Pan Mengtu

What caused the change of name?

Captain Obvious

Bullets wasn't "politically correct."

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MJG

Pretty much. Didn't portray a good image of DC or something like that. Luckily, I had only been really watching the NBA for a season or so when the switch took place, so it was never a huge deal for me. I feel bad for those who've been with the team for years and year, and had our identity swapped like that. Bullets is definitely the cooler name though, and if there were ever a chance to switch back to that, I think most of us would welcome it with open arms.

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HKF

Abe Pollin's friend, Israel Prime Minister Yitzak Rabin (sp?) was killed by a gunmen (assassin), prompting Pollin to decide it was no longer appropriate to have the name.

Which is ironic, because the one thing Washington is known for is gun violence.

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alchemist

I thought the name change was the stupidest thing ever. They even allowed the public to vote on the new name, and one of the options was the 'Sea Dogs.' Are you kidding? The Washington Sea Dogs? Makes me want to drive off a bridge.

More seriously, people should realize that just because the team is called the 'Bullets' doesn't mean that the players and management condone gun violence. Just like using the phrase 'long bomb' in football or when athletes use the cliche 'We really went to war out there.' Come one, people are smarter than that. Keep things in perspective.

When I was young, I had a ton of old Bullets gear- and though it doesn't fit anymore, it is kind of cool to own some throwback sports memorabilia that no one makes anymore.

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RebelSun, responding to the idea that Peja may go the Mavericks:

Quote:

You gotta imagine Nelson is drooling at the thought, as Peja could help him inch closer to his dream of averaging 300ppg.

Should the Lakers sign Latrell Sprewell?

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannyM i'll take talent over cancer

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bartholomew Hunt I'll take anyone over you as a GM.

Dualie

So the Washington Bullets is offensive, but the Washington Redskins is alright? Oh OK, that's k001.

twinz2gether

I actually voted for "Express" I thought it was a cooler name...

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BCH

How are these related?

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Where's the cake?

amd pwr

redskins is a politically incorrect term

Dualie

I'm just saying that changing the Bullets to the Wizards in order to be politically correct sounds absurd. Especially when one sees that the football team in the same city is named after a racial slur. It just seems unfair to me, a lifelong Bullets fan.

Doggpound

Another contributing factor was around the time of the name change, DC had the highest murder/population of any city in the world. "the murder capitol of the world" was the slogan

bullet for life

maybe highest in the US, def not the highest in the world.

alchemist

Economically speaking, if Abe was hoping to shrink the number of murders in our capital city, changing the name of his team is not the way. Rather, how about donating a couple million to help expand DC's sad-sack police department?

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Washington Wizards

RebelSun, responding to the idea that Peja may go the Mavericks:

Quote:

You gotta imagine Nelson is drooling at the thought, as Peja could help him inch closer to his dream of averaging 300ppg.

Should the Lakers sign Latrell Sprewell?

Quote:

Originally Posted by dannyM i'll take talent over cancer

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bartholomew Hunt I'll take anyone over you as a GM.

bullet for life

Isnt Wilbon always on about how Abe is the best owner in the NBA in terms of giving back to the community to help it?

Pan Mengtu

You, know, I kind of figured that it was because of something like that. But you're right, "redskins" is just a racist term and seriously needs to be changed. That's like naming the team the Washington ******s or something. No one would stand for that, and no one should stand for Redskins.

As for the Bullets, I think it's quite a stretch to say it's inappropriate, but obviously that's the owner's decision.

edit: Obviously the word I used above got censored. Just so you don't miss the point, it was the racist word for an african-american.