Be A Good Sport, pt. III
Sunday
The “Vancouver Canucks” hockey team were named for comic book hero / national mascot “Johnny Canuck,” somewhat of a Canadian “Uncle Sam,” after early owner Coley Hall won the franchise rights to the team in a poker game.
Monday
Minnesota license plates declare the state to be the “Land of 10,000 Lakes,” the namesake of the Minneapolis Lakers pro basketball team, formed in the 1940s. This “Lakers” name was retained when the team moved to Los Angeles in 1960.
Tuesday
The Minnesota Vikings NFL team are named in honor of the large Scandinavian-descended population of America’s Upper Midwest.
Wednesday
The University of Chicago’s mascot has always been The Maroons, but when some used UC jerseys were bought by an early Arizona Cardinal’s owner, he declared they were not maroon, but cardinal red. From this exclamation, “Arizona Cardinals” was born, and has stuck.
Thursday
Speaking of reds, the Cincinnati Reds began as the Red Stockings, then went to Redlegs, then Reds, but during the “Red Scare” era of communism, they briefly went back to Redlegs in 1953 before changing back to Reds.
Friday
Previously known as the White Stocking, Colts, and Orphans(!), the press began calling Chicago’s professional baseball team “The Cubs” in 1902 on account of the many young players, and the name stuck.
Saturday
There are no mountains in New Jersey, so the Rockies hockey team needed a new mascot when they were bought and transferred there. The current name won because the “Jersey Devil” is a mythological creature long rumored to roam the state’s Pine Barrens region.