Forgettable sports teams

[BeerGuyJordan]

I made this a game for my girlfriend. She is not a sports fan, but puts up with me being one, and doesn't completely ignore the game when I'm watching. She tries, and that's all I can ask of her - after all, she played this "game" no questions asked.

I took a list of NFL, MLB, and NBA teams that I thought she wouldn't recognize. I didn't do NHL because she'd only recognize about 8 teams. I also made up some random team names as a placebo and didn't tell her they were fake until after.

I need to try this with the roommate. Hell, this makes me wish I was still married.

[sc49erfan15]

I took a list of NFL, MLB, and NBA teams that I thought she wouldn't recognize. I didn't do NHL because she'd only recognize about 8 teams. I also made up some random team names as a placebo and didn't tell her they were fake until after.

Buried the lede here. What were the fake teams?

Nothing we haven't seen in the concept section or in an actual league before. I had to make it relatively believable so as not to tip her off about the fake teams. They were:

Jacksonville Bulls (MLB)

Utah Pioneers (either MLB or NFL, can't remember)

Pittsburgh Condors (NBA)

St. Louis Archers (NBA)

Portland Gulls (MLB)

Oklahoma City Mavericks (NFL)

Los Angeles Stars (NFL)

Again, some of these names have actually been used before, but there is zero chance she would've ever heard of former USFL, ABA, etc. teams - the concept of two major leagues in one sport is completely foreign to her, as was evidenced when I tried to explain USFL-NFL when I was watching the 30 for 30.

Also, a few other interesting notes:

-She didn't recognize "Oakland Athletics" at first, but said "oh, the baseball team that plays on the football field" when I said "Oakland A's." She thought the name "Athletics" was silly, and only recognized "Oakland A's" because we were watching a Raiders game once and asked why they were playing on a baseball field. Chalk another one up to NFL dominance - she only recognized an MLB team because of an NFL team.

-When I said "Oklahoma City Mavericks," she said "wait, don't the Houston Mavericks play basketball?" It turns out she had the Dallas Mavericks, Texas Rangers, and Houston Texans all confused... which is not too terribly difficult to do. Oklahoma City Mavericks was the closest she came to believing a team exists that really doesn't - she said "no" to all the other fake teams above.

This is bordering on patronizing (which is definitely not my intent), but it's really interesting to see how a casual non-sports fan processes these types of things.

[cubsfan2015]

For some reason,I always forget about the Rockies......

[1insaneguy]

Florida Panthers

Orlando Magic

Portland Trail Blazers

Minnesota Twins

[Sport]

I took a list of NFL, MLB, and NBA teams that I thought she wouldn't recognize. I didn't do NHL because she'd only recognize about 8 teams. I also made up some random team names as a placebo and didn't tell her they were fake until after.

Buried the lede here. What were the fake teams?

Nothing we haven't seen in the concept section or in an actual league before. I had to make it relatively believable so as not to tip her off about the fake teams. They were:

Jacksonville Bulls (MLB)

Utah Pioneers (either MLB or NFL, can't remember)

Pittsburgh Condors (NBA)

St. Louis Archers (NBA)

Portland Gulls (MLB)

Oklahoma City Mavericks (NFL)

Los Angeles Stars (NFL)

Again, some of these names have actually been used before, but there is zero chance she would've ever heard of former USFL, ABA, etc. teams - the concept of two major leagues in one sport is completely foreign to her, as was evidenced when I tried to explain USFL-NFL when I was watching the 30 for 30.

Also, a few other interesting notes:

-She didn't recognize "Oakland Athletics" at first, but said "oh, the baseball team that plays on the football field" when I said "Oakland A's." She thought the name "Athletics" was silly, and only recognized "Oakland A's" because we were watching a Raiders game once and asked why they were playing on a baseball field. Chalk another one up to NFL dominance - she only recognized an MLB team because of an NFL team.

-When I said "Oklahoma City Mavericks," she said "wait, don't the Houston Mavericks play basketball?" It turns out she had the Dallas Mavericks, Texas Rangers, and Houston Texans all confused... which is not too terribly difficult to do. Oklahoma City Mavericks was the closest she came to believing a team exists that really doesn't - she said "no" to all the other fake teams above.

This is bordering on patronizing (which is definitely not my intent), but it's really interesting to see how a casual non-sports fan processes these types of things.

