Written in June, 2019, this light-hearted poem takes a curious look at names of professional sports teams.

Sports teams abound

Loyal fans cheer on

Unique names astound

 

What is a Laker?

Honoring “Land of 10,000 Lakes”

Minnesota becomes Los Angeles Lakers

 

What is a Dodger?

In Brooklyn, dodging the trolley tracks

Becoming baseball’s “Dem Bums”—the Dodgers

 

What is a Canuck?

Referring to a French Canadian

Now hockey’s Vancouver Canucks

 

What is a Celtic?

Honoring Irish, Welsh, and others

Now a trademark of the Boston Celtics

 

Who are the Knickerbockers?

Remembering Dutch settlers’ trousers

NBA Knicks shortened from Knickerbockers

 

Why the Wizards?

Depicting violence as the NBA’s Bullets

Transformed into the energized Wizards

 

What is the meaning of the Mets?

Official team name of baseball’s Metropolitans

Becoming New York’s “Amazin’ Mets”

 

What’s with the Jazz?

Utah certainly doesn’t fit today

Formerly in New Orleans as the Jazz

 

Why the Cleveland Browns?

Sounding like such a simple name

Founded by their coach Paul Brown

 

Pausing now to catch an exciting game

Let’s hope their name brings them fame