# Please explain these soccer team names to an ignorant American **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [March 30, 2010, 1:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284 "2010-03-30T01:18:41Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Omar\_Little](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/omar_little/32/269_2.png) [@Omar\_Little](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Omar_Little)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/21 "2010-03-30T20:08:28Z")
This thread just might be nominated for the “Fighting Ignorance” award of 2010. ---
**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:** [March 30, 2010, 8:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/22 "2010-03-30T20:15:08Z")
And then of course there’s the [New York Red Bulls](http://web.mlsnet.com/t107/). This was, perhaps, inevitable, but I hope it doesn’t catch on like stadium-naming rights. ---
**Author:** ![Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/47e85d/32.png) [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Lance_Murdoch)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/23 "2010-03-30T20:38:40Z")
I call them Real Salt Lake with the English pronunciation just to make fun of them. Although that may only be the second dumbest name in Utah since they have the Utah Jazz as well. Pretty impressive on the stupidity scale considering there are no other major league teams in Utah. ---
**Author:** ![Chessic\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/7c8e57/32.png) [@Chessic\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chessic_Sense)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 8:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/24 "2010-03-30T20:52:58Z")
> [@Captain\_Lance\_Murdoch](#): > > Although that may only be the second dumbest name in Utah since they have the Utah Jazz as well. You know the Jazz are originally from New Orleans, right? I mean, it makes as much sense as the LA Lakers and briefly-named Tennessee Oilers. ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/25 "2010-03-30T21:30:37Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > You know the Jazz are originally from New Orleans, right? I mean, it makes as much sense as the LA Lakers and briefly-named Tennessee Oilers. Why they didn’t change the team name from the Jazz when they relocated is a great mystery. The New Orleans Jazz were only around for 5 forgettable seasons (other than having Pete Maravich). The Minneapolis Lakers, OTOH, had over a decade in Minnesota, and won 5 NBA championships, so at least there was some heritage to keep with the name. ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/26 "2010-03-30T21:39:49Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > In the case of the Vikings, the name was undoubtedly meant to reflect the Scandinavian heritage of many Minnesotans, which is, undoubtedly, a different category. 🙂 We in Wisconni prefer to think of the Minnesota Vikings namesake origin as a [hoax](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensington_Runestone). ---
**Author:** ![thelurkinghorror](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/7c8e57/32.png) [@thelurkinghorror](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thelurkinghorror)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 9:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/27 "2010-03-30T21:53:52Z")
The best team name ever is the [Hokkaido Nippon Ham Fighters](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hokkaido_Nippon-Ham_Fighters). No they’re not defending Japan from the ham invasion. They are from Hokkaido, owned by a company called “Nippon Ham” and they’re “the Fighters.” Japan has corporate sponsorship, this creates other teams like the Yakult Swallows, the Lotte Marines, and the SoftBank Hawks. > [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Why they didn’t change the team name from the Jazz when they relocated is a great mystery. The New Orleans Jazz were only around for 5 forgettable seasons (other than having Pete Maravich). The Minneapolis Lakers, OTOH, had over a decade in Minnesota, and won 5 NBA championships, so at least there was some heritage to keep with the name. In the movie BASEketball, they decry that the Lakers move to LA, where there are no lakes, and the Jazz move to Utah, where they don’t have music. ---
**Author:** ![bucketybuck](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/898d66/32.png) [@bucketybuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bucketybuck)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/28 "2010-03-30T22:04:55Z")
> [@Svejk\_1](#): > > Incidentally, there’s a habit in international football reporting (even UEFA does it) to add the name of the city to a club’s name if it’s not already there, which leads a lot of people to believe there’s teams such as Feyenoord Rotterdam, Juventus Turin or Hertha BSC Berlin - but that’s not actually these teams’ names. Huh??? I never in my life heard Juventus referred to as “Juventus Turin”, or Feyenoord as “Feyenoord Rotterdam”. Where on earth would you have heard this? Hertha Berlin will of course be referred to as Hertha Berlin, as thats what its called, “Hertha Berliner Sport-Club”. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/29 "2010-03-30T22:12:08Z")
> [@](#): > > And then of course there’s the New York Red Bulls. This was, perhaps, inevitable, but I hope it doesn’t catch on like stadium-naming rights. Honestly, is it any worse than the [del]Disneyland[/del]Anaheim Mighty Ducks? ---
**Author:** ![Malacandra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Malacandra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Malacandra)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/30 "2010-03-30T22:19:05Z")
> [@Sitnam](#): > > **Sheffield Wednesday** - is my favorite bizarre football team name. It means what it says on the [tin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheffield_Wednesday_F.C.#Name_origins_and_nicknames)though - it started out as a sporting club that played on the local working men’s half-day off in midweek. (Cricket originally, football as a keep-fit exercise in the winter.) > [@YogSosoth](#): > > As an American, I’m used to most of our pro sports team names to be pretty easy to decipher. They’re usually either objects (Spurs), Well, in a roundabout way, but there’s a bit of [history](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Hotspur) involved… ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 10:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/31 "2010-03-30T22:29:53Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > Well, in a roundabout way, but there’s a bit of [history](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harry_Hotspur) involved… I’m pretty sure he’s referring to the San Antonio Spurs, not Tottenham. ---
