong) But I don't think a team's personal mascot has to be ALL THAT unique. The Braves mascot now is "Homer," that a walking baseball head guy. I'm pretty sure I've seen other walking baseball head mascots before. A Bald Eagle is one of those blanket things. I think we could use it and do it a LOT better. OR, maybe scrap the Bald Eagle and have a Hawk... But I think the Eagle and the whole "...and the home of the Brave" America blah blah theme would be cool.
Plus, the Nats have severl mascots. Tell them suck it up, cause we're taking this one. Lol
Tell them, "Flip you for it... Team with most Ws, wins"

Originally Posted by HH82

And another thing...I find it hilarious that the Washington Bullets were pressured into changing their name to the Wizards so as not to be offensive to victims of gun violence, but they have a team called the Redskins in the same town, and they flat out REFUSE to budge on it.

VERY INTERESTING!!! GOOD POINT.
I personally hate when people argue that the name shouldn't be changed not to offend a group of people. Just cause it doesn't offend you doesn't make it not offensive. That Redskins name is really just a terrible one, and I think it's just dumb to put "keeping things as they are" more important than being a better human being.

Originally Posted by DTL3000

The Eagles?

Helllllllllllllllll naw

Why would the Braves want to be anything like other Atlanta teams? They all suck.

The Braves are fine as the Braves, one of the oldest baseball mascots. I don't see why anyone gets offended by their name. It's basically the equivalent of a Japanese baseball team calling itself the Samurai in my opinion. The Redskins are a completely different story and I don't know how they get away with still calling themselves that, especially in such a PC area as DC. That would be like a South African rugby team calling itself the Darkies or something similarly offensive.

Not change the NAME to "The Eagles"
No... I said keep the name "The Braves" and adopt another new mascot as a bird mascot, because you CAN do both... CAN keep the Braves name AND be in the Bird theme.

There are ways... Bald Eagle or a Hawk. Hawks are important symbols in some Native American tribes, and it goes along with the TomaHAWK thing. etc...

Also, it isn't really the same as Samurai really. Samurai is more like.... An occupation almost. Or a choice of lifestyle.
Being Native American isn't a choice, not an occupation or a lifestyle... NO team should be named after a race. The namesake "Braves" isn't after a race, no... But the old "Chief Noc-a-homer" WAS a depiction of a race... Not a depiction of an choice made. That's just not right, cause no matter what, when you try to depict a RACE, you will never fairly do it justice. It will always fall short...
That goes the same for saying things like "Fighting Irish" and so on... But in the Native American case, the people being depicted (N.A.) are CLEARLY unhappy with it. So just be a better person and just change the d@#% names!!! You know...?