Federal fireworks
In a legal battle that has stretched two decades, the worm is turning in the battle between Native American and the Washington NFL franchise.
The team will appeal, but quite simply this is the first step in the process that will eventually end the use of Redskins as the team name for the NFL franchise in Washington.
FILE - In this Aug. 7, 2014 file photo, the Washington Redskins logo is seen on the field before an NFL football preseason game against the New England Patriots in Landover, Md. A federal judge has ordered the Patent and Trademark Office to cancel registration of the Washington Redskins' trademark, ruling that the team name may be disparaging to Native Americans. The ruling Wednesday by Judge Gerald Bruce Lee affirms an earlier finding by an administrative appeal board. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) This means legally that the Redskins do not have the trademark on their merchandise, and that is a bigger deal than any commercial from a protest group or a Senator calling for a hearing.
Without the patent and the trademark, anyone can make and sell the logo and gear. That means tens of millions of dollars of year in licensing fees for the Washington Redskins and owner Daniel Snyder.
Plus, since all the NFL franchises other than the Dallas Cowboys share revenue from merchandise sales, this will mean for the first time there will be a fair amount of internal pressure from the other owners since they stand to lose money.
You would almost have to be Rip Van Winkle napping under a rock on the third moon of Saturn to not be aware of the avalanche of social protest happening around us.
The background noise has become headline news and the discourse whether the "Dukes of Hazzards" is on Nick at Nite is at a fevered pitch.
Here's what I wrote about that for A2 in today's TFP that included this:
It's gotten to the point that serious people with valid points were discussing whether the "Dukes of Hazzard" television show was racist because there was a flag connected with the Confederate states on the roof of a Dodge.
"The Dukes of Hazzard" stars, clockwise, from top, Catherine Bach (Daisy Duke), John Schneider (Bo Duke) and Tom Wopat (Luke Duke).The debate spiraled to the point where a cable network canceled reruns of the "Dukes of Hazzard" to avoid protests. In some ways, taking that show - which routinely got laughs from the stereotypical backward nature of Southerners and introduced us to a future Georgia legislator as a character named Cooter - off the air is a blessing to a lot of Southern folks.
In truth, if we're going to use the TV medium as an anti-racist platform, air the lunacy and antics of Archie Bunker on a daily basis. (He lived in one of the five boroughs of New York, by the way.) Confront racism by showing a caricature of racism; the Dukes were more Robin Hood than boys in white hoods.
Now to pretend that the Redskins have any chance of retaining their name in the overly political correct culture is folly. And it may not be a hot-button issue for the anti-Confederate Flag folks, but it's about equal footing, not unlike uniform parenting.
So let the games begin as the social media angst target moves to the Beltway and an NFL team.
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Free-falling fingers from fireworks
Well two July 4 accidents cost NFL players three fingers.
That's one big, bad day.
Here's the story that C.J. Wilson of the Tampa Bucs lost two fingers in a fireworks accident.
Here's the story that Jason Pierre-Paul lost his right index finger in a fireworks accident.
Hey, this just in - Fireworks are dangerous.
Sadly, there will be a growing movement in the overly protective generation of folks in which everyone gets a trophy to ban fireworks.
You know it's coming and it's sad.
Yes, NFL players losing fingers - or anyone being hurt - is sad and a lot of other things too.
But as we said before: Hey, this just in - Fireworks are dangerous.
You know what else is dangerous? Stupidity.
Now, if we can find a way to regulate stupidity, now that would be some meaningful legislation.
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Golf story line fireworks
OK, we are a week from the third major of the year in men's golf and the ladies put a peg in the ground for the U.S. Open starting today.
This is a fun time for golf.
Unless you're talking about the state of the game away from the game.
