"On the one hand, any item having to do with the Redskins nickname is stale and overdone and repetitive and makes readers hate me and lessens my chances of getting random people to buy me cheap domestic drafts in area watering holes.

On the other hand, I write a blog about Washington-area sports. And it seems notable to me when the mayor of Washington, D.C., is evidently refusing to speak the name of the local NFL franchise.

“Speaking of symbols, our experience over the past football and baseball seasons symbolizes just how well things are going in the District of Columbia,” Gray said Tuesday night during his State of the District address. “Over the past year, both our baseball and football teams had breakthrough seasons – and have become great examples of teams coming into their own. Both teams showed sustained excellence and brilliance that got them to postseason play – for the first time in franchise history for the Nationals, and for the first time in what seemed like an eternity for our Washington football team.”

Sure, maybe that was an accident, the whole “our football team” thing. But when Gray names the Nats by name, and does not name the Redskins — just a few weeks after he said the team’s name “has become a lightning rod,” and that “there needs to be a dispassionate discussion about this, and do the right thing,” well, I think you can put the pieces together."

Get the Story:
Dan Steinberg: Vincent Gray won’t say ‘Redskins’ in State of the District address (The Washington Post 2/6)

Related Stories:
Agenda for symposium on Indian mascots in sports at NMAI (2/4)
Washington mayor supports elimination of 'Redskins' mascot (01/10)
Rep. Cole, Chickasaw, calls Redskins mascot 'very offensive' (01/18)