Where did the Cleveland Browns get their name?

Answer 1

According to some sources, The team was dubbed the Cleveland "Naps" shortly after it's creation in 1901. This nickname was in honor of their superstar, Napoleon Lajoie. Once he left, there was a newspaper competition to pick a name. There is a dispute as to whether the fans actually voted for "Indians" or some newspaper people selected it. In any case, it was selected, and the wahoo made the emblem at a time when racism and racial insensitivity were rampant in our culture. Jews, Blacks, Italians, Irish, Asian peoples were all commonly caricatured in cartoonish, racist manners throughout the media before and during this period. By the middle of the twentieth century, however; most of the caricatures started disappearing as the fight against discrimination and racism towards these groups increased. Unfortunately, in part because there were so few Native voices left on the continent after hundreds of years of genocide, Indian views were rarely heard. Since the 1970s when the movement to change the name and mascot beganin clveland, an old legend has re-emerged that proposes that the "Indians" name was given in honor of a Native American, Louis Sockilexus, who had been a successful Cleveland player for a couple years. A review of the newspapers of the period show that his name was never brought up during selection of the team name. The legend is just a convenient cover story to argue that the name is a tribute to Native Americans. Every year Native Americans from tribes all over the country converge on opening day to protest the name and logo, arguing that both distort the image of their people and rob them of the power to shape the world's view of them. They beg us to see how this distortion affects the self-image and mental health of their children. They also point out that the consequent use of their religious symbols (feathers, paint, etc) demeans and insults their religion. Unfortunetely, the team seems to have no plans to change the name or the mascot/logo. The author is a former member of SABR and a current member of Fans for Fairness.

Answer 2

According to the following article, Jerry Tomko, father of MLB pitcher Brett Tomko gave the Cavaliers their name when he trumped more than 11,000 entries in a write-in contest in the Cleveland Plain Dealer back in 1970. Jerry Tomko's winning entry read in part, "The name Cleveland Cavaliers represents a group of daring, fearless men whose life's pact was never surrender, no matter what the odds."

The Cavaliers got their name in 1970 from Jerry Tomko, the winner of The Plain Dealer's "Name the Team" contest. His was one of more than 11,000 entries.

Answer 3

Coach Paul Brown
The team is named after its first head coach, Paul Brown.