It is one of those years where the dog days of summer will lead into the sports abyss with the Twins being double-digits behind the White Sox in the American League Central. It makes people like me, who talk about sports for a living look for topics that are off the beaten path. One I came up with last week was, what is the “Mt. Rushmore” of teams having nicknames that define that area/city.
My picks for the four: MILWAUKEE BREWERS: When you think of the city of Milwaukee you think of breweries, Happy Days and Laverne and Shirley. So much so Laverne and Shirley worked at a Brewery on the show. Wisconsin is known for their love of beer, so there isn’t a better name for one of their pro teams.
PITTSBURGH STEELERS: The steel industry in America may not be what it used to, but when it was one of the top manufacturing products in the U.S. Pittsburgh was the capital of it in this country. Hence the nickname the “Steel City.”
EDMONTON OILERS: If the Houston football team still had this name they would also have these honors. We may not think of Alberta being as big into oil as Texas, but they are.
DETROIT PISTONS: This name certainly honors the “Motor City” with most of the major car manufacturers getting their start in or near Detroit.
HONORABLE MENTIONS: Green Bay with their history of meat packing plants in that area it is the perfect name. The Dallas Cowboys with their history of ranchers and lawmen is perfect. Colorado Avalanche with Denver being right in the Rocky Mountains. The Vikings with the Scandinavian heritage in Minnesota. Miami and Boston have multiple that fit looking at Dolphins, Marlins, Heat and Panthers describing Florida and the history of the Revolutionary War in New England and the large Irish heritage in Boston for the Celtics.
Locally I always thought Valley City with the Hi-Liners was perfect and the old Dilworth Locomotives name couldn’t describe that city more perfectly. Both having train references. I probably forgot a few, email me at derek.hanson@mwcradio.com so I can publish more.
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