Someone explain to me...

[RoXer]

The origin of the following professional sports team names. (I don't even want to get attempt college)

NBA

Celtic
Cavalier
Pacer
Clipper
Laker
Knickerbocker
Trailblazer (Something to do with the Louis/Clark trail :-\ )
Supersonic
Wizard/Bullets (in Washington D.C.?)

MLB

Astro (I'm pretty sure it has to do with the space/Texas thing)
Dodger
Phillies
Giants
Mariners

NFL

Jets
Browns
Chargers
Giants
Saints


I just want to know why they settled on that name or whatever. And in some cases, what the name actually is (what is a Clipper?). Rep goes to anyone who can answer any of these.

[Nervous Ferret]

okay I have a book on these. Off the top of my head:

Laker- originally from mineapolis which is called "the land of lakes"
Supersonics- Had to do with a super fast plane the owner had alor of money invested into.
Astros- space
Jets- Originally from New york to rhyme with New york Mets because originally the jets played at Shea Stadium

Lemme find my book and I can answer some more.

[Nervous Ferret]

Pacers- When they moved to Indy the owner wanted to "set the pace" at the top of the NBA

[RoXer]

OH YEAH. I forgot about that Lakers thing. They had those MLPS jerseys or whatever.

[Nervous Ferret]

I've got 4 of these books like 400 pages each. And it's one small article in 1 book, so it may take me a while...

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Celtics I think is a tribute to Boston's Irish heritage

Browns was named after Paul Brown who is like the football god of Ohio

[Nervous Ferret]

ohhh yeah..I know the browns one. The town wanted to name the team after him and he wouldn't let them. Then he died and they did it anyway.

[DaveWadding]

Pacers- When they moved to Indy the owner wanted to "set the pace" at the top of the NBA
Always assumed that was cause of the Indy 500...the PACE car you know.

[Loose Cannon]

Dodgers were from Brooklyn where people had to "Dodge" bullets

[Nervous Ferret]

okay here we go. It's only basketball names....though:
seatle supersonics: named after a supersonic jet propsed in seatle [jet was never built]
Knickerbockers: pants that the dutch settlers of NY wore.
Clippers: Started out in san diego, where great saling ships were known as "clipper ships" 100 years ago.


okay vaguely dissapointing, but the rest in here you didn't ask for.

[Nervous Ferret]

I answered 7, so do I get 7 reps? :shifty:

[Nervous Ferret]

Cavalier: The car was invented in Cleveland and it was a big thing.
Mariners: [I know this only cuz my high school mascot is a mariner.] There sailors. Seatle used to/still is big on sailing
Saints: Stadium was built on top of a graveyard.

There's 3 more I know I didn't see.

[Jesus Shuttlesworth]

Yeah Clipper ships were like mad fast sailboats back in the day or some shit

[BCWWF]

Houston has the space type names (Astros, Rockets) because that is where the NASA base is or whatever ("Houston we have a problem") at least thats just what I always assumed.

I assume ones like Chargers and Giants are just random, like the Detroit Lions and stuff, but maybe there is something behind them. My college is the Missouri Tigers, but they are named Tigers after a group of Civil War fighters from the area called the Tigers or something.

[The Miz]

Saints: Stadium was built on top of a graveyard.
You are a fucking idiot

[Supreme Olajuwon]

The Aints were founded on November 1st which is All Saints Day so they picked it

STOOPID

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Houston has the space type names (Astros, Rockets) because that is where the NASA base is or whatever ("Houston we have a problem") at least thats just what I always assumed.

I assume ones like Chargers and Giants are just random, like the Detroit Lions and stuff, but maybe there is something behind them. My college is the Missouri Tigers, but they are named Tigers after a group of Civil War fighters from the area called the Tigers or something.
Chargers was picked in a name the team contest. Giants were named after the baseball team

[Supreme Olajuwon]

Dodgers were from Brooklyn where people had to "Dodge" bullets
thats not too far off actually

They were originally called the Trolley Dodgers because there were trolley cars everywhere in Brooklyn at the time

[RoXer]

So what were the baseball Giants named after?

[Innovator]

They started out in New York. There were the New York Football Giants and the baseball Giants, in the 50's the baseball team moved to San Fransisco.

[RoXer]

I know that. Matter of fact, I explained that to someone in another thread.

What were they named after? Why are they "Giant"?

[BCWWF]

I always just assumed because New York is so big

[RoXer]

Hmmmmmm....

What about...
Cavaliers
Trailblazers
Wizards/Bullets
Phillies

[Kris P Lettus]

The Aints were founded on November 1st which is All Saints Day so they picked it

STOOPID

:mad:

The Superdome is built on a graveyard..

CURSED

[BCWWF]

Hmmmmmm....

What about...
Cavaliers
Trailblazers
Wizards/Bullets
Phillies
Trailblazers is pretty obvious, as in the Oregon Trail, trail blazers, blazed a trail to the West...

Wizards is a relatively new one that I assume has absolutely no affiliation with anything. I'm not sure what the Bullets meant, but its kind of funny :lol: It had a negative image tho so they changed to Wizards a few years back. Prolly just because of the sound?

Phillies...I assume a Phillie is just somebody from Philadelphia? But maybe there is a more historic reason for it.

I think somebody explained Caviliers up there

[Nervous Ferret]

You are a fucking idiot ur mom.

[BCWWF]

I assume the use of "ur" and the "." at the end along with the all lower cases are supposed to emphasize something, not quite sure what though.