Should the Pittsburgh Pirates change their name?

48leafpsa · February 22, 2011 2:22AM

With the recent news coming out about the 4 americans being killed by pirates and all of the other recent attacks by pirates, should the pittsburgh pirates change their name? i'm sure there are people out there who may find the name offensive, especially the families of the victims. we've seen a team change their name before when the washington bullets changed their name to the wizards due to washington being riddled with shooting related crimes.

72skywalker · February 22, 2011 3:02AM

It really is too bad that 4 people died and I hope their family is doing the best they can but what were they doing sailing off the coast of Somalia??? Sometimes natural selection has to kick in and weed out some of us. I really feel for their families but that was not the smartest place to be.

If Pittsburgh has to change their name does Disney have to change the name of their ride and movies; Pirates of the Carribean? The only reason to be offended by the Pirates is their poor record these past many years.

kcballboy · February 22, 2011 3:19AM

If so, then the Mariners should change their name out of respect for anyone who has died at sea; the Astros need to honor the Challenger victims by changing their name; the Dodgers are clearly disrespecting anyone who has been hit by a car; the Rays owe it to Steve Irwin's family to change their name etc.

To answer your question, no.

bking · February 22, 2011 3:36AM

<< If so, then the Mariners should change their name out of respect for anyone who has died at sea; the Astros need to honor the Challenger victims by changing their name; the Dodgers are clearly disrespecting anyone who has been hit by a car; the Rays owe it to Steve Irwin's family to change their name etc.

To answer your question, no. >>

You joke, but I guarantee there are probably activist groups lobbying for every one of those changes you mentioned.

MCMLVTopps · February 22, 2011 4:01AM

Anyone that would ponder that thought for more than a nano-second is foolish.

Beyond sad that these four people were murdered, horrible event.

My solution to the AS*H%)@S from Somalia...simple...you clowns get 12 miles off shore, after that we toast you. Any questions? And we don't give a rat's ass who's onboard, 12 miles and one inch...BOOM.

stown · February 22, 2011 4:11AM

<< If so, then the Mariners should change their name out of respect for anyone who has died at sea; the Astros need to honor the Challenger victims by changing their name; the Dodgers are clearly disrespecting anyone who has been hit by a car; the Rays owe it to Steve Irwin's family to change their name etc.

To answer your question, no. >>

Don't forget about the Braves, Chiefs, Indians, and Redskins (and all corresponding nicknames) for the Native Americans.

Going forward, in order not to potentially offend anyone and be politically correct, all teams should be addressed as "The (insert sport) team that resides in (insert city)".

ex: The baseball team that resides in Houston played the baseball team that resides in Saint Louis today...

stown · February 22, 2011 4:13AM

And for those who don't know what my avatar means -> click me

jeffcbay · February 22, 2011 4:28AM

<< what were they doing sailing off the coast of Somalia??? >>

Selling Jesus...

72skywalker · February 22, 2011 5:17AM

<< If so, then the Mariners should change their name out of respect for anyone who has died at sea; the Astros need to honor the Challenger victims by changing their name; the Dodgers are clearly disrespecting anyone who has been hit by a car; the Rays owe it to Steve Irwin's family to change their name etc.

To answer your question, no. >>

All southerners should feel disrespected by the name "Yankees" (although most people hate that name anyways) and people who have irritable bowel syndrome should be upset about the name "Browns".

Barndog · February 22, 2011 5:35AM

<< 

<< If so, then the Mariners should change their name out of respect for anyone who has died at sea; the Astros need to honor the Challenger victims by changing their name; the Dodgers are clearly disrespecting anyone who has been hit by a car; the Rays owe it to Steve Irwin's family to change their name etc.

To answer your question, no. >>

Don't forget about the Braves, Chiefs, Indians, and Redskins (and all corresponding nicknames) for the Native Americans.

Going forward, in order not to potentially offend anyone and be politically correct, all teams should be addressed as "The (insert sport) team that resides in (insert city)".

ex: The baseball team that resides in Houston played the baseball team that resides in Saint Louis today... >>

that would be grossly unfair to people who live in suburbs. Teams should just be given random numbers between 3.05 and 4.98 and identified by such numbers. I'm going to need a counselor next time I watch sports that mention team names. The horror, the horror...

stevek · February 22, 2011 5:36AM

Didn't prides of lions sometimes kill and eat villagers?

