I see what you're doing with the Cleveland thing but I get into these conversations all the time. Is the "real" something what it started out as or what it evolved into and what everyone knows it as?
Take Superman for example. Is the "real" Superman how he started or what he eventually became? Without getting too nerdy with the details, let's just take the most glaring and obvious difference. Originally, Superman couldn't fly. I don't think anyone considers that to be the real version.
Much like the Rams starting in Cleveland and especially those red and black uniforms they wore their first year.