The Name Game (Units/Teams)
Like a hollywood blockbuster we are going to beat this until it's dead. It's sequels all the way down folks. I think today and then just one more, but no promises.
Two weeks ago we did the best nicknames in sports and last week we did the best nicknames for dynamic duos or trios. This week let's focus on teams themselves or units within teams. Here are a couple examples of each: The Atlanta Falcons known as the Dirty Birds and The Atlanta Braves bullpen unit from a couple years ago known as The Night Shift.
My personal favourite in either category, even though I dislike this team, is when the Seattle Seahawks were a dominant team in the NFL and their secondary unit was called the Legion of Boom.
Zaps for all entries. Extra zaps for ones I wasn't aware of, forgot about or are just plain awesome.
Sats for all,
GR
Craig James and Eric Dickerson were the Pony Express at SMU. This just came to me now so it’s a bit late 😅.
Here are a few i remember.
Purple people eaters (Vikings)
Steel curtain (Steelers)
Greatest show on Turf (Rams)
Showtime (Lakers)
Blueshirts (Rangers)
The killer Bs? Ben, Bell, Brown. That was a crazy good offense from Pittsburgh.
Fun fact there was a killer B's in baseball too for the Houston Astros in the 90s. Bell, Biggio, Bagwell.
Very fun fact.
All three of those are excellent.
Spy gate
Deflate gate
Dolphins had no name defense in 1972
Dolphins also had the greatest backfield in 1972 before they left for the world football league
Spy gate and deflate gate. Hmmm you just gave me an idea for another post.
😇🧐
The Rams had a nickname for their defensive line with Merlin Olsen and deacon Jones
Fearsome foursome
Some great ones here. I forgot the Pony Express.
We have a payroll to meet in Dallas lol
The Soul Patrol, was the nickname of the greatest defensive backfield in NFL history: Lester Hayes, Mike Haynes, Jack Tatum, George Atkinson
Very nice. Didn't know that one.
What year?
I was discovering my love of football right as the New York Sack Exchange was a thing, and it remains one of my fave team unit nicknames.
Jets?
yup
Great one. I had forgot about this one.
Legion of boom was a short tenure, 2012-2014
They didn’t try to hide blatant PED usage. Look at Kam Chancellor today and how his career ended.
The team has never recovered from the Malcolm Butler interception in the Super Bowl. People forget the great circus catch by Kearse.
Legion of boom? Yamean the legion of pumped in noise 😉 I'm only messing, they were dominant for that short stint.
That is a loud stadium because of the way it was built
Yeah, it was designed to bounce the noise back. But they did get caught pumping noise in at one point. But then so did the saints... And the pats... And about half the league lol.
Yes definitely short lived. Still love the name.
I still can't believe they didn't run the ball. I don't care what Annie Duke or the analytics people say, it was a stupid call when you have Marshawn Lynch as your back.
I remember watching that Super Bowl with a buddy of mine who is a Patriots fan. He went from "It's over" to running around the room saying "they didn't run the ball" in a matter of seconds.
Collinsworth was apoplectic.
It was second or third down and they had one time out.
The patriots defense was the worst in short yardage that season.
Beast mode almost got into the end zone the play before the interception.
What Annie Duke doesn’t mention or realize is that interception rate increases as you get closer to the end zone
I also think there are moments/situations that are so important and specific that the aggregate probabilities don’t apply.
Analytics would say you should never bunt in baseball but if it’s the bottom of the 9th man on second, no one out and a tie game and you have Martin Maldonado at the plate, you should probably bunt the guy over because it is more likely to work than for that hitter to get a hit.
K-Gun offense (Jim Kelly and Buffalo Bills)
Great name and offense
If they ran the ball more they would have beaten Belichick and the giants
Good one. Do they have a name for Allen and crew now?
Nothing too exciting the Josh Allen experience lol
Oh, and while I may hate them with a passion, "The Bronx Bombers" is pretty iconic.
Murderers Row is pretty iconic for a unit as well.
Although the name isn't as memorable, don't forget the Core Four!
Yawn 🥱
Non negro league
Showtime lakers with magic
Posse , 1991 redskins, monk sanders Clark
Air Coryell , chargers, 1978-1982
The U: Catholics vs convicts
Money ball with Billy beane
This is a good one. Management units should count too.
The NYR had the GAG (Goal A Game) line back in the 70s which was Gilbert, Hadfield and Ratelle and they averaged a goal a game together. But 2 of my favorites are the Coneheads from the Miracle on Ice and the Legion of Doom which was Lindros, LeClair and Renberg for the Flyers.
Hell of a series between Rangers and Panthers. They going to go OT every game for the rest of the series?
It's a great series so I hope not, I don't know if I can take it. The Western Conference games can do all the OTing though.
The West Coast Express
The Canucks offensive line in the early 2000s featuring Markus Naslund as left wing, Todd Bertuzzi as right wing and Brendan Morrison as centre. This line produced 926 regular season points in 4 seasons. High octane, high scoring, exciting line to watch back in the day.
Good one.