Analysis of Names

Sociologically, it can be argued that most sports teams have names that are like primitive "totems", involving a psychological identification with certain characteristics of the type of entity referenced by its name.

For example, a team named "Giants" would like to perceive its team-members as being larger and more powerful than their opponents (useful in, say, American football, or possibly British rugby). A team named "Wolverines" might prize fearlessness and viciousness (possibly useful in ice hockey).

Many teams are named after various predatory animals, and while it is often true that they are powerful animals, folks seem to ignore the fact that in the wild, the prey- animals killed by those predators tend to be youngsters and oldsters. Among humans it is not generally acceptable to prey on the weak (and so, as just mentioned, the victims get ignored when talking about totem-animals for sports teams). Well, what of other predators, such as "Piranhas" or "Cobras" or "Squids" or "Hyenas"? Some of them might already be in use --I haven't thoroughly checked.

Meanwhile, what of teams having such names as "Pirates" or "Buccaneers" or "Raiders" or "Bandits" or "Reavers"? Those names describe entities that are noted for bad behavior --humans preying on humans! If such names are "trendy", then what about adding to the list? "Assassins", "Slashers", "Rippers", "Ninjas", and even "Terrorists"?

Finally, some animals are not generally considered to be predators, and yet still are very powerful animals, suitable as totems for sports teams. Some of the following might be in use, but I doubt all of them are: "Elephants", "Hippos", "Rhinos", "Gorillas". I can't resist linking the video about the baby elephant and the 14 lions (OK, lionesses).