10 Sports Team Names That Caused Controversy

The Redskins and other teams bashed for their nicknames.

Washington Redskins - Ten members of Congress have reportedly called for the Washington Redskins football team to change its nickname, adding to a growing chorus of critics over the years who say the moniker is insensitive to Native Americans. Take a look at other professional teams that have come under fire for their nicknames and mascots. — Britt Middleton (Photo:  NFL)
Chicago Blackhawks - The fact that the hockey team's mascot is nicknamed "Tommy Hawk" and its logo features a caricature of a Native American man with feathers adorning his head has been cited as racially insensitive by the National Congress of American Indians, a group that has rallied professional sports leagues to remove references to Native Americans from their team rosters. (Photo: NHL)
Washington Bullets - The Washington Bullets became the Washington Wizards in 1997, after the basketball team's owners wanted to distance the franchise from negative associations to gun violence. However, that name, too, caused a stir with some fans as the term Wizard is a rank within the Ku Klux Klan and the team was based in a city with a sizable African-American community. (Photo: NBA)Atlanta Braves - The team's "screaming Indian" logo, featuring a mohawked Native American figure engaged in a battle cry, was retired in 1989. However, reports this past February confirmed the baseball team planned to bring the logo back for use on the team's batting-practice caps. The team ultimately decided to scrap the plans following a siege of criticism. (Photo: MLB)

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Washington Redskins - Ten members of Congress have reportedly called for the Washington Redskins football team to change its nickname, adding to a growing chorus of critics over the years who say the moniker is insensitive to Native Americans. Take a look at other professional teams that have come under fire for their nicknames and mascots. — Britt Middleton (Photo:  NFL)

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