12262: Redskins Salute Indians.

In light of the Washington Redskins Thanksgiving Greeting, it seems the team also has an opportunity to commemorate Native American Heritage Month.

12261: Redskins’ Thanksgiving Turkey.

From The New York Daily News…

Washington’s NFL team tweets tone-deaf Thanksgiving greeting

Washington ― whose nickname is an offensive term for Native Americans ― posted a Thanksgiving greeting on Twitter Thursday. Critics quickly slammed the team for its tone-deaf, awkward message.

By Meg Wagner | NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Well, this is uncomfortable.

Washington’s NFL team ― whose nickname is an offensive term for Native Americans ― wished their Twitter followers a happy Thanksgiving Thursday.

The holiday greeting did not go over well. Critics quickly cut into the team for its tone-deaf tweet.

Critics have long pressed the football team to ditch the controversial nickname. In September, the Daily News decided it would no longer publish the unacceptable name or its logo, which features a feathered Native American.

Still, Washington’s team has refused to change, even after the U.S. Patent and Trademark office revoked its trademark in June.

12224: Offensive Karma Hits Patriots…?

USA TODAY reported on the New England Patriots Twitter promotion gone racially awry. As this blunder was not blatantly deliberate on the Patriots’ part, it will be interesting to see if Offensive Karma comes into play as the team heads towards the playoffs. For now, place your bets on the Indianapolis Colts to beat the Patriots on Sunday.

Patriots apologize for tweeting racial slur in Twitter promotion

By Nina Mandell

On Thursday, the Patriots official Twitter account had a promotion where they thanked some of the followers who helped them reach a million followers with “digital custom jerseys”.

To make the jerseys the official account took the user’s twitter name and then added it onto the jersey and tweeted it. This included one user whose name was “I hate [racial slur]“, which quickly went viral.

On Thursday night, the Patriots issued an apology for the tweet.

While none were as offensive as the tweet the Patriots apologized for, some pretty ridiculous ones continued to get through:

11886: Ripping Redskins Rhetoric.

Keith Olbermann on the Washington Redskins.

11883: Redskins Fumble Tweet.

From The New York Daily News…

Redskins ask Twitter followers to tweet #RedskinsPride at Sen. Reid, whose office calls social media stunt a failure

Seeking to settle the debate over whether the name is racist or offensive, the team sought support on social media. What it did, according to Reid’s office, is make the case for changing the name even more clear-cut.

By Jason Rubinstein | NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

Washington politicians and Washington football executives can’t agree on whether or not the name Redskins is racist.

And for once it seems the politicians are leading in the public opinion polls.

The Redskins — in response to a letter sent to the NFL and signed by half of the U.S. Senate urging commissioner Roger Goodell to support the movement to change the name — took to Twitter Thursday to try to settle the debate. They were essentially booed off the platform.

The team asked its 305,000-plus followers to “Tweet @SenatorReid to show your #RedskinsPride and tell him what the team means to you.”

While Sen. Harry Reid was, predictably, hit with remarks about sorting out the government’s issues before wading into the sports arena, his office maintains that the team’s efforts to win over the public on the controversial name blew up in their face.

“From our perspective, what we saw was just overwhelming opposition. It’s really made our day,” Faiz Shakir, Reid’s digital director, told the Washington Post.

“It has failed miserably,” he told Deadspin.

All this comes a week after the letter — co-signed by Senate Majority Leader Reid, a leading voice in calling for the team to change it’s name — from the politicos landed on Goodell’s desk. Redskins president Bruce Allen responded to the letter, with Allen defending the use of the name as “respectful.”

Allen’s letter was then tweeted out by the Redskins and received public support from current players including Ryan Kerrigan, Desean Jackson, Alfred Morris, Brian Orakpo and Pierre Garcon.

And while that player support may be reassuring, one former Redskins player doesn’t share the same sentiment and is perhaps the beginning to an outpouring of more support against the team name.

