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Here is the top 10 list of the worst names for franchises in the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL. I rank these based on the fact they have no real relationship to the city or state the team plays in...

Top 10 Worst Franchise Names

by Ben Schwartz (Scribe)

42

2259 reads

Sports

June 26, 2008


 

Here is the top 10 list of the worst names for franchises in the NFL, NBA, MLB and NHL. I rank these based on the fact they have no real relationship to the city or state the team plays in. I also provide some fun and serious name alternatives. Give me a comment or even your own suggestions. (Also check out Sportsencyclopedia.com) I got my info from there about how some of the teams got their names.

10. Jacksonville Jaguars (NFL)

Jaguars are a part of the "big cat" family. They are found in Central and South America. Last time I checked, Jacksonville was nowhere near the feline’s native habitat.

Possible Name Alternatives: Jacksonville Car Imports (only kidding) or Jacksonville Generals (In reference to former President and US General Andrew Jackson, who the city is named after)

09. Carolina Panthers (NFL)

Another big feline enters my list, the Panthers. Again, you have a southern city with no traces of the black panthers living anywhere in site, except maybe the Charlotte Zoo.

Possible Name Alternatives: Carolina Royals (Charlotte was nicknamed "Queen City") or Carolina Swarm (in reference to the city also being nicknamed "The Hornets Nest")

08. Memphis Grizzlies (NBA)

Originally located in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Grizzlies made perfect sense. The dense forests of northwest Canada had plenty of big grizzlie bears. But earth to Memphis! No grizzlies are roaming around the town that Elvis built. Heck, there’s a better chance of seeing an Elvis sighting than a grizzly bear.

Possible Name Alternatives: Memphis Blues (City known for blues music) or Memphis Cargos (another just kidding, but this is in reference to the city having the busiest cargo airports in the nation)

07. New York Rangers (NHL)

A team located in the middle of Manhattan with no western style saloons in site. No cowboys roaming the streets of NYC (except the Naked Cowboy in Times Square). The team got the name from Tex Rickard, who ran MSG, after people considered the new hockey team, "Tex's Rangers"

Possible Name Alternatives: New York Traffic (just kidding) or New York Liberty (make it a law that the WNBA Liberty needs to change their names to Lady Liberties) or even New York Rush (in reference to rush-hour traffic)

06. New Orleans Hornets (NBA)

When the team was located in Charlotte, North Carolina it made sense to be the Hornets. Charlotte's nickname was "The Hornet's Nest", but times have changed and they have moved to The Big Easy. While I'm sure hornets do fly around stinging people in Louisiana, the name of the team should resemble its city.

Possible Name Alternatives: NEW ORLEANS JAZZ (take it from Utah)

05. New Jersey Nets (NBA)

Even if they are my favorite basketball team, the name is just stupid. Named after a basketball NET? What's next...the NFL's Pig Skinners? The MLB's Bats or the NHL's Pucks? The team should resemble something that is not an object in the game but rather from where the team is from. Given that the team started on Long Island and then moved to New Jersey and will possibly be moving to Brooklyn in the near future...here are a few choices.

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42 comments Last one added 8 months ago — Leave a Comment

  1. Adam Wright about 1 year ago

    - Montreal Canadiens!

    it takes alot of balls for a team to say they represent a whole Country lol

    - Toronto Maple Leafs

    Has anyone ever been afraid of a leaf? Than again, has anyone been afraid of the Toronto Maple Leafs as of late ;)

    - Colorado Avalanche

    Yes! I'm calling out MY TEAM. I'm tired of the "Avalanches go down" jokes. Yeah they also bury people!

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  2. Kristin T about 1 year ago

    Hartford Whalers was a horrible name, whether it made sense or not. At least they changed it when they moved.

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    • Ben Schwartz about 1 year ago

      I went with just the current teams...but yea I would have prob put them up there since whalers had to deal with cape cod...not hartford "the insurance capital of the world" haha

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  3. S M Napier about 1 year ago

    My top choice the Los Angeles Angels of Anehiem.

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  4. Justin Goar about 1 year ago

    new orleans and utah should just trade names. let's make it official.

    new orleans jazz

    utah hornets

    i mean c'mon isn't utah the "beehive state?"

    this seems like a no brainer.

    eventually someone with peanut butter will run into someone with chocolate and it'll all make sense.

    i cringe every time i hear utah jazz.

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    • Ben Schwartz about 1 year ago

      haha i hear ya on that...when i think of the Big Easy...Jazz comes to mind....when i think of Utah...."hey the olympics was there a few years ago" ....i'm 100% down for that trade haha

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  5. Kristin T about 1 year ago

    This was a good list.
    Not that its top 10 worst list worthy, but i wouldnt want to be playing for a team named after a Disney movie either haha

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    • Ben Schwartz about 1 year ago

      if your referring to the Mighty Ducks...they would have been on this list instantly...but they were smart and finally changed their names haha

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  6. Nino Colla about 1 year ago

    Hahaha

    New Orleans Jazz.. take it from Utah..

