What if the Rams weren't the Rams?

[Thordaddy]

Can't really say, I was a Cardinal fan and season ticket holder and continued to root for them until the Rams came to St.L, so the name is probably secondary to location for me something tells me this thread has a back door that leads to a subject non gratta . So far it hasn't degenerated to that point but it's potential is clear .

 

[dieterbrock]

I'm a Rams fan.
Whether they play in Cleveland, LA, Anaheim, St Louis etc....
If they're not the Rams anymore, then I'm not a fan.

 

[LesBaker]

ahh but let us throw a little zinger in there.

What if another team comes along in 5 years and takes over the RAMS name like the whole Cleveland/Baltimore deal with the Browns

then who would you root for?

I am from CLE and was living there when the whole thing unfolded and there is an interesting story behind Modell leaving the name and history. Here is the really, really short version.

He didn't want to, he was going to take it with him but the city had a clause in the lease he signed. He was required to play all of his teams home games at Municipal Stadium. The city told him he could locate the team anywhere but they would enforce that clause and if he played somewhere else they would sue for lost revenues. He caved because he knew he wouldn't win. And so the city kept the name and history.

It was really interesting to see the whole process go down right in front of your eyes. What Modell did was one of the filthiest and greediest things in American sports. Some of the details are mind blowing.

 

[dieterbrock]

I am from CLE and was living there when the whole thing unfolded and there is an interesting story behind Modell leaving the name and history. Here is the really, really short version.

He didn't want to, he was going to take it with him but the city had a clause in the lease he signed. He was required to play all of his teams home games at Municipal Stadium. The city told him he could locate the team anywhere but they would enforce that clause and if he played somewhere else they would sue for lost revenues. He caved because he knew he wouldn't win. And so the city kept the name and history.

It was really interesting to see the whole process go down right in front of your eyes. What Modell did was one of the filthiest and greediest things in American sports. Some of the details are mind blowing.

When the Ravens forst played as the Ravens, didnt they carry the Browns records/History with them? I could have sworn they did. Then when Cleveland was awarded the Browns franchise, they changed it to what it is now? I vividly remember it that way but cant find any info to corroborate

 

[LesBaker]

When the Ravens forst played as the Ravens, didnt they carry the Browns records/History with them? I could have sworn they did. Then when Cleveland was awarded the Browns franchise, they changed it to what it is now? I vividly remember it that way but cant find any info to corroborate

Nope, the history and everything was left behind.

 

[CodeMonkey]

Nope, the history and everything was left behind.

Interesting. Thanks Les! As I'm sure you are aware, current browns owner, Haslam, was busted for fraud at his Pilot truck stops. They sure get lucky in Cleveland.

 

[LesBaker]

Interesting. Thanks Les! As I'm sure you are aware, current browns owner, Haslam, was busted for fraud at his Pilot truck stops. They sure get lucky in Cleveland.

Yeah and Lerner was no prize either.

 

[jjab360]

Is there anyway we can get a poll added to the OP?

 

[RhodyRams]

since I never actually answered the question the O.P. posted I will honestly say I dont know who I would cheer for if the team changed names. As many have already siad, became a RAMS fan because of the horns, and if those went away, well I would have some serious soul searching to do I guess. Lord knows I would almost definitely get my Sundays back LOL

 

[RamFan503]

Well the horns are a big part of the equation for me but watching the RAMS with my dad and grampa are even bigger. If they changed the name I would be very bitter honestly. I would probably just stop watching the NFL and not have a team if that were to happen - unless Portland maybe got an expansion team. Goodell is souring me enough as it is. This would be a final nail. I love my Rams. No way could I say that about any other team name. I love my Stallions? Uh... WHAT?

 

[Faceplant]

Can't imagine rooting for another uniform personally. It was hard enough when they changed colors in 2k, haha. Seriously though, I fell in love with this team at the tender age of 7, and I am not afraid to say that the main reason was the helmets. Those that have been fans for that long or longer know exactly what I am talking about, and I doubt any of them could root for a team without the horns on the helmet....at least as their favorite team. Stallions??? Really?? Reminds me of when Abe Pollin was asking people here in the DC area to "rename" the Washington Bullets. The choices were dogshit...Sea Dogs, Express, Stallions, Dragons and Wizards. Umm, Wizards I guess???

 

[MerlinJones]

Is there anyway we can get a poll added to the OP?

If somebody will tell me how to do it I'd be happy to add a poll.

 

[RamFan503]

If somebody will tell me how to do it I'd be happy to add a poll.

Is there a "Thread Tools" drop down menu at the top right above the thread?

If so, you should be able to click on add poll. If not - let me know what you want it to ask specifically.

 

[Rambition]

stallions? no. i could go for The St. Louis Fighting Clydesdales, though.

