- 7 weeks ago
JP and Steve Czaban discuss Mark Clouse not completely shutting the door on the Commanders possibly bringing back some of the old Redskins branding in the future.
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00:00Now, yesterday we were very lucky, and Mark Klaus,
00:04Commander's Team President, was very kind to join us in studio.
00:09We talked for like a half hour, got an update on RFK Stadium.
00:12He talked about the decision to retire John Riggins' jersey.
00:16And I think since Josh Harris bought this team,
00:20and since Mark Klaus took over as Team President,
00:23there have been a series of really, really smart, strong steps
00:31by the organization to thread the needle of building the Commander's brand,
00:37building that brand equity back with fans, as well as honor the history.
00:42Because the rebrand was done poorly, the new name still sucks,
00:47but whatever, it is what it is.
00:50And the way it was handled, they just threw everything away.
00:53They just threw everything out and tried to whitewash the history.
00:56And I think that was dumb.
00:57I don't think it was the right move.
00:59And I sincerely applaud the people running the organization now
01:05in their attempts to mesh this all together.
01:09Because they inherited this situation.
01:11They didn't create it, right?
01:13And I think the uniforms are an A+, really well done.
01:19And going back to the real burgundy and the whites
01:22and adding the black uniform with the spear on the helmet,
01:26I think the spear will continue to grow in its involvement of helmets and logos.
01:33And there's some spear merchandise available for sale
01:36that I think is really going to resonate with a lot of fans.
01:38I saw the clip of you asking him about the spear
01:41and the chance for it coming back on the helmet.
01:43Yeah.
01:44Play that audio real quick, Jeff.
01:47Look, I've said this a lot of times when I'm asked the question.
01:52And there's nobody that is more proud and happy to celebrate the heritage of this team
02:02than us and then Josh and the entire ownership group and the organization.
02:07I think it's important that in the world of things I can control
02:12and the world of things I cannot control
02:13is to really try to focus on the things that I can
02:17and try to make those as positive as possible.
02:19What I will say is there continues to be a lot of emphasis
02:27on looking at things in our past, iconography, uniform.
02:31Just the uniform that we can celebrate as part of it.
02:37So, look, hang in there.
02:39Stay with us.
02:40We're going to continue to look for ways in which we can do that
02:42while we continue to build the Commander brand
02:46and what we're doing with the team.
02:48And I think there's a lot of exciting things
02:50that we can do on both sides of that continuum
02:53as we try to bring these worlds together in a way that fans can feel.
02:57So, even if you're, you know, I get it.
03:00I've said this before.
03:01I respect it.
03:02I understand it.
03:03But, man, I don't want you to miss out on this next chapter.
03:05We're going to have a lot of fun.
03:07And I want you and I want the families to be out there and be part of it.
03:10And so I'm going to do everything I possibly can
03:13to make sure that we get everybody back together.
03:19Sorry, that was good.
03:20That was a bit of a deft sidestep.
03:24Klaus is really good.
03:25Because he can handle all things.
03:27He's a military man.
03:28Yeah.
03:28Former Army pilot.
03:30He understands the nature of here's the mission.
03:33Here's the constraints of the mission.
03:36What can and can't be done.
03:38We're not going to do this in one fell swoop.
03:40We're not going to make a wild run at trying to get somewhere.
03:43We're going to figure out how to navigate it.
03:45So that's good.
03:46I love the fact that he doesn't even come from really the sports world.
03:50He's a food guy.
03:50He's a brand guy.
03:51Yep.
03:51Which is great.
03:52And every time I've heard him speak, including with you guys yesterday, I have been impressed.
03:57And that's great.
03:58Because Harris is hiring good people.
04:00That's really what killed the Danny regime.
04:03It wasn't just Danny's idiot impulses as the enfant terrible.
04:08It's that he hired the worst people.
04:12I mean, bad people.
04:14Left and right.
04:16And so that crippled everything the team did.
04:19Every day.
04:20And so they got a good guy in Klaus.
04:22I like creeping up on let's get back to as close as we can.
04:28There is still a huge hole, though, in a lot of people's hearts.
04:31About the name and about the iconic logo.
04:34And that's something that is always going to be divisive.
04:36I know we could get calls, people saying, I'm with you, Zabe.
