The Cleveland Guardians? Yes, It's Official

[marzoumanian]

Just learned that next year the Cleveland Indians will be known as the Cleveland Guardians. Peace.

Here's some more color on the name, for anyone who is interested. It's from the official news release:

"The Cleveland Guardians will boast the same blue and red color scheme we’ve grown familiar with. The organization wanted the script to be similar to what it has been for the last 75 years but decided to make slight changes to mimic the structural architecture of the Hope Memorial Bridge, imitating the trusses of the bridge’s underside. On the road, the team will continue to sport “Cleveland” across its chest, while “Guardians” will be printed on the home jerseys."

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by marzoumanian

Just learned that next year the Cleveland Indians will be known as the Cleveland Guardians. Peace.

I am not a Cleveland fan. I am glad they finally decided to change their name. That is a Good Name.

[Fballguy]

Yup...Professional sports ran out of good names years ago. Guardians is a very huggy, safe name. Perfect for America in 2021.

[Orioles1954]

What an absolutely horrible name! "Let's Go Guards!"....just rolls of the tongue. It sounds like some terrible USFL or Arena League team. If I were fans of the former Indians, I would either give up baseball or find a new team.

[bdk1976]

Are they competing for worst franchise nickname? If so they are now winning by a margin that puts Secretariat to shame.

[packs]

I don't mind a name change but Guardians sounds like a fake movie team name. Cleveland had two great names before the Indians. What was wrong with the Spiders or the Naps?

[MCyganik]

It makes good sense in context, but initial impression it sounds like a bland computer-generated fake sports name.

I still think they should have picked the Spiders. Lots of potential modernizing that one into today’s brand marketing. Could of had a cute looking spider mascot named CY.

[jcmtiger]

Originally Posted by packs

I don't mind a name change but Guardians sounds like a fake movie team name. Cleveland had two great names before the Indians. What was wrong with the Spiders or the Naps?

Yes, agree.

[Seven]

Sounds like an XFL Franchise. I feel like there were so many other options they could've went with. Could've gone historical and went with the Naps or Spiders.

[darwinbulldog]

Congratulations to Cleveland on moving to a resolution faster than the Capital City American Football Franchise.

[Orioles1954]

Originally Posted by packs

I don't mind a name change but Guardians sounds like a fake movie team name. Cleveland had two great names before the Indians. What was wrong with the Spiders or the Naps?

Because "Spiders" is offensive to the millions of arachnids who are crushed or murdered by imperialist exterminators every year.

[Casey2296]

Awkward name, I'll stick to calling them the "Naps".

[judsonhamlin]

Agree that they should’ve gone with Spiders. Logo of the ball kind of interesting though - kind of like a lefty throwing a fork ball. Rest of the brand other than the “C” logo is junk

[insidethewrapper]

How about the Cleveland Fellers ?

[BCauley]

The reasoning behind it makes sense. I think everybody is just so used to the Indians name though that it'll seem awkward for a bit to call them the Guardians.

[Mutton Chop Yaz]

I'm a Cleveland fan. It's fine. "Indians" needed to go, and any new name would have sounded odd after 106 years with the old one. I would have preferred a historical name, or even "Americans" like my 1914 Cracker Jack Lajoie reads, but they weren't picking the name for my benefit. We'll all be accustomed to "Guardians" in a couple of years.

[Bugsy]

I guess there were IP issues with the name Spiders.

[Hirbonzig]

I predict a section in the bleachers will be called the “Big House” with everyone dressed as bad ass prison guards.

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by Casey2296

Awkward name, I'll stick to calling them the "Naps".

If calling them "Indians" is offensive to Indians, isn't calling them "Guardians" likewise offensive to guardians?

And calling them "Naps" would be offensive to Frenchmen.

[Leon]

They should have named them the "Inclusives"

.

[Mutton Chop Yaz]

No need to relitigate this extensively, but setting aside recriminations about whom might be offended by what (including a name change itself) and why, and whether that's the actual issue, as a fan of the club, I appreciate the move to a new name.

[edjs]

They are angry in Calcutta.

[puckpaul]

Originally Posted by Orioles1954

What an absolutely horrible name! "Let's Go Guards!"....just rolls of the tongue. It sounds like some terrible USFL or Arena League team. If I were fans of the former Indians, I would either give up baseball or find a new team.

yes, it is a terrible name.

[nolemmings]

Originally Posted by Orioles1954

What an absolutely horrible name! "Let's Go Guards!"....just rolls of the tongue. It sounds like some terrible USFL or Arena League team. If I were fans of the former Indians, I would either give up baseball or find a new team.

They will accept it. The city of Cleveland already is diehard for teams called the Cavaliers and Browns.

[Brian Van Horn]

LOL! Does anyone expect the name of "Guardians" to last? It is though the owner of the Indians added another punchline to "Major League".

[samosa4u]

Guardians? Doesn't sound like a sports team to me! If the word INDIAN offended some people, then they should have called themselves the Cleveland ERIE or Cleveland SENECANS!

[vintagetoppsguy]

Guardians is just short for Guaranteed Indians

[brob28]

Originally Posted by MCyganik

It makes good sense in context, but initial impression it sounds like a bland computer-generated fake sports name.

I still think they should have picked the Spiders. Lots of potential modernizing that one into today’s brand marketing. Could of had a cute looking spider mascot named CY.

Agreed, seems like they chose a vanilla name designed to avoid angering anyone. It's just shy of using the Cleveland Neutrals. Spiders would have been the choice IMO.

[rhettyeakley]

Not a fan! I really thought the "Spiders" was a forgone conclusion.