Ex-Redskins player Mark Schlereth — who won Super Bowl XXVI with the Washington — told ABC’s “This Week” that the name’s gotta go.

“It is time to change the name,” Schlereth said, becoming the highest-profile former player to speak out against the nickname. “There’s no question, if you research the history of that name, it’s a pejorative term and it needs to change.

“I mean, you would ever go into a conference of Native American people and walk up in front of them and refer to them as Redskins. It is a derogatory term, that’s its origins, and it is time to be a leader, from the standpoint of the NFL.

“High schools across America have changed their names. The NCAA has implemented policy to change those names. Why has the NFL shuffled its feet on this? I don’t know, but it’s time to change.”

11878: Redskins Respectful, Not Racist.

From The Associated Press…

Redskins President Bruce Allen tells Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid his NFL team’s nickname is ‘respectful’ toward Native Americans

On Thursday, half the U.S. Senate urged NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to change the Washington club’s name, saying it is a racist slur and it is time to replace it. The franchise responded by releasing a letter written by Redskins President Bruce Allen.

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS

WASHINGTON — Redskins President Bruce Allen said in a letter to Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid on Saturday that the football team’s nickname is “respectful” toward Native Americans.

On Thursday, half the U.S. Senate urged NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell to change the Washington club’s name, saying it is a racist slur and it is time to replace it.

The franchise responded by releasing Allen’s letter.

“Our use of ‘Redskins’ as the name of our football team for more than 80 years has always been respectful of and shown reverence toward the proud legacy and traditions of Native Americans,” he wrote.

The letter references research that “the term Redskins originated as a Native American expression of solidarity.” It notes that the team’s logo was designed by Native American leaders and cites surveys that Native Americans and Americans as a whole support the name.

Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has refused to change the name, citing tradition, but there has been growing pressure including statements in recent months from President Obama, lawmakers of both parties and civil rights groups.

11872: Washington Senators Vs. Redskins.

From The New York Daily News…

Group of 50 senators calls on Washington Redskins to change team name

Half the U.S. Senate wrote letters to NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell Thursday, saying the team name is a racist slur and that it is time to replace it

By Dan Friedman | NEW YORK DAILY NEWS

WASHINGTON — Half the U.S. Senate wrote the National Football League commissioner Tuesday, urging him to support changing the name of the Washington Redskins.

“The NFL can no longer ignore this and perpetuate the use of this name as anything but what it is: a racial slur,” the lawmakers told Commissioner Roger Goodell.

The letter-writers included Sens. Ben Cardin and Barbara Mikulski of Maryland, where the team plays.

In their letters, the lawmakers followed the practice, adopted by some newspapers, of refusing to use the team’s name.

“The Washington, D.C. football team is on the wrong side of history,” the senators wrote. “What message does it send to punish slurs against African Americans while endorsing slurs against Native Americans?

They urged the NFL to follow the example of NBA Commissioner Adam Silver, who reacted swiftly to racially offensive comments by Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling by banning him for life.

A “national conversation on race” created by Sterling’s remarks “is an opportunity for the NFL to take action to remove the racial slur from the name of one of its marquee franchises,” they said.

The letters also pointed out that every national tribal organization in the U.S., representing two million Native American people, has now formally requested the name change.

“Yet every Sunday during football season, the Washington, D.C. football team mocks their culture,” the senators wrote.

In a prepared statement, NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy politely rejected the request.

The league “has long demonstrated a commitment to progressive leadership on issues of diversity and inclusion, both on and off the field,” McCarthy said.

“The intent of the team’s name has always been to present a strong, positive and respectful image. The name is not used by the team or the N.F.L. in any other context, though we respect those that view it differently.”

The team’s owner, Daniel Snyder, has vowed to keep the team’s name, part of a brand he has spent millions of dollars to promote.

“We understand the issues out there, and we’re not an issue,” Snyder said last month. “The real issues are real-life issues, real-life needs, and I think it’s time that people focus on reality.”

