# Singular sports team names drive me **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [May 1, 2001, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singular-sports-team-names-drive-me/63968 "2001-05-01T15:28:18Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Tars\_Tarkas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/6a8cbe/32.png) [@Tars\_Tarkas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tars_Tarkas)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2001, 3:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singular-sports-team-names-drive-me/63968/41 "2001-05-03T15:10:37Z")
My high school in Rock Island, Illinois, was the Rocks. Even the swimming team (the swimming rocks) Ever see a rock try to swim? They just sit at the bottom of the pool duing meets. It ain’t pretty… ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [May 3, 2001, 3:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singular-sports-team-names-drive-me/63968/42 "2001-05-03T15:30:21Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by OrcaChow \* > \*\* > > > [@](#): > > > > Just refer to them by their city names, we know who you’re talking about. > > Final score: New York 13, New York 10. > > \*\* You forgot this part … “or just use the mascot name without the city.” Mets 112, Yankees -3. It’s the long-windedness that I’m railing against. I’m reminded of George Carlin’s bit about ShellShock/Post-Traumatic-Stress-Syndrome. Hom many friggin’ syllables do actually need to use to get your point accross. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2001, 1:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singular-sports-team-names-drive-me/63968/43 "2001-05-04T01:03:47Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by minty green \* > \*\*As for the Utah Jazz, I don’t worry that it’s not exactly a plural. My beef is that “Utah” and “Jazz” go together about as well as “Afghanistan” and “Pornography.” > \*\* For that matter, “Utah” and “Jazz” go together about as well as “Utah” and “Pornography,” too. Anyone else out there seen Baseketball? I’d root for a team named “The L.A. Riots” anyday. “The Mineapolis Lakers moved to LA, where there are no lakes. The Oilers moved to Tennesee, where there is no oil. The Jazz moved to Salt Lake City, where they don’t allow music.” ---
**Author:** ![elmwood](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmwood/32/3060_2.png) [@elmwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elmwood)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2001, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singular-sports-team-names-drive-me/63968/44 "2001-05-04T22:59:36Z")
[Go Butte!](http://www.d111.k12.id.us/BHS/BHS.htm) Orlando – gawd, it’s the catchbasin for bad team names. Magic, Miracle (WBA), Rage (XFL), and Kraze (Soccer); for plural names, there’s the Solar Bears (IHL). Not just 'da Bears, but hey man, they’re _solar_ too. Cities in the Northeast have the best team names, period. ---
**Author:** ![Jack\_Batty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jack_batty/32/3201_2.png) [@Jack\_Batty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jack_Batty)\ **Post date:** [May 4, 2001, 11:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singular-sports-team-names-drive-me/63968/45 "2001-05-04T23:31:14Z")
Yeah, like The New England Revolution. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [May 6, 2001, 2:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singular-sports-team-names-drive-me/63968/46 "2001-05-06T14:55:31Z")
The name that really bugs me is Bayern Munich. _Bayern_ is German for “Bavarian”, and Germans call Munich _Munchen_, so surely we English speakers should call them Bavarian Munich? I mean, consistency!!! BTW, Jack Batty: > [@](#): > > Either say “Minnesota won again” or “The Twins won again” I don’t ever want to hear “The Minnesota Twins won again”!! > > Of course I’m basing all this on European football teams. They all have mascots, but you hardly ever hear of them referred to with city and mascot. It’s always Manchester United, never The Manchester United Red Devils. It’s always Rangers, it’s never The Ibrox Rangers. Bad example with Manchester United. It’s “United” that’s analogous to “Twins”, as it’s a part of the club’s official name. “The Red Devils” is more analogous to, say, “The Bronx Bombers” - it’s just an unofficial nickname. As for Rangers _spit_, their official name is Rangers Football Club, but they _are_ frequently referred to as “Glasgow Rangers”. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/singular-sports-team-names-drive-me/63968.md?page=2)