By Gabriel Pruett
The News Sports Columnist
There was a time in this country when the comedic sketches using “Blackface” was the norm. This was when a white actor would paint his face black to act like an African American. It was wrong then just as the name Redskins for a football team is wrong now. A judge this week pulled the plug on the Washington Redskins trademarks for their logos in what appears to be the first step to the team coming up with a better mascot name. Admit it folks, enough has been done to Native Americans in this country and the name Redskins is beyond offensive and far worse than the mascots Indians, Chiefs and Seminoles. Washington owner Dan Snyder, a man more egotistical than Jerry Jones, needs to do the right thing and change the team name…Boys will be boys. Three different instances this week cost pro athletes in their sports. Golfer Rory McIlroy was forced to back out of the British Open after suffering an ankle injury playing soccer. New York Giants defensive lineman Jason Pierre-Paul and Tampa Bay cornerback C.J. Wilson both are missing fingers after playing with fireworks. McIlroy at least was not being an idiot and was hurt by accident. Pierre-Paul and Wilson have no excuse for their injuries. Pierre-Paul had a finger amputated while Wilson lost two digits. Boys will be boys…NFL commissioner Roger Goodell said Thursday his decision on New England star Tom Brady’s appeal could come as early as next week. Expect the number to drop from four games to two. Goodell loves to set examples with player suspensions but Brady is not the guy the league wants out for a quarter of the season for any reason. The NFL wants Brady back for the Patriots fourth game which is in Dallas against Tony Romo. Now Jethro and the Cowboys wish they could appeal the appeal if Brady is back in uniform against Dallas…Tennessee Titans quarterback, probably backup quarterback to start 2015, Zach Mettenberger better hope he is not in the game against the Houston Texans on Nov. 1. Mettenberger took another dig at J.J. Watt this week, this time over a jacket Watt was seen wearing. Watt took to Twitter and pretty much slapped Mettenberger without any physical contact by saying, “A lion doesn’t concern himself with the opinions of a sheep.” Ouch J.J….What is going on with Florida State quarterbacks these days? We all remember the off-field troubles with Jameis Winston over the past two seasons and now freshman De’Andre Johnson has “allegedly” been seen on video striking a woman at a bar. I put allegedly in quotes because that is the word stories I have read use even after the authors have seen the video that clearly shows the incident. Where is Seminoles coach Jimbo Fisher finding these guys? There have been several sports fans call into radio shows and use the, “Well she started it,” defense of Johnson. There is zero defense one can use when a man strikes a woman. I have never once came close to putting my hands on a woman and let me tell you one thing, if I ever did the police would be my last concern. My mother would use all 4-foot, 8-inches of herself to make sure I get punished and then my father would be down here from Wisconsin and Round 2 of my punishment would begin. Men leave your hands off our women. Stop it…Have you noticed a theme to this column? It is all football baby. I am ready for the pigskin. There are three other guys I know who are itching as well and that is Nederland’s Larry Neumann, Port Neches-Groves’ Brandon Faircloth and Port Arthur Memorial’s Kenny Harrison. I can’t wait to start having my weekly sit downs with these terrific coaches and more importanly, outstanding men and role models for our youth…That’s it for the week. I had to finish this column up on Thursday since I was headed to College Station on Friday for the state 7-on-7 tournament. Hope everyone has a good week and thanks for reading The News. We appreciate your support.