Mike Ditka is as old school as they come, so it’s probably no surprise that he believes the Washington Redskins should keep their nickname. But what is surprising is how strongly he feels about the subject and why.
Ditka did an interview with Redskins Historian Mike Richman this month and his comments received publicity after The Washington Post wrote about it Tuesday.
Here’s what Ditka said:
“What’s all the stink over the Redskin name?” Ditka said. “It’s so much horses— it’s incredible. We’re going to let the liberals of the world run this world. It was said out of reverence, out of pride to the American Indian. Even though it was called a Redskin, what are you going to call them, a Brownskin? This is so stupid it’s appalling, and I hope that owner keeps fighting for it and never changes it, because the Redskins are part of an American football history, and it should never be anything but the Washington Redskins. That’s the way it is.
“Its been the name of the team since the beginning of football. It has nothing to do with something that happened lately, or something that somebody dreamed up. This was the name, period. Leave it alone. These people are silly — asinine, actually, in my opinion.”
Ditka continued to blast the PC liberals.
“It’s all the political correct idiots in America, that’s all it is,” Ditka said. “It’s got nothing to do with anything else. We’re going to change something because we can. Hey listen, I went through it in the 60s, too. I mean, come on. Everybody lined up, did this. It’s fine to protest. That’s your right, if you don’t like it, protest. You have a right to do that, but to change the name, that’s ridiculous. Change the Constitution — we’ve got people trying to do that, too, and they’re doing a pretty good job.”
While many people will be in disbelief over Ditka’s thoughts, many more will love him for them. This is Da Coach we’re talking about. The same guy who called Jonathan Martin a baby. The same guy who criticized Matthew Stafford for wearing his hat backwards. Of course he’s going to want the Redskins to keep an offensive name to save tradition. And of course old school folks will love him for standing up for what they believe is right.
When you’re evaluating the merits of Ditka’s argument, just keep in mind that he’s the same guy who thought it was a rational idea to trade his entire draft for Ricky Williams. That is all.
