CLEVELAND, Ohio – The Indians announced last week that they are open to participating in discussions about possible changes to their controversial nickname, but manager Terry Francona says the issue was on his mind even before the club released its statement on Friday.
In the past, if asked about the Indians name or the recently retired Chief Wahoo logo, Francona would reply with an answer that never satisfied those seeking change.
“Usually he would respond and say I know we never tried to be disrespectful,” Francona told reporters Sunday during a Zoom call from Progressive Field. “And I still feel that way. But I don’t think it’s a good enough answer today. “
Francona now acknowledges that simply kicking the can over the team name controversy will no longer suffice.
“I think it is time to move on,” said Francona.
George Floyd’s death, in which four Minnesota police officers were arrested and charged with murder, has sparked a national movement to remove the symbols of racism and bigotry. The 61-year-old tribal manager said that even at his age, he wants to remain open to expanding his worldview.
“You don’t want to be too old to learn or realize that, maybe I have ignored some things, and I am ashamed of that, and try to be better,” said Francona.
Protests across the country sparked by Floyd’s death have led to the destruction and destruction of Confederate monuments. Mississippi state officials voted to remove the Confederate battle emblem from their flag after Mississippi state runner Kylin Hill declared that he would not play soccer there unless the flag was changed. And the movement has spread to the names of sports teams that have long been considered racist or, at least, insensitive by groups that include indigenous peoples.
Last week, Washington Redskins owner Dan Snyder, who said in the past that he would never change the team’s name, bowed to pressure from Nike and FedEx and released a statement saying the franchise will undergo a thorough review. The team name after all references to the Redskins were removed from Nike’s online database.
Francona said she has had several conversations over the years with Indians president of baseball operations Chris Antonetti and general manager Mike Chernoff about the name controversy in Cleveland. He expressed his relief that those talks will be expanded and could bring about substantial changes in the future.
“I’m glad we are open to listening,” he said. “Because I think that’s probably the most important thing right now, is to be willing to listen, not necessarily to speak.”
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