# Sports teams named after a region's working people **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [January 31, 2011, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-named-after-a-regions-working-people/569689 "2011-01-31T20:43:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![Wallenstein](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/b5a626/32.png) [@Wallenstein](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Wallenstein)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 10:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-named-after-a-regions-working-people/569689/41 "2011-02-01T10:17:49Z")
In the UK we have scottish team [Hamilton Academical](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hamilton_Academicals#Club_history) which was founded by scholars. In England Northampton Town FC is nicked-named “The Cobblers” after the shoe-making industry. And my current local team is nicknamed “The Brakes” as it used to be owned by an automotive parts company. ---
**Author:** ![dalej42](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/67e7ee/32.png) [@dalej42](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dalej42)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 1:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-named-after-a-regions-working-people/569689/42 "2011-02-01T13:01:46Z")
Orlando Magic for the “Magic of Disney” might qualify. ---
**Author:** ![Sigmagirl](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c89c15/32.png) [@Sigmagirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sigmagirl)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-named-after-a-regions-working-people/569689/43 "2011-02-01T14:53:46Z")
Is this pro only? I love the East Liverpool (Ohio) High School Potters – named for the town’s history of making pottery and ceramics, especially the Hall China Company, still in business after 108 years. Those people need that factory. [http://www.pottersportsonline.com/](http://www.pottersportsonline.com/) There once was a Potters semipro basketball team, too. ---
**Author:** ![fjs1fs](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/9e8a1a/32.png) [@fjs1fs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fjs1fs)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-named-after-a-regions-working-people/569689/44 "2011-02-01T15:12:41Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > The simpler explanation by far is that it’s a reference to Bill Cody. Was he a famous bill-collector? ---
**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:** [February 1, 2011, 3:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-named-after-a-regions-working-people/569689/45 "2011-02-01T15:55:26Z")
> [@fjs1fs](#): > > Was he a famous bill-collector? Yes; he was known for buffaloing people into paying. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 7:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-named-after-a-regions-working-people/569689/46 "2011-02-01T19:45:49Z")
> [@kenobi\_65](#): > > Yes; he was known for buffaloing people into paying. Buffalo Bills bill Buffalo Bills’ Buffalo Bill buffaloes? ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 8:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-named-after-a-regions-working-people/569689/47 "2011-02-01T20:00:00Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Kansas City Royals is a nod to the local annual livestock/rodeo. I’d never head of that and don’t understand the connection. What do Royals have to do with a livestock/rodeo show? I’d always thought that the KC Royals name was a nod to the old Negro league team, the KC Monarchs, but I’ve no documentation of that. ---
**Author:** ![furt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/439d5e/32.png) [@furt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furt)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-named-after-a-regions-working-people/569689/48 "2011-02-01T20:01:42Z")
The Orlando Magic are named in honor of the city’s largest employer. ETA: oops, sorry. ---
**Author:** ![Bearflag70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e7dd6/32.png) [@Bearflag70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bearflag70)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-named-after-a-regions-working-people/569689/49 "2011-02-01T20:07:30Z")
I think it would be kinda funny to have an NFL team called the Clippers. 😉 ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-named-after-a-regions-working-people/569689/50 "2011-02-01T20:59:57Z")
Were the Minnesota Vikings named in honor of the many Nordic immigrants who settled in that area? ---
**Author:** ![President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5f9b8f/32.png) [@President\_Johnny\_Gentle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/President_Johnny_Gentle)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-named-after-a-regions-working-people/569689/51 "2011-02-01T21:40:25Z")
> [@zamboniracer](#): > > Were the Minnesota Vikings named in honor of the many Nordic immigrants who settled in that area? Yes, together with the [Kensington Runestone](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kensington_Runestone). ---
