With some teams electing to change their nicknames in recent years (see the Cleveland Guardians) due to offending groups, the Atlanta Braves have been one team brought up numerous times as it pertains to a potential name change.
Count MLB commissioner Rob Manfred on the side of keeping the name “Braves” for Atlanta's hometown team. Per the USAToday, Manfred explained how he views the whole ordeal.
“I think it’s important to understand that we have 30 markets in the country,’’ Manfred said. “Not all are the same. The Braves have done a phenomenal job with the Native American community. The Native American community in that region is fully supportive of the Braves’ program, including the chop.
“For me, that’s kind of the end of the story.’’
Despite the support from Manfred, he did note he doesn't know how the entire Native American community feels about the team being named the Braves.
“I don’t know how every Native American group around the country feels,’’ Manfred said. “I am 100% certain that the Braves understand what the Native American community in their region believes and that they’ve acted in accordance with that understanding.’’
It's an interesting topic that will continue to be brought up from time to time as teams try to navigate and work through potential issues such as having what is now deemed to be an offensive nickname.
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