Sen. Maria Cantwell, a Washington state Democrat, organized the letter-writing campaign.

Forty-nine of the Democratic senators wrote identical letters to Goodell, and Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) wrote his own letter.

The five Democrats who did not join the effort all represent states with large numbers of conservative voters: Tim Kaine and Mark Warner of Virginia, Mark Pryor of Arkansas, Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Joe Donnelly of Indiana.

Cantwell did not ask Republican senators to take part in the campaign.

President Obama said last October that if he owned the Redskins, he would consider changing the team’s name.

11813: Redskins’ Patronizing Pledge.

From The New York Times…

The Price of a Slur

By David Treuer

MINNEAPOLIS — THE idea of the “Indian giver” has always been deeply ironic, since it’s Indians who have been on the receiving end of some very bad gifts indeed. Last week’s offering from Daniel Snyder, the owner of the Washington Redskins, was only the latest.

On March 24, Mr. Snyder announced the creation of the Washington Redskins Original Americans Foundation, a charitable organization with the stated mission “to provide meaningful and measurable resources that provide genuine opportunities for Tribal communities.” To date, the foundation has distributed 3,000 winter coats, shoes to basketball-playing boys and girls, and a backhoe to the Omaha tribe in Nebraska.

The unstated mission of the Washington Redskins Original Americans Foundation is clear: In the face of growing criticism over the team’s toxic name and mascot imagery, the aim is to buy enough good will so the name doesn’t seem so bad, and if some American Indians — in the racial logic of so-called post-racial America, “some” can stand in for “all” — accept Mr. Snyder’s charity, then protest will look like hypocrisy.

In his news release and public statements, Mr. Snyder refers to “our shared Washington Redskins” heritage. To be clear: There is no “our” that includes Mr. Snyder. And there is no “Redskins” that includes us. There has been a sustained effort for decades by activists to change the name of this team and others. Members of my tribe, the Ojibwe, have been a big part of such efforts.

But the franchise, valued at $1.7 billion, has a long history of sacrificing decency at the altar of commerce: George Preston Marshall refused to integrate the team until 1962 (the rest of the N.F.L. began doing so in 1946). When the government forced the team to include black players, fans protested outside carrying signs saying “Keep Redskins White!” At stake back then was money (Marshall was afraid that he’d lose fans if African-Americans were on the roster). Money is similarly at stake now. According to Forbes, the Redskins are the eighth most valuable sports franchise in the world. Just consider the merchandise alone.

Seldom has the entwined nature of ethics and money and influence been revealed as so unavoidably intestinal in its smell and purpose: to consume the material, to nourish the host and to expel the waste. American Indians — who do not see or refer to ourselves as “redskins” and who take great exception to the slur — are that waste.

This isn’t merely symbolic. In 1863, the Cheyenne chief Black Kettle traveled to Washington to protest the government’s treatment of his people. Instead of redress, he received a presidential medal presented by President Lincoln. He was wearing the same medal when he was gunned down by the United States Cavalry at Sand Creek in 1868.

Census data shows that four out of the five poorest United States counties are found within the borders of Indian reservations. So, sure, the gifts of a backhoe and coats are much needed and much appreciated. But gift-giving to Indians rather than systemic change has been an all-too-familiar practice over the centuries, and whether the gifts are beads, backhoes or presidential medals, we know just how much they’re really worth.

Mr. Snyder has been quick to point out that he has the support of a handful of those he calls “tribal leaders,” such as the Lower Brule Sioux tribe vice chairman, Boyd Gourneau, and the Pueblo of Zuni governor, Arlen Quetawki, both quoted in the news release.

“Tribal officials” might be a better term here than “tribal leaders” because although they are elected, it is in no way clear that they actually represent the sentiments of their constituents any more than John Boehner represents the sentiments of most Americans. These officials’ public-relations-ready comments — “I appreciate your sincerity” and “the entire tribe is so appreciative” — are the diplomatic words of dignitaries, nothing more. It would be a mistake to assume that those words imply democratic consent.