04:39You're right.
04:40And there's other realists who say, well, you've got to stop yearning for Dad.
04:43He's never coming back.
04:45That's the dilemma right there.
04:46That would have to get cigarettes and ain't coming back.
04:47He ain't coming back.
04:48I know.
04:48You can't just sit by the door and wait for him.
04:50So it's a very tough thing.
04:53On the Riggo front, I did enjoy the great little pieces where Riggo talked and they got him to sit
05:00down.
05:00And having known Riggo and didn't done a radio show with Riggo, me and Andy briefly there for a while.
05:06I remember.
05:06Was always fun.
05:08I kept bugging Riggo for an autograph on a mini helmet.
05:11And he kept teasing me.
05:12He's like, I don't know, Zabe.
05:13Maybe I'll get it one of these days.
05:15And he was the hardest guy to get.
05:16I finally got him.
05:17I got Jacoby, Riggo, and Doc.
05:20Their signatures on three mini helmets.
05:23And then I went and found one in my basement in a box.
05:27The Sharpie had faded almost to being unlegible.
05:31I was like, oh, my God.
05:32I can't believe this.
05:33I didn't know Sharpie could fade on a plastic helmet that was in a box in the basement.
05:38But so it did.
05:39But good for the team in Riggo.
05:41And for those who said it's about time on Riggo.
05:44Look, they didn't issue 44 all these years.
05:47Just like they didn't issue seven or nine all those years.
05:51Even though Spurrier, one day in practice, had Shane and Danny come out in seven and nine.
05:58Because he was oblivious that that was Joe and Sonny.
06:03I know.
06:04So good for them on all fronts.
06:07So I think a lot about the old logo and how you can weave that in.
06:14Right?
06:14The Blackie Wetzel?
06:16Yeah.
06:17I don't think you can.
06:18As a kid.
06:19I don't think they have the stomach for that fight.
06:23I think it'd be a fight that would be huge.
06:27I think there'd be certain.
06:28I mean, the media would go crazy.
06:30They're bringing back the racist logo.
06:33I think my thought is at the new stadium, when you go back to RFK, I don't know that it
06:40can ever be on the side of the helmet again.
06:42I don't know that it can't either.
06:44And I do believe this group will tastefully push the envelope.
06:49They will see what they can do.
06:51Right?
06:52But I think we get to a place.
06:54RFK is four years away.
06:56Right?
06:56Like, it's four football seasons away.
07:00The new RFK.
07:02The new RFK.
07:03Okay.
07:03Sorry.
07:03And I think you can get to a place where it's just a spear on the helmet.
07:07And the W, the block W kind of fades.
07:11If you get a similar.
07:13At least an alternate helmet.
07:13Yeah.
07:13If you get a similar spear on the helmet, that's as close as you're going to get.
07:18I think.
07:19And you're going to have to be okay with that.
07:21But I think there's an appropriate way.
07:24Especially because.
07:25To have the logo.
07:26The old Blackie Wetzel logo somewhere in the stadium.
07:28Yes.
07:29Okay.
07:29Maybe in some displays.
07:31I just want it.
07:32I think it could be like artistically done.
07:34Here's all I want.
07:35I just want it so that nobody is trying to blur out highlights of the old logo.
07:41Or saying.
07:42Calling them not the Redskins.
07:44I think that era is over.
07:45If something happened when they were.
07:46No, but there are still people that don't call them the Redskins.
07:49Even when they're talking about something that happened with the Redskins.
07:52They will dodge it.
07:54They will say.
07:55Riggins played for Washington from this to this.
07:58And I'm like.
07:59Okay.
07:59I get it.
08:00You're not saying Redskins.
08:01And some people believe in that.
08:03Because some people sincerely believe.
08:05It's a horrible, awful name.
08:07And you can't get them off that square.
08:09Those who believe that.
08:10I know for me.
08:12Being on air in various capacities.
08:14Like if I talk about.
08:17Gary Clark.
08:18He played for the Redskins.
08:19Good.
08:20It's factually accurate.
08:21I agree.
08:22And I think if I'm talking about.
08:25Antonio Williams.
08:26Like he's a commander.
08:28Like.
08:28Jamie Daniels.
