Sports
'We Will Always Be The Atlanta Braves': Email To Fans
The name will stay, but the Tomahawk Chop may well be on the chopping block, according to a statement issued Sunday.
Loading...
ATLANTA, GA — The Atlanta Braves won’t be changing their name — but they will be reconsidering use of the Tomahawk Chop.
“We have great respect and reverence for our name and the Native American communities that have held meaningful relationships with us do as well,” the Braves organization said in an email sent Sunday to season ticket holders. “We will always be the Atlanta Braves.”
The contents of the email was reported by multiple media outlets, including ESPN.
The email said the team would be guided by its working relationship with the Eastern Band of the Cherokees in North Carolina, as well as an advisory group composed of other tribal leaders.
“Through our conversations, changing the name of the Braves is not under consideration or deemed necessary,” the organization said in its email.
However, the Tomahawk Chop — a chopping arm motion by fans in support of the Braves, usually performed while stereotypical “Indian” music played — may well be on the chopping block.
Deion Sanders, who played college football for the Florida State Seminoles, introduced Braves fans to the Chop when he joined the team as a part-time outfielder in 1991.
“We are continuing to listen to the Native American community, as well as our fans, players, and alumni to ensure we are making an informed decision on this part of our fan experience,” the Braves organization said in its email.
Unofficially, the Braves had already retired the Chop after St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Ryan Helsley, a member of the Cherokee Nation, said he found it offensive. The Braves responded by not distributing red foam tomahawks to fans before Game 5 of last year’s NL Division Series against the Cardinals. After a record-breaking first-inning collapse, the Braves lost that game 13-1.
The Atlanta Braves are among several Native American-themed sports teams considering name changes after Washington D.C.'s NFL team announced it would no longer call itself the Redskins.
OTHER NEWS:
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.