CLEVELAND – Cleveland players met with owner Paul Dolan on Tuesday to discuss a possible name change for the team, which has been called the Indians for the past 105 years.
Manager Terry Francona said the group had an “honest” conversation and was proud of how it was handled by everyone involved.
“The way the players expressed themselves in a mature and respectful manner, and the way Paul listened and responded to the players,” said Francona, who attended the meeting along with team president Chris Antonetti and general manager Mike. Chernoff. “I was very, very happy and content just to sit there and let them talk back and forth.”
Francona emphasized that nothing has been resolved on the controversial issue.
The franchise recently announced that it was in the early stages of meeting with the community and appropriate stakeholders “to determine the best path to take regarding our team name.”
The Indians’ move coincided with the recent decision by the Washington NFL team to drop the Redskins name, which had been denounced as racist for decades.
Cleveland removed its controversial Chief Wahoo logo from its gaming jerseys and caps. However, fans can still buy merchandise with the red-faced, toothy mascot that became a symbol of hatred for some and civic pride for others.
Francona said the meeting with Dolan was a positive and significant step.
“I don’t know if something was really resolved and I don’t know if it was necessary,” Francona said. “I thought it was really good for the players to share their opinions, and let Paul be in the room and listen to them and also share their opinions as the owner.”
“I think that sometimes the perspectives can be different and it’s good that everyone hears it. But I think that everyone was really sincere and respectful in the way they expressed their opinions,” he said.
Francona, who has been Cleveland’s manager since 2013, spoke openly about the possible name change several weeks ago, saying it was “time to move forward.” He said he did not want his stance to influence his players.
“I don’t think it is my business to influence our players to feel one way or another about it,” he said. “I just don’t feel good about it.”
The possible name change was not the only topic discussed and the team played “a little bit of everything” with Dolan, Francona said.
During the performance of the national anthem before the exhibition games, Cleveland players have stood facing each other in front of their bench with one over their hearts and the other over the shoulder of a teammate. They decided to stand up and not kneel during the hymn to show unity and as a way to express their support for social justice and reforms.
Francona credited Dolan for his willingness to commit to the players.
“These things do not happen everywhere,” he said. “It is not going to mean that everyone will agree exactly or on the same page. I don’t know if you are supposed to be all the time. This is our world. But when everyone listens with respect and speaks with respect, I think we have the opportunity to move forward with respect.
“That is what we are trying to do.”
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