Mike Ditka has heard the controversy surrounding the Washington Redskins’ nickname, and quite frankly, he’s had enough.
The ESPN analyst and former Chicago Bears coach recently sat down for an interview with Mike Richman of RedskinsHistorian.com and was asked what he thought about growing movement that demands the team’s nickname be changed.
“What’s all the stink over the Redskin name?” Ditka said, via the Washington Post. “It’s so much (expletive) it’s incredible. We’re going to let the liberals of the world run this world. It was said out of reverence, out of pride to the American Indian. Even though it was called a Redskin, what are you going to call them, a Brownskin?
“This is so stupid it’s appalling, and I hope that owner keeps fighting for it and never changes it, because the Redskins are part of an American football history, and it should never be anything but the Washington Redskins. That’s the way it is.”
Ditka went on to argue that the current controversy was started not by locals, but by outsiders who don’t understand the history of the franchise.
“It’s all the political correct idiots in America, that’s all it is,” Ditka said. “It’s got nothing to do with anything else. We’re going to change something because we can. … It’s fine to protest. … You have a right to do that, but to change the name, that’s ridiculous. Change the Constitution — we’ve got people trying to do that, too, and they’re doing a pretty good job.”
Ditka also applauded Redskins owner Dan Snyder, who has been steadfast in his refusal to change the team’s nickname.
“I admire him for it,” Ditka said. “Really, I think it’s tradition, it’s history, it’s part of the National Football League.”
Photo via Adam Hunger/USA TODAY Sports Images