The "Spiders" would have been a marketing Gold Mine! There are so many different ways to market that name and an image of a spider! So many promotions and the uniforms, logos, etc could have been so cool.

The Guardians is such a weak mascot that I can only guess that was only chosen because they couldn't protect the name Spiders like they wanted to. As mentioned it sounds like a fake name from a bad Disney sports movie.

**That being said, if they had gone with "Cleveland Rocks" or something like that it would have been SO MUCH WORSE! I'm glad they didn't go down that path.

[Casey2296]

At least when the team stinks the fans will have new placard choices...
-

[perezfan]

Spiders would've been pretty cool, both in terms of a team mascot/logo, and interesting/artistic Uniform and Cap possibilities.

But to nobody's surprise, they chose a horribly bland name. Can't even imagine an interesting or decent looking logo... maybe a block letter "G" (how exciting!)

Perfect for the current times though... "Guardians" sounds like an Insurance Company Team, Soccer Club, or WNBA franchise, and should not offend anyone. Super safe choice!

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

They will accept it. The city of Cleveland already is diehard for teams called the Cavaliers and Browns.

This brings up a good point. Were Paul Brown and/or Jim Brown offended by the name "Browns?"

[rhettyeakley]

For those that have watched the TV show Community...

http://starsofthediamond.com/greendale.jpg

[nolemmings]

Originally Posted by Mark17

This brings up a good point. Were Paul Brown and/or Jim Brown offended by the name "Browns?"

Doubtful as to Paul-- the team was named for him.

[perezfan]

Originally Posted by Mark17

This brings up a good point. Were Paul Brown and/or Jim Brown offended by the name "Browns?"

They were probably OK with it, but I heard the local UPS Drivers raised hell.

[Exhibitman]

I like it but Spiders would have been way cooler as well as a nice nod to history.

[Exhibitman]

Originally Posted by rhettyeakley

Not a fan! I really thought the "Spiders" was a forgone conclusion.

The "Spiders" would have been a marketing Gold Mine! There are so many different ways to market that name and an image of a spider! So many promotions and the uniforms, logos, etc could have been so cool.

The Guardians is such a weak mascot that I can only guess that was only chosen because they couldn't protect the name Spiders like they wanted to. As mentioned it sounds like a fake name from a bad Disney sports movie.

**That being said, if they had gone with "Cleveland Rocks" or something like that it would have been SO MUCH WORSE! I'm glad they didn't go down that path.

Cleveland Rocks would have been hilarious. Every year the press could lead off spring with "Rocks' Pennant Hopes Sink Like A Stone". Was too similar the Colorado Rockies, though.

[Exhibitman]

[BengoughingForAwhile]

Originally Posted by Fballguy

Yup...Professional sports ran out of good names years ago. Guardians is a very huggy, safe name. Perfect for America in 2021.

America was named for the Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci, who was a slave owner and slave trader. I am now offended by being known as an "American." I want that name changed and everything named using the word America. American League, American Football Conference, NATIVE AMERICAN, "America the Beautiful", Bank of America, Great American Ballpark, United States of America, North America, South America, Central America, etc. etc. etc.
But hey, we can all feel great now that a baseball team in Cleveland has changed from their terribly offensive name "Indians" to the "Guardians."
What a joke.

[perezfan]

If I was a fan of that club, I would honestly rather see them do what the Washington Football Team did. It's less stupid.

[drmondobueno]

Think I’ll call them the G-Men.


Sheesh.

[GasHouseGang]

What are their uniforms going to look like? Black cloaks?

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

Doubtful as to Paul-- the team was named for him.

And the Indians were named after Sockalexis. Why can a team be named after some people and no offense is taken (Brown, Lajoie) but not others?

It seems like for every tradition in this country, there is somebody intent on tearing it down.

[nolemmings]

Originally Posted by Mark17

And the Indians were named after Sockalexis. Why can a team be named after some people and no offense is taken (Brown, Lajoie) but not others?

It seems like for every tradition in this country, there is somebody intent on tearing it down.

Yep. Like this one.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/23/us/kk...tol/index.html

[Leon]

Originally Posted by Mark17

And the Indians were named after Sockalexis. Why can a team be named after some people and no offense is taken (Brown, Lajoie) but not others?

It seems like for every tradition in this country, there is somebody intent on tearing it down.

Cancel culture.


I am taking offense at these guys playing baseball!!

[Mark17]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

Yep. Like this one.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/23/us/kk...tol/index.html

That would be an excellent analogy........ if Sockalexis had founded a hate group.

[vintagetoppsguy]

Originally Posted by nolemmings

Yep. Like this one.
https://www.cnn.com/2021/07/23/us/kk...tol/index.html

Which is worse? To memorialize a KKK member with a bust or parade with them?

[nolemmings]

Originally Posted by Mark17

That would be an excellent analogy........ if Sockalexis had founded a hate group.

I see. You get to decide what is tradition and what is offensive. Damn shame the Cleveland ownership didn't consult with you before deciding to change names.

As was discussed back late last year, this so-called cancel culture has been going on for half a century now when it comes to teams changing their nicknames. So you can piss and moan all you want, it's not going away.

[MK]

Originally Posted by Mark17

And the Indians were named after Sockalexis. Why can a team be named after some people and no offense is taken (Brown, Lajoie) but not others?

It seems like for every tradition in this country, there is somebody intent on tearing it down.

You just nailed the real motive behind this entire cancel culture.

[Mike D.]

As someone who’s team is named after laundry, and not even fancy top layer laundry, I find this hard to get up in arms about.