rrf

- I couldnt decide whether to post this in Philosophy or Sports, but it seems to be more about philosophy, so here it is...

After watching the stunning upset of the 49ers over Louisville, I got to thinking... You can't go around naming any team the 49ers. It's not just some mascot you can throw around willy nilly... It has meaning to California and San Francisco.

Correct me if Im wrong but, as I recall, the gold rush happened in 1849. People from all over America flocked to the California area. These people were called "49ers." San Francisco named its NFL football team after these people. It has meaning and significance to the area.

What I am trying to say is... you cant just name your Charlotte college basketball team the 49ers. Similarly, you couldnt start up some sports team and name them the Steelers... that name has meaning to Pittsburgh. Same goes for the Green Bay Packers.

"49ers" is not just a mascot. "Steelers" is not just a mascot. "Packers" is not just a mascot. Lions, Tigers, Bears, Pirates, Cardinals, Jaguars, Panthers, blah blah blah... are plain mascots. They have no significance with whatever city they play in. Its just a name. Any team from any city could be named any of these names... However, you cannot name any team you want the 49ers

Lebell

ummm, ok

*scratches head and tries to see the philosophy here*

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Bill O'Rights

Sports...definately, GD...if you want more discussion, but there's nothing philosophical here. Let's see how this goes in General Discussion.

By the way, for what it's worth, I agree. My Pittsburgh Steelers just wouldn't be the "Steelers" in...oh, I dunno...Peoria?

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"Hedonism with rules isn't hedonism at all, it's the Republican party." - JumpinJesus

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skysooner

Just like when the Houston Oilers moved. Tennessee Oilers wouldn't have been right.

clifclav

My Pittsburgh Steelers.....and to think I voted for your avatar as my favorite.

I'm going back to the Sports page to seek comfort in the arms of fellow Ravens lovers

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ratbastid

Tell that to the Utah Jazz!

Tirian

There are panthers in Florida. It is apperently their state animal.

Others may have more local meaning than at first glance it would appear as well.

Lebell

Heh, like moving two Denver teams and calling them, oh, the Florida Avalanche or the Kansas City Rockies?

Anyway, I forget where our original Rockies went (Pro Hockey team), but I know the Houston Rockets used to be in Denver.

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"Of all tyrannies, a tyranny exercised for the good of its victims may be the most oppressive. It may be better to live under robber barons than under omnipotent moral busybodies. The robber baron's cruelty may sometimes sleep, his cupidity may at some point be satiated; but those who torment us for our own good will torment us without end, for they do so with the approval of their own conscience." – C. S. Lewis

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mystmarimatt

Jiminy, i thought this was about the 49ers possibly moving to charlotte from SF

Goddammit! Don't scare me like that!

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present_future

That's exactly what I thought this thread was about before I checked it out. I wonder how the west coast offense would work out east?

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Ilow

The Charlotte 69ers, now THAT would be a mascot!!

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rockzilla

I always thought it should be the San Francisco 69ers.

goateebird

And the LA Lakers too.

scrappmittens

Your right.... it is wrong that Charlotte has a team called the 49ers. But since the 9ers suck anyways....Who cares?

wrongfullyaccuzd

Me three.

Could any other city have the Bills?
...or want them?
:-\

BonesCPA

If I remember correctly - they are now the NJ Devils. (The "Devil" is not generic by the way...there is a myth of a NJ Devil running around in the pine barrens of NJ.)

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smarm

It is interesting that it looks like both organizations started about the same time. The SF 49ers started in 1946 and joined the National Leage in 1950, and the college now known and UNC-Charlotte was established in 1946 and became Charlotte college in 1949. I suspect that is the genesis of their name, but I don't know for sure (It is also located on HWY 49.)

As nice as it is for California and SF to lay claim to the "49ers" as their sole right, it seems that it may have meaning for others, as well.

Shpoop

yea i was gonna comment on the jazz, got beaten to it..
and no, the bills would be the worst, since it has no meaning at all and is made specifically to follow the word buffalo.

The dodgers seem like they might have had some meaning with Brooklyn, but im not sure, its a stab in the dark. Imagine the yankees anywhere else!

rrf

Thank you. That is all I wanted to hear.

grumpyolddude

I'm certain that they have a valid reason for the name. did you check out the school's history?

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Panopticon

The Pittsburgh Pirates name actually does have some meaning. They stole some guy from another team back in the early 1900s. After that everybody called them the Pirates. Before that, I think they went by the Alleghenies or something like that.

I suppose it isn't necessarily relevant to the city, though. However, it's not like they just pulled it out of a hat or picked it because it sounds good.

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.:Panopticon:.