 

[Thordaddy]

As for the question and the poll, to have a name change happen there has to be a reason, in the case of the Titans it was a move and the owners desire to have a name fitting the city which is called the "Athens of the South" and was not done under duress to my knowledge.

The Browns was a hostile claim of name which if that were to happen it wouldn't seem to me that anyone really has a claim considering that Cleveland has a team and covets the Browns name , LA got the team from another city ,lost it to St.Louis ,so if the name changed there would seem to me to have to be another city involved. because the request for the name change would have to come from LA and 20? years later ?

Gotta believe there won't be a name change but if it was to change it'd seem to me only in St.Lou so under those assumptions,I'd say yes I'd still root for them, but Stan would need a reason which I can't see because no one can assert a superior claim on the name and the league isn't going to expand ,the mathematical symmetry they have now suits them too well and the Rams name would have to be then for a team relocating to LA,so who among the prospective LA teams would want to change their name ,surely not the Raiders nor the Chargers ,maybe the Jags, but HOW could they assert a claim over current owners of the name ?

 

[ZigZagRam]

Interesting thought. If the team stayed but changed their name, I'd be a Stallions fan.

If everyone upped and left to L.A., I'd still be a Rams fan.

I have more loyalty to the team and the history than I do the name, but I would miss the horns. I see the franchise as an emotional investment. I've watched a lot of drafts and scoured the net looking for news nuggets like a druggie searches for rock during plenty of free agent periods, investing emotionally in the building of the team. I'm not necessarily tied to individual players, but that would all seem like a waste if I just upped and started rooting for a new 53.

 

[dieterbrock]

. Plus, they don't have a throw back uniform to wear. Because they've had the same ones since they became a team.

Lol. That's a great point
Current uniforms:

Throwbacks:

 

[T-REX]

I got “Hooked on the Horns” in 69, if they took that away I would ....

 

[MerlinJones]

As for the question and the poll, to have a name change happen there has to be a reason, in the case of the Titans it was a move and the owners desire to have a name fitting the city which is called the "Athens of the South" and was not done under duress to my knowledge.

The Browns was a hostile claim of name which if that were to happen it wouldn't seem to me that anyone really has a claim considering that Cleveland has a team and covets the Browns name , LA got the team from another city ,lost it to St.Louis ,so if the name changed there would seem to me to have to be another city involved. because the request for the name change would have to come from LA and 20? years later ?

Gotta believe there won't be a name change but if it was to change it'd seem to me only in St.Lou so under those assumptions,I'd say yes I'd still root for them, but Stan would need a reason which I can't see because no one can assert a superior claim on the name and the league isn't going to expand ,the mathematical symmetry they have now suits them too well and the Rams name would have to be then for a team relocating to LA,so who among the prospective LA teams would want to change their name ,surely not the Raiders nor the Chargers ,maybe the Jags, but HOW could they assert a claim over current owners of the name ?

If ESK decided that his franchise would be more successful with a new moniker he has every right to change names as long as he doesn't pick a name that could be considered offensive, and gives the NFL sufficient notice for marketing and merchandising purposes (I believe it's one full season, but I could be wrong).

Changing names for marketing reasons is nothing new, and has happened recently with the Tampa Bay Rays (MLB) and the New Orleans Pelicans (NBA) and will probably happen with the Resdskins eventually as well.
There was nothing related to relocation in any of these moves.

ESK wouldn't need a reason for changing names aside from a desire to do so.
Just be glad you're not rooting for the Fightin' Kroenkes (not yet anyway).

 

[Boffo97]

As for the question and the poll, to have a name change happen there has to be a reason, in the case of the Titans it was a move and the owners desire to have a name fitting the city which is called the "Athens of the South" and was not done under duress to my knowledge.

The Browns was a hostile claim of name which if that were to happen it wouldn't seem to me that anyone really has a claim considering that Cleveland has a team and covets the Browns name , LA got the team from another city ,lost it to St.Louis ,so if the name changed there would seem to me to have to be another city involved. because the request for the name change would have to come from LA and 20? years later ?

Gotta believe there won't be a name change but if it was to change it'd seem to me only in St.Lou so under those assumptions,I'd say yes I'd still root for them, but Stan would need a reason which I can't see because no one can assert a superior claim on the name and the league isn't going to expand ,the mathematical symmetry they have now suits them too well and the Rams name would have to be then for a team relocating to LA,so who among the prospective LA teams would want to change their name ,surely not the Raiders nor the Chargers ,maybe the Jags, but HOW could they assert a claim over current owners of the name ?

I think Cleveland has to be considered irrelevant as to any moral ownership (for lack of a better term) of the Rams. Didn't they only have the team for 9 years or so?

Also, not in response to td, I would have to think that for the most part, this poll is going to go down St. Louisan vs. non-St. Louisan lines. As I've said before, some people are fans of the _______ Rams and some people are fans of the St. Louis _______s (though there is some overlap.)