It always throws me for a loop when non-sports fans remind me that not everyone obsesses over this stuff.

I had game 4 of the NLCS on TV and my girlfriend's mom asked me when the Yankees changed their colors.

[sc49erfan15]

I had game 4 of the NLCS on TV and my girlfriend's mom asked me when the Yankees changed their colors.

Apropos:

Brandon Marshall supports Mets with Yankees hat

When I worked at Lids in New Jersey, we sold this hat. I can't tell you how many times people confused the two logos. My go-to explanation was "Yankees starts with a Y, and the Y is on top of the N in the Yankees' logo. The N is on top of the Y in the Mets' logo, and the letters are curly."

When switching the colors, or on a non-team colored hat, the logos really are easy to confuse. I would mix in red Yankees hats with red Mets hats all the time when straightening up the store.

[sportstar1212]

Yeah, I remember seeing one of those online a few years ago and my first thought was "What fan of either team would buy that?"

[sc49erfan15]

Yeah, I remember seeing one of those online a few years ago and my first thought was "What fan of either team would buy that?"

The key word in that question is "fan."

Dedicated fans of either team wouldn't buy that hat, but lots of people aren't fans but buy hats to match outfits/shoes.

Also, more people than I ever realized are casual fans of both the Yankees and Mets, or are "New York fans" - fans that have a preference, but benevolently cheer for the other when they're doing well. With the Mets in the World Series, I'd imagine I'd have quite a few guys coming in saying "I'm a Yankees fan, but don't mind seeing the Mets do well, I'm cheering for them."

[Quillz]

I always forget about the Milwaukee Brewers. And, prior to 2014, I constantly forgot the Royals existed.

[FiddySicks]

Yeah, I remember seeing one of those online a few years ago and my first thought was "What fan of either team would buy that?"

The key word in that question is "fan."

Dedicated fans of either team wouldn't buy that hat, but lots of people aren't fans but buy hats to match outfits/shoes.

Also, more people than I ever realized are casual fans of both the Yankees and Mets, or are "New York fans" - fans that have a preference, but benevolently cheer for the other when they're doing well. With the Mets in the World Series, I'd imagine I'd have quite a few guys coming in saying "I'm a Yankees fan, but don't mind seeing the Mets do well, I'm cheering for them."

The Bay Area is the same way. You still see a TON of these hats everywhere.

And, actually, I've always wanted this hat because I'm a Giants fan first and foremost, but I've always had the A's as my second/AL team.

I don't really get Giants/A's fans who really hate the other team. We have the Dodgers and Angels to hate. Wouldn't you (the royal Bay Area you) rather see a team from the Bay Area win a title if it can't be your specific team?

Of all the "inter city" rivalries, the A's-Giants rivalry is easily the least intense. Especially so with how everyone came together after the quake in 89.

Maybe me being a product of that particular era and knowing that my parents lost friends (both Giants and A's fans) and were so effected by that causes that, though.

[Quillz]

I'm similar... I'm a Dodger fan first, but I've no issues with the Angels. They're my AL team. I was happy for the '02 Angels, especially since they beat the Giants.

[BeerGuyJordan]

I remember the NY rivalries being more intense (especially baseball) pre 9-11, though they seem to be slowly trickling back. I'm too young to remember 89, but I get what you're saying.

[Mac the Knife]

Whenever I'm trying to list major league teams for some reason, invariably I forget one or two, at least for a brief period. They tend to be...

Baseball - Houston Astros or Texas Rangers

Football - New England Patriots or Indianapolis Colts

Basketball - Minnesota Timberwolves or Orlando Magic

Hockey - Arizona Coyotes or Calgary Flames

[Nyk33]

Whenever I'm trying to list major league teams for some reason, invariably I forget one or two, at least for a brief period. They tend to be...

Baseball - Houston Astros or Texas Rangers

Football - New England Patriots or Indianapolis Colts

Basketball - Minnesota Timberwolves or Orlando Magic

Hockey - Arizona Coyotes or Calgary Flames

It's sort of weird that someone can forget the fact that the Patriots and Colts exist.

[2001mark]

Whenever I'm trying to list major league teams for some reason, invariably I forget one or two, at least for a brief period. They tend to be...

Football - New England Patriots or Indianapolis Colts