FILE - A Sunday, June 21, 2015 file photo of Rory McIlroy, of Northern Ireland, watching his tee shot on the fifth hole during the final round of the U.S. Open golf tournament at Chambers Bay in University Place, Wash. World number one Rory McIlroy has ruptured a ligament in his left ankle while playing soccer less than before the start of his British Open title defense. The Northern Irish golfer gave no indication how long he would be out in the announcement Monday, July 6, 2015, on his Instagram account, only saying that he is “working hard to get back as soon as I can.” (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren, File) The No. 1 men's player in the world - Rory McIlroy - will not be be able to defend his British Open title next week because of a torn ankle ligament. Here's the story.
Arguably the No. 1 men's player in popularity - Phil Mickelson - is evading questions with vague answers about his involvement with a guy who pleaded guilty to multiple money laundering charges in Federal court. Here's the story with some added thoughts on Tom Watson, with whom Mickelson feuded last September. That said, Mickelson "gets it" more than any other famous sports star. First, he was out in front of both issues this week with the media and second, this quote is 100 percent spot-on and pure in handling questions about controversy (this from ESPN golf ace Bob Harig's report):
"There's two things that I thought would probably come up, probably the report that came out last week," said Mickelson, who is set to play in this week's Scottish Open at Gullane. "Feel free to ask about it. I probably won't say anything, but feel free to ask. I understand you have editors and you need to ask questions.
That's pitch perfect.
Not to be out done, one of the caddies for one of the players in women's Open has been booted from the tournament for taking pictures of potential layout plans for the week.
All we need is one more incident to have "Fore." (Sorry.)
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This and that
- Free agent fireworks: Wow, De'Andre Jordan, way to be decisive. Jordan picked the Mavs then returned to the Clippers in a melodrama that did not include 'Melo but did include an emoji battle (whatever that is). And Mark Cuban is less than pleased about it.
- Digestive fireworks: We noticed this list of eight dangerous foods people eat anyway. Somehow nutmeg made the list. Then we noticed this that Taco Bell is starting to deliver. Yes, that Taco Bell.
FILE - In this Oct. 24, 2011, file photo, Keith Olbermann leaves a taping of "Late Show with David Letterman" in New York.Olbermann's show on ESPN will end sometime this month. "Olbermann" premiered in August 2013 when he returned to the network. (AP Photo/Charles Sykes, File) - Dental fireworks: Soccer star and famous biter Luis Suarez is depicted as a vampire in a children's book. The Rushmore of sports biting incidents are Tyson (far left), Suarez, Tree Rollins and Danny Ainge and Marv Albert, right? Did we leave any out?
- On-air fireworks: ESPN has parted ways with renowned headache Keith Olbermann. Here's the four-letter giant's statement on Olberman - "Keith is a tremendous talent who has consistently done timely, entertaining and thought-provoking work since returning to ESPN. While the show's content was distinctive and extremely high quality, we ultimately made a business decision to move in another direction. We wish Keith nothing but the best and trust that his skill and ability will lead him to another promising endeavor." That translates to "Dude had some skills and could be funny but was too big of a pain in the tuckus for a contract that big."
- On-air fireworks, part II: Good news. AMC has re-upped for year two of "Better Call Saul", which was excellent as a precursor to the unscrupulous attorney for Walter White in AMC's smash hit "Breaking Bad." Also, there are major rumblings that Jon Snow's death at the end of "Game of Thrones" season finale last month will not end his time on the show. Ah, shows that death can't derail a character. (Somewhere Bobby Ewing smiles and nods. It was all a dream Pamela.)
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Today's question
Most of our talking points this morning, especially De'Andre Jordan's free agency flip-flop, have been strong options on social media.
We had some fun on Press Row on Wednesday with the pre-social media college football moments that would have melted Twitter. Here's CBSsports.com's top 10 which wisely featured Woody Hayes slugging the Clemson player as No. 1 but somehow forgot Doug Flutie's Hail Mary, which made Stewart Mandel's list in May of a similar topic.
So that got us thinking, which is a dangerous proposition for sure, what's the Rushmore of pre-Twitter (2006) sports moments that would have consumed social media?
Go and remember the mailbag.