# Sports teams that should have had better names **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [October 25, 2016, 6:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-that-should-have-had-better-names/769710 "2016-10-25T18:47:43Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![tonyfop](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/85f322/32.png) [@tonyfop](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/tonyfop)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 12:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-that-should-have-had-better-names/769710/61 "2016-10-27T00:00:31Z")
Yes, there are plenty of Cardinals all over the place, but how about the Stanford Cardinal, named after the color of the uniform? ---
**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:** [October 27, 2016, 12:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-that-should-have-had-better-names/769710/62 "2016-10-27T00:10:33Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > Arizona Cardinals? Are there any cardinal birds in Arizona? What I found vexing was why they kept the name Cardinals after moving from Chicago to St. Louis. Lots of confusion between the baseball team and the football team. ---
**Author:** ![Accidental\_Martyr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ce7236/32.png) [@Accidental\_Martyr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Accidental_Martyr)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 4:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-that-should-have-had-better-names/769710/63 "2016-10-27T04:50:52Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > My absolute all time favorite team name was a minor league hockey team in Macon, Georgia called the Macon Whoopee. Absolutely. The Macon Whoopee is always at the top of my list. > [@TheInimitableMaven](#): > > Can’t believe I haven’t been beaten to this one…the **Montgomery Biscuits** (AA baseball team). > > I’m from the South AND love a damn good biscuit as much as most Southerners, and it still makes me laugh. We also had the Birmingham Barracudas in Alabama when the CFL made its short-lived expansion into the US. The Birmingham Bolts of the XFL were originally going to be named the Birmingham Bombers. Luckily, someone pointed out that it probably wasn’t a good idea to give a sports team a name that might be associated with multiple bomb attacks against African Americans during the Civil Rights movement (most notably the 16th St. Church bombing). > [@](#): > > Bombingham is a nickname for Birmingham, Alabama during the Civil Rights Movement due to the 50 dynamite explosions that occurred in the city between 1947 and 1965. The bombings were initially used against African Americans attempting to move into neighborhoods with entirely white residents. Later, the bombings were used against anyone working towards racial desegregation in the city. One neighborhood within Birmingham experienced so many bombings it developed the nickname of Dynamite Hill. > **[Bombingham](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bombingham)** > > City of Birmingham > City of Montgomery > City of Selma > City of Tuscaloosa ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 5:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-that-should-have-had-better-names/769710/64 "2016-10-27T05:15:12Z")
> [@Wheelz](#): > > Cleveland Browns. They named the team after _their coach_. Oh…kay. Oh, and they have no team logo. Nothing. Just a plain orange helmet. Orange, not brown. Even though Brown is a name, not a color, but… Oh, who even cares? (Well, somebody must. The good people of Cleveland fought like hell to keep the most uninspired name in sports after the team skipped town on them.) I know I barely pay attention to sports, but I can’t believe that in 15 years I never caught the Family Guy reference. [:smack:](https://ashleynerdstar.files.wordpress.com/2013/11/clevelandbrown.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 6:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-that-should-have-had-better-names/769710/65 "2016-10-27T06:21:06Z")
> [@Colibri](#): > > Toronto Raptors is pretty dumb too. The beast is not only extinct, it has nothing to do with Canada. (They were from Mongolia.) And real velociraptors were about the size of a turkey. The problem was that they held a naming contest for the team in about 1993. The film “Jurassic Park” had recently been released, and Toronto kids–enamoured of dinosaurs and who had seen the film–flooded the entries with “Raptors.” I was living in Toronto at the time, and I recall that other team name entries included Dragons (why not?), Beavers (a Canadian symbol), and Huskies (after Toronto’s team in the 1940s NBA). But no, it ended up being Raptors, because of a movie and kids’ love of dinosaurs. Even worse, was that contrary to Toronto teams’ traditional colours (blue and white, as in Maple Leafs, Argonauts, Blue Jays, the U of Toronto’s Varsity Blues), the Raptors opted for purple. Yes, a purple dinosaur. Hello, Barney, and a lack of respect from us adult sports fans. Those kids who voted for “Raptors” are adults now, many probably with kids of their own. I hope they realize that they made a stupid choice of team name. :mad: ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 6:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-that-should-have-had-better-names/769710/66 "2016-10-27T06:39:43Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > 1. North American soccer teams that use weird European naming conventions, like Toronto FC, D.C. United, Sporting Kansas City, what a bunch of crap. I have a lot of fun with a local acquaintance who is originally from Chile, and who understands that the National Football League and the Canadian Football League exist, but who much prefers soccer: Me: If “Toronto F.C.” stands for “Toronto Football Club,” then why do they play soccer instead of football? She: Oh, shut up. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![ThisSpaceForRent](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thisspaceforrent/32/345_2.png) [@ThisSpaceForRent](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ThisSpaceForRent)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 6:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-that-should-have-had-better-names/769710/67 "2016-10-27T06:55:28Z")
