Arts & Entertainment | National | Sports

Musician urges team name change as NCAI video makes waves






Proud to Be: One-minute version of NCAI video aired during NBA finals game on June 10, 2014, thanks to ad buy from Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation.

A fan of the Washington NFL team is the creator of the song that's used in the Proud to Be video.

But musician Tim Cretella of Virginia isn't letting his support for the team get in the way of the message behind the National Congress of American Indians campaign. He said the name deserves scrutiny.

“Personally, I think if there’s anyone we’ve mistreated in this country, it’s the Indians,” Cretella told The Washington Post. “And if there are any of them who are sincerely offended by the name, I think we should definitely consider changing it. I’ve kind of always been one for the underdog anyway.”

“This is the least we could do knowing the brutal events that occurred during the nation’s formation,” Cretella added.

Thanks to the NCAI video, which aired during the NBA finals game on Tuesday night, the song known as "The Battle" was heard by millions of people. Cretella performs with his wife, Brittany, as Doppio.

Get the Story:
How a Redskins fan inadvertently created the music for the new anti-Redskins ad (The Washington Post 6/10)

Related Stories:
NCAI's 'Proud to Be' video to air during NBA finals game tonight (6/10)
Churches headed for vote on boycott of Washington NFL team (06/04)
Opinion: Democrats waste time with fight against NFL mascot (6/3)
Naomi Brisley: NFL's team mascot dehumanizes Native people (6/2)
Courtland Milloy: NFL team makes profit off a racial stereotype (6/2)
Battle Mountain chairman was asked to attend NFL event in DC (5/30)
Leader of NFL players union opposes Washington team's name (5/30)
Deadspin: Another social media backfire for Washington team (5/29)
Column: Team wasn't named in honor of alleged Indian coach (5/29)
John Kane: Lawmakers pull a publicity stunt with letter to NFL (5/28)
NFL team claims ex-NCAI president designed Indian head logo (5/27)
Senate Democrats urge NFL to take action against racist mascot (05/22)
New York Assembly backs bill against use of racial slurs in sports (5/21)
John Kane: Racist mascots a sign of racist government policies (05/13)
Peter d'Errico: Challenge to racist trademarks shows potential (05/12)
Jeffrey Ian Ross: Dropping team name makes economic sense (05/12)
Time: Player accuses NFL of not being concerned about racism (05/09)
Sen. McCain calls on NFL team owner to address racist mascot (05/02)
Lawmakers demand action over use of racial slur by NFL team (05/01)
Nicholet Deschine: The reality of eliminating a racist mascot (04/30)
Oneida Nation urges discipline for Washington NFL team owner (04/30)
NCAI slams racist comments attributed to owner of NBA team (04/28)

Join the Conversation