The pity that Mr. Snyder seems to feel for Indians and our plight is intimately connected with age-old ideas and images — strength, bravery, a warrior spirit, noble savagery — all of which are conjured by the cartoonish use of Indian names and mascots. We are pitied and feared as Macbeth and Caesar and Achilles are pitied and feared: great but for a fatal flaw (a heel, an ego, ambition). Our tragic flaw, however, is having been subjected to hundreds of years of warfare, colonialism, racism and exclusion.

To pay tribute only to brave warriors and pitiful reservations is to engage in a fantasy that erases the lives of real Indians for whom the racial slur “redskins” is intolerable.

The name will change. Either the N.F.L. will make Mr. Snyder change the name, or we will. But in trying to buy off that inevitable end, Mr. Snyder has made a terrible mistake in confusing charity with donations. Charity, or caritas, can be defined as an act of generous love. Donations, on the other hand, are material objects for which the owner has no real need and can part with easily and painlessly. What Mr. Snyder has created is not a charity. It is a donation depot.

If Mr. Snyder’s hope is that by offering his donations and having them be accepted he has forged a kind of treaty with American Indian tribes — the exchange of coats for the return of good will — he can be sure this is a treaty Indians will break.

David Treuer is an Ojibwe from the Leech Lake Reservation in Minnesota and the author of “Rez Life: An Indian’s Journey Through the Land of His People.”

11673: Bombing Hateful Graffiti.

Is this concept from Croatia really a solution—or does it just potentially add fuel to the fire? Plus, why are all the slurs written in English?

From Ads of the World.

11338: Ugliness Strikes Robinson Statue.

From ESPN…

Swastika, slurs foul Robinson statue

By Adam Rubin | ESPNNewYork.com

NEW YORK—Employees of the Class A Brooklyn Cyclones, a New York Mets affiliate, arrived at work Wednesday morning to find swastikas and racial and anti-Semitic epithets painted on a statue of Jackie Robinson and Pee Wee Reese that is on display outside MCU Park.

The statue shows Reese with his arm around Robinson and commemorates the moment at Cincinnati’s Crosley Field when Reese, playing before his family, showed his solidarity with Robinson amid ugly backlash about the integration of Major League Baseball. The moment was recreated in the recent movie “42.”

The New York City Police Department is investigating the incident at the Coney Island ballpark. There is video surveillance outside the ballpark, a Cyclones spokesman said.

“This is being treated as a bias crime,” detective John Nevandro of the 60th precinct said in a statement. “Hate Crimes will investigate the incident.”

Team employees successfully removed the graffiti from the metallic statue but were having difficulty eradicating it from the stone base. They covered up what could not be removed so fans were not subjected to seeing the epithets upon arriving for a day game between the Brooklyn Cyclones and Connecticut Tigers.

The New York City Parks Department, which is charged with maintaining the statue, has dispatched help to treat the statue’s base.

11245: Paula Deen & Judy Smith—BFF.

Advertising Age reported Paula Deen hired Smith & Co.—whose CEO Judy Smith (pictured above) served as inspiration for Kerry Washington’s character on ABC series “Scandal”—to help deal with the turmoil caused by her use of racial slurs. Deen should have just hired Washington. It would have made for better TV.

Paula Deen Hires Smith & Co., Inspiration for ‘Scandal,’ Gets Letters of Support From Brands

D.C. Shop Recently Worked for Former CIA Chief David Petraeus

By Alexandra Bruell

Paula Deen has hired D.C. crisis firm Smith & Co. as she faces backlash and loses sponsorship deals amid allegations that she has used racial slurs.

Ms. Deen’s management team reached out to the firm a few days ago, an executive familiar with the matter said, after she had already canceled her planned Friday appearance on “The Today Show” and issued a pair of poorly-received YouTube videos instead.

Smith & Co. CEO Judy Smith, who served as the inspiration for Kerry Washington’s character on ABC’s “Scandal,” declined to comment.

