# Best and worst sports team names based on their location **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [May 23, 2019, 1:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-sports-team-names-based-on-their-location/834383 "2019-05-23T01:01:04Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 18\ **Page:** 8
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-sports-team-names-based-on-their-location/834383/141 "2019-06-03T19:51:44Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > The Phillies’ “official” name is the Philadelphia National Baseball League Team I don’t think this is true, but I am open to correction. Of course, it can be somewhat tricky to determine what the “official” name of a team is, but I’ve never heard this name for the Phillies. And I’ve never seen a historical source in which the Philadelphia National League team, specifically, was referred to as the Nationals or Nats, any more than any other National League team. Before nicknames became formalized, it was common to refer to any team by its city and league, especially if a city had teams in multiple leagues. So the teams we usually know these days as the Boston Braves and the Boston Red Sox might be referred to as the “Nationals” and the “Americans,” but it’s kind of a stretch to call those their “official” names. Also, there were actual clubs with the name “National” or “Nationals”–in particular, a club that could be accurately described as the National Club of Washington (in modern parlance, Washington Nationals)–as the name of the club long before the club we now know as the Philadelphia Phillies joined the National League. This would be very different than the later tradition of calling a team “Nationals” or “Americans” based just on their league membership. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 7:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-sports-team-names-based-on-their-location/834383/142 "2019-06-03T19:52:24Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Imagine what it must have been like in New York before the Giants moved to San Francisco. Not to mention that there was a Brooklyn Dodgers football team. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 7:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-sports-team-names-based-on-their-location/834383/143 "2019-06-03T19:53:25Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > I have read several sources claiming the New York Jets were named as an homage to the Mets, but there isn’t any actual evidence that is true, and there IS contemporaneous evidence they were named that upon moving to Shea Stadium because La Guardia airport is right there. Also in 1963 jets and air travel were symbols of sophistication and coolness. And then once the Mets and Jets were established, we got New York Nets basketball and New York Sets team tennis. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-sports-team-names-based-on-their-location/834383/144 "2019-06-03T20:00:59Z")
> [@dalej42](#): > > Chicago Fire. I’m so glad they haven’t done the phoney European naming convention yet, and the Chicago Fire was certainly an important part of Chicago history. > > Worst: New York Red Bulls, really allowing a sponsor to name your team. I know it’s done in Japan, but it sucks. Also, Real Salt Lake and FC Dallas and all the stupid European names that MLS teams have adopted. To my mind, the worst is the Swope Park Rangers, a minor league soccer club in Kansas City. ---
**Author:** ![Rick\_Kitchen](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rick_kitchen/32/522_2.png) [@Rick\_Kitchen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rick_Kitchen)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 8:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-sports-team-names-based-on-their-location/834383/145 "2019-06-03T20:10:01Z")
> [@Squonk](#): > > There was a minor league hockey team called the Macon Whoopee. I’ll leave it to you to decide if that’s an example of best or worst. My favorite sports nickname is for Poca, West Virginia, High School. The Poca Dots. ---
**Author:** ![Wheelz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/wheelz/32/5718_2.png) [@Wheelz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wheelz)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-sports-team-names-based-on-their-location/834383/146 "2019-06-03T21:01:52Z")
If we’re on to High School sports now… There’s a town in Illinois called Pekin, so named because of the mistaken notion that it was exactly opposite the globe from Peking, China. For many years, the school’s sports teams were known as (and I am not making this up) the “Pekin Chinks.” You might say that the name was both appropriate and highly _in_appropriate at the same time. They have since rebranded as the Dragons. ---
**Author:** ![running\_coach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/running_coach/32/15836_2.png) [@running\_coach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/running_coach)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 9:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-sports-team-names-based-on-their-location/834383/147 "2019-06-03T21:15:14Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > My favorite sports nickname is for Poca, West Virginia, High School. The Poca Dots. [Crooksville High School](http://www.crooksville.k12.oh.us/high-school/):Home Of The Ceramics. And let’s not forget the [Butte Pirates.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Butte_County_High_School) Or [The Deaf Leopards.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas_School_for_the_Deaf) ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 9:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-sports-team-names-based-on-their-location/834383/148 "2019-06-03T21:22:35Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > [The Deaf Leopards.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arkansas_School_for_the_Deaf) I think they win. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-sports-team-names-based-on-their-location/834383/149 "2019-06-03T21:32:51Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I would so love a team that played there to pick the name “Joliet Blues.” Or Joliet Jakes ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-sports-team-names-based-on-their-location/834383/150 "2019-06-03T21:35:43Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > The Mariners were mentioned as a great name for Seattle, but the SuperSonics was another great name since Boeing is from and in the area. It was until the contract for Boeing’s super-sonic plane was cancelled. ---
**Author:** ![Saint\_Cad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saint_cad/32/18907_2.png) [@Saint\_Cad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saint_Cad)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-sports-team-names-based-on-their-location/834383/151 "2019-06-03T21:46:05Z")
Talking about dual nicknames, the old Pacific Coast Athletic Association had both the Utah St. Aggies and New Mexico St. Aggies. ---
