Bob Costas told us last night during halftime that the name ‘Redskins’ is indeed a racial slur even though, he says, no offense has ever been intended. But since he’s advocating the name be changed, then I guess going forward offense will be ‘intended’ if it doesn’t get changed…right?
Watch:
Here’s a decent article on the origin of the word ‘redskin’ which suggests that it was never used in a derogatory form and the ‘offense’ people have for it is only a new phenomenon.