In what was likely a first move by the new PR team, Ms. Deen rescheduled her interview with Matt Lauer on “The Today Show” this morning. She broke out in tears as she said she had only used the “N” word while being held at gunpoint.

But Ms. Deen, already scuttled by Smithfield Foods and The Food Network, was also dropped Wednesday by Caesars Entertainment, which has four Paula Deen-branded restaurants in its properties.

Smith & Co. will likely try to focus attention on the business partners that have stuck by Ms. Deen so far, including Novo Nordisk, maker of the diabetes treatment Victoza; Springer Mountain Chicken; Landies Candies; and Tasty Blend Foods.

“Tasty Blend Foods was very pleased with the Paula Deen interview given this morning on the Today Show,” Tasty Blend said in a statement Wednesday. “We appreciate her commitment and how she stepped up and apologized to her viewers, fans and the nation. We personally endorse Paula Deen and what she stands for. We are very saddened that she is being judged by her past, everyone has made a mistake sometime in their lives. We look forward to our continued partnership with her.”

Landies Candies President Larry Szrama also issued a letter of support. “Your interview this morning reaffirms who you really are and what you believe,” he wrote. “We count it a privilege to be your friend and business partner and look forward to sweet success in the future.”

A Random House spokesman said Monday that it is monitoring the situation but remains on course to publish “Paula Deen’s New Testament: 250 Favorite Recipes, All Lightened Up” this fall.

Ms. Deen also has a line of food, cookware and other products sold at national retailers across the country, including Walmart, Kmart and Target. It is not yet clear whether the retail giants will continue to sell the products.

11147: Chrysler CEO Slurs, Wins Award.

News sources reported Chrysler and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne apologized for using an Italian-American slur during the North American International Auto Show last January. Gee, this guy should be working for General Motors.

Chrysler CEO apologizes for Italian-American slur

By Brent Snavely, Detroit Free Press

UPDATE: 6:30 ET with comments from head of Italian-American organization and excerpts from Marchionne letter of apology.

Chrysler and Fiat CEO Sergio Marchionne has apologized to the Italian-American One Voice Coalition for using a term offensive to Italian-Americans during an interview during the North American International Auto Show last January in Detroit.

During a roundtable discussion with reporters, Marchionne was discussing a new Alfa Romeo car to be sold in the U.S. when he said, “with all due respect to my American friends, it needs to be a wop engine.”

Marchionne’s use of the term was intended to convey that a Fiat-designed engine would be better than an American engine for this particular model. The term, however, is offensive to Italian Americans and others, and Marchionne apologized in a letter dated May 15.

The Italian-American One Voice Coalition, which exists to fight bias and ethnic slurs against Americans of Italian descent, sought an apology from Marchionne for several months.

“We jumped on it immediately,” said Manny Alfano, founder and president of the coalition.

Marchionne’s letter acknowledges that his remark was unacceptable and apologized to “anyone who may have been offended.”

“Having had to live through a period of integration into another country a number of years ago, I am keenly aware of the negative implications of stereotyping and the significant efforts required to undo its effects,” Marchionne wrote about his move as teenager from Italk to Toronto with his family. “I am proud of my Italian heritage, and nothing I have said should be interpreted as an attempt at minimizing its value. I extend my apologies to anyone who may have been offended by my remark.”

The term is said to be short for “without papers,” according to the Urban Dictionary, and was used as a derogatory reference to Italian immigrants who came to the U.S. in droves largely from Southern Italy in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.

“I am very happy that we got the apology. I think that is the best we could do at this point in time,” Alfano said.

In 2011, Marchionne apologized for using the term “shyster” to describe the high-interest rates on the loans from the U.S. and Canadian governments that funded Chrysler’s turnaround.

Marchionne is to be honored Friday by the Sons of Italy Foundation, a separate organization from the Italian-American One Voice Coalition. A Chrysler spokeswoman said the timing of Marchionne’s apology is unrelated to the Sons of Italy event.