I don't plan on petitioning Penn State to change their name. Yes, I say that tongue in cheek because of course lions are animals hunting for food to survive in nature...versus human murderers - a big difference.

I don't know the history of why Pittsburgh chose that name...perhaps it was because some old time books which glamourized piracy, gave the franchise the notion, and then later on Hollywood movies in those old time black and white films kept the image going. Well, the facts are that piracy never was glamorous and for sure this recent event illustrated just how ugly and brutal is piracy, and that it needs to be stopped now...so perhaps the team might just do that and think about changing their name?

bking · February 22, 2011 5:54AM

<< Didn't prides of lions sometimes kill and eat villagers?

I don't plan on petitioning Penn State to change their name. Yes, I say that tongue in cheek because of course lions are animals hunting for food to survive in nature...versus human murderers - a big difference.

I don't know the history of why Pittsburgh chose that name...perhaps it was because some old time books which glamourized piracy, gave the franchise the notion, and then later on Hollywood movies in those old time black and white films kept the image going. Well, the facts are that piracy never was glamorous and for sure this recent event illustrated just how ugly and brutal is piracy, and that it needs to be stopped now...so perhaps the team might just do that and think about changing their name? >>

I'm guessing it was chosen to be alliterative when used with the city name, plus lots of teams around the turn of the century chose "scary" names - Lions, Tigers, Bears (oh my!), Pirates, Braves, etc.

purduepete · February 22, 2011 6:14AM

<< With the recent news coming out about the 4 americans being killed by pirates and all of the other recent attacks by pirates, should the pittsburgh pirates change their name? i'm sure there are people out there who may find the name offensive, especially the families of the victims. we've seen a team change their name before when the washington bullets changed their name to the wizards due to washington being riddled with shooting related crimes. >>

Surely you can't be serious.

purduepete · February 22, 2011 6:20AM

With all of the people that are killed by hurricanes each year, should the Carolina Hurricanes and the University of Miami (FL) Hurricanes change their name as well?

TNP777 · February 22, 2011 7:21AM

Personally, I find the San Francisco Giants offensive, even though I'm 6'2". Having said that, I really feel bad for "little people" - the team's name should definitely be changed so as not to offend them.

However, I'm just fine with the New York football Giants.

Brick · February 22, 2011 7:30AM

I think some people just look for something to be offended by.

bking · February 22, 2011 7:34AM

<< I think some people just look for something to be offended by. >>

Shhhhhhh!!! If word of this leaks out, the protest movement in America will collapse!!! Who will buy all the signs??

fiveniner · February 22, 2011 7:49AM

Absolutely Not!!!!

Bears,Tigers,Lions,Hurricanes,Lightning,Yankees of the Civil War,Raiders.

vladguerrero · February 22, 2011 8:05AM

<< 

<< what were they doing sailing off the coast of Somalia??? >>

Selling Jesus... >>

lol

stevek · February 22, 2011 8:51AM

<< 

<< Didn't prides of lions sometimes kill and eat villagers?

I don't plan on petitioning Penn State to change their name. Yes, I say that tongue in cheek because of course lions are animals hunting for food to survive in nature...versus human murderers - a big difference.

I don't know the history of why Pittsburgh chose that name...perhaps it was because some old time books which glamourized piracy, gave the franchise the notion, and then later on Hollywood movies in those old time black and white films kept the image going. Well, the facts are that piracy never was glamorous and for sure this recent event illustrated just how ugly and brutal is piracy, and that it needs to be stopped now...so perhaps the team might just do that and think about changing their name? >>

I'm guessing it was chosen to be alliterative when used with the city name, plus lots of teams around the turn of the century chose "scary" names - Lions, Tigers, Bears (oh my!), Pirates, Braves, etc. >>

You're probably right.

Taking your comment into account, in my opinion, the Philadelphia Phillies have the best baseball name of all.

