Ahead of Friday’s opener in the ALCS between the Cleveland Indians and Toronto Blue Jays, a story has surfaced about CBC (Canada’s public broadcaster) announcer John Hancock. Over a 40 year career, Hancock has plied his trade in broadcasting, but in 1992 he subtly made a stand against what he perceived as insensitive team names, including the now incredibly relevant (beacuse of the upcoming series) Cleveland Indians.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YE_xv9ImprI
CBC’s John Hancock has been a sportscaster for more than 40 years, but says it’s time for a change in the sports world.
This week, longtime Blue Jays announcer Jerry Howarth revealed that he quietly stopped calling Cleveland’s baseball team “Indians” back in 1992. He was prompted by a heartfelt letter from an Indigenous listener who explained why the term was offensive.
To read the full story, click here.
With last year’s uproad over the Washington Redskins and other seemingly racially sensitive team names out there, what’s your stance on personal ethics vs professional responsibility in this situation?
