The Train Daddy is back with the pain, Daddy, and ready once again to hit you punks in the mouth with some serious sports knowledge and life lessons in a sexy kind of way.

The sports world is constantly changing. We live in a country where everyone has an opinion and everyone has a voice, and I personally love voicing my opinion., I love weighing out the pros and cons of a decision, I love to study sports; it’s a true passion that I have.

I had planned on talking about the World Cup in this article—the intense play of the USA or the controversial ending to Mexico’s season, the corruption of FIFA or the stupid decision to play the 2022 World Cup in Qatar. The president of FIFA recently stated that awarding the bid to the first-ever Middle Eastern country, Qatar, was a mistake after defending the decision for months. Qatar’s population is 85% migrant workers, and since winning the bid to host the games, 1,200 workers have been killed prepping for it. In a Middle Eastern country where homosexuals are murdered, alcohol is illegal, women must cover their lady parts entirely and it’s a place hotter than hell, FIFA, what are you thinking? Rumors have circulated that the USA has been put on alert by FIFA to be prepared to host the event should they strip Qatar of their bid. I hope they do.

But that’s all the soccer talk you get; I have a burning desire to voice my opinion on the Redskins controversy and really break it down. So before you get too deep into this article, let me tell you that I am 100 percent against changing the Redskins name. I originally planned on doing this article a few months ago, but I decided to wait and think more about it. I slowly let the matter marinate inside me. Now, the meat is tender and juicy and ready for the grill. So let me explain why I feel the way I do.

Hail to the Redskins! Hail victory! Braves on the warpath! Fight for old DC! Run or pass and score, we want a lot more! Beat ’em, swamp ’em, touchdown! Let the points soar! This is the Redskins fight song, composed in 1937 by the team’s band leader, and today remains one of the best known and most popular chants in the NFL. The Redskins are a team of pride and history. I wish my Tennessee Titans had a tradition that rich and full of history. Someday, maybe, but an old franchise like the Redskins, well, they have deep roots. And these roots are being threatened by the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office as well as a group of senate democrats voicing their opinion on the matter. In Virginia, a group of delegates recently stated the controversy is all political correctness on steroids and have created a fledgling group named the Redskins Pride Caucus in an attempt to back the Redskins name. So I ask you right here in the middle of this article: is the name Redskins racist? I have never heard the word used in a derogatory way; I mean, anyone growing up watching westerns, well, you hear cowboys calling Indians “injuns,” and I can understand that being completely derogatory. No one questions that some of the things that happened to the Native Americans were awful, but it’s part of history now. I read an article by a well-known journalist who claimed if the matter offends even one person then the name should be changed. That’s ridiculous, because someone will always be offended no matter the route you take. Imagine being an owner of a new team: everything is new and you have to create the team, the colors, the names, the mascot; you give your new team an identity. You want your mascot to be as cool and prideful as possible. Why are so many teams named after Native Americans, then? Because most of these names represent honor, pride and Native Americans were known for being survivors, great warriors. I imagine if I were Native American I would be proud that so many teams thought highly enough of my ancestors to name a billion-dollar franchise after them. But I am not Native American, so what do I know? It’s just my opinion. I am just saying you don’t see teams named the New York Homeless Folk or the Cleveland Goobers or even the Tennessee Buck Tooth Rednecks—no, you name your team with something that gives you pride, and then an entire city and entire fan base embraces and respects the mascot.

My worry is if the Redskins are forced to change, how far will this go for other teams, what new rules and regulations will the government be able to enforce? I had a wise man tell me that the only way nobody gets offended is to numerically name sports teams: “Tonight on Monday Night Football the No. 14’s versus the No. 3’s.” It’s a rivalry that dates back to the good old days: no names, no controversy. Just like the Redskins there are bound to be other teams deemed offensive. The Minnesota Vikings: I reckon there are bound to be some Scandinavian football fans out there who don’t appreciate being identified with men who raped and pillaged. The L.A. Angels: enough with the religion! If you want a mascot with wings, pick a bird like everyone else. My hometown Tennessee Titans: Greece conquered the known world thousands of years ago, so don’t force their mythology down my throat. The Toronto Raptors could offend anyone terrified by the Jurassic Park movies. The Boston Celtics: an obvious attack on Irish heritage, a team making a profit on shamrocks and leprechauns. We might even need to take my favorite cereal off the shelf. Lucky Charms could be deemed offensive also, but they’re so magically delicious! The Fighting Irish of Notre Dame: so I reckon all Irish people are known for starting bar fights before a game. The San Francisco Giants is a clear insult to the vertically challenged people of America. How about San Francisco one-size-fits-all for a proper non-discriminatory name? And lastly, the New England Patriots: there is nothing patriotic about the founding fathers and colonists conspiring against the British Crown. The government minions know best. (These are just a few of the wonderful examples from ijreview.com). This is a slippery slope we stand on, and one thing I don’t like is government telling us what’s right and what’s wrong.

So I imagine all these other teams named after Native Americans should be ready to fight for their name. I mean, the Cleveland Indians is a politically incorrect name, right? I wouldn’t be bringing this up if there weren’t numerous reports of these activist leaders calling for all Native American activity to cease at all levels of sporting events. We have the Braves, the Chiefs, the Blackhawks, the Seminoles, and who knows how many high schools named after Native Americans. The pride of high school football in this great city known as the ’Boro goes to the ’94, ’97, ’01, ’04 state champions the Riverdale Warriors. Their mascot is Chief Win-Em-All, on the sidelines of the field stands a smoking tepee, and ritual demands that a long spear is spiked into center field before a game, while the famous tomahawk chop is a guarantee at a Riverdale game. The road that gets you to the stadium is named Warrior Drive and the stadium is named Tomahawk Stadium—an awful lot of Native American stereotypes. Should Riverdale change everything that makes them Riverdale because some people think they’re degrading their culture and ancestors? No. They take pride in all they do.

So let’s wrap this thing up. Sorry if I offended anyone but this is something I have been thinking on for months now. I hope this country keeps striving to make itself a better place, full of opportunities and possibilities for all people of color. There will never be true change if there isn’t honest conversation from all sides of the table. And all sides will never agree, but we can always come to some resolution. That’s why America is so great, we can speak freely, and while all may not agree, we all have the same right to speak from the heart. Just as an owner should have the right to name his franchise after whatever he desires. If you don’t like it, don’t be a fan. But we the people decide what is wrong and right, not a few in the government. The Train is out the station. Choo-choo!