**Author:** ![Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/b4bc9f/32.png) [@Ulf\_the\_Unwashed](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ulf_the_Unwashed)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 10:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-sports-team-names-based-on-their-location/834383/152 "2019-06-03T22:01:01Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > If we’re on to High School sports now… > There’s a town in Illinois called Pekin, so named because of the mistaken notion that it was exactly opposite the globe from Peking, China. For many years, the school’s sports teams were known as (and I am not making this up) the “Pekin Chinks.” > > You might say that the name was both appropriate and highly _in_appropriate at the same time. They have since rebranded as the Dragons. When in high school back in the seventies I swam at a large invitational meet at which the “Chinks” also made an appearance. I don’t recall if I found the name offensive, but I certainly found it noteworthy. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [June 3, 2019, 11:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-sports-team-names-based-on-their-location/834383/153 "2019-06-03T23:08:29Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > During the 50s, at the height of the Red Scare, they called themselves the Redlegs. [Hello.](https://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showpost.php?p=21658581&postcount=26) ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2019, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-sports-team-names-based-on-their-location/834383/154 "2019-06-04T00:49:39Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > You literally said exactly that. You stated they hadn’t said “a single word”. > > Though I guess you’re pedantically correct, because they hadn’t said a single word, but multiple words… 😉 No. I said that no one who COMMENTED ON THE BEARS/CUBS being out of place made that reference. Again READ WHAT I SAID. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2019, 1:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-sports-team-names-based-on-their-location/834383/155 "2019-06-04T01:27:06Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > No. I said that no one who COMMENTED ON THE BEARS/CUBS being out of place made that reference. Again READ WHAT I SAID. 😉 What you said just now is much, much clearer than your original statement, which is more ambiguous: “Ok, I find it funny how many people have posted about the Chicago Bears/Cubs, and not said a single word about the Detroit Lions/Tigers.” You have pronouns missing in the second half of that sentence. While implied, their absence makes your meaning a bit unclear. ---
**Author:** ![DSYoungEsq](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/c6cbf5/32.png) [@DSYoungEsq](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DSYoungEsq)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2019, 3:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-sports-team-names-based-on-their-location/834383/156 "2019-06-04T15:13:46Z")
> [@Atamasama](#): > > What you said just now is much, much clearer than your original statement, which is more ambiguous: > > “Ok, I find it funny how many people have posted about the Chicago Bears/Cubs, and not said a single word about the Detroit Lions/Tigers.” > > You have pronouns missing in the second half of that sentence. While implied, their absence makes your meaning a bit unclear. Uh, not to beat a dead horse, but the meaning is CLEAR. 1. I found something funny. 2. Many people did something. 3. They a) posted about the Bears/Cubs b) not said about Lions/Tigers. The phrase, “and not said a single word …” needs a subject. The only subject in town is “people”. To interpret the latter phrase as meaning, “and (no one has) said a single word …” is to invent a subject not previously introduced. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2019, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-sports-team-names-based-on-their-location/834383/157 "2019-06-04T15:22:22Z")
Bears are native to North America. I’d guess there have been bears at some point or another in the Chicago region. It’s not like tigers and lions, which are completely foreign species. Anyway, I don’t think that’s the point. Animal mascots aren’t there for the sole purpose of claiming a local species. It’s for the associated characteristics. ---
**Author:** ![Atamasama](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/atamasama/32/12961_2.png) [@Atamasama](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Atamasama)\ **Post date:** [June 4, 2019, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-sports-team-names-based-on-their-location/834383/158 "2019-06-04T15:57:38Z")
> [@DSYoungEsq](#): > > Uh, not to beat a dead horse, but the meaning is CLEAR. > > 1. I found something funny. > 2. Many people did something. > 3. They > a) posted about the Bears/Cubs > b) not said about Lions/Tigers. > > The phrase, “and not said a single word …” needs a subject. The only subject in town is “people”. To interpret the latter phrase as meaning, “and (no one has) said a single word …” is to invent a subject not previously introduced. 😉 At least two people mistook your meaning. That’s all you need to know. I explained why. The horse is starting to smell bad now so I’m walking away from it. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/best-and-worst-sports-team-names-based-on-their-location/834383.md?page=7)