Thanato Posted February 27, 2013 #1 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Ottawa TomaHawks considering name change after outcry Ottawa's new basketball team could be dropping its TomaHawks name, less than a day after its unveiling raised concerns with Ottawa's aboriginal community. The team, part of the fledgling nine-team National Basketball League of Canada, unveiled the name at Ottawa's city hall on Tuesday afternoon. Bytown Sports and Entertainment, the owners of the team, say they took the name from a type of slam dunk in basketball, and not from the fighting axe used by First Nations people. But it wasn't long after the announcement that people on Twitter and other social messaging forums called the name racist and offensive. "It sets Ottawa back almost thirty years, when the NCAA is on its way to remove names like this. Here we are starting new teams with names like Tomahawk, it's...it's backwards," said Ian Campeau, an Ottawa aboriginal and a DJ with Ottawa musicians A Tribe Called Red. Team co-owner Gus Takkale said on Tuesday First Nations groups were consulted beforehand. "I want to make sure I'm clear with everybody, this is the name that we have, it's a tomahawk dunk with no intended native reference, and that's clear," said Takkale. But an official at Bytown Sports and Entertainment told CBC News on Wednesday morning that the team is now considering changing the name. The team's inaugural season is to begin in November at Scotiabank Place. The league also features teams from Windsor, London, Oshawa, Montreal, Moncton, Saint John, Halifax and Summerside. http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/ottawa/story/2013/02/27/ottawa-tomahawks-basketball-team-name-change.html Oh come on. The bloody team is named after an AXE! How the hell is this 'racist'. Keep the name, then educate others that the team is named after a tool. ~Thanato 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hasina Posted February 27, 2013 #2 Share Posted February 27, 2013 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corp Posted February 27, 2013 #3 Share Posted February 27, 2013 They've decided to change the name. The whole thing is just massively stupid. People being offended because they want to have something to be offended about. I wonder if the team was called the Katanas if it would be racists towards the Japanese. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+OverSword Posted February 27, 2013 #4 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Ridiculous! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hatecraft Posted February 27, 2013 #5 Share Posted February 27, 2013 Some people are so easily offended. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Princess Serenity Posted February 27, 2013 #6 Share Posted February 27, 2013 [bangs head] Oh my god. Get over it you stupid idiots! For heaven's sake. Why is this a bad thing after it's been there for so long? Ugh! 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F3SS Posted February 27, 2013 #7 Share Posted February 27, 2013 This is what you get when political correctness and liberalism infect your community. Yes, infect. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hasina Posted February 27, 2013 #8 Share Posted February 27, 2013 'THERE BETTER NOT BE A TEAM CALLED THE UNICORNS. MY FATHER'S STEED SHOULD NEVER BE INSULTED.' This is how silly this is. North Korea silly. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sir Wearer of Hats Posted February 27, 2013 #9 Share Posted February 27, 2013 They should change the name to someone proper and acceptable like the Assault Rifles or something like that. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Indiogene Posted March 1, 2013 #10 Share Posted March 1, 2013 The word "Tomahawk" has obviously different connotations than "Redskin", an ethnic slur directed onto Native Americans and First Nations people, and still there is the Washington Redskins of the NFL decidedly kept their name out of support by fans. What should the team get called: the Ottawa Axes? Come up with a clever team name as long it doesn't potentially "offend" anyone (LOL). 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
F3SS Posted March 1, 2013 #11 Share Posted March 1, 2013 The Ottawa Native American Assault Hatchets. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
+and-then Posted March 1, 2013 #12 Share Posted March 1, 2013 The Ottowaxes? Nah, that'd make people think of hairless Otters... If natives find such things so insulting then maybe history should just be ignored and no references be made to their accomplishments or heritage at all. No, wait, that'd be offensive too 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Myles Posted March 1, 2013 #13 Share Posted March 1, 2013 Fine, now I'm not going to watch any of their games. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taun Posted March 1, 2013 #14 Share Posted March 1, 2013 (edited) The Ottawa We-Were Going-To-Have-A-Cool-Sounding-Name-But-To-Avoid-Potentially-Insulting-Anyone-Anywhere-For-Any-Reason-We-Will-Have-No-Names-Oh-Wait-Isn't-Ottawa-An-Aboriginal-Name-Itself.. I like it... Lets see that on the jerseys... Edited March 1, 2013 by Taun 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rafterman Posted March 1, 2013 #15 Share Posted March 1, 2013 Good to know that all issues within the First Peoples (isn't that what you guys call them up there?) community are so well in hand that they can move on to issues like this. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thanato Posted March 1, 2013 Author #16 Share Posted March 1, 2013 Good to know that all issues within the First Peoples (isn't that what you guys call them up there?) community are so well in hand that they can move on to issues like this. Oh you have no idea. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tapirmusic Posted March 1, 2013 #17 Share Posted March 1, 2013 How in the world is 'axe' racist? Seriously, lemme axe yall a question.... Imma axe it one time and then I'm not gonna axe it again. How is the word 'axe' racist? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Corp Posted March 1, 2013 #18 Share Posted March 1, 2013 Some have put forward the theory that this was nothing more than a publicity stunt. In Ottawa most sports that aren't hockey have a hard time getting coverage. Before this story I didn't even know we were going to have a basketball team. And all the articles only quoted one why why was outraged. Not sure if they later commented but larger groups like the AFN were rather quiet. Some the theory that came up on the local message boards is that the team came out with a name, got some guy to be super outraged and generate a big media buzz, then quickly change the name. Kind of hope that theory is true since if not there's some really dumb people out there. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Taun Posted March 1, 2013 #19 Share Posted March 1, 2013 Some have put forward the theory that this was nothing more than a publicity stunt. In Ottawa most sports that aren't hockey have a hard time getting coverage. Before this story I didn't even know we were going to have a basketball team. And all the articles only quoted one why why was outraged. Not sure if they later commented but larger groups like the AFN were rather quiet. Some the theory that came up on the local message boards is that the team came out with a name, got some guy to be super outraged and generate a big media buzz, then quickly change the name. Kind of hope that theory is true since if not there's some really dumb people out there. Hadn't thought of that possible angle... Hmmm.. Sounds plausible... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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