Garabaldi · February 22, 2011 9:59AM

Shocker

MantleMarisFordBerra · February 22, 2011 10:13AM

<< My solution to the AS*H%)@S from Somalia...simple...you clowns get 12 miles off shore, after that we toast you. Any questions? And we don't give a rat's ass who's onboard, 12 miles and one inch...BOOM. >>

I agree, and you know who else agrees? The Russians. Remember how they handled their Somali pirate issue just less than a year ago? We could learn a thing or two from this. :-)

stevek · February 22, 2011 11:11AM

These pirates remind me of bedbugs...they strike, suck blood (money), hide, and then strike again and again. I think we should do to these pirates what anyone would normally do if they encounter a bedbug.

Goot · February 22, 2011 11:16AM

The team formerly known as the Pittsburgh Pirates.

stown · February 22, 2011 11:53AM

This thread offends me and I'm seriously considering legal action.

SDSportsFan · February 22, 2011 12:16PM

<< I don't know the history of why Pittsburgh chose that name...perhaps it was because some old time books which glamourized piracy, gave the franchise the notion, and then later on Hollywood movies in those old time black and white films kept the image going. Well, the facts are that piracy never was glamorous and for sure this recent event illustrated just how ugly and brutal is piracy, and that it needs to be stopped now...so perhaps the team might just do that and think about changing their name? >>

From Wikipedia:

"The new owners also signed several players from American Association teams. One of them was highly regarded second baseman Lou Bierbauer, who had previously played with the A.A.'s Philadelphia Athletics. The Athletics failed to include him on their reserve list, and the Alleghenys picked him up. This led to loud protests by the Athletics, and in an official complaint, an AA official claimed the Alleghenys' actions were "piratical".[6] This incident (which is discussed at some length in The Beer and Whisky League, by David Nemec, 1994) quickly accelerated into a schism between the leagues that contributed to the demise of the A.A. Although the Alleghenys were never found guilty of wrongdoing, they made sport of being denounced for being "piratical" by renaming themselves "the Pirates" for the 1891 season.[3] The nickname was first acknowledged on the team's uniforms in 1912."

Steve

Garabaldi · February 22, 2011 4:03PM

I wonder how many of these Somalian pirates we have already picked off?

stevek · February 22, 2011 7:26PM

<< 

<< I don't know the history of why Pittsburgh chose that name...perhaps it was because some old time books which glamourized piracy, gave the franchise the notion, and then later on Hollywood movies in those old time black and white films kept the image going. Well, the facts are that piracy never was glamorous and for sure this recent event illustrated just how ugly and brutal is piracy, and that it needs to be stopped now...so perhaps the team might just do that and think about changing their name? >>

From Wikipedia:

"The new owners also signed several players from American Association teams. One of them was highly regarded second baseman Lou Bierbauer, who had previously played with the A.A.'s Philadelphia Athletics. The Athletics failed to include him on their reserve list, and the Alleghenys picked him up. This led to loud protests by the Athletics, and in an official complaint, an AA official claimed the Alleghenys' actions were "piratical".[6] This incident (which is discussed at some length in The Beer and Whisky League, by David Nemec, 1994) quickly accelerated into a schism between the leagues that contributed to the demise of the A.A. Although the Alleghenys were never found guilty of wrongdoing, they made sport of being denounced for being "piratical" by renaming themselves "the Pirates" for the 1891 season.[3] The nickname was first acknowledged on the team's uniforms in 1912."

Steve >>

Interesting. Thanks for the post.

stevek · February 22, 2011 7:27PM

Wonder if anyone ever shouts "Kill the umpire" any longer? LOL

RonBurgundy · February 23, 2011 12:20AM

Have you seen the Pirates play the last 20 years? There's nothing to be concerned about.

calaban7 · February 23, 2011 10:01AM

<< Wonder if anyone ever shouts "Kill the umpire" any longer? LOL >>

Apparently , only union thugs are able to say it and no one is allowed to get upset.---- Sonny

Garabaldi · February 23, 2011 9:44PM

<< Have you seen the Pirates play the last 20 years? There's nothing to be concerned about.

>>

I forgot they still had a team.

Should the Pittsburgh Pirates change their name?

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