St. Louis College of Pharmacy has an athletics program…They are known as the EUTECTICS [http://www.eutecticsports.com](http://www.eutecticsports.com) ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 8:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-that-should-have-had-better-names/769710/68 "2016-10-27T08:18:00Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > I have always felt that the Houston Texans were rather poorly named - that the team name made no more sense than “Miami Floridans” or “New York New Yorkers.” > > The name “49ers” or “76ers” also feels odd, and hard to understand without specific historical context (the 49ers could easily have been named the “Miners” though and still sound like Niners, especially given that the 49ers were gold prospectors.) “Buffalo Bills” also is hard to understand without context, especially if the team were to move away from Buffalo (although I understand the team name would also change if that happened.) > > Finally, there’s the Welsh team [Clwb Pel Droed Llanfairpwllgwyngyllgogerychwyrndrobwllllantysiliogogogoch](https://in.news.yahoo.com/20-sports-teams-weirdest-names-105312769.html)Football Club. > > I figure the Washington Redskins controversy already has its own threads… 🙂 Agree with Texans because it so localizes your potential fan base, and was created in the early 2000s in the middle of the zenith of the sports marketing era. Dallas Cowboys? Well anyone in any market can relate to “wanting to be a cowboy” and it was name created waaaaay back 50 years ago. Not sure what was available, but Houston would have been better off calling themselves Toros, Stallions, Desperados, whatever but a regional name. I see a lot of people in Philly wearing Cowboys jerseys; no one is sporting a Texans jersey up here. I have to give the 49ers and 76ers a pass because these were team names given in the 40s then the 60s, collectively, well before anyone figured out sports marketing. As a Philly sports fan, no one here has a problem with the 76ers name, and we often just refer to them as the “Sixers”. The Bills? In any era, I cant figure out that one, but after 40-50 years, thats their name, and their fans love it. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 8:19am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-that-should-have-had-better-names/769710/69 "2016-10-27T08:19:34Z")
> [@running\_coach](#): > > Utah Jazz. Agreed. The story behind this is whoever bought the team and moved them to Salt Lake City didn’t want to pay for new jerseys and a new logo for new team name, and it stuck. For 32+ years. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 8:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-that-should-have-had-better-names/769710/70 "2016-10-27T08:22:28Z")
> [@Rick\_Kitchen](#): > > Los Angeles Lakers > People in Northern California have a clear understanding of what the 49ers represent. The Lakers were a name carried over from the already successful George Mikan led Minneapolis Lakers who moved to LA. After all the titles they and the 49ers have won in Cali, I can see why either franchise is reluctant to change their nickname. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 8:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-that-should-have-had-better-names/769710/71 "2016-10-27T08:32:13Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > “Washington Nationals” is also rather uninspiring. > > I’ll give a pass to really old monikers like Philadelphia Phillies, Montreal Canadiens, or the like, in part because really old nicknames often started out as actual nicknames - not official trademarks - but seriously, teams named in the last twenty years can do better than “Texans” or “Nationals.” > I like quirky names like Buffalo Bills, actually. > > My personal irritations are: > > 1. Names that are not plurals. Utah Jazz, Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche, spare me. > > 2. North American soccer teams that use weird European naming conventions, like Toronto FC, D.C. United, Sporting Kansas City, what a bunch of crap. My #1 with a rocket is Minnesota Wild, when I saw a video of the launch , I was like WTF??? I already explained Jazz, and I don’t think Denver fans are complaining about their two two Stanley Cups. As for MLS teams, I hear ya, but keep in mind US pro soccer appeals to three groups who are used to these “Euro” names: -Immigrants -Millenials who have grown up playing FIFA or PES on their video game consoles, and watch EPL games instead of cartoons on Saturday mornings -Soccer cultists like me So, yes, New York City Football Club is going to sell more jerseys than “New York Knights” and DC United will appeal to more 2016 soccer fans than “Washington Whips”. ---
