LogFAQs > #884201486

Well, it started as a dig at Allie Reynolds. When he left Cleveland to join the Yankees, they decided to make fun of his ethnic background with a caricature who bore Allie's nickname. That's a pretty auspicious origin.

That said, the character design itself is a mixed bag. I'm glad that they softened his features so that he doesn't have an exaggerated hooked nose. He looks like any other mascot. But there is one thing which separates him: his tomato red complexion.

I can't complain about caricaturizing someone as long as it's consistent. Chief Wahoo looks like he could be drinking buddies with the Fighting Irish mascot that Notre Dame has. It's just like when Obama became US president. Political cartoonists gave him big teeth and a tiny face and it fit right alongside Bush's big ears and Clinton's big teeth without seeming racist.

But could you imagine if this character was Asian and he had a lemon skintone or if he was black and he looked jet black? Now that is something they could change. They could give him a more human complexion. But they can't change his history or association.

I don't want to get rid of Chief Wahoo as much as I do the "Redskins" team name. Wahoo can stay or go, but I won't be sorry if he leaves. And I do have to admit that it's a double standard when you can exaggerate "red" people to be fully red when the same isn't done for other groups.