sports

Friday Question of the Day – When Will Washington Drop the Term Redskins?

By Prince Of Petworth

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Over the past few months (and years really) there have been lots of discussions about the controversy over the use of the name Redskins. Most recently a few folks sent me links to the article Bill in Congress challenges Redskins trademark:

Legislation was introduced Wednesday that would cancel the NFL team’s trademark of the term “redskin.” The bipartisan bill comes as a federal trademark panel considers a petition brought by a group of young American Indians who say the Washington football team should not be allowed to trademark its name because it is offensive.

Friends of mine know that I’ve been wrestling with this question for a few years now. But it seems to me that it is no longer a matter of if, rather, it has simply become a matter of when the name will be dropped. Back in the good old 90s I attended Miami University of Ohio. At that time our nickname was the Miami Redskins. My senior year the student body was polled to see if we wanted to keep the name or drop it. I think 98% voted to keep the name. Nevertheless the next year 1997 the name was switched to the Miami Redhawks. There was no student uprising as result. None of my fellow alumni friends think any less of the school because of the name change. We all still root for the Redhawks. Damn you Boston University…

Looking back it now seems obvious that the university made the right decision unilaterally changing the name. I think when the Washington Redskins one day change their name, we will also look back and say it was the right thing to do. Most people I talk with feel the same way.

So for today’s FQotD – when do you think it will actually happen? Will it only happen when the courts/Congress make them change it? Realistically how many years away do you think it will be?


The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates and the English Premier League soccer club Manchester City building new Soccer Field in Adams Morgan

By Prince Of Petworth

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Photo by PoPville flickr user mayhemnsuz

Well this is pretty awesome. Thanks to a reader for sending from the Friends of Marie Reed School & Park:

The Embassy of the United Arab Emirates, and the English Premier League soccer club Manchester City, have agreed to build a new soccer pitch in the park adjacent to Marie Reed Elementary School. The work will be done through Manchester City Football Club’s US-based non-for-profit City Soccer in the Community. Everyone is invited and encouraged to attend a 10-15 minute presentation at 7PM on March 27th inside Marie Reed Elementary School. Work will begin on the field on April 2nd.

The Marie Reed field is located behind the tennis courts at 18th Street and Wyoming Avenue, NW.

Urban Lines: Fish Where You Are (Trailer)

By Prince Of Petworth

Urban Lines: Fish Where You Are (Trailer) from TwoFisted Heart Productions on Vimeo.

Thanks to a reader for sending. Urban Lines: Fish Where You Are (Trailer):

TwoFisted Heart Productions partnered with Freestone Entertainment to create a film on the tidal Potomac River that counters common stigmas and stereotypes of fly fishing. Four fly fishermen in Washington, D.C. demonstrate that fly fishing is more than an individual pursuit of the catch, more than once-a-year or once-in-a-lifetime trips out West or to exotic locations abroad. In an unlikely setting of concrete vistas, population density and traffic nightmares, the Potomac River proves that adventure and epic fishing are available to everyone on a daily basis. D.C. fly fishermen have embraced that concept through an online community that provides a 21st century, Web 2.0 take on passionately protecting our water resources for the future and connecting with the people around us. It’s about thinking globally and fishing locally. Otherwise, it’s just another sport.

Check out the Fly Fishing Film Tour here. Coming to Arlington Cinema and Drafthouse in March (ticket info here.)

Congrats to Redskins Selected for the 2013 Pro Bowl

By Prince Of Petworth

From the Redskins website:

The National Football League announced today that quarterback Robert Griffin III, left tackle Trent Williams and linebacker/special teams ace Lorenzo Alexander have been selected to the 2013 NFC Pro Bowl roster.

In addition, linebacker London Fletcher and running back Alfred Morris were selected as alternates. They will fill the role of any selected players that are not able to attend the game.

HTTR – Can’t wait for Sunday!

In Happier News: Metrorail to stay open an extra hour for Sunday’s rescheduled Redskins game

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user a.w.miller

From WMATA:

Metrorail will stay open an additional hour on Sunday, Dec. 30, to accommodate fans attending the Washington Redskins Sunday Night Football game at FedEx Field. The game has been rescheduled by the NFL to start at 8:20 p.m.

Fans leaving FedEx Field for Morgan Boulevard station will find the last Blue Line train headed toward Franconia-Springfield at 12:25 a.m., and the last Blue Line train to Largo Town Center at 1:33 a.m. Customers will be able to make connections to other lines as follows:

• Orange Line – transfer at Stadium-Armory
• Green or Yellow line – transfer at L’Enfant Plaza
• Red Line – transfer at Metro Center

Entrances at all other Metro stations will close at their normal times, but customers will be able to exit at all stations during the additional hour of service.

The extended Metrorail service is funded by an agreement with the Washington Redskins.

Check Out a Plan for Youth Sports Fields at the North Parking Lot of RFK Stadium

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user mosley.brian

From a press release:

The Capitol Riverside Youth Sports Park(CRYSP) organization today unveiled a new community-inspired design for a youth sporting facility comprised of multi-use fields, substantial green space, walking paths, and a covered farmer’s market pavilion.  The project is a growing effort to provide underserved DC youth with safe, accessible and high-quality playing fields and green space for recreation.  The proposed site is the little-used North parking lot of RFK Stadium – an area of urban blight in desperate need of green infrastructure that can mitigate the storm water discharge to the Anacostia River.

Continues after the jump. (more…)

University of Maryland to Join Big Ten

By Prince Of Petworth


Photo by PoPville flickr user Mr. T in DC

From ESPN:

“The University of Maryland’s Board of Regents voted Monday to accept an invitation to join the Big Ten and begin competition in the conference in the 2014-15 academic year, sources told ESPN. An afternoon announcement will be made in College Park.”

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