What makes Kansas City sports names so royal?
Chelsea Soetaert
Issue date: 11/30/09 Section: Sports
Every team has a history.
Where did they come from? What is their name? How well do they play?
In Kansas City, there seems to be a pattern with many sports teams. They have prestigious and high-ranking names - Royals, Chiefs, Wizards and (previously) Kings.
It may feel the teams are held to a higher standard. Perhaps they play well or win numerous games. But any Kansas Citian will agree, that doesn't seem to be the case in recent years.
Rather than name the teams for their abilities and reputations, they were named after many important and influential moments and events in Kansas City's history.
Together, they provide a snippet of the Kansas City timeline.
The last few years, the Kansas City Chiefs have been anything but a championship-winning team. However, Chiefs fans always come through in support.
The Chiefs started in Dallas, where the Dallas Texans competed for popularity and fan base.
In 1963, the Texans moved north to Kansas City. Originally, the name was to be kept the Kansas City Texans, but in gratitude to then Mayor H. Roe Bartle, the team landed with the name of the Chiefs. Bartle was commonly known by his nickname of "Chief."
"Royals" and "Mules" were also considered for the team's name.
As another long-running sports team, the Kansas City Royals also have their place in the annals of the city. The heritage of the Royals' namesake goes back in Kansas City history more than 100 years.
Annually, down at Kemper Arena, a massive livestock show, horse show and rodeo are put on, a tradition deep in Kansas City memory. The American Royal has been presented in KC since 1899.
When a major league baseball team was formed in 1969, it only made sense to name it after one of KC's oldest traditions.
The newest team in Kansas City, the Missouri Mavericks, is brand new to the city and the sports world.
The Mavericks began playing at the Independence Events Center Nov. 13. While their name has little to do with history - it does have a considerable connection to those who make history.
On May 11, the Independence, Mo. newspaper, The Examiner, held a "name-the-team" contest. The readers voted and chose the Mavericks.
Our final sports team has been jumping between states lately. Now stationed in Kansas City, Kan. at Community America Ballpark, the Kansas City Wizards have a slightly Emerald inspiration.
KC's soccer team was founded in 1996 as the KC Wiz, an open reference to the Wizard of Oz. Due to copyright issues, in 1997, they were renamed The Wizards. Their current location couldn't be more fitting.
When you think about it, all teams have history behind them. Whether they're named after a mayor's nickname, a long-running tradition or chosen by the people, each and every name has a story.
Next time you root for a home team, think about the history behind them. When people remember, the history lives on.
csoetaert@unews.com
Where did they come from? What is their name? How well do they play?
In Kansas City, there seems to be a pattern with many sports teams. They have prestigious and high-ranking names - Royals, Chiefs, Wizards and (previously) Kings.
It may feel the teams are held to a higher standard. Perhaps they play well or win numerous games. But any Kansas Citian will agree, that doesn't seem to be the case in recent years.
Rather than name the teams for their abilities and reputations, they were named after many important and influential moments and events in Kansas City's history.
Together, they provide a snippet of the Kansas City timeline.
The last few years, the Kansas City Chiefs have been anything but a championship-winning team. However, Chiefs fans always come through in support.
The Chiefs started in Dallas, where the Dallas Texans competed for popularity and fan base.
In 1963, the Texans moved north to Kansas City. Originally, the name was to be kept the Kansas City Texans, but in gratitude to then Mayor H. Roe Bartle, the team landed with the name of the Chiefs. Bartle was commonly known by his nickname of "Chief."
"Royals" and "Mules" were also considered for the team's name.
As another long-running sports team, the Kansas City Royals also have their place in the annals of the city. The heritage of the Royals' namesake goes back in Kansas City history more than 100 years.
Annually, down at Kemper Arena, a massive livestock show, horse show and rodeo are put on, a tradition deep in Kansas City memory. The American Royal has been presented in KC since 1899.
When a major league baseball team was formed in 1969, it only made sense to name it after one of KC's oldest traditions.
The newest team in Kansas City, the Missouri Mavericks, is brand new to the city and the sports world.
The Mavericks began playing at the Independence Events Center Nov. 13. While their name has little to do with history - it does have a considerable connection to those who make history.
On May 11, the Independence, Mo. newspaper, The Examiner, held a "name-the-team" contest. The readers voted and chose the Mavericks.
Our final sports team has been jumping between states lately. Now stationed in Kansas City, Kan. at Community America Ballpark, the Kansas City Wizards have a slightly Emerald inspiration.
KC's soccer team was founded in 1996 as the KC Wiz, an open reference to the Wizard of Oz. Due to copyright issues, in 1997, they were renamed The Wizards. Their current location couldn't be more fitting.
When you think about it, all teams have history behind them. Whether they're named after a mayor's nickname, a long-running tradition or chosen by the people, each and every name has a story.
Next time you root for a home team, think about the history behind them. When people remember, the history lives on.
csoetaert@unews.com
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