**Author:** ![Peremensoe](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/ce7236/32.png) [@Peremensoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peremensoe)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 9:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-named-after-a-regions-working-people/569689/52 "2011-02-01T21:47:10Z")
_Royals_ was a good name for the KC team in 1969, as it could simultaneously reference the American Royal livestock show, the Negro leagues Kansas City Monarchs, and the Western Association/American Association Kansas City Blues or Blue Stockings. Before Kansas City played under any of those names, however, their first teams were known as the _Cowboys_, which counts as an occupational nickname in this case with KC being a cattle drive destination. ---
**Author:** ![sisu](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/df705f/32.png) [@sisu](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/sisu)\ **Post date:** [February 1, 2011, 11:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-named-after-a-regions-working-people/569689/53 "2011-02-01T23:24:51Z")
Essendon Bombers, not for bangy bombs but for a long kick called a bomb. Freemantle Dockers, well Freemantle has a dock. ---
**Author:** ![Sternvogel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Sternvogel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sternvogel)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 3:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-named-after-a-regions-working-people/569689/54 "2011-02-02T03:51:27Z")
> [@Diogenes\_the\_Cynic](#): > > When I was a kid in Shreveport, I can remember a local team from the short-lived World Football League called the Shreveport Steamers. It’s a good thing they never got sold to Cleveland. Nitpick: The team was the Steamer (singular). Not that it makes the Cleveland joke any less appropriate. High school nicknames that come to mind: Collinwood (Cleveland, OH) Railroaders Noblesville (IN) Millers Lorain (OH) Steelmen Cairo (GA) Syrupmakers – as in Karo Syrup Astoria (OR) Fighting Fishermen Jordan (Sandy, UT) Beetdiggers Hampton (VA) Crabbers Hoopeston (IL) Cornjerkers ---
**Author:** ![zamboniracer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/e9a140/32.png) [@zamboniracer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/zamboniracer)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 4:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-named-after-a-regions-working-people/569689/55 "2011-02-02T04:17:05Z")
> [@Sternvogel](#): > > Lorain (OH) Steelmen Sadly, the Steelmen are no more. Lorain High School closed several years ago, and then was reborn as the new Lorain High School this past year. The new school’s new nickname is the Titans. [Link](http://www.morningjournal.com/articles/2010/03/31/news/doc4bb3b9684355d153947286.txt) ---
**Author:** ![crypto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b3f665/32.png) [@crypto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/crypto)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 4:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-named-after-a-regions-working-people/569689/56 "2011-02-02T04:55:38Z")
nevermind ---
**Author:** ![gregorio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/fbc32d/32.png) [@gregorio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gregorio)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 9:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-named-after-a-regions-working-people/569689/57 "2011-02-02T21:32:16Z")
Calgary Cowboys (WHA) Calgary Roughnecks (NLL) Quebec Nordiques (NHL, WHA not an occupation but a location) Calgary Wranglers (WHL, moved to Lethbridge and renamed Hurricanes, hey it’s windy down there) Calgary Hitmen (just kidding, but the WHL team originally owned by Brett (The Hitman) Hart, among others) ---
**Author:** ![GorillaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/50afbb/32.png) [@GorillaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GorillaMan)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-named-after-a-regions-working-people/569689/58 "2011-02-02T22:40:08Z")
> [@Wallenstein](#): > > In England Northampton Town FC is nicked-named “The Cobblers” after the shoe-making industry. And my current local team is nicknamed “The Brakes” as it used to be owned by an automotive parts company. There’s plenty of other English nicknames which come from former local industries: Sheffield Utd. = Blades (steelmaking) Luton Town & Stockport County = Hatters Southend = Shrimpers The one official name to have such origins is Arsenal, originating as a workers’ team in the Royal Arsenal. ---
**Author:** ![villa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/bc79bd/32.png) [@villa](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/villa)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-named-after-a-regions-working-people/569689/59 "2011-02-02T22:54:22Z")
> [@GorillaMan](#): > > There’s plenty of other English nicknames which come from former local industries: Liverpool F.C. - “Thieves” ---
**Author:** ![Sin\_Serially](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Sin\_Serially](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sin_Serially)\ **Post date:** [February 2, 2011, 11:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-named-after-a-regions-working-people/569689/60 "2011-02-02T23:51:57Z")
> [@Munch](#): > > Houston Astros/Rockets (for the local NASA history) The Houston Rockets actually kept their name when they were transferred from San Diego in the early '80s. The name still fits because of the NASA connection though. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-named-after-a-regions-working-people/569689.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-named-after-a-regions-working-people/569689.md?page=4)