The MLB has sat down and discussed potential options for the Cleveland Indians offensive Chief Wahoo logo with owner Paul Dolan.
The Associated Press Reports Rob Manfred met with Dolan and minority owner John Sherman to discuss the racially insensitive logo. The Indians already announced plans to continue to phase out the logo in 2017. While Manfred won’t admit it, the meetings surely have to be about getting rid of the logo.
“I’m not going to speculate about what I want the end of the process to be,” Manfred said. “I think that Paul has been fantastic about engaging in conversations. I want those conversations to continue, and I think we’ll produce a result that will be good for the Indians and good for baseball. What exactly that is, I don’t want to speculate right now.”
Naming a baseball team the “Indians” is offensive enough. Using a red-faced caricature as a logo crosses the line further. Getting rid of the logo is the only reasonable solution. Indians fans can claim “it’s part of our history,” but so are plenty of offensive and racist phrases and logos that have become relics. There’s no reason in the 21st century a team should be sporting such an offensive look.
The discussions were hopefully rooted in how to phase out the logo sooner or later so that when the Indians host the All-Star game in 2019, it’s nowhere to be found.
