It’s a simple formula that I’ve used before and it works, thanks to a man named Michael Leo Donovan and his book The Name Game.
The book is simply a history of how teams got their names and being one who likes to know such trivial things I give that more weight than say a team’s offensive or defensive line.
A team name must mean something to me, have some history and should always be related to the area a team plays in. Perfect examples: The Patriots, the Buccaneers, the Dolphins, the Texans. Notice I didn’t mention the Cowboys.
So based on the history behind the team names and using Donovan’s book I will pick the Super Bowl winner.
Green Bay Packers
August, 1919: Curly Lambeau calls a meeting in the editorial room of a newspaper building. Lambeau’s employer, the Indian Packing Company, is asked for money for equipment and the name is born.
In 1920 the team got a franchise backed by two officials from the packing plant and the name stuck and a winning tradition, 11 championships at the time of the writing of the book, began in the smallest city to have an NFL team.
Pittsburgh Steelers
Founded in 1933 but not as the Steelers, but the Pirates from 1933 to 1939. It wouldn’t be until 1940 they would become the Steelers, the result of a contest for a permanent name, a name that represented the livelihood of the city.
During World War II the Steelers merged with the Philadelphia Eagles in 1943 to become the Steagles and in 1944 they merged with the Chicago Cardinals to become Cards-Pitts or Carpets as they were known.
In 1945 they became the Steelers again.
Here’s an interesting note: Those diamonds on the Steelers helmets represent the three materials used to make steel — yellow for coal, orange for ore and blue for scrap metal.
In 1962, Republic Steel of Cleveland suggested the Steelers use the national steel industry’s logo because of their long association with the industry. The Steelers accepted and the steel logo is now worn on the right side of the helmet only.
Analysis
You would think this would be tough. Not really. You’ve got one team who’s named for a packing company. I don’t like that history. Does it really reflect the history of the city of Green Bay or the state of Wisconsin? Nope. It would be better if they were named for the dairy industry or the Great Lakes so the Packers lose big points even though I am pulling for them.
The Steelers, well the Steelers win the name game because the name fits, not only the city but the state.
Regardless, this is going to be a blue collar game and I like that and even though I’m pulling for Green Bay, The Name Game gives Pittsburgh the edge, I say, 27-14.
Thanks, Michael Leo Donovan, for writing this book. It should be on the shelf of every true sports fan.
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