08:29This has only been a commander.
08:30You know what I mean?
08:31There was a.
08:32There was a period where.
08:33When I was still on the air full time.
08:34And they had changed.
08:36Away from the name.
08:37And there were callers and listeners.
08:39Who were like.
08:39You should just keep calling the Redskins.
08:41And I'm like.
08:42But they're not.
08:42So I'm not going to do a personal thing.
08:45Where it's like.
08:46Watch this.
08:47I have the power to call them whatever.
08:49You got to call them.
08:50What they are.
08:51But that should also apply backwards.
08:53And you should say.
08:54Well.
08:55They changed their name.
08:56You know.
08:56Just like it is with other teams.
08:58That changed.
09:00Their name.
09:01Like if you talk about.
09:01Somebody from Marquette.
09:03The Warriors.
09:04Back in the days.
09:05With Al McGuire.
09:07They were.
09:07The Warriors.
09:08Now they're the Golden Eagles.
09:09Call them what they were.
09:11Right.
09:11Right.
09:12But I'm.
09:12You know.
09:13I'm glad Klaus came in.
09:14That was nice.
09:15And glad they're doing this with Riggo.
09:17That's also nice.
09:19Everyone knew that number 44.
09:20Was not available.
09:21So it was soft retired.
09:23Now Riggo's going to get his day.
09:24And that's great.
09:25We'll see if he can fit into those pants and jersey one more time.
09:28You think he'll do it?
09:29I mean.
09:30Why wouldn't he?
09:32Oh.
09:33Riggo.
09:34Let's go buddy.
09:35It's remarkable for Riggo.
09:37Because.
09:39There was clearly beef with Daryl Green and Dan.
09:43Right.
09:44And.
09:45I didn't know as much of that.
09:47Maybe not beef.
09:47I don't want to speak out of turn.
09:49I don't know that.
09:49Right.
09:50But like.
09:51I get the feeling Daryl just steered clear of Dan.
09:54Right.
09:55But with Riggo.
09:56Riggo had real beef with Dan.
09:57And it was public.
09:58And he went on the record and talked about it.
10:00You know what I mean?
10:01And I think.
10:01Which was a bit hypocritical.
10:03Because Dan and his radio outfit paid Riggo a ton of money.
10:06Do a bad radio show that nobody listened to.
10:08That he put no effort into.
10:11So.
10:11You know.
10:12It was.
10:12When he turned on Dan.
10:13I was like.
10:14Oh.
10:14That is rich right there.
10:15But.
10:16You know.
10:16New regime.
10:17New day.
10:18Look.
10:19You want your legends to still be part of the family no matter what.
10:23This is what happened.
10:25Even with Favre and Green Bay.
10:27The bitterness Packer fans had.
10:29The way that that exit split them square down the middle.
10:33Like a log.
10:34Was incredible.
10:36And a number of people said.
10:37Yeah.
10:37Abbot time heals all wounds.
10:39And the feeling was.
10:41And the Packers played it.
10:42So that.
10:43Someday we're going to want to have a day to honor.
10:45Favre as a great.
10:47In our franchise.
10:48And that was smart.
10:49Because time does soften things.
10:50Over time.
10:51Totally.
10:52And it's.
10:53It's interesting to watch this all unfold now.
10:57And I'm curious where fans land.
11:00Because I think there are some.
11:02Like Jeff.
11:03I think.
11:04Is an example of younger fans.
11:06Just embracing the commanders side of this.
11:08Well they never knew anything.
11:10Right.
11:10Because the Redskins were terrible.
11:12Why wouldn't you want to move off a team.
11:14Who's only known misery in your adult life.
11:16Like Jeff.
11:17Do you care about getting the old logo back on a helmet.
11:20Like is that a desire for you.
11:22It's not a desire.
11:23But I wouldn't mind.
11:24It wouldn't.
11:24It wouldn't make me mad.
11:25I love the logo.
11:27The thing is.
11:28The thing is though.
11:29I understood.
11:30I understand that we had to move on.
11:31And it's.
11:32It's a new.
11:33It's a new organization.
11:34And like Zabe said.
11:35We didn't experience.
11:38The glory with the Redskins.
11:40Right.
11:40My entire life.
