5-at-10: Friday mailbag on potential Redskins names, Rushmores and Kenny Stabler

Great week folks.

From the “Talks too much” studios we’ll reconvene live from SEC media days next week.

From Terry

I was upset when I heard that Kenny Stabler died but it’s not a big shock you know.

Do you think The Snake would have been more famous or less if he played today as opposed to in the 1970s?

Also, do you ever suffer from writer’s block? You write a lot of columns, so I was just wondering.

Terry –

Great question, and you’re correct about Stabler. His death is sad but hardly a surprise. Dude lived hard.

He was by all accounts a great teammate and supremely tough in the moment.

Those Raiders teams were so much fun as we all started to notice the NFL.

As for Stabler’s popularity, we can see an argument on each side.

First, his flamboyance would be awesomely embraced in today’s all-too-often antiseptic and cliched sports stars. Plus, the way he delivered in the biggest and most-pressure-filled spots would resonate that star quality. And does anyone doubt he would be a home run follow on Twitter? Of course not.

That said, his partying and off-the-field exploits would make him a regular on TMZ and the rest of the scandal sites.

We’ll say more famous if Stabler was 39 rather than 69, and in part that’s as basic as the fact that the NFL is way more popular today.

And he certainly would be way more infamous, too.

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From Sherry

Hey, will you make it a point to answer your Rushmores every Friday like you did last week.

Thanks — and I listen to Press Row every day.

Sherry –

Sure. That’s a good policy and we’re in.

Monday – Rushmore of sports siblings

Williams sisters; Manning brothers; Reggie and Cheryl Miller; Maurice and Henry Richard

Tuesday – Rushmore of falls from grace (Hollywood division)

Cosby, Orson Welles, Mel Gibson and Pee Wee Herman

Wednesday – Rushmore of the 2000s

Tiger, Brady, Serena, Phelps

Thursday – Rushmore of pre-Twitter sports moments that would have melted social media

Magic’s HIV announcement; Tiger destroying Augusta National in 1997 (that whole weekend would have been over the top); 1980 U.S. Hockey team over Russia (but since that game was tape-delayed, Twitter would have ruined the replay for the TV audience); Jesse Owens dominating the 1936 Olympics in Berlin with Hitler on hand.

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From FE Chancellor

Jay, for the mail bag, do you have a more serious list should the Redskin be shot out of the saddle?

FE to the C –

Well, here’s today’s column on potential changing the name to the Washington Potato Skins, as long as that doesn’t offend those who are metabolism challenged.

Side note: When does the public out cry against fat people start? Maybe that’s a discussion for another time, but rest assured it’s coming. Insurance rates for tobacco users already is close to double in a lot of places and the health complications of being overweight are way more expensive and deadly than tobacco. Hey, no one is ever going to confuse the 5-at-10 with a Nigerian distance runner, but the more we look at the social unrest about this group or that injustice the more we are puzzled about why we pick and choose what offends us. Alas.

As for the Redskins new name, we’d think it would need to be something with political ties. We’d also hope that they would avoid any of the new-era names without an ‘S’ like Storm or Passion or what have you.

Here’s a Rushmore of potential names for the Washington NFL franchise:

* Braves or Warriors. There is no where near the outcry about the other professional teams using Indian-related mascots and that makes sense because those names like Braves, Warriors or Chiefs were positions of honor in the tribe. “Redskins” quite simply was a detrimental term used by white people against the Indians. Since Chiefs is already taken, go to Braves or Warriors or Medicine Men and you can keep the logo.

* Monuments. Someone threw this out in the comments earlier this week, and we’re all for it. Think of the different uniform options.

* Hogs. This is a shootout to the glory days of the Redskins when their offensive line – also known as “The Hogs” – dominated games and helped make Washington a Super Bowl champ.

* And if Dan Snyder really wants to stir the drink, go with Rebels. And use the Confederate Flag

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From Chad

I have always been a NASCAR fan and still am even if the racing is not as good as it was.

I get mad when people say the drivers aren’t athletes.

I wonder what athletes from other sports would make good NASCAR drivers.

What do you think?

Thanks for considering my question and I enjoy your columns.

Chad –

Great question, and yes NASCAR drivers are athletes. We’ll go with the following:

Yaisel Puig. Dude got his BMW close to 100 on Amnicola Highway. So there’s that.

Vijay Singh. He’s not afraid to bend the rules – Deer Antler Spray – so he has embraced the NASCAR adage of “If you’re not chitin’ you’re not trying'” already. Plus, he’s arguably the hardest worker in all of sports and has great hand-eye coordination.

Derek Jeter, simply because we believe he’d be good at just about anything he tried.

Lance Armstrong. Champion racer with an ability to convince himself of anything.

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From MocTastic

JG, its just Monday, but for your mailbag. What is the “biggest” pro game/match played in Chattanooga? Some are saying the friendly between the women’s national team and Costa Rica will be on August 19. But given that is just a “friendly”, ie an exhibition, I throw out this game, an exhibition basketball game prior to the 1983-84 season in the Roundhouse featuring the recently crowned NBA champs Philadelphia 76ers and the Boston Celtics. On the floor at the UTC arena that day were Moses Malone, Julius Erving, Larry Bird, Kevin McHale, and Robert Parrish, amongst others. Those five are all NBA Hall of Fame Players and all time greats. If the women’s soccer game was part of a World Cup I would vote for it, but given it is just an exhibition, I say the basketball game I cite is “bigger”. What say yall?

MT –

We were unaware of that hoops exhibition you mentioned.

We know there have been a few lists and contributions on this topic so we’ll keep it simple.

We’ll go Jackie Mitchell striking out Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig when the Yankees came to Engel in the early 1930s. MJ and the defending champion UNC Tarheels coming to the Roundhouse. We concur on your hoops scrimmage – that would be like the Spurs and Cavs scrimmaging at the Roundhouse today. And then add in the upcoming U.S. friendly.

Great questions as always gang.