Among certain circles, Daniel Snyder is not popular. Okay among most circles outside of his players, Daniel Snyder, owner of the Washington Redskins, is not popular. Although Redskins players, even in retirement, have respect and affection for "Mr. Snyder" this does not extend to reporters, fans, or almost anyone else.
That image contributed to today's ruling by the US Patent and Trademark Office to strip the Redskins of much of their brand trademark protection. The team and the NFL will no longer have exclusive rights to the word. Whatever one may think of the Redskins, Daniel Snyder, or their name, this bodes ill.
From a business perspective, the team should logically change its name to "Warriors." The Warrior Road connecting the Iroquois to their Catawba and Cherokee enemies followed US 1 and Interstate 95. The name makes sense. But businesses should be able to rely on the law being enforced fairly, regardless of public opinion.
In this case, the Redskins were victimized by a politicized agency.
A business has the right to be unpopular, to fly against public opinion, to try and weather the storms of fashion. Snyder's team joins other teams with names originally derogatory, like Fighting Irish, Tar Heels, and, yes, Mountaineers. They deserve honest regulatory decisions, not ones based on someone's feelings being hurt.
Finally, Snyder himself lies at the root of this. Any player that fumbles as much as his public relations team should be cut. Snyder himself cuts a haughty figure that does not garner much sympathy. This landmark free speech case is only one of many failings. This bumbling attempt to placate Indians was another. Had Dan Snyder the abilities of a Jack Kent Cooke, or if his teams won, the politicos would not have come after the blood in the water.
The ruling here has much greater implication. Any brand that offends anyone, anytime, is now at risk. That is the danger here, the threat of totalitarianism in branding.
Showing posts with label Dan Snyder. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Dan Snyder. Show all posts
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Monday, March 31, 2014
How to Fail At Public Relations the Washington Redskins Way
The Washington Redskins, as the saying goes, can't win for losing.
At least under Dan Snyder, anyway. Redskins fans date their franchise to the days before and after Dan. "Before" the team won Super Bowls and the ownership reigned over professional football as respected winners do. The Dan years brought misery occasionally tinged with high, but unrealistic hopes. Almost worse than losing came the embarrassments. Snyder cutting down trees on park land, Snyder hiring a college coach who was clearly in over his head, Snyder filing a defamation suit over satire. But none of those moves seem as oafish as what transpired last week.
Of all the franchises and colleges who, decades ago, used some sort of American Indian reference as a nickname, only the Washington Redskins has still not made their peace. Many colleges changed their name to something generic. Others, such as Florida State, paid to keep the name without protest. The Kansas City Chiefs' name strikes many as respectful instead of offensive. Same with the Cleveland Indians, who changed their name from the Spiders to honor an Indian star pitcher, Chief Bender.
The Redskins alone remain defiant and unrepentant. Despite the historical context, it is much tougher to sell the name Redskins. On the other hand, the Redskins fan base seems generally uninterested in considering alternatives.
Until now, Snyder and the Redskins kept that public stance. At the same time, they gobbled up the rights to a number of alternatives, such as "Washington Warriors." Last week, however, he launched an interesting endeavor called the "Original Americans' Foundation." Deadspin gleefully dubbed it O.A.F. and likely plans to have no end of fun with it.
Not since Richard Nixon "CREEP"ed back into office in 1972, has a Washington DC based effort been so badly named.
Even worse, Snyder picked a CEO once investigated by the federal government. What was he accused of doing? It involved a "defective" and "unusable" contract between his group and, wait for it, the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Snyder wrote a four page letter describing the origin and intent of the foundation. Four months of study and research based on visits to 26 Indian reservations went into this organization. But four minutes of thought should tell a person that naming the organization "OAF" and picking an individual with baggage to lead it smacks of half efforts.
The second most popular professional sport in Washington is piling on Dan Snyder. He does not represent evil in the world. Many of his past and present players refer to him respectfully as "Mr. Snyder." But his new foundation reflects the same lack of thought and foresight that has often characterized his public relations as well as his operation of the football team itself.
At least under Dan Snyder, anyway. Redskins fans date their franchise to the days before and after Dan. "Before" the team won Super Bowls and the ownership reigned over professional football as respected winners do. The Dan years brought misery occasionally tinged with high, but unrealistic hopes. Almost worse than losing came the embarrassments. Snyder cutting down trees on park land, Snyder hiring a college coach who was clearly in over his head, Snyder filing a defamation suit over satire. But none of those moves seem as oafish as what transpired last week.
Of all the franchises and colleges who, decades ago, used some sort of American Indian reference as a nickname, only the Washington Redskins has still not made their peace. Many colleges changed their name to something generic. Others, such as Florida State, paid to keep the name without protest. The Kansas City Chiefs' name strikes many as respectful instead of offensive. Same with the Cleveland Indians, who changed their name from the Spiders to honor an Indian star pitcher, Chief Bender.
The Redskins alone remain defiant and unrepentant. Despite the historical context, it is much tougher to sell the name Redskins. On the other hand, the Redskins fan base seems generally uninterested in considering alternatives.
Until now, Snyder and the Redskins kept that public stance. At the same time, they gobbled up the rights to a number of alternatives, such as "Washington Warriors." Last week, however, he launched an interesting endeavor called the "Original Americans' Foundation." Deadspin gleefully dubbed it O.A.F. and likely plans to have no end of fun with it.
Not since Richard Nixon "CREEP"ed back into office in 1972, has a Washington DC based effort been so badly named.
Even worse, Snyder picked a CEO once investigated by the federal government. What was he accused of doing? It involved a "defective" and "unusable" contract between his group and, wait for it, the Bureau of Indian Affairs.
Snyder wrote a four page letter describing the origin and intent of the foundation. Four months of study and research based on visits to 26 Indian reservations went into this organization. But four minutes of thought should tell a person that naming the organization "OAF" and picking an individual with baggage to lead it smacks of half efforts.
The second most popular professional sport in Washington is piling on Dan Snyder. He does not represent evil in the world. Many of his past and present players refer to him respectfully as "Mr. Snyder." But his new foundation reflects the same lack of thought and foresight that has often characterized his public relations as well as his operation of the football team itself.
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