Sucking the local out of local baseball.
November 14th, 2005
Greenville, SC’s Sally League Baseball team recently revealed their new name and logo for the 2006 season. What did they decide on? The Greenville Drive. (You can read the article here.)
Come on.
Since when did baseball become more about regional economic development than about fans and players? (Michelin, BMW and ICAR are all in our backyard.) I’m no dummy. I know professional baseball is a business, but a business isn’t baseball. Players, fans, hot dogs, peanuts, cold beer on sunny afternoons, the dreams of little boys and girls, relaxed smiles and good clean fun on warm summer nights – those are the things that make up baseball.
It’s about people. Who wants to be reminded of big corporations at a baseball game? Is nothing sacred anymore? It’s bad enough they have to ugly up the outfield with ads. And what nine year-old aspires to be a “Drive?” Is anyone really thinking about this? There isn’t even a hint of competitive spirit or passion in the word. They could have at least used “race.” People around here get fired up about racing. But “drive?” Did someone drive a nail in those folks heads? And what about that logo? My son thought it was a 6. “Daddy, what is a 6 drive?” I told him he’d better not let his momma hear him talk about a “6-drive”, she’d wash his mouth out with soap.
Don’t you know the reverends at the churches across the street are going to love that logo when they start selling beer at the stadium on Sunday? The preacher is going to hold up three caps side by side and say, “See brothers and sisters, 666! These 6-Drive boys are Satan’s army!” You tell ’em Rev! Hey now, there’s an idea. Maybe they could have combined racing cars and good preachin’ and called the team THE REVS! A Baptist preacher in jacked up BMW could be the mascot. Just think how delighted any mother would be to hear her son say, “Momma, when I grow up, I want to be a REV.” Mommas would cry.
They should admit their shortsighted attempt and put up an Internet poll, then select 5 finalists and let the fans decide.
Give baseball to the people, where it belongs.
Other posts by Cordell.
Evan says:
“The Joe’s”
February 17th, 2006 at 12:38 pmJoe Dannelly says:
Hmmm. Greenville Drive? I’m not really feeling that name either. I wonder how the players feel. I guess it would be like getting on a little leage team with a bad sponsor. It will be fun to see the kind of cheers they come up with. I agree with Greg. The name should be picked by the fans. That’s what it’s all about.
February 17th, 2006 at 12:39 pmGammo says:
The Joes? Nah. Being named after a specific guy seems just as goofy. I know he’s a legend & all, but still seems weird. Like calling your self “the Babes.”
February 17th, 2006 at 12:39 pmCrawford Long says:
I read this thing all the time, but this is the first time I’ve felt an almost visceral obligation to post a comment.
Who on earth named this team? Even if you want to stick with a car metaphor, there are better possibilities. I can’t think of any right now because, let’s face it: this is baseball, not NASCAR (or golf, given the other interpretation). But surely, somewhere deep down in there there’s a magical car name. I’d rather root for the Spark Plugs than the Drive.
Of course, I’d rather root for the Blue Sox or just the Sox than anything.
Since I’m not in Greenville, it’s sort of a non-issue, but from this moment forward, I’ll be calling them the Greenville Stall.
So there.
Heh.
(hi BOF gang. miss y’all)
February 17th, 2006 at 12:40 pmFI Chris says:
I would totally watch a team called the Babes.
February 17th, 2006 at 12:40 pmDavid Burn says:
Maybe it’s about their “drive” to win
February 17th, 2006 at 12:41 pmOlivier Blanchard says:
Oy vey.
February 17th, 2006 at 12:41 pmOlivier Blanchard says:
The Weavers would have been a little bit better.
February 17th, 2006 at 12:42 pmSteve Asense says:
It’s sad really. I found it funny that Craig Brown (Team Prez/CEO) had to take out an op-ed piece in The Greenville News to defend his team’s name. He talked about how it “defines the attitude of the area”. A little more research on Craig Brown indicates he lives in CT and visits Greenville 2-3 days a week…yeah he’s got a feel for the region. Probably not going to be on any of EP’s brochure’s anytime soon don’t ya think?
February 17th, 2006 at 12:42 pm