WASHINGTON -- Half the U.S. Senate urged NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell on Thursday to change the Washington Redskins name, saying it is nothing less than a racist slur and the time is ripe to replace it. In a letter, 49 senators cited the NBAs quick action recently to ban Los Angeles Clippers owner Donald Sterling for life after he was heard on an audio recording making offensive comments about blacks. They said Goodell should formally push to rename the Redskins. "We urge you and the National Football League to send the same clear message as the NBA did: that racism and bigotry have no place in professional sports," read the letter, which did not use the word "Redskins." All the senators who signed the letter are Democrats. Another, Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., wrote his own letter urging the name change. Redskins owner Daniel Snyder has refused to change his teams name, citing tradition. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., and Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., led the letter-writing effort. Last month, Reid took to the Senate floor to say Snyder should "do what is morally right" and change the name. President Barack Obama and lawmakers from both parties have previously pressed for the name change. The letter said tribal organizations representing more than 2 million Native Americans across the U.S. have said they want the Redskins name dropped. Despite federal laws protecting their identity, "Every Sunday during football season, the Washington, D.C., football team mocks their culture," the senators wrote. "The NFL can no longer ignore this and perpetuate the use of this name as anything but what it is: a racial slur," the letter said. Joe Morgan Astros Jersey . Hicham Khalouas late goal improved Almerias chances of avoiding relegation in a match dominated by contentious calls, including three penalties. 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George scored 28 points and Indiana defeated San Antonio 111-100 on Saturday night, snapping an 11-game skid against the Spurs.Lewis Hamilton insists Nico Rosbergs early 36-point title lead is a big deal but says he is up to the challenge as he targets his first clean weekend of 2016 in Russia. Hamiltons attempts to become a four-time champion have been dogged by problems in the opening three rounds. A combination of poor starts, collisions and reliability problems have left him closer to the Ferrari and Red Bull drivers in the standings than Rosberg, his Mercedes team-mate.Meanwhile, Rosberg is yet to be beaten on race day in 2016 and is on a run of six straight victories stretching back to last November. But, as part of a record-breaking 21-race season, 18 rounds still remain with 450 points still up for grabs.Asked if 36 points - the equivalent of a race victory and fourth-place finish - was therefore not yet a big deal in title terms, Hamilton replied: I dont look at it lightly and I dont look at it like its not a big deal, its a big deal.Its 36 points, its a lot of points, a race and a bit, and I dont take it for granted that it is a big step. However, while aware that he has significant early ground to make up, Hamilton points out he twice overhauled similar deficits to Rosberg en-route to winning the title in 2014 - the second time when there were only seven races of that season left.I know Ive got work to do, he added. I dont look at it and I think ah, its nothing but on the flip side, in a shorter period of time Ive come from 29 [points behind].Rosberg: Lewis will fight backThere are 18 races, it is an average of two points a race [to make up], so its not impossible.Hamilton downplayed a suggestion that overhauling an in-form Rosberg could prove his greatest career challenge - its one of them, but Ive been racing 23 years and theres been a lot of challenges, from the get-go, he said - but is aware his season requires an upturn.Despite the advantage of pole position at the first two rounds, Hamilton has yet to run higher than sixth at the end of an opening lap in 2016. His probllems were compounded in Bahrain and China, where he started last after an engine change, by first-corner collisions with other drivers.dddddddddddd Natalie Pinkham is joined by former McLaren mechanic Marc Priestley and former Williams Senior Operations Engineer Dominic Harlow to look ahead to Russia I had the best start of the whole grid in the last race. We have been working on that issue and obviously I had a good start [in China], Hamilton said.When is the Russian GP on Sky?Its just the last two races Ive been driving with a loss of performance of nearly a second in each race.But Im hoping for a clean weekend and, by a good start, hopefully move on from there.Ive still had two poles, and I didnt get to qualify in the last race, so hopefully we have another chance this weekend.Watch the whole Russian GP weekend - LIVE ONLY on Sky Sports F1. The race begins at 1pm on Sunday, with build-up from 11.30am. Or watch the race without a contract for £6.99 on NOW TV. Also See: Rosberg expects rivals fightback When is the Russian GP on Sky? ' ' '