Doug Gottlieb: “We have a tendency to do this where in an effort to be sensitive to other cultures we actually eliminate some of the championing of the cultures… What about the tomahawk chop is demeaning to Native Americans? What is offensive about a war chant? We get to the point where we try to eliminate history and pretend like it doesn’t exist. I’m not to the Clay Travis level of trying to make this something political, but Atlanta ‘Braves’ is not in any way derogatory towards Native Americans. You’re bringing in baggage from a whole other argument into this one in order to make your point, and what you will do is you will eliminate any Native American references in any part of our culture, and out of sight becomes out of mind. I do know there is an amount of people who are ‘woke’, I also do know there are a lot of people who are like ‘look, I don’t want to do something that is outwardly offensive’, but with this one, it just feels like we’re reaching and we’re trying to bend over backwards when on some levels it’s got to be a source of pride for your culture to represented in the proper way. That’s what Florida State has done and that’s what the Atlanta Braves have tried to do. I think it’s cool when they do it at Chiefs games [the tomahawk chop], I think it’s cool when they do it at Braves games, and I don’t think there’s any negative connotation with ‘Chiefs’. Some proper cultural representation is a good thing… The Atlanta Braves don’t just represent those incredible pitchers in the ’90s or Henry Aaron, they have matured the cultural appropriation where people are making it about a completely different argument and they are just using it to help that argument, and I don’t think that’s the right thing.” (Full Audio Above)
Listen to Doug Gottlieb discuss a story that has taken some of the attention away from the World Series between the Astros and Braves, as some members of the sports media have continued to condemn Atlanta’s ‘tomahawk chop’ as a ‘racist’ and ‘offensive’ gesture that Major League Baseball should look to outlaw.
The team ‘Braves’ team name has also been criticized as well during an era where many professional teams, universities, and high schools have abandoned team names like the ‘Redskins’, ‘Warriors’, and ‘Chiefs.’
Despite the media lambasting, Atlanta fans haven't shied away from doing the chop during big moments of the game, with even former President Donald Trump and former First Lady Melanie partaking in the action during Game 4 of the World Series.
Check out the audio above as Gottlieb details why he doesn’t think the ‘Braves’ name or tomahawk chop should be perceived as remotely derogative, and why straight-up erasing all references of Native American culture isn’t appropriate or productive in any way.
Colin Cowherd Ranks His Top 10 NFL Teams After Week 8
LA Rams Acquire Von Miller in Blockbuster Trade
Major Update Given on Jameis Winston's Injury Status
Jerry Remy, Former MLB Player and Beloved Red Sox Broadcaster, Dies at 68