11122: Redskins Owner Shows True Colors.

From USA TODAY…

Daniel Snyder says Redskins will never change name

By Erik Brady, USA TODAY Sports

Daniel Snyder is owner of the Washington pro football team he grew up adoring. Would he ever consider changing the team name that many American Indians and others believe is a racial slur?

“We will never change the name of the team,” Snyder told USA TODAY Sports this week. “As a lifelong Redskins fan, and I think that the Redskins fans understand the great tradition and what it’s all about and what it means, so we feel pretty fortunate to be just working on next season.”

What if his football team loses an ongoing federal trademark lawsuit? Would he consider changing it then?

“We’ll never change the name,” he said. “It’s that simple. NEVER — you can use caps.”

Snyder does not often speak to the media about the case. He talked to USA TODAY Sports very briefly about it Tuesday afternoon, following a longer interview with him and his wife Tanya about her selection as mother of the year by the American Cancer Society.

Later Thursday, USA TODAY Sports will publish a story about Amanda Blackhorse, who is Navajo and the named plaintiff in the trademark suit. She said if she ever had the chance, she’d ask Snyder if he would dare to call her a redskin to her face.

“I think the best way is to just not comment on that type of stuff,” Snyder said. “I don’t know her.”

11081: Chink’s To Become Joe’s.

From The New York Daily News…

Historic Philly steak shop changes its controversial name to avoid racial slur

Chink’s Steaks restaurant was named after founder Sam “Chink” Sherman. After protests from Asian-American groups, current owner Joe Groh is changing the Philadelphia restaurant’s name to Joe’s Steaks & Soda Shop.

From The Associated Press

PHILADELPHIA - The owner of a historic cheesesteak shop in Philadelphia says he’s changing its controversial name.

Chink’s Steaks owner Joe Groh says he’ll change the name to Joe’s Steaks & Soda Shop on Monday. Civil rights groups have long protested the current name, citing its reference to a racial slur.

Groh tells The Associated Press it’s time to “get with the times.”

The shop opened in 1949 and was named for founder Sam “Chink” Sherman, who died in 1997. Groh says Sherman was like a father to him, and Sherman never thought of his nickname as a slur. He says neighborhood kids came up with the nickname.

Asian-American groups have long petitioned for a change, however, thousands of people signed a petition years ago in favor of keeping the original name.

10977: Symposium On Slurs.

From USA TODAY…

‘Redskins’ deemed racial slur at Washington museum

WASHINGTON (AP) — Hurtful names and racial stereotypes of all types were discussed and dissected Thursday in a daylong symposium at the Smithsonian, and the Washington Redskins were at the top of the list for nearly all those who spoke.

“I can only imagine what it would be like to be at a football game at FedEx Field in a crowd of close to 90,000, all screaming at the top of their lungs, when what they are screaming is a racial slur,” said Judith Bartnoff, a deputy presiding judge in District of Columbia Superior Court.

By the time the day was over, they had a convert.

Unaware of what the presentation was all about, Andre Holland wore his burgundy and gold Redskins hat, ear muffs and key chain to the National Museum of the American Indian. He was on a field trip with his Sports in America class from Anne Arundel Community College.

When the sessions ended, the 20-year-old student had removed the hat and disavowed the nickname of his lifelong favorite NFL team, having been persuaded that it’s as racist as the worst names he might be called as an African-American.

“I really don’t feel right wearing this stuff now,” Holland said. “And now I can’t even say ‘HTTR’ — which is ‘Hail to the Redskins’ — because that’s chanting something racist. I’m going to be a fan of Washington — a ‘Washington football team.’ Not the ‘Washington Redskins.’”

Panelists and audience members explained why they felt the name was offensive and offered all sorts of ideas — including a protest at training camp and the need to get franchise quarterback Robert Griffin III to speak out — that might persuade team owner Dan Snyder that a change is needed.

