Either it’s a slow news & sports week, or … well, I don’t have any other way to finish that sentence.
Anyway, announced today, name changes are in the cards for two junior franchises in professional sports. The Tampa Bay Devil Rays (Perhaps after losing out on longtime quarry Angel Pagan) have decided to drop “Devil” from their name sometime in 2006, possibly after the season (Assuming anyone notices whether or not they actually play). No word yet if Tampa intends to change its nickname completely — or will just leave it at “Rays.” They apparently are just now realizing that “Devil” may have a negative connotation, and at the same time are looking down their noses at New Jersey.
Across the, uh, pond, Anaheim, now free of a plaguing Disney ownership — will abbreviate its name from The Mighty Ducks of Anaheim to Anaheim Ducks, which is a little bit cool (but the modifier could have remained, just never used, with Ducks the main focus in all memorabilia). Works for some.
This all could have been a lot more interesting if the two franchises had agreed to trade nickname modifiers — who wouldn’t be intrigued by the Anaheim Devil Ducks? And what about the Tampa Bay Mighty Rays? No one even knows what that means! Ray Romano? Rays of light? Rays from a laser gun?? Who knows!
Or does this only (a) interest, or (b) occur to, me?
