Winnipeg Jets Return: Five Classic Teams That Should Also Come Back

The Winnipeg Jets have been resurrected from the heap of former teams. 

Some pro sports teams are like the pickled herring served with Christmas hors d’oeuvres. Some people may like them, they might be good for you, and your grandpa tells you how much he loves them, but mostly they sit at the corner of the table going stale. Just like your mom's spinach and broccoli wraps, some franchises will always be unpopular due to management incompetence, location, or just a wrong place-wrong time syndrome.

And there are some foods/franchises that really make the party and you wonder why they ever disappeared in the first place. 

The sale of the Atlanta Thrashers to True North Sports and Entertainment signified a bit of justice in the sports world. With all due respect to hockey fans in Atlanta, Winnipeg deserves a hockey team.

In honor of a Jets resurrection, here is a look at some other teams that should reinvent themselves as old classics. 

Phoenix Coyotes Become the Hartford Whalers

Brass Bonanza!

Let's face it, the Phoenix Coyotes are in disarray. Anytime you need a 'bailout' of 25 million dollars from your host city, it can't be a good sign. 

So the Coyotes should haul it up north and rechristen themselves as the Hartford Whalers.

These guys had it all: a catchy theme song, a sweet logo, and a die hard fan base that still exists in beer bellied New Englander thirty-somethings. This team would be the toast of all hockey hipsters.

Los Angeles Clippers Become the Virginia Squires

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LOS ANGELES, CA - FEBRUARY 20: Blake Griffin #32 of the Los Angeles Clippers and the Western Conference goes up for a shot in the first half of the 2011 NBA All-Star Game at Staples Center on February 20, 2011 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: Us

Even though some love was shown to the Clippers this season, as long as Jack Nichloson keeps going to the other team's games LA is going to be the Lakers' town.

Do you really think Blake Griffin and Eric Gordon are going to want to come of age in Kobe's shadow anyway? 

The state of Virginia may be the most underrated basketball state in the nation. It gave us some of the best Cinderella runs of the past decade in the NCAA tournament and it is one of the largest markets without a single pro sports franchise. The least the NBA could do is repay them with a team.

And who wouldn’t love a Dr. J bobblehead night?

Los Angeles Dodgers Become the Brooklyn Dodgers

Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

LOS ANGELES, CA - APRIL 15: Children waiting to take part in pre game activities wear #42 before the game between the Los Angeles Dodgers and the St. Louis Cardinals as Major League Baseball celebrates Jackie Robinson Day on April 15, 2011 at Dodger Sta

Dodger baseball is a mess: the McCourts’ divorce, the opening day attack, and the fans' world famous adverse reactions to traffic. Their fans need to believe in something again. Bring back a franchise that exemplified what we all love about the sport: determination, grit, and character. It’s a far cry from where the franchise is now.

Jacksonville Jaguars Become the Los Angeles Xtreme

Scott Halleran/Getty Images

21 Apr 2001: Tommy Maddox #8 of the Los Angeles Xtreme drops back against the San Francisco Demons during the XFL Championship game at the Los Angeles Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. DIGITAL IMAGE. Mandatory Credit: Scott Halleran/Allsport

I know some of you may laugh at the thought of bringing back the XFL, but LA has never really had good luck keeping football franchises with their previous city monikers. Jacksonville is on of the many teams that is 'struggling' and due to lack of a stadium seems primed to move. Maurice Jones-Drew also has Hollywood star power.

Florida Panthers Become the Quebec Nordiques

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NEWARK, NJ - APRIL 10: Members of the 'Nordiques Nation' converge on Prudential Center prior to the game between the New Jersey Devils and the Boston Bruins on April 10, 2011 in Newark, New Jersey. (Photo by Bruce Bennett/Getty Images)

The Nordiques fans still have a passion for hockey. This past season the mayor of Quebec City organized a bus to go to the Thrashers/Islanders game to demonstrate their fans desire for a hockey team.

And why the Florida Panthers? Having two hockey teams in a state where it never snows makes no sense to me. 

Any Others?

Mike Powell/Getty Images

Brian Bellows #23 of the Minnesota North Stars comes up behind Tim Watters #5 of the Los Angeles Kings during a game.

Are there any other teams that you feel were unfairly ripped away from your beloved home city/state? Are there franchises you feel that should really pack up their bags?

I personally miss the Minnesota North Stars. As much as I love the Wild, the North Stars are such a better name.