Washington continues to inspire the sports world

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At any given moment, you will usually find a Washington team (Skins, Caps, etc) inspiring the sports world.

For example, after game 10, it was the Redskins. Winning five in a row after their horrible start had never been done in the entire history of pro football.

Alas, the Skins are no longer an inspiration, but how about those Wizards!!

-- Peter Errington (petere7@starpower.net), January 01, 2002

Answers

Yeppers, WAZU did pretty well in the Sun Bowl yesterday, and we can't forget all the records broken by the Mariners. Even the Seahawks still hang on to a playoff hope my a thread.

Oh..did you mean "the other Washington?

-- Cherri (jessam5@home.com), January 02, 2002.


Yes, Cherri, I did mean the other Washington, and I believe you knew it all the time.

-- Peter Errington (petere7@starpower.net), January 02, 2002.

Don't forget the Univ. of Maryland Terrapins in the Orange Bowl tonight! Not to mention the Terps basketball team too!

Go Terps! Fear the Turtle!

-- Buddy (buddydc@go.com), January 02, 2002.


Buddy, are you a turtle?

-- Peter Errington (petere7@starpower.net), January 02, 2002.

Peter, I am glad that you find inspiration in your local teams. However, I think you'll find that your belief that "the sports world" shares your emotions is somewhat overdrawn. At this early stage of the NBA season, winning five in a row in the decidedly weak Eastern Conference is nothing much but a blip.

If the Wizards make a long, strong run in the playoffs, then maybe I will stop yawning and pay attention. Please note that 'paying attention' is not the equivalent of 'finding inspiration'.

-- Little Nipper (canis@minor.net), January 02, 2002.



Peter, if you mean am I a Marlyand alumnus, no. But I've always been a Terps supporter, especially since Georgetown became the IN team in the DC area (which I never understood).

-- Buddy (buddydc@go.com), January 02, 2002.

Little Nipper:

The Wizards streak was nine. After that, MJ started shooting the lights out.

-- Peter Errington (petere7@starpower.net), January 02, 2002.


I never doubted that, given time, MJ could knock the rust off and get back in playing form. Certainly by mid-season. In that case, he's about on schedule.

But it is a l-o-n-g NBA regular season. Then the playoffs drag on for another couple months. If MJ's legs are still strong in May, then I will become more interested. If he's still scoring at this torrid pace in the playoffs, then maybe he'll be an inspiration.

-- Little Nipper (canis@minor.net), January 02, 2002.


Sad note Peter. Long retired Redskins player from '54 thru '57 has been ordered by Calif DMV to turn in his license plates 1RDSKNS & RDSKNS2. Hub & wife cars. Seems they were deemed racist.

-- Carlos (riffraff@cybertime.net), January 02, 2002.

Peter *grin*, thought you might catch that.

-- Cherri (jessam5@home.com), January 03, 2002.


Carlos: Maryland (the state I just moved out of, I'm now in Virginia) is full of that kind of PC crap. One thing that's happening in Maryland right now is that high school teams with Native American type names (Braves, Chiefs, etc.) are having to get new names.

Actually the only name of that sort that ought to be controversial IMHO is Redskins. The other names are complementary, having to do with the bravery of the Native American.

-- Peter Errington (petere7@starpower.net), January 03, 2002.


The more I think about the implications of what I just posted, the more worried I get over a problem which I fear has been largely overlooked.

The only two choices, really, for a team that has to change its name, are (1) a name that reflects a local tradition (Huskers, Hawkeyes, etc on the college level), or (2) a large fierce animal.

For most of these high school teams, there is no colorful local tradition whatsoever. And there aren't that many large fierce animals.

That the system is already stretched to the limit, animal-wise, is shown (again, the college level) by what the University of Wisconsin had to fall back on, the badger. No one has ever had a nightmare being chased through a forest by a badger.

I'm just afraid that what is happening will force the use of animal names that the students will not be happy with. The hippo is a large animal that you do not want to mess with, but would the team members be happy with that name?

-- Peter Errington (petere7@starpower.net), January 03, 2002.


Peter, a badger is quite a fighter. If we put you and a badger into a sack, I'd bet on the badger. :)

-- helen (badgers@good.fighters), January 03, 2002.

I'm with Helen. You don't want to mess with a badger.

