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The name never REALLY fit like people think:
Chicago Cardinals -
People usually think it related to Chicago's Catholics, but it only came from their "Maroon" jerseys which were called "Cardinal Red" jerseys.
St. Louis Cardinals -
People know that St. Louis is named after Saint Louis of France, but Saint Louis was never a "Cardinal Saint." Nor was he really clergy. He was King Louis IX who was historically known as Saint Louis because of his "Crusades."
Arizona Cardinals -
Most people if you ask, think that the Arizona State bird is the Cardinal, but it's not. It's the Cactus Wren...
I always thought they were the Arizona cardinals because they came from Chicago and the Illinois state bird actually is the cardinal.
I don't know enough about the DC Baltimore area, but most are pretty obvios here, so I'll do Kansas City.
The KC Royals (MLB) are named after the American Royal, which is an agricultural event held in KC every year, although it's not near as big a deal as it once was.
existing teams
The KC Chiefs (NFL) are named after a popular Mayor (Bartle), his nickname was "Chief", although the theme of that name has gone the indian direction with the arrowhead etc.
Sporting Kansas City (MLS) formerly the KC Wiz and KC Wizards (both terrible names). Sporting has nothing to do with KC, it's the whole european thing I guess.
KC Command (AFL) formerly the KC Brigade is named after the nearby Whiteman AFB in Missouri and has the stealth bomber as a logo.
KC T-Bones (minor league baseball) steak!
Missouri Mavericks (CHL) I don't know actually.
Missouri Comets (Indoor soccer), named after the extremely popular KC Comets of the old MISL that used to play in KC in front of crowds bigger than almost any NHL or NBA team in the country at the time, especially KC's NBA and NHL teams. The KC Comets were one reason why the NBA Kings couldn't get a foothold in the city. The "missouri" comets now play in a small suburban arena. (sorry about the history lesson).
past teams:
The KC Kings (NBA) Now in Sacramento, were originally the Cincinnati Royals and so they needed new name in KC. Kings/Royals get it?
The KC Scouts (NHL) Now in New Jersey after moving to Denver were named after a famous statue in KC where in indian is on horseback overlooking (what is now downtown) on a hill top.
The KC A's (MLB) Moved to KC from Philly, now in Oakland.
Other KC team names include Blues, Cowboys, Comets, Blades, Monarchs.
Boston Celtics- Irish Town
New England Patriots- Start of the revolution
Boston Bruins- A bear which lives in Mass.
NE Revolution- American Revolution
red sox- Idk, upperclass wore long red socks maybe
There was a major player located in Louisiana (not sure who) that had the power to block the AFL-NFL merger. Typical to Louisiana politics, a back-door deal was struck in which a "yes" vote would be cast on the condition that New Orleans would receive an NFL Franchise. That franchise was awarded on November 1st, 1964?, which is the Catholic feast day, All Saints Day. New Orleans being historically a predominantly Catholic city, the name was a natural choice.
Detroit Tigers - lame, cliche' sports team name. Sounds like a high school team.
Detroit Lions - see above.
Detroit Red Wings - Have no idea where this name came from. At least there is a wheel in the logo.
Detroit Pistons - The only local sports team whose name fits. And they were originally from Ft. Wayne, Ind.!
Pretty sure the Baltimore Bullets referred to bullet points or something, not gun bullets.
Somebody said Canucks- also Canadiens and Maple Leafs.
I always thought the Baltimore Bullets was just a name chosen for the alliteration and that bullets just represented something fast. Remember the lead-in to the Superman tv show - faster than a speeding bullet?
Green Bay Packers- I believe the packaging industry or the original owner owned a packaging company.
well nice try anyways...tee, hee, hee
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