Holland was convinced. He was one of the few in the partisan crowd who showed up liking the name. As he listened, he started tweeting — and he said the feedback he got opened his eyes, along the panels’ presentations about the history of insensitive mascots such as “Little Red,” who used to dance at University of Oklahoma games. Also under scrutiny was a red-skinned image named “Mr. Yakoo” used by the North Quincy Red Raiders at a high school in Massachusetts.

Near the end of the final session, Holland went to the microphone and compared Redskins to the n-word, then turned around and gave a hug to the Native American standing next in line.

“A serious day for me,” Holland said.

Organizers say the Redskins did not respond to an invitation to participate, and no one stood up to defend the Redskins name when the audience was invited to participate.

There has been momentum toward changing names deemed offensive, although Snyder has been adamant about that he’s not going to join the trend. On Tuesday, Washington Mayor Vincent Gray specifically avoided saying the name of franchise in his State of the District speech and instead referred to “our Washington football team.”

In 2005, the NCAA announced it would ban the use of American Indian imagery and nicknames at postseason tournaments. Some schools have since been granted exceptions with the support of tribes, such as the Florida State Seminoles.

The latest to make the switch are the students at Cooperstown high school in upstate New York, who voted this week to ditch their “Redskins” nickname. The school, located in the hometown of “The Last of the Mohicans” author James Fenimore Cooper, is considering “Deerslayers,” “Hawkeyes” and “Pathfinders” as alternatives.

Suzan Shown Harjo, president of the Washington-based Morning Star Institute, an advocacy group, said there are some 900 troublesome nicknames and mascots across the country, down from a peak of more than 3,000 when “Little Red” was taken off the field in the early 1970s.

“We consider it racial profiling,” former Colorado Sen. Ben Nighthorse Campbell said. “I think more and more people are recognizing it.”

The best chance to change Snyder’s mind would likely be to hit him in the pocketbook by getting the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office to void the Redskins trademark. A group of American Indians made progress on that front during a 17-year court battle that came to a halt in 2009 because it was ruled that the plaintiffs waited too long to file their original case. There is now a new case filed by younger plaintiffs that is due for a hearing next month.

8828: Glee Is A Four-Letter Word.

Go check out Jim Edwards at BNET, as he examines the Glee PSA that seeks to persuade everyone to stop using the word “retard” by depicting people uttering a slew of slurs. “The R-Word is the same as every minority slur,” declares Jane Lynch. “Treat it that way, and don’t use it.” Ugh. This sort of shock tactic is never really impressive—and likely not effective. Besides, Lynch’s willingness to prostitute herself for any advertiser that comes knocking weakens her credibility in this instance; in fact, it’s almost insulting to watch the woman here. Then again, MultiCultClassics is no Glee fan. Or Lynch groupie.

8726: Kobe Bryant Makes PSAmends.

Kobe Bryant and Lakers teammates taped a psa calling for inclusion. Wow, this thing is dripping with sincerity. Bryant declared, “Words can be hurtful. Replace them with understanding, compassion and acceptance.” And $100,000.

8715: Going Into Overtime With Kobe Bryant.

Did anyone else watch Kobe Bryant take a nasty tumble in the opening NBA Playoff game and think it was karma and/or Higher Power payback for his anti-gay slur? After bashing his noggin on a courtside chair or spectator’s knee, did the Lakers guard bark bigoted names at the team trainer or fan? Probably not—and that’s the main problem with Bryant’s earlier disgusting and discriminatory display.

As often happens during these types of fiascos, people snarled that the Kobe haters were overly sensitive, politically-correct liberals. Or worse. Of course, these condemning critics never consider the possibility that they may be revealing insensitivity, political incorrectness and Tea Party tendencies. Or worse.

Bryant entered the league in 1996. He is a professional athlete—accent on professional—who should completely understand that lots of cameras are recording his every move and mouth-off while in the stadium. What was Bryant attempting to do by hollering at the referee to begin with? Does he believe he is so entitled that officials ought to halt a game and contemplate his opinion on anything?