-- Jack Booted Thug (governmentconspiracy@NWO.com), January 03, 2002.

Helen, you are absolutely correct. The problem is that the public at large doesn't know this (just as the public at large has no idea how dangerous an enraged hippo is, including how fast the damn thing can run when it wants to.)

And what we are talking about, regarding a good name for a sports team, is purely the public perception, the public image.

Back to the noble badger, they are incredibly strong. My father was involved in wildlife management, and one of his fellow professionals captured a badger and put it in a strong cage with steel plates for a bottom. The badger pried open the bottom and escaped.

-- Peter Errington (petere7@starpower.net), January 03, 2002.



Peter:

a name that reflects a local tradition I was listening to ESPN radio this week. Someone emailed a suggestion on the subject. He said that the Jets was no longer an acceptible name after 11 Sep. After last week's game he suggested the New York Morons. ;o)))

Best Wishes,,,,

Z

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), January 03, 2002.


Z:

The New York Middle-Finger-Salutes would certainly be a recognition of local culture.

-- Peter Errington (petere7@starpower.net), January 03, 2002.


Peter, there is no compulsion to choose a team mascot from among the short list of ferocious mammals. There's an old tradition of having fun with mascot names.

Here's a list of high school mascots I cribbed from another forum:

Vincennes Alices
Rochester Zebras
Hobart Brickies
Rockville Rox
Shoals Jug Rox
Pendleton Heights Arabians
Logansport Berrie
Madison-Grant Argylls
Martinsville Artesians
Benton Central Bison
Columbus East Olympians
Crawfordsville Athenians
Delphi Oracles
Mishawaka Cavemen
Noblesville Millers
Garrett Railroaders
Laporte Slicers
Greenwood Woodmen
Washington Hatchets
Cloverdale Clovers
Westfield Shamrocks
Jimtown Jimmies
Rising Sun Shiners
Speedway Sparkplugs
Clay City Eminence Eels
Anderson Highland Scots
Plymouth Pilgrims
Oldenburg Academy Twisters
New Harmony Rappites
Indianapolis NW Space Pioneers
South Central Satellites
Daleville Broncos
Lafayetee Jefferson Bronchos
Golden Eagles
Golden Knights
Golden Falcons
Golden Arrows
River Forest Ingots
Frankfort Hot Dogs
Franklin Quakers
Adams Patriots
Salem Fighting Quakers
Cranberry Berries
Pekin Dragons
Hickman High Kewpies
Plant City Planters
Turkey Creek Gobblers
Freeport Pretzels
Fischer Bunnies
Cobden Appleknockers
Yuma Criminals
Carlsbad Cavemen
Hereford Hostile Herd

Among college mascots, what about the Blue Devils, Beavers, Ducks, Trojans, Cornhuskers, Hurricane, Sun Devils, Orangemen, Crimson, Cowboys and Utes, to name but a few?

Among professional sports teams, how about the Red Sox, Cubs, Browns, Senators, Lakers or Sixers - to name but a few?



-- Little Nipper (canis@minor.net), January 03, 2002.

LN:

Hickman High Kewpies You picked-up one of the high schools in town. They have a little doll as their mascot.

My favorite was from the town where I lived in Montana. The University team was called the BobCats; the high school team the BobKittens. I think the girls teams still use that but the boys teams have a new name. ;o)))

Best wishes,,,,,

Z

-- Z1X4Y7 (Z1X4Y7@aol.com), January 03, 2002.


Speaking of Trojans, I worked with a real fundie who had graduated from USC. I asked him (because inquiring minds do want to know) whether the team was named after the condoms, or whether the condoms were named after the team. As per usual with my jokes, he was not particularly amused.

-- Peter Errington (petere7@starpower.net), January 03, 2002.

And yet you still live, Peter. Amazing. >;)

-- helen (in@person.watch.out), January 03, 2002.

Little Nipper:

You speak of mascots. I have a trivia question, involving the mascot of a major league baseball team. If you can't get it, don't feel bad. You have to be a movie buff as well as a sports fan to know the answer. Actually, I will ask two related questions.

(1) In what movie did the mascot play a role in a key scene.

(2) What influence did this key scene and the plot around it have on further movie-making.

-- Peter Errington (petere7@starpower.net), January 04, 2002.


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