Donald Trump’s ‘favorite author’ vows to buy Washington Commanders and bring back controversial name
Dan Snyder reluctantly renamed the Washington Redskins the Commanders, a new, less offensive name, in February. Now that he's considering a sale of the team, a potential owner has popped up with plans to return the franchise to its old name.
Nick Adams, a best-selling author who has been endorsed by former President Donald Trump, claims he is setting up an ownership group that will buy the team and give them back their old name.
I am putting together an ownership group to purchase the Washington Commanders and change their name BACK to the Washington Redskins.
Updates soon to follow.
"I am putting together an ownership group to purchase the Washington Commanders and change their name back to the Washington Redskins. Updates soon to follow," he tweeted.
Adams believes that the decision to change the name was a mistake and that it caved to the cries from those the author politically disagrees with.
Many believed the name shouldn't have been changed, but few would go so far as to say they would buy the team and change the name again. That would be the third name change in four years.
Adams may have genuine interest in buying the Commanders, but he will need rich and powerful friends to pull it off. His net worth is estimated between $1 and $5 million, which is not enough to buy a team.
For comparison, Snyder is worth almost $5 billion.
Why did the Commanders change their name in the first place?
The Redskins had been the mascot for the Washington-based football team since its inception in the 1930s. However, that name was deemed offensive to Native Americans, as was the team's logo.
In recent years, many teams have undergone changes to remove offensive aspects of their mascots, names and logos. Others have not, and while Snyder initially resisted any name change, he eventually gave in.
He received pressure from sponsors to change it as they agreed that it was offensive. Initially, the team simply removed the mascot and played as the Washington Football Team before becoming the Commanders two years later.
In a statement, Snyder said:
"As an organization, we are excited to rally and rise together as one under our new identity while paying homage to our local roots and what it means to represent the nation’s capital. As we kick-off our 90th season, it is important for our organization and fans to pay tribute to our past traditions, history, legacy and the greats that came before us."
The statement continued:
"We continue to honor and represent the Burgundy and Gold while forging a pathway to a new era in Washington. Today may mark the first day for the Washington Commanders, but we are and always will be Washington.”
No matter who buys the team, another name change is unlikely.