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)

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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)

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)

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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)

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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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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)

Kansas City Chiefs - The Kansas City Chiefs are also part of the decades-long debate over whether drawing from Native American culture in sports is honorable or exploitative. Most notably, in 2005, Native American tribal groups protested outside Arrowhead Stadium in a game against the Redskins. (Photo: NFL)

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Kansas City Chiefs - The Kansas City Chiefs are also part of the decades-long debate over whether drawing from Native American culture in sports is honorable or exploitative. Most notably, in 2005, Native American tribal groups protested outside Arrowhead Stadium in a game against the Redskins. (Photo: NFL)

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London Rippers - Hailing from London, a city in Ontario, Canada, the London Rippers were bashed for both its name and logo, which critics said paid homage to the infamous serial killer known as Jack the Ripper. In the end, after just one season, financial shortfalls led to the dissolution of the baseball team in 2012. (Photo: Frontier League)

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London Rippers - Hailing from London, a city in Ontario, Canada, the London Rippers were bashed for both its name and logo, which critics said paid homage to the infamous serial killer known as Jack the Ripper. In the end, after just one season, financial shortfalls led to the dissolution of the baseball team in 2012. (Photo: Frontier League)

Warriors Assistant Secretly Taped Talks - When Golden State Warriors assistant coach Darren Erman became the second assistant to be fired in two weeks earlier this month, the team would only cite a “violation of company policy” as the trigger. But according to ESPN, Erman was secretly recording conversations between the team's coaches and players. It’s unknown whether he was recording conversations for management or other teams as of yet.(Photo: NBA)

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Golden State Warriors - Moving away from stereotypes, the Golden State Warriors eliminated logos with Native American imagery in 1971. Since then, the basketball team has embraced logos highlighting the state of California (the current logo features a stylized version of the San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge). (Photo: NBA)

Cleveland Indians - Perhaps one of the most infamous mascot controversies comes by way of "Chief Wahoo," mascot of the Cleveland Indians baseball team. The cartoon character of a grinning Native American man has been the target of social groups such as the NAACP and Native American tribal organizations. (Photo: MLB)

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Cleveland Indians - Perhaps one of the most infamous mascot controversies comes by way of "Chief Wahoo," mascot of the Cleveland Indians baseball team. The cartoon character of a grinning Native American man has been the target of social groups such as the NAACP and Native American tribal organizations. (Photo: MLB)

New York Knickerbockers - On its official site, the New York Knicks (formerly New York Knickerbockers) clear up any confusion over whether their mascot is an offensive depiction of Dutch settlers in New York during the 1600s. The basketball team states that it specifically refers to the style of cropped pants, known later as "knickerbockers" or "knickers," a name that would later become largely associated with New York City. (Photo: NBA)

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New York Knickerbockers - On its official site, the New York Knicks (formerly New York Knickerbockers) clear up any confusion over whether their mascot is an offensive depiction of Dutch settlers in New York during the 1600s. The basketball team states that it specifically refers to the style of cropped pants, known later as "knickerbockers" or "knickers," a name that would later become largely associated with New York City. (Photo: NBA)

Ottawa Tomahawks - The Ottawa Tomahawks basketball team (part of the National Basketball League of Canada) made its official debut this past February, but public outcry over the name sent owners back to the drawing board. After about 12 hours of deliberation, the team announced they had adopted a new moniker, the Ottawa SkyHawks, a name that was coined with the help of fans voting on the team's Facebook page. (Photo: NBL Canada)

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Ottawa Tomahawks - The Ottawa Tomahawks basketball team (part of the National Basketball League of Canada) made its official debut this past February, but public outcry over the name sent owners back to the drawing board. After about 12 hours of deliberation, the team announced they had adopted a new moniker, the Ottawa SkyHawks, a name that was coined with the help of fans voting on the team's Facebook page. (Photo: NBL Canada)