Things that were cool in 1993 don’t always stand the test of time. Just ask Wreckx-n-Effect. The Toronto Raptors have finally come to this understanding and will explore changing their team name, which was inspired by a dinosaur popularized by Steven Spielberg’s Jurassic Park.
The team’s president and CEO, Tim Leiweke, was asked about a potential name change in a recent talk with reporters.
“We’re definitely going to take a look at it. It doesn’t mean we’re committed to it. It means it’s a good conversation. I saw those generic uniforms today in the paper. … That won’t be the uniform, by the way. I can assure you of that. I think we need to have this conversation.”
“Raptors” was selected by a national vote in 1994, which is a prime example of why such monumental decisions shouldn’t be in the hands of the masses. It’s how you end up with disasters, like teams named after dinosaurs or Jimmy Carter.
The pick was one of 10 possible choices that also included: Beavers, Bobcats, Dragons, Grizzlies, Hogs, Scorpions, T-Rex, Tarantulas, and Terriers. On second thought, Raptors may not have been the worst choice.
Changing a team name should be like firing a coach (something to which Toronto is accustomed): It should only be done if there’s a better option out there. Unless the franchise brass has a winning name in its pocket (and, no, it’s not the “Towers”), there’s no need to change from the Raptors. It might not be a great team name, but it’s not a horrible one.
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