MikeyChalupa

Look at the Yankees. They haven't made a major change to their uniforms since Babe Ruth was on the team, and their "NY" logo is the most widely recognized sports franchise logo in the world. My grandfather wore the same Yankee cap my grandkids will wear. Actually, that's not true. He was a New York Giants fan. But if he HAD been a Yankee fan, he would have worn that same cap. Teams like the Brewers have to change their logo and uniforms up every 3-4 years to keep their hundred or so fans in the latest cap and jersey. The Yankees don't need to. They have one cap, a home uniform, a road uniform, and a batting practice jersey. That's it. Not like the Mets and many other teams, who have 2 jerseys for home and 2 for away, 2 BP jerseys, a GREEN trimmed jersey for St. Patrick's Day, and 2 different caps. In fact, if the Yankees were to make a major logo/uniform change, the backlash would be unbelievable. Remember a few years ago, those futuristic uniforms some teams wore for a few games? Or the "throwback" jerseys teams sometimes wear nowadays to remind their fans why they changed away from those horrific uniforms in the first place? None in the Bronx. Don't need 'em, don't want 'em.

You can look at it both ways. Yes, merchandising is key, but I guess I'm of the mindset that you can either dupe your fans into buying all new shit every few years because you added a black stripe or a new cap; or you can come up with something classic that fans will buy when they need to replace their old, worn out shit. I was actually somewhat pissed when the Bills changed uniforms a few years ago, because not only did I like the Kelly-era uni better, but I just didn't feel like going out and buying another set of jerseys. I did it anyway, but I didn't like having to do it, being MADE to do it, and had Ralph Wilson and Tom Donahoe been at the Sports Maniac I'd have let them know that.

And yes, Chicago Bears Football Presented by Bank One is extremely stupid, but then again Chicago Bears Football Presented by Bank One deserves the ridicule after desecrating Soldier Field. It looks like a giant fucking UFO landed in it. I wouldn't call Chicago "East" though.

By the way, the New York Yankees of the Bronx would be redundant because the Bronx is one of the 5 boroughs of New York City. The New York Islanders of Uniondale or the New York Giants (or Jets) of East Rutherford, New Jersey would be a better local example of this lunacy.

Although, if you Angels fans are cool with this name change then who am I to criticize? You're right that at least at the same time as dicking with the franchise's name (are they trying to set a record for most franchise name changes?) your team's owner is doing what he can to strengthen the team, instead of "waah waah small market waah Yankees waah" and then pocketing the team profit. Which is the important thing. Besides, if teams never changed their names while remaining in the same city, I'd be a fan of the 26-time World Champion New York Highlanders.

-Mikey