What's in a name? Maybe everything
Zach Wingerter
Issue date: 9/10/08 Section: Opinion
The Anaheim Mighty Ducks eliminated the word "Mighty" from their team name in 2006 and won the Stanley Cup in their first year as the Anaheim Ducks.
Another Anaheim team, the Anaheim Angels (now the "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim" … yes, you read that right), drastically changed their uniforms prior to the 2002 season and promptly won the World Series that October.
This year, the former Tampa Bay Devil Rays cut the word "Devil" from their moniker. A season after finishing 30 games behind first place, the Tampa Bay Rays are a near lock for the playoffs, which begin in only a few weeks.
Maybe there is something to this technique; change seems to be lucky. Perhaps other pro sports franchises should follow suit and totally revamp their teams.
Here are 10 suggestions to get the ball rolling.
Washington Nationals, MLB
The only time this franchise was near a championship was in 1994 as the Montreal Expos, but that season was cut short by a strike. Let's call a spade a spade: Washington Crooks sounds good to me. In addition to endless creative promotional opportunities, it would set up some fun Crooks-Pirates games and a fantastic "good versus evil" Angels-Crooks interleague showdown.
Baltimore Ravens, NFL
What's so scary about a raven? Unless you're talking about the fat psychic on Nickelodeon, nothing. If non-threatening nicknames are Baltimore's thing, then they might as well get some money out of it. Get Oreo Cookies to sponsor the team. That way, when people talk sports in Baltimore, they'll have no idea whether they're having a conversation about the football team or the baseball team. Call them the Baltimore Oreos and quoth the Ravens nevermore.
Texas Rangers, MLB
The Rangers' franchise has not won a playoff series in its entire 47-year existence. While the Rays and Ducks found success by subtraction, the Rangers could benefit from addition. Step one: Move the team to a new city in Texas called Walker. Step two: Request to be recognized by city and state in the media guide. Before you know it, Chuck Norris Bobblehead Nights will be all the rage for fans of the Walker, Texas Rangers.
Another Anaheim team, the Anaheim Angels (now the "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim" … yes, you read that right), drastically changed their uniforms prior to the 2002 season and promptly won the World Series that October.
This year, the former Tampa Bay Devil Rays cut the word "Devil" from their moniker. A season after finishing 30 games behind first place, the Tampa Bay Rays are a near lock for the playoffs, which begin in only a few weeks.
Maybe there is something to this technique; change seems to be lucky. Perhaps other pro sports franchises should follow suit and totally revamp their teams.
Here are 10 suggestions to get the ball rolling.
Washington Nationals, MLB
The only time this franchise was near a championship was in 1994 as the Montreal Expos, but that season was cut short by a strike. Let's call a spade a spade: Washington Crooks sounds good to me. In addition to endless creative promotional opportunities, it would set up some fun Crooks-Pirates games and a fantastic "good versus evil" Angels-Crooks interleague showdown.
Baltimore Ravens, NFL
What's so scary about a raven? Unless you're talking about the fat psychic on Nickelodeon, nothing. If non-threatening nicknames are Baltimore's thing, then they might as well get some money out of it. Get Oreo Cookies to sponsor the team. That way, when people talk sports in Baltimore, they'll have no idea whether they're having a conversation about the football team or the baseball team. Call them the Baltimore Oreos and quoth the Ravens nevermore.
Texas Rangers, MLB
The Rangers' franchise has not won a playoff series in its entire 47-year existence. While the Rays and Ducks found success by subtraction, the Rangers could benefit from addition. Step one: Move the team to a new city in Texas called Walker. Step two: Request to be recognized by city and state in the media guide. Before you know it, Chuck Norris Bobblehead Nights will be all the rage for fans of the Walker, Texas Rangers.
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