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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
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| US sports reporters refuse to use name of Washington Redskins | US sports reporters refuse to use name of Washington Redskins |
| (5 days later) | |
| A growing number of American sports journalists are refusing to mention the name of Washington DC's football team - the Washington Redskins. They have come to accept that Redskins is a racist term. | A growing number of American sports journalists are refusing to mention the name of Washington DC's football team - the Washington Redskins. They have come to accept that Redskins is a racist term. |
| The latest writer to stop using the name is Sports Illustrated's Peter King, who says he does not want "to add to the offensiveness" to native Americans who see the name as "a slur." He writes: | The latest writer to stop using the name is Sports Illustrated's Peter King, who says he does not want "to add to the offensiveness" to native Americans who see the name as "a slur." He writes: |
| "I have no idea if this is the right thing to do for the public, or the politically correct thing to do, and I'm not going to sit here and try to preach about it and tell you if you like the name you're wrong or if you hate the name you're wrong. | "I have no idea if this is the right thing to do for the public, or the politically correct thing to do, and I'm not going to sit here and try to preach about it and tell you if you like the name you're wrong or if you hate the name you're wrong. |
| I can just tell you how I feel: I've been increasingly bothered by using the word, and I don't want to be a part of using a name that a cross-section of our society feels is insulting." | I can just tell you how I feel: I've been increasingly bothered by using the word, and I don't want to be a part of using a name that a cross-section of our society feels is insulting." |
| His decision was unpopular with the majority of commenters to the Sports Illustrated website. The reaction by BossHogg reflected the prevailing view: | His decision was unpopular with the majority of commenters to the Sports Illustrated website. The reaction by BossHogg reflected the prevailing view: |
| "A proud Washington Redskins fan for 50 years. An avid Peter King reader for many years – but not any more. That's the most ridiculous, nonsensical 'stand' I've heard a professional writer make." | "A proud Washington Redskins fan for 50 years. An avid Peter King reader for many years – but not any more. That's the most ridiculous, nonsensical 'stand' I've heard a professional writer make." |
| Another, Starstruck, wrote: "King should change his last name out of political correctness respect for all the millions of people butchered, murdered, and enslaved by 'kings' throughout the history of mankind." | Another, Starstruck, wrote: "King should change his last name out of political correctness respect for all the millions of people butchered, murdered, and enslaved by 'kings' throughout the history of mankind." |
| King's decision comes after several other writers stopped mentioning the Redskins by name earlier this year. On 10 June, Tim Graham of the Buffalo News said he would no longer use "the R-word". | King's decision comes after several other writers stopped mentioning the Redskins by name earlier this year. On 10 June, Tim Graham of the Buffalo News said he would no longer use "the R-word". |
| Two days later, Philadelphia Daily News's veteran sports reporter, John Smallwood, wrote: "I no longer will consciously used the official name of the NFL team in Washington." On 8 August, Slate's David Plotz announced that the site would follow suit, and soon after so did the New Republic and Mother Jones. | Two days later, Philadelphia Daily News's veteran sports reporter, John Smallwood, wrote: "I no longer will consciously used the official name of the NFL team in Washington." On 8 August, Slate's David Plotz announced that the site would follow suit, and soon after so did the New Republic and Mother Jones. |
| Many critics of the journalists' decision argue that the Redskins name is intended to honour the bravery and dignity of American Indians. And a 2002 poll commissioned by Sports Illustrated found that 75% of native Americans had no objection to the Redskins name. | Many critics of the journalists' decision argue that the Redskins name is intended to honour the bravery and dignity of American Indians. And a 2002 poll commissioned by Sports Illustrated found that 75% of native Americans had no objection to the Redskins name. |
| There have been failed legal attempts by groups of native Americans to ban the use of the trademark name. One is proceeding through the courts now. | There have been failed legal attempts by groups of native Americans to ban the use of the trademark name. One is proceeding through the courts now. |
| Sources: Sports Illustrated/Poynter/NESN/Buffalo News/Philadelphia Daily News/Slate | Sources: Sports Illustrated/Poynter/NESN/Buffalo News/Philadelphia Daily News/Slate |