12/03/24
January 03, 2005
Team of Two Cities: The Angels are now the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, thanks to new owner Arte Moreno's shady use of prepositions to break a contract with the city of Anaheim.
As someone who works quite a bit with contract lawyers, I wouldn't be surprised if someone loses their job over the vagueness of "include the name Anaheim therein." Does anyone know if the logo changes? or is he just doing this to piss off the City of Anaheim?
posted by usfbull at 10:15 PM on January 03, 2005
Why not rename it "The Planet Earth Angels of Anerheim?" I understand those are large markets as well. Earth Angels? already taken (somewhat NSFW image in link).
posted by CountZero at 11:20 PM on January 03, 2005
Earth Angel Colon's going to struggle to pitch in that uniform.
posted by Mr Bismarck at 01:46 AM on January 04, 2005
Is it too late to name the Buffalo Bills the Orchard Park Bills?
posted by jasonspaceman at 01:52 AM on January 04, 2005
Well, the problem for the City is that they wrote the contract/lease and they left out a simple term: exclusivity. As in "shall be named for and associated with the city of Anaheim exclusive of any and all other cities..." or something to that effect involving the naming rights, etc. If you draft it, then you should put it in there...otherwise its not in there when you go to court... usfbull is right, someone is in big trouble for writing that one up. Hey, I still call them the California Angels...because that is what they were when I was a kid. That is also what they were named when Reggie Jackson tried to kill the queen...not the Anaheim Anaheimers of Anaheim.
posted by chris2sy at 11:14 AM on January 04, 2005
In retrospect, Moreno should have pulled a Prince and went with, "The team formerly known as....."
posted by usfbull at 04:32 PM on January 04, 2005
Oh, now, that is just lame. Might as well rename every team with the name of the closest major city if the logic is that the name convinces broadcasters to treat the team better if its name is associated with a larger market. Hell, why not rename the team "The United States of America Angels of Aneheim?" Why not rename it "The Planet Earth Angels of Anerheim?" I understand those are large markets as well.