After an occupation of more than 20 years, British forces finally drove out the invading Danes. The origins of football or futballe can be traced back to the beginning of the 2nd century in England. But most of all, we will celebrate the moving, thought-provoking, and powerful nature of these nicknames until you leap to your feet and shout, "That's my team!" We'll even have several opportunities at a rather unique challengegiving a brand new sports franchise a fitting and inspiring name. Along the way we will encounter a number of Challenges that will exercise our minds and creativity. Together, we will answer these questions and many more as we explore the significance of the names bestowed upon our favorite sports teams. What historical events are behind names such as the Philadelphia 76ers, San Francisco 49ers and Oklahoma Sooners? How do the names of women's professional teams today differ from those of the 1940s? What inspired the owner of the Washington Bullets to change his team's name to the Wizards? How did the University of Florida's nickname impact upon the sports drink Gatorade? That can create some head-scratching combinations, such as the puzzling Utah Jazz of professional basketball (Jazz has its roots in Utah? Really?). Nicknames such as Indians, Braves, and of course, Redskins, remain at the center of the controversy.įranchises that have moved from one city to another aren't obligated to change their nicknames. Today, however, the debate rages over the appropriateness of teams named after Native American culture. Some teams, such as the Boston Celtics and Sad Diego State Aztecs, are named after people who influenced a particular city or region. Football's Pittsburgh Steelers are an example of a name inspired by a regional occupationPennsylvania's steel industry. Baseball's Colorado Rockies recognize an outstanding geological featurethe Rocky Mountains. Nicknames can be created in any number of fashions. The teams for which you root read like an encyclopedia of learning. If you take the time to examine the nicknames of your favorite professional and college sports teams, you'll discover that they've been inspired by history, science, literature, music, and a slew of other subjects. And as the overwhelming popular Dallas Cowboys' championship squads of the 1990's can attest, it is indeed possible to become "America's Team." Yes, the visitors can actually garner cheers over the home team. But when the pull is strong enough, even the allegiance of boundaries can be overcome. Rivalries and factions based on team names inserted after the word "Go _!" can literally fracture households. The chasm separating Cubs fans on the north side of Chicago from White Sox fans on the south side can run as deep and wide as any natural divide. Such affiliations can forge lifelong bonds, extending from the playing fields and stands into the streets and collective consciousness of the surrounding city. And at the heart of every such connection is a team name. We won! We lost! We're #1! It's a true tribute to the unifying nature of sports. For many fans, the pronoun We has replaced They. T-shirts, jerseys, jackets and caps provide open testimony for all to see. Sports fans are rarely shy about proclaiming their loyalties. Even legendary sports heroes such as Michael Jordon, Jackie Robinson, Tom Brady, and soccer's Mia Hamm take their place beneath the banners of Chicago Bulls, Brooklyn Dodgers, New England Patriots and Team USA. Yet individual player's names sewn onto the back of uniforms ultimately fade behind the team names emblazoned across the front. Perhaps there is no greater association with names in our society than in the arena of sports. There's pride, passion, and a sense of identity. Home Articles on Paul Biography/Awards FacebookĮxcerpt from That's My Team: The History Science and Fun behind Sports Teams' Names
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