11:41I was getting clowned by my classmates.
11:43So.
11:44It didn't really hold that much weight.
11:47I was just wondering what they was going to name it.
11:49So.
11:49So I embrace commanders easily.
11:51So here's where I'm landing on this.
11:53Okay.
11:54Like.
11:55I don't want people to call in and say bring back the name.
11:58The name is not coming back.
12:00And if that's your stance.
12:02You're entitled to it.
12:03But like that.
12:03To me.
12:05Is.
12:06Easy phone conversation.
12:07But completely irrelevant.
12:09Like it's.
12:09It's kind of like this Brandon Iyuk stuff.
12:11If he absolutely refuses to.
12:14Reinstate with the Niners.
12:15The rest of this is all moot.
12:17Like it's just.
12:18It's just silly season.
12:19And so if you want to call and engage on the name.
12:22I'd prefer you did.
12:24I'm not.
12:24I'm not going to stop you.
12:25But like.
12:27I am curious where people land on the logo.
12:31If the organization can bring the logo back.
12:33Because what is interesting is we have seen.
12:37And politicians are generally in this stuff for political points.
12:40But we've seen this Montana.
12:41I believe it's a Montana senator.
12:43That has advocated to get the logo back.
12:47Yes.
12:47Because it's a tribe in Montana.
12:49Right.
12:50And we've seen the Wetzel family.
12:52Yes.
12:52The people that designed it.
12:54Say they want to see it back.
12:55Right.
12:56And I've traveled with this team for a long time.
12:59I have seen Native American protests sincerely about the old name.
13:04People very upset about the old name and logo.
13:06I have however also seen Native Americans that love the logo.
13:10I'll never forget.
13:11I was in Seattle.
13:12And there were a number of Native Americans.
13:14And they had the old skins logo in Seahawks colors.
13:18And I was talking to them.
13:20What?
13:21I was talking to them.
13:21That's wild.
13:22I was like, what's that about?
13:23They're like, we love the logo.
13:24But we're Seahawks fans.
13:25But we want to show support.
13:26Because this is.
13:27Right.
13:28This is one of us.
13:28This makes us proud.
13:29Right.
13:30Two guns white calf is one of us.
13:31Right.
13:32So there's like.
13:33There's a lot of opinions on this.
13:34My question for the phones.
13:37800-636-1067.
13:40800-636-1067.
13:43My question for the phones is going to have some context.
13:46So please pay attention.
13:49How do you think they can incorporate the old logo?
13:53You think it could land on a helmet?
13:54Could it land on an alternate jersey shoulder patch or something?
13:59Maybe they have a true throwback.
14:01I don't know how it lands.
14:04Or do you make an artistic installation in the stadium?
14:07I think one appearance a year on a throwback game.
14:12But you just don't call them the Redskins.
14:14But it does have the Blackie Wetzel logo.
14:16That is as good as it'll ever get.
14:19And I think that's 50-50 at best.
14:22Maybe less than that.
14:24That would be the best, I think.
14:25What is it?
14:26One week throwback uniform with the two guns white calf on the helmet.
14:31But you don't call them Redskins.
14:34In any of the fonting on television or the announcers.
14:38So it's the commanders and they're wearing that logo.
14:41That's as good as it can get.
14:43And I'm not optimistic we'll see that day.
14:46They'll never be officially called the Redskins again.
14:49In any capacity.
14:50I also wonder if part of bringing, maybe you can't go to the full logo, but what if you
15:00can add a feather to the spear?
15:03Oh boy!
15:04What if you can get on one of the alternates or something?
15:08I think...
15:09Then you're going to have to invent a narrative that Roman commanders who used the Roman spear
15:15that we're now using, well, occasionally they decorated their spears with feathers.
15:19And that's going to be a bit of a reach.
15:21It's all invented narrative.
15:22Who cares?
15:23I know.
15:24Like it's all...
15:24But it's got to have some...
15:25Like the reason they're able to use this Roman spear is, well, hey, you know, Native Americans
15:30were not the only ones that used spears.
15:31Sure.
15:32Other peoples used them in war.
15:34I need a Game of Thrones nerd.
15:35Find me a spear with a feather on it.
15:37Like it probably existed in Game of Thrones.
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