**Author:** ![russian\_heel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/f05b48/32.png) [@russian\_heel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/russian_heel)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 8:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-that-should-have-had-better-names/769710/72 "2016-10-27T08:34:46Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim. Seriously, how were they able to add Los Angeles to their name? Marketing move. Keep in mind the Angels where originally the Los Angeles Angels then the California Angels before becoming the Anaheim Angels and then later the LAAOA . . . . ---
**Author:** ![ISiddiqui](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/97f17d/32.png) [@ISiddiqui](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ISiddiqui)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 3:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-that-should-have-had-better-names/769710/73 "2016-10-27T15:28:15Z")
> [@russian\_heel](#): > > As for MLS teams, I hear ya, but keep in mind US pro soccer appeals to three groups who are used to these “Euro” names: > > -Immigrants > -Millenials who have grown up playing FIFA or PES on their video game consoles, and watch EPL games instead of cartoons on Saturday mornings > -Soccer cultists like me > > So, yes, New York City Football Club is going to sell more jerseys than “New York Knights” and DC United will appeal to more 2016 soccer fans than “Washington Whips”. To an extent, of course. I don’t see the Seattle Sounders or Portland Timbers hurting due to American sports naming convention. Though, of course, they could sell those names based on ‘history’ (something Atlanta couldn’t really have done, since their NASL team was named “The Chiefs” - though I’m still not a fan of the United FC name). ---
**Author:** ![Doyle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/doyle/32/439_2.png) [@Doyle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doyle)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-that-should-have-had-better-names/769710/74 "2016-10-27T15:50:15Z")
Pittsburg State Gorillas, though their logo is pretty good. [![](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-l6RyVLOzaag/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAAHc/MmWDjK2-3As/s0-c-k-no-ns/photo.jpg) ](https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-l6RyVLOzaag/AAAAAAAAAAI/AAAAAAAAAHc/MmWDjK2-3As/s0-c-k-no-ns/photo.jpg) ---
**Author:** ![DCnDC](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dcndc/32/2842_2.png) [@DCnDC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DCnDC)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-that-should-have-had-better-names/769710/75 "2016-10-27T15:52:02Z")
> [@ISiddiqui](#): > > Sporting KC is a LOT better than the initial name of the Kansas City franchise, which was the Kansas City Wiz (it became the Kansas City Wizards in 1996). In DC we’re still stuck with the “Washington Wizards” NBA team, because they put it up to public vote and the public is an idiot. There wasn’t anything wrong with the “Bullets.” Sure, it has violent connotations, but at least it was genuinely representative of our lovely city. ---
**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:** [October 27, 2016, 4:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-that-should-have-had-better-names/769710/76 "2016-10-27T16:42:18Z")
> [@RickJay](#): > > “Washington Nationals” is also rather uninspiring. > > I’ll give a pass to really old monikers like Philadelphia Phillies, Montreal Canadiens, or the like, in part because really old nicknames often started out as actual nicknames - not official trademarks - but seriously, teams named in the last twenty years can do better than “Texans” or “Nationals.” > > I like quirky names like Buffalo Bills, actually. > > My personal irritations are: > > 1. Names that are not plurals. Utah Jazz, Minnesota Wild, Colorado Avalanche, spare me. > > 2. North American soccer teams that use weird European naming conventions, like Toronto FC, D.C. United, Sporting Kansas City, what a bunch of crap. I agree with all these. I also don’t like teams named after states or regions rather than for cities. ---
**Author:** ![snowthx](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowthx/32/10660_2.png) [@snowthx](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/snowthx)\ **Post date:** [October 27, 2016, 4:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-that-should-have-had-better-names/769710/77 "2016-10-27T16:58:05Z")
Modesto, CA has a baseball team named the “Nuts” (due to almond and walnut growing in the area, I suppose), so I think the name is appropriate. But, I always think fans at the home game are chanting “Go NUTS, Go NUTS, Go NUTS…”. ---
**Author:** ![Spoons](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spoons/32/3141_2.png) [@Spoons](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoons)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2016, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-that-should-have-had-better-names/769710/78 "2016-10-28T02:09:10Z")
> [@snowthx](#): > > Modesto, CA has a baseball team named the “Nuts” (due to almond and walnut growing in the area, I suppose), so I think the name is appropriate. But, I always think fans at the home game are chanting “Go NUTS, Go NUTS, Go NUTS…”. Hate to think of what happens when a stadium vendor wanders around, hollering, “Peanuts!” 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2016, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-that-should-have-had-better-names/769710/79 "2016-10-28T17:11:45Z")
> [@DCnDC](#): > > In DC we’re still stuck with the “Washington Wizards” NBA team, because they put it up to public vote and the public is an idiot. There wasn’t anything wrong with the “Bullets.” Sure, it has violent connotations, but at least it was genuinely representative of our lovely city. Yes, they go from the violent name (where the logo itself has the “LL” be two arms in the air, probably from some poor guy getting robbed at gun point (“Put 'em up!”)) to one that invokes memories of the Klan. Good message there! ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [October 28, 2016, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-that-should-have-had-better-names/769710/80 "2016-10-28T17:32:59Z")
Something else about “New England Patriots” that rubs me the wrong way is that it seems oxymoronic. Weren’t the “patriots” of the 1770s fighting to put an end to the concept of “New England”? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-that-should-have-had-better-names/769710.md?page=3) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/sports-teams-that-should-have-had-better-names/769710.md?page=5)