Washington Nationals?

Reader Clay alerted me to this story now circulating in D.C.

The "Nationals" is weak. They should Remember the Grays. Just because the focus groups prefer one name now doesn't mean that it is the better long-term choice.

... Saturday ... let me add a little more about this. Last time I saw a Washington, D.C. license plate, the motto beneath the number was "Taxation without Representation." If MLB wants to put the team in a place where the locals will support it - and who will support it if the locals don't? - then they shy away from anything which connotes the callous, patrician, Gilded-Age federalism of the current D.C. leadership. No Senators, no Nationals, no Federals. Honor the locals. If the MLB wants to move a team to Baghdad, they'd be wise to pick any name but "Crusaders," right? Now seems like an especially bad time to revive any of the various federalist names.

The Grays were arguably one of the greatest teams ever and D.C. is overwhelmingly black. If you avoid the Grays because it reminds people of segregation, what kind of bullshit is that? The Dodgers remind me of segregation. There is no better way to "heal" unpleasant aspects about one's past than being open and honest and candid about it. Three names appear especially designed to irritate the hell out of the D.C. locals. One honors one of the great teams and honors the grandparents of the people who now live in D.C. It's a no-brainer I think.