04/18/24
November 17, 2011
London Rippers getting ripped: If the London Rippers were looking for attention, well, they got it - a swarm of criticsm for the name of the city's newest professional baseball team.
Dig the logo. Calling the mascot Jack is pretty cheeky.
I don't have a problem with the name, given the 130 years that have passed since Jack the Ripper's crimes. I used to ponder this kind of thing on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney World. Will there be a Nazis of the North Atlantic ride in 300 years?
posted by rcade at 11:06 AM on November 17, 2011
What, too soon?
In all seriousness, does anybody buy the explanation of the name and mascot? "We don't mean Jack the Ripper, but we've named the character Jack, purely out of coincidence?", "We mean that this guy can rip the cover off of a baseball", "He's Jack, and he's a ripper, but he's not Jack the Ripper." Whether it's offensive or not is in the opinion of the beholder, but it seems like the organization is gleefully urinating on the collective leg of baseball and informing them that it is precipitating.
posted by tahoemoj at 11:10 AM on November 17, 2011
Dig the logo.
So do I. I think it's a pretty cool looking logo and I understand the significance of Jack the Ripper but that was back in 1888. It's not like they called them the London Sanduskies.
posted by BornIcon at 11:12 AM on November 17, 2011
If they really wanted a riot, they would move the team to Montreal and rename them the Skalbanians.
posted by beaverboard at 11:26 AM on November 17, 2011
I dunno, "Boston Stranglers" would be pretty offensive too, oh but it's all about choking up on the bat.
I don't care how much time has passed, naming your team after a notorious serial sex killer is bad taste and offensive, completely unnecessary, and a rank amateur, small town, highly-insulated, parochial attempt at creating buzz.
The "Calgary Hit Men" is another pretty crass team name but at least it is generic and not about a specific depraved individual. And yes, if in a hundred years I was alive to see the Toronto Bernardos take the field, I'd say that was "too soon", and I hope most people would agree.
posted by rumple at 12:21 PM on November 17, 2011
The "Calgary Hit Men" is another pretty crass team name but at least it is generic and not about a specific depraved individual.
Depending on the time frame, the individual was either a Face or a Heel, though I don't remember him being overly depraved at any point.
posted by tommybiden at 12:29 PM on November 17, 2011
As for me, I'm looking forward to the NFL's newest franchise: The Los Angeles Mansons. How about a name change for the NBA Milwaukee Bucks to the Wisconsin Ed Geins? That would be pretty awesome.
posted by NoMich at 01:02 PM on November 17, 2011
This is the perfect team for Greg Maddux to begin his managerial career.
posted by ursus_comiter at 01:50 PM on November 17, 2011
HUh, I never realized that about the "Hitmen". Their logo doesn't suggest any connection of course, though it was controversial in its own right and if you're not a wrestling fan then the allusion to gangsterism is a lot more direct.
posted by rumple at 01:58 PM on November 17, 2011
NoMich, if you award Gein naming rights to any Milwaukee based pro sports franchise, I guarantee you will be hearing from the IP attorney acting on behalf of the Dahmer estate.
posted by beaverboard at 02:00 PM on November 17, 2011
I live in London, when I first heard the name last night, what came to my mind was not Jack the Ripper, but the Canadian Ballet.
I figured the team was sponsored by NSFW these guys NSFW.
posted by tommybiden at 02:11 PM on November 17, 2011
And yes, if in a hundred years I was alive to see the Toronto Bernardos take the field, I'd say that was "too soon", and I hope most people would agree.
A couple of differences:
1) Jack the Ripper is not his real name. In fact, no one knows what his real name. This is the media name that they've given him. So no "real person" is actually associated with this moniker. In fact, given his mysteriousness and catchy name, he's become pretty much a mythological boogeyman at this point.
2) London (UK) celebrates Jack the Ripper. There are plays, books, walking tours, souvenirs, movies, etc.
3) The "Ripper" in question is from another country/continent entirely, so it would be like having the New Dehli Bernardos.
posted by grum@work at 03:21 PM on November 17, 2011
I also live in London, and I'm hoping to snag a hat with the logo (before they change the name).
I still wear my London Monarchs baseball cap.
posted by grum@work at 03:24 PM on November 17, 2011
I've still got a London Tigers cap kickin' around somewhere.
posted by tommybiden at 03:33 PM on November 17, 2011
I don't see much wrong in the name, especially considering the time span and the amount of writing, fiction and non-fiction, that has been done. The Chicago Gacys would just be flat wrong.
I used to ponder this kind of thing on the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disney World. Will there be a Nazis of the North Atlantic ride in 300 years?
rcade, sometimes I think you have way too much time on your hands. Besides, "Nazis of the North Atlantic" would have the park underwater in no time.
posted by Howard_T at 03:45 PM on November 17, 2011
Besides, "Nazis of the North Atlantic" would have the park underwater in no time.
And plus the only 6' and blonde permitted to ride sign would be a kill joy.
posted by BornIcon at 04:19 PM on November 17, 2011
Given how Brits commercialize the Ripper character--is anyone else watching White Chapel on BBC America?--there shouldn't be any complaints. Besides aren't franchises who pick war-like or ferocious animal names trying to go for the same feeling?
posted by billsaysthis at 04:37 PM on November 17, 2011
Will there be a Nazis of the North Atlantic ride in 300 years?
Doesn't someone somewhere already have an Indiana Jones ride that features fighting/fleeing Nazis?
posted by grum@work at 04:48 PM on November 17, 2011
rcade's ride idea immediately reminded me of this, which probably occurred to a lot of others as well.
posted by beaverboard at 05:02 PM on November 17, 2011
I also live in London, and I'm hoping to snag a hat with the logo (before they change the name).
Now available on their website.
posted by tommybiden at 04:10 PM on November 22, 2011
Oh, Canada.