Thursday, January 19, 2006

The Anaheim Angels

There is an interesting trial in Orange County, California involving the City of Anaheim and the Angels baseball team over what city they actually go by.
currently, team owner Arte Moreno thinks that the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim sounds pretty good.
A little history here is needed.
The Angels became an American League team in 1961 and were in Los Angeles and know as the Los Angeles Angels. In 1966, team owner Gene Autry, the singing cowboy, moved the team to the then backwater city of Anaheim, home to Disneyland. He changed the team name to the California Angels. When he sold the team to the Disney empire in the mid 90s, the new owners changed the name to Anaheim Angels. Then comes Arte Moreno.
In his infinite wisdom, he thought that he could change the name to the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, sell it as a Los Angeles team and fulfill the legal contract with the City of Anaheim by keeping Anaheim in the name.
The City of Anaheim said no way and took them to court.
They are right.
I mean, they have nothing to do with Los Angeles other than because of geography they are considered part of the Los Angeles media market. But they severed their ties to Los Angeles almost 40 years ago.
The City of Anaheim should win and the team name should be, correctly, the Anaheim Angels.
Then, when there is the Freeway Series it will mean something for the Los Angeles Dodgers to play the Anaheim Angels.
Hey, if the Red Sox and White Sox can win the World Series back to back, then next is the Chicago Cubs getting in and winning and then the Freeway Series.
Go ANAHEIM Angels!

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