A sham by any other name

Ben Godar

If a recent court ruling stands, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim will keep its cumbersome name. Fans and writers have already called out owner Arty Moreno, but in this case there is more unsavory business than what’s in a name.

In fact, this whole name thing has been blown way out of proportion. There are many professional sports teams that actually play in a city other than the one for which they are named. Both New York football teams play in New Jersey, for God’s sake. Not to mention that for the first 4 years of its existence, the team was called the Los Angeles Angels.

The Anaheim Civic Fathers like to boast that they are their own community, not part of Los Angeles. My own two cents, having lived in both areas, is that Anaheim is part of the broad Los Angeles area. If nothing else, the city’s identity is more that of Orange County than its own. In fact, I think many would agree Orange County Angels might be the most appropriate name. But this isn’t about what’s appropriate.

The point is that Los Angeles and Anaheim are both reasonable places to associate with the team. What’s unreasonable are Moreno’s subversive intentions and posturing throughout this debate.

Moreno has to retain that "of Anaheim" tag because in 1998 the city footed some of the bill for stadium renovations in exchange for putting the city’s name alongside the team. So changing the name is yet another example of a pro sports team grabbing public funds without honoring its responsibility.

But the slap Moreno is giving City Officials is nothing compared to the backhand he’s hitting fans with. The supposed "People’s Owner" is dangling the threat of moving the team if he doesn’t get his way. Has it really come to this?

I know LA is a bigger name than Anaheim, and I don’t doubt there’s value in all that branding, as the corporate swine say. But I also know that the Angels’ attendance figures are among the best in the game. They have a loyal fan base and a great team. So it’s hard for me to believe that, without an L and an A in the name, the team would be better off in Las Vegas.

Threatening to take your ball and go home is childish in the sandlot. Doing so with a Major League team, over something so trivial as a name, is an insult to the very people who pay your bills.