Remember, the arrogant All-Star didn’t merely utter an anti-gay slur. It was preceded by the F-bomb, which Bryant should also know is a big no-no during broadcasts. Please don’t insist that the proposed penalty is too excessive. As the man earns about $25,806,250 per season—and tons more in endorsements—the $100,000 fine is like Joe Public dropping a few dollars into the company swear jar.

Bryant is fluent in multiple languages. Plus, he is extraordinarily articulate for an athlete. He picks his words carefully. The superstar has joked about cussing at refs in Serbian. He had a wide variety of naughty phrases at his disposal, yet his ultimate selection mirrored the eruptions of Michael Richards, Don Imus and Mel Gibson.

Yes, Bryant has a reputation for arguing with officials. But no one has ever suggested he attend anger management training like, say, teammate Ron Artest. The presumption is that Bryant is in control. He’s aware of what he does and says.

Bryant responded in ridiculous fashion after causing the initial stir. He said, “The comment that I made, even though it wasn’t meant in the way it was perceived to be, is nonetheless wrong, so it’s important to own that.” However, he’s appealing the $100k fine.

Bryant added, “The concern that I have is for those that follow what I say and are inspired by how I play or look to me as a role model or whatever it is, for them not to take what is said as a message of hate or a license to degrade or embarrass or tease. That’s something I don’t want to see happen.” Um, hurling vulgar slurs at an official is disrespect—which could fall into the same category as degradation, embarrassment or teasing.

And like it or not, with his choice of curses, Bryant appeared to show latent homophobia. You don’t need a referee to call it.

8705: Batteries, Bumbling, Bigots & Blacks.

Enhancing the news in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Sears is suing the maker of a sexual enhancement spray for trademark infringement. The sex spray company calls its product Die Hard, which Sears insists is too similar to its DieHard car batteries. Actually, Sears could spike sales by offering a promotional tie-in—a free can of sex enhancement spray with every new battery.

• A spokesperson for the Rev. Jesse Jackson denied charges that a man was pushed out of his job at Rainbow PUSH Coalition because he’s gay. The ex-worker also accused the civil rights leader of forcing him to perform “uncomfortable” tasks like escorting women to hotel rooms to rendezvous with Jackson. “The Rainbow PUSH Coalition and Rev. Jesse Jackson Sr., unequivocally deny [the] false claims of harassment, retaliation and discrimination,” said the PUSH spokesperson. “We are fully cooperating with the Chicago Commission on Human Relations and expect to be fully exonerated.” In the meantime, Jackson should avoid being seen courtside at the NBA Playoffs cheering on Kobe Bryant.

• If Kobe Bryant loses his appeal and pays the $100,000 fine for directing an anti-gay slur at a referee, the money should be donated to a pro-LGBT organization. Like the WNBA.

• Donald Trump loves the Blacks—like Omarosa and NeNe Leakes.

8703: Apps And Ass.

Late-Breaking News in a MultiCultClassics Monologue…

• Apple is hyping the upcoming release of the White iPhone 4. Sure, the company can’t meet iPad demands, but there’s no problem delivering the White iPhone.

• Kobe Bryant will officially contest his $100,000 fine for directing an anti-gay slur at a referee, saying the appeal is “standard protocol.” Well, Bryant better hope the judges don’t go to the replay to make the final call. Bryant also said, “The comment that I made, even though it wasn’t meant in the way it was perceived to be, is nonetheless wrong, so it’s important to own that. … The concern that I have is for those that follow what I say and are inspired by how I play or look to me as a role model or whatever it is, for them not to take what is said as a message of hate or a license to degrade or embarrass or tease. That’s something I don’t want to see happen. It’s important for me to talk about that issue because it’s OK to be who you are, and I don’t want this issue to be a part of something or to magnify something that shouldn’t be.” Don’t worry, Kobe, the public has always known you’re an immature prick with a mean streak.