    Nice

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  7. Jason Foucha about 1 year ago

    Ummmm.....im pretty sure that The Montreal Canadiens and The Houston Texans tie for worst names ever. They are both the worst possible, as we could just start name other teams like this. The New Orleans Louisianians. The Boston Bostonians. The South Africa Africans......ok that last ones a stretch but you get the point.

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    • Spenser T. Harrison about 1 year ago

      Houston Texans is sweet haha. Definitely not worse than the Jazz, Lakers, Thrashers, and more.
      Besides if you saw the other options you would completely understand...........not to mention that we tried bein the oilers again but Bud Adams wouldnt let us.

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  8. Andrew Kneeland about 1 year ago

    I think that the Twins is a pretty bad name. I know it is reference to the Twin Cities...but the Twins?

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  9. Michael Inglis about 1 year ago

    How about the Utah Polygamist

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  10. Michael Schlossberg about 1 year ago

    washington Nationals, houston texans are horrible names

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  11. John McClory about 1 year ago

    Couldn't we come up with a top 20 worst WNBA franchise names, or is that too easy?

    Come on, people! They (kinda) dunk now! Didn't you hear?

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  12. Tosten Burks about 1 year ago

    You want to hear some crappy team names?
    Check out the Japanese Baseball League.

    Tokyo Yakult "Swallows"

    Hiroshima Toyo "Carp"

    Orix "Buffaloes"

    Seriously?

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  13. Matt Breen about 1 year ago

    the ham fighters. the worst name and city ever is the charollette bobcats, that is the most default name ever, sounds like a fictional team from a shitty disney movie.

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    • Tosten Burks about 1 year ago

      I believe the "Ham" part of the Nippon Ham Fighters is like the owners name or something. The team name is just Fighters.
      But I won't tell anyone. It doesn't make it as funny.

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  14. Nelson McGough about 1 year ago

    Vanderbilt Commodores, not 100% on the history of the name but still Tennessee is landlocked.

    Cleveland Browns, its history but come on, pick a better color

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  15. Matt Breen about 1 year ago

    If the team name sucks but has been around for a certain number of years I think it's good, it goes from shitty to traditional such as Red Sox, White Sox, Reds, Browns, Twins, etc etc

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  1. M MacDonald Hall about 1 year ago

    Great list! Good choices.

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  2. Chris D'Aniello about 1 year ago

    I always liked the name, but most of my friends hate it for its lack of originality... The Philly Phillies. Nice, creative list though man.

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  3. Jonathan Gibbs about 1 year ago

    Living in Utah, yet outside of Salt Lake, I figured I really had to defend my state real quick. Obviously the Author hasn't been here. SLC, though a big enough city in and of itself, normally steals a lot of nearby city population when population stats are being cited.
    Ben, really, come on out to the Beehive state for a quick spin. While I agree that the Jazz is rather inappropriate, it's not the wilderness preserve which you make it out to be.
    Alternative suggestion: Utah Stars, after the ABA team that even won a championship. We'll all agree to forget that the WNBA Utah Starzz ever existed, and the world will be a better place all around.

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    • Ben Schwartz about 1 year ago

      Jonathan I've been to Salt Lake City and other places in utah for a few weeks in 2002...while yes i agreed the Jazz was an inappropriate name...I didn't really know what the team should be called...but thanks for your suggestions...sorry if i cam off as ripping your city...its a great city and i'd hope to one day go back there

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  4. Jonathan Gibbs about 1 year ago

    No worries, I'm not looking for a flame war. Just thought I'd give a local perspective. Good job on the list, it's all true.

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  5. Alan Bass 12 months ago

    i think philadelphia phillies is the most unoriginal name ever. i think someone just said "let's just make the name phillies for now, then we'll change it." ...and then they forgot to change it

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  6. Evan Wiley 12 months ago

    spot on with a few

    Anyhting regal or having to do with government: senators, nationals, royals, kings etc immediately cultivate an image of Little Lord Fonteleroy

    The Jazz is a horrible name. Utah has no Jazz scene.

    Sometimes a bad logo will destroy a team name even if it's cool in theory. Look at the old 80's Buccaneer's logo. A feather in my cap and a knife in my teeth. Not exactly football imagery. Maybe for a fencing team it works, but not football, not American football.

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  7. Bruce Dickenson 11 months ago

    Good article. I couldn't agree more on the Panthers and Jags.

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    • Ben Schwartz 11 months ago

      thanks for checking out my list....yea something about cats from the jungle in northern florida just doesnt do it for me haha

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  8. Isaac Barrow 10 months ago

    Yeah Jazz are stupid Utah is like all religious nd shit

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  9. Andrew Mason 10 months ago

    what about the philadelphia flyers? am i just missing the history on this one? Or Washington Capitals...

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  10. chad lamasa 8 months ago

    Great article.

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  11. Tom Dillard 8 months ago

    Oh and btw, the Utah Jazz had been called the NEW ORLEANS JAZZ but then they moved because the team was losing money. They kept the same name due to ownership at the time having no creativity lol

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  12. Ben Schwartz 8 months ago

    thanks all for the comments!

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  13. Bryn Swartz 8 months ago

    Cleveland Browns

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