Sources: Expos to be renamed Nationals

WASHINGTON (AP) ^ | Nov 19, 2004 | JOSEPH WHITE

[Boiler Plate]

Sources: Expos to be renamed Nationals

By JOSEPH WHITE, AP Sports Writer
November 19, 2004

WASHINGTON (AP) -- The Montreal Expos are about to get
their new name: the Washington Nationals.

A city official and a baseball official, both speaking on condition of anonymity, said Friday that the team will reveal its new name, cap and red-white-and-blue color scheme during a news conference Monday.

The search for a new name began Sept. 29, when Major League Baseball announced it planned to relocate the team for the 2005 season. Initially, the plan was to wait until the team was sold to select the name, but the sale process is expected to take months -- and the team needs to start marketing itself in its new home city immediately.

[Boiler Plate]

I'm not that much of a baseball fan, but I was looking forward to seeing the Senators again and would have gladly gone to a lot of games based on that alone.

[A Citizen Reporter]

Mon Dieu, what will the quebecois say?

[Angry Republican]

As long as my Orioles aren't hurt by this, then I could care less.

[DoughtyOne]

With the climate in D.C. these days, I guess we should be on our knees praising God it didn't turn out to be "Internationals" or even worse "Transnationals"!

Senators is the name. Screw the incompetent nit-wits that couldn't figure that one out.

[Boiler Plate]

Mon Dieu, what will the quebecois say?

Ibelieve something along this line.

Ce qui est baseball?

[Boiler Plate]

Senators is the name.

The problem is the Rangers own the name Senators and the want $30M for it. I think W needs to step up to the plate here!

[Boiler Plate]

What could possibly hurt the Birds anymore than having Angelos as the owner?!

[DoughtyOne]

Well that is a sticky wicket isn't it. I was unaware of that. There are times when the capitalist system does come off less than glorious, to say the least.

It does seem that Bush might have a few contacts that could help out here. Failing that, I guess we're back to fuming about 'Nationals'. Ah what the heck, we needed something to carp about...

[Angry Republican]

Good point. However, he is starting to allow the team to spend money on free agents.

[bootless]

I know - how 'bout the Congresscritters? We'll call 'em the Critters for short.

[Angry Republican]

Eh, not feeling it.

[Boiler Plate]

Well Pete has tried everything else (bad) so I guess he's only left with things that can help now.

[Boiler Plate]

To be honest I think the merchandising value of the Senator's name is worth a lot more than $30M. Think of a remaking of Damn Yankees? The problem is nobody has the cash right now. They need to get creative here and work out a payment plan or profit sharing.

[tallhappy]

Should be the Senators.

Mistake #1.

[Boiler Plate]

How so?

[bootless]

Eh, not feeling it.

I know. Hmm. I know! Maybe Durham will give up the name the Bulls! That fits!

[oldsalt]

IIRC weren't the original Senators,now Twins, often referred to as the Nats?

Seems to me they were, but I'm getting to be advanced into geezerhood and can't say for sure.

[Boiler Plate]

IIRC weren't the original Senators,now Twins, often referred to as the Nats?

You are almost correct on both counts. They were called the Gnats because of the proliferation of the bugs during the spring and summer here in DC. Gnats were definitely the worst part of playing baseball around here.

[gcruse]

Since they are not a national team, "National" is pretentious, in addition to being unimaginative & rolling off the tongue like phlegm.

Recommended: The Washington Corruption.

[Boiler Plate]

The Washington Corruption

Well I doubt that will sell many tickets. I think most people around here want the Senators.