Names of Sports Teams

Richard Hollerman

We know that names mean something and their significance tells us much about others. We know that Scripture says, “A good name is to be more desired than great riches, favor is better than silver and gold” (Proverbs 22:1). But our name or reputation or character is not the only thing important. We find all about us names and these names mean something.

But we don’t wish to deal with our personal names here (we have recently dealt with personal names and designations and have placed this on the website). We also want to deal with sports names here. Just as our speech can be a clear “give away” to our character (see Matthew 12:34-37). We also find that the names that we find in sports teams can also tell us something about the wholesomeness and the evil of these teams.

Most of you know that, as Christians, we don’t follow sports at all, nor all that they stand for. If you have questions about this, we can recommend something for you to examine (please see www.Truediscipleship.com, and type sports and worldliness into the Search Engine).

But have you noticed the names that sports teams give to themselves to identify their given teams? In order to do some research on this topic, we typed into a leading Search engine online, and discovered many choices. One site must have listed many dozens (was it one or two hundred) types of sports and this was before I even clicked these choices themselves to get the names of the teams. Yes, there must be numerous team names that tell us something of the nature of these teams and how they relate to Christian principles.

Just in the teams that we have seen listed online, of which there must be many hundreds, we choose only a few of them. But they do show what our objections would be. Of course, our readers should not conclude that it is fine to have a sports team as long as they have no objectionable name. Some are somewhat more natural, named after animals of various kinds, Even if this might be the case, we know that it could be wrong for these men and women to actually participate in worldly pastimes such as this. (Please see our published book entitled, “The Question of Sports?”)

What about sports? Further, it would be good for us to remember that women are not to be public such as this for they are not to have such a worldly and public role. Further, we know that this feministic attitude would be wrong in itself. We also know that there is a strong tendency (and we would say over 99% or more, openly clothe themselves in immodest clothing which the Christian should avoid totally.)

As we come back to the names, let us consider this. Some names are decidedly wrong and sinful. We would refer to ones such as Pirates or “Ghost Pirates” (for we know that pirating is sinful), Padres (for this Catholic position would be sinful), Patriots (for the Christian would want to avoid anything to do with governmental politics). Consider further: Bandits (for banditry would be wrong), Dust Devils (for anything to do with Satan or the devil would be wrong), Renegades (for it would be wrong to be a renegade), Marauders (for it would be wrong to do marauding), and Wild Things (for the Christian would not want to be characterized by being wild).

Let us continue: Invaders (wouldn’t it be wrong to “invade” a people or place?), Train Robbers (for it definitely would be sinful to be a train robber), Jazz (for it would be wrong to follow sinful musical styles, such as jazz), or Vikings (for the historic Vikings were known as cruel and wicked people who robbed, killed, and rioted), and Gamblers (for the Christian knows that gambling would be wrong). Gladiators (this too would be wrong for the gladiators of the past were vicious and murderous people), Outlaws (for outlawing would be wrong).

Then there would be Mavericks (and we know that this would be a sinful position and work), Pride (for this is a deed or work of the flesh that will condemn one to hell), or Mayhem (for this would definitely be a work of the flesh). From this, we can see that many of these sports teams are named after sins, or Satan, or sinful people, or worldly activities. Thus, we should definitely avoid this!

Some teams are not directed related to such sins but still prose problems (from a Christian standpoint). For instance, some might relate to magic, to demons, or to other matters that the child of God would find objectionable. For instance, there would be Diamondbacks (an obvious reference to a rattle snake), and who would want to have such a negative connotation? There would be dragons (and this would be either a fictitious creature or possibly a dinosaur); Mystics (which sounds like fiction or the supernatural); Magic (an obviously sinful reference); Mad Ants (a questionable but negative name); Wizards (a reference to magic or demonism).

Other names would be negative for various other reasons: Giants (and what Christian should glory in this?); Sea Dogs (an unknown reference, but surely a negative one); Fightin …. (and the Christian surely should avoid fighting); Wolverines (a reference to a vicious wolf-like creature); Cougars (a reference to an animal, but one known for its ferocity); Crushers (and the Christian surely would want to avoid “crushing” another); Unicorns (a fictitious and anti-Christian animal); Stingers (and what Christian would want to “sting” another?); Vipers (surely the Christian will want to avoid anything to do with vipers or snakes); Kings (and this will be a prideful connotation); Barracuda (a Christian will want to avoid anything to do with this vicious fish).

This may be sufficient for us to see how negative some (not all) of these names might be. Many of them have sinful, violent, evil, magical, or demonic connotations or meanings. As you can see, our main focus here has been on the “Names” of these teams. Obviously, if we had branched into the real meaning of the sports that they represent, this would be a much larger discussion. (Hopefully, you will check out the entire book of over 200 pages, entitled What About Sports? This will deal with the numerous negative aspects of sports in general.)

Let us pursue holiness (Hebrews 12:14; Matthew 5:8; Romans 6:19, 22). And one—and only one—aspect of this will be a totally non-sport stance that will help us to remain free from the evils of the world around us. Please consult our website for further information on this, with many articles that address holiness and separation from the world. See, for instance, The Deadly Peril of the World.