January 3rd, 2020: 15 Year Anniversary.....

[W.E. Baxter Author]

Fifteen Years ago Today (January 3, 2005), The Anaheim Angels changed their name to the "Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim" in attempt to market to all of Southern California, and not just Orange County. Following that event, three things occurred:

1) Massive Protests from Anaheim/Orange County Community:

Anaheim followed up with a lawsuit against The Angels. The trial took place a year later in which the city tried to build their case on a "Violation of Good Faith and Fair Business Dealings" which does not (and did not) hold up in court as Anaheim lost the case. Most of the cities in Orange County and the City of Los Angeles provided letters of support to the City of Anaheim, and Assemblyman (now Senator), Tom Umberg introduced the "Truth in Sports Advertising Bill." Angels Fans also protested until they heard that The Dodgers and their fans hated the name change, and then they changed their colors and a boycott never got off the ground.

2) Los Angeles Dodgers and their fans (and the City of Los Angeles) Protested:

The main argument was that The Angels did not play in the City or County of Los Angeles, whereas The Dodgers do. The City of Los Angeles frowned on the Angels using "Los Angeles" because they didn't pay taxes and support the City of Los Angeles like The Dodgers do. The Angels just wanted to capitalize on the name. The Dodgers responded with advertisement slogans like "This is L.A. Baseball" and "Think Blue." They came out with merchandise which reads "Los Angeles Dodgers of Los Angeles." There have been blogs and websites entitled: "True Blue L.A."

3) Dana Parsons (Los Angeles Times) Authored in a New Urban Legend.

Since the controversial name change, The Angels Organization and Team has experienced mishaps. In 2008, The Angels had the best record in Major League Baseball and ultimately and freakishly crashed and burned during the first round of the Post Season. Journalist, Dana Parsons felt that the freak collapse in the 2008 Play-offs and other Angels mishaps were more than just coincidence, and likened these to "The Curse of the Bambino (Red Sox)" and "The Curse of the Billy Goat (Cubs)." In late 2008, right after the heart breaking post-season, Dana Parson wrote his article entitled: "Angels Cursed by Moreno's Mistake" ushering in a new urban legend in Major League Baseball. However, Parsons never gave the urban legend an official name, and it hasn't caught on as much as The Bambino or The Billy Goat; but, since the article was published, The Angels have slipped back into mediocrity more and more. In the last few seasons, The Angels have finished 3rd and 4th Place in the American League West.

 

I followed these over the years and wrote three books.

[Blarg]

Possibly the biggest, who gives a shit?, anniversary of all time.

[Lou]

more importantly, it's Sergio Leone's 76th birthday. 

[Taylor]

1 hour ago, Lou said:

more importantly, it's Sergio Leone's 76th birthday. 

And Greta Thunburg!

I only know that because I looked up January 3 birthdays, and she was the only "celebrity" I recognized.

https://www.famousbirthdays.com/january3.html

[Taylor]

Oh wait, Eli Manning and Mel Gibson, too.

[Lou]

7 minutes ago, Taylor said:

Oh wait, Eli Manning and Mel Gibson, too.

sure, just forget Cicero.

[tdawg87]

Wendy!

[Slegnaac]

Everyone knows "The Curse" started on October 16, 2007.

[Angelsjunky]

19 hours ago, tdawg87 said:

Wendy!

Yes, Lisa?

[Angel Dog and Beer]

For some reason I don't remember these "massive" protests. 

[Lou]

1 minute ago, Angel Dog and Beer said:

For some reason I don't remember these "massive" protests. 

This makes Chad very sad 

[yk9001]

The "massive" protests were Chad on a street corner, and me making some t-shirts with an iron on consisting of an LA with a red circle and slash thru it.  The quality of said shirts was, let's be charitable, "questionable".

[yk9001]

On 1/3/2020 at 3:45 PM, W.E. Baxter Author said:

Los Angeles Dodgers and their fans (and the City of Los Angeles) Protested:

This is making stuff up.  No dodger fans protested.  They laughed at the stupid name.  That isn't protesting.

Edited January 6, 2020 by yk9001

[Lou]

2 minutes ago, yk9001 said:

The "massive" protests were Chad on a street corner, and me making some t-shirts with an iron on consisting of an LA with a red circle and slash thru it.  The quality of said shirts was, let's be charitable, "questionable".

Damn, I forgot about t-shirts! It's all coming together now.

[red321]

I remember those massive protests...took some great photos

 

[yk9001]

7 minutes ago, Lou said:

Damn, I forgot about t-shirts! It's all coming together now.

@calscuf bought one as I recall.  Which I thought was weird, he couldn't convert it into a white hood for his cross burnings.

[Taylor]

8 minutes ago, red321 said:

I remember those massive protests...took some great photos

 

[yk9001]

The name still invites ridicule everywhere.  

[Lou]

[Angel Oracle]

Meh, the "of Anaheim" was removed.   That's all that I care about.

Those same protestors do remember that the "Los Angeles" Rams played in Anaheim for 15 years?

Edited January 6, 2020 by Angel Oracle

[ten ocho recon scout]

On 1/6/2020 at 12:22 PM, Angel Oracle said:

Those same protestors do remember that the "Los Angeles" Rams played in Anaheim for 15 years?

Thats totally different!

[yk9001]

12 hours ago, ten ocho recon scout said:

Thats totally different!

Oh for fuck's sake, it is different.

The LA Rams moved from LA to Anaheim, and didn't change their name.

 

The Anaheim Angels had been in Anaheim for 40 years.  Won a World Series as the Anaheim Angels.  Then Arte, suffering from severe LA envy, changes the name without moving a goddamn inch.  Then has to keep it legal, and produces the tackiest name in US sports history.

[Lou]

5 minutes ago, yk9001 said:

The Anaheim Angels had been in Anaheim for 40 years. 

8 years 

[red321]

[cysomeawfulpitcher]

Always hated the “of Anaheim” at the end.