Trailblazers name change

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Mediocre Man

Mediocre Man

Mr. SportsTwo
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This is bound to be a thread where people go off, but I’m legitimately curious.

with all of the uproar about sports teams names, statues of figures who used slaves and righting the wrongs of our past, I have a couple of questions.

1. The people who “blazed a trail” to Oregon, used slaves. So, should the Trailblazers rename if some people demand it?

2. what do you think would be a good name if that happens at some point?

PLEASE try and keep this to legit answers.
 
1. Absurd to change it with such a loose connection

2. if it does have to change then just change it to the Portland Explorers.
 
Mediocre Man said:
This is bound to be a thread where people go off, but I’m legitimately curious.

with all of the uproar about sports teams names, statues of figures who used slaves and righting the wrongs of our past, I have a couple of questions.

1. The people who “blazed a trail” to Oregon, used slaves. So, should the Trailblazers rename if some people demand it?

2. what do you think would be a good name if that happens at some point?

PLEASE try and keep this to legit answers.
Click to expand...

There is no need for a name change as there is nothing offensive about the name.
 
I was thinking the exact same thing, MM. I thought I would get flamed for bringing it up, but it’s a legitimate thing given today’s climate.
 
Mediocre Man said:
This is bound to be a thread where people go off, but I’m legitimately curious.

with all of the uproar about sports teams names, statues of figures who used slaves and righting the wrongs of our past, I have a couple of questions.

1. The people who “blazed a trail” to Oregon, used slaves. So, should the Trailblazers rename if some people demand it?

2. what do you think would be a good name if that happens at some point?

PLEASE try and keep this to legit answers.
Click to expand...
I've actually given this some thought. Not because the "trail blazers" used slaves (I assume this is Lewis and Clark? Did they?) but more the very idea of "blazing a trail" when the native peoples already lived here. It's like saying Columbus "discovered" America.
Probably the easiest thing would be just to call them "Blazers" and have it refer to the increasing numbers of forest fires because of global warming. The Warriors attempted a similar kind of rebranding - "Warriors" obviously originally referred to Native Americans, but they did that whole thing with the weird guy in a unitard who was supposed to represent a generic culture-less warrior.
Just so long as we keep the pinwheel - and there's no reason not to, because it's supposed to represent basketball anyway and has nothing to do with the name.
 
Orion Bailey said:
Portland Progressives.
Click to expand...
Portland Hipsters
Portland Baristas (or better: Portland Espressos)
Portlandians (Portland Put-a-bird-on-its)
Portland Stoners
The Portland Plaid
Portland LumberJills (avoid sexism)
Portland Powellses
Portland Waterfalls (and play TLC before every game to admonish the visitors not to try to keep up)
 
Rastapopoulos said:
Portland Hipsters
Portland Baristas (or better: Portland Espressos)
Portlandians (Portland Put-a-bird-on-its)
Portland Stoners
The Portland Plaid
Portland LumberJills (avoid sexism)
Portland Powellses
Portland Waterfalls (and play TLC before every game to admonish the visitors not to try to keep up)
Click to expand...

you had me at Portland Stoners but can we make it Portland Potheads?
 
I was an Explorer Scout and we blazed trails all the time, had nothing to do with settlers heading west. You can be a TrailBlazer i developing products or service's too.
Romans used slaves and threw people to the lions, should they tear down the Coliseum, nope.
 
Hoopguru said:
Romans used slaves and threw people to the lions, should they tear down the Coliseum, nope.
Click to expand...
Amazingly enough, American slavery was worse than Roman slavery. The Romans didn't essentialize their slaves as three-fifths of a person, and you could buy your freedom. All it meant was that you'd been defeated in war. Also, I believe, the children of slaves were not automatically enslaved.
If the Romans had systematically racially oppressed a sizeable subset of the people that still inhabit Italy today, your analogy might make sense.
 
Rastapopoulos said:
Amazingly enough, American slavery was worse than Roman slavery. The Romans didn't essentialize their slaves as three-fifths of a person, and you could buy your freedom. All it meant was that you'd been defeated in war. Also, I believe, the children of slaves were not automatically enslaved.
If the Romans had systematically racially oppressed a sizeable subset of the people that still inhabit Italy today, your analogy might make sense.
Click to expand...
So they didnt inslave people? If youn were a Celt and captured the enslaved them or killed them.
 
Good question MM. It would be weird to see the Trail Blazers go by another name. Are the Trail Blazers specifically named after Lewis and Clark, or does the name refer to all who have blazed trails to pave the way in history?

The connection is there though, no matter how obscure we might make it. William Clark compelled a black man that he owned, a slave, named York to come along for the trip. York hunted for them, talked with Native Americans to calm tensions, among other important functions. He asked Clark for his freedom in return. Clark refused.

Not to mention a kidnapped Sacagawea acted as a guide and interpreter after the expedition reached North Dakota.

If the Blazers somehow do have to change their name maybe the Pioneers or the actual winner of the naming contest back in 1970, the Chinooks, after the Salmon. Though, the Chinooks are also a Native American people, so that probably wouldn't work. Maybe just Blazers...they are nice jackets after all.
 
I thought about this a couple of weeks ago as well. It would, of course, be asinine for someone to actually believe the name should be changed...but granted it is inevitable some group will.

However, this isn't like "Red Skins" where the words and meanings are obvious. the definition of a "Trail Blazers" is more ambiguous as it can mean a pioneer; an innovator, a person who makes a new track through wild country.

But just to play along, I agree with "Blazers". We already shorten it anyways.
 
The weird thing to me is that we have teams with obvious racial undertones like the Redksins or Indians, but the strange caveat is that they're used to as names alongside other... I'm not sure what the right word is..... strong? Fierce? There are teams with names like Giants, Warriors, Thunder, Jaguars, Bears, Vikings, etc. So were they originally chosen as a sign of respect? Or fear? Comedy? I would be really interested in the history in picking those names.

I also find it funny that Yankee was meant as a derogatory slur against Americans that we co-opted into a sign of pride.

And then there are other native names that actually have the support of the tribes. The Seminoles for example. So is it just the racist undertones of the Redskins name, or the cartoonish logo of the Indians that set them apart? People still give Florida State shit for using the Noles, even though they have the permission of the tribe.
 
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