**Author:** ![aruvqan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aruvqan/32/2891_2.png) [@aruvqan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aruvqan)\ **Post date:** [March 30, 2010, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/32 "2010-03-30T23:11:45Z")
I am rather fond of the [All Blacks](http://www.allblacks.com/), but then again I like their habit of [Haka](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tdMCAV6Yd0Y) =) Do it yourself [haka](http://www.newzealand.com/travel/app_templates/haka/index_content.html) =) ---
**Author:** ![penultima\_thule](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/penultima_thule/32/3833_2.png) [@penultima\_thule](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/penultima_thule)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 12:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/33 "2010-03-31T00:37:27Z")
> [@aruvqan](#): > > I am rather fond of the [All Blacks](http://www.allblacks.com/) … from the country that also has the [All Whites](http://www.nzfootball.co.nz/) and the [Tall Blacks](http://www.basketball.org.nz/national-teams/tall-blacks/) ---
**Author:** ![Sitnam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Sitnam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sitnam)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/34 "2010-03-31T04:41:39Z")
> [@Malacandra](#): > > It means what it says on the [tin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sheffield_Wednesday_F.C.#Name_origins_and_nicknames)though - it started out as a sporting club that played on the local working men’s half-day off in midweek. (Cricket originally, football as a keep-fit exercise in the winter.) 🙂 I know, I just like the name and wanted to play. ---
**Author:** ![footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9f8e36/32.png) [@footballisplayedwithyourfeet](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/footballisplayedwithyourfeet)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 9:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/35 "2010-03-31T09:27:50Z")
> [@bucketybuck](#): > > Huh??? > > I never in my life heard Juventus referred to as “Juventus Turin”, or Feyenoord as “Feyenoord Rotterdam”. Where on earth would you have heard this? > > Hertha Berlin will of course be referred to as Hertha Berlin, as thats what its called, “Hertha Berliner Sport-Club”. You often (always?) see this when the draws for the European competitions (Eoroleague and Championsleague) are made. The names on the pieces of paper that are drawn state the city names. I know they do this for clubs like Feyenoord (Rotterdam) and PSV (Eindhoven), but if I remember correctly they don’t do it in the case of AFC Ajax, since the A in AFC stands for Amsterdam already. These are just the dytch teams I am sure of, but I think they do it for other teams as well. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 10:48am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/36 "2010-03-31T10:48:16Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > On the other hand, there weren’t any 49ers any more in San Francisco at the time the team was formed, nor Raiders or **Buccaneers** in Oakland or **Tampa Bay** , and there were never any Pirates or Vikings in Pittsburgh or Minnesota, so I think those are something of a different category. [Sure](http://blog.placesaroundflorida.com/images/2010/01/Gasparilla-Invasion.jpg) [there](http://www.orlandosentinel.com/media/photo/2010-01/51473267.jpg) [are](http://www.wcicommunities.com/images/Upload/WCI_Images/WCIExtremeHome/WCI-Invasion.jpg). Stop by and [visit some time](http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/dailyloaf/files/2009/02/gasparilla-feb09.jpg). ---
**Author:** ![kenobi\_65](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kenobi_65/32/13178_2.png) [@kenobi\_65](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kenobi_65)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/37 "2010-03-31T14:53:13Z")
> [@ShibbOleth](#): > > [Sure](http://blog.placesaroundflorida.com/images/2010/01/Gasparilla-Invasion.jpg) [there](http://www.orlandosentinel.com/media/photo/2010-01/51473267.jpg) [are](http://www.wcicommunities.com/images/Upload/WCI_Images/WCIExtremeHome/WCI-Invasion.jpg). Stop by and [visit some time](http://blogs.creativeloafing.com/dailyloaf/files/2009/02/gasparilla-feb09.jpg). Only if you can guarantee the last set of buccaneers will be there. :eek: 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Tom\_Tildrum](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/e95f7d/32.png) [@Tom\_Tildrum](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tom_Tildrum)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 3:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/38 "2010-03-31T15:00:47Z")
> [@Chessic\_Sense](#): > > You know the Jazz are originally from New Orleans, right? I mean, it makes as much sense as the LA Lakers and briefly-named Tennessee Oilers. There aren’t many grizzlies in Memphis, either. Or redskins in Washington, for that matter. ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 6:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/39 "2010-03-31T18:50:39Z")
Madrid fans never call our team “Real” – it’s “Madrid” or at worst “El Madriz.” The chant you’ll always hear at the Bernabeu is “Hala Madrid!”…which can be rather intimidating when yelled by 80,000 + Our nick is “Los Merengues” due to the color of our uni and a popular egg-white and sugar treat. More on the evolution of the crest and uni here: [**Crest and colours**](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Real_Madrid_C.F.) ---
**Author:** ![RedFury](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/ec9cab/32.png) [@RedFury](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RedFury)\ **Post date:** [March 31, 2010, 6:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284/40 "2010-03-31T18:54:35Z")
PS-In point of fact our official hymn does not refer to the club as “Real” once: [**Hala Madrid**](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=guvToOWZW9Y) Homework: learn by heart! 😉 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/please-explain-these-soccer-team-names-to-an-ignorant-american/534284.md?page=3)