Let me name the Zephyrs

For the first time in a decade, people were talking about the New Orleans Zephyrs last week, though it wasn’t because of anything that the team had done on the field.

Instead, the buzz was because of an online campaign that’s been started to rename the local minor league farm club, which has called Louisiana home since 1993.

The release said the team wanted a name that was more “New Orleans” than Zephyr, and that fans would be able to submit suggestions online.

The team has had its name for more than 30 years – dating back to 1985 when the farm club belonged to the Cincinnati Reds. At that time, the then-Denver Bears were renamed the Denver Zephyrs.

Eight seasons later, the club moved to New Orleans and kept its name, mostly because of the old wooden roller coaster (named the Zephyr), which used to be a main attraction at Pontchartrain Beach.

But now, the team wants to switch it up even more, and I’m here to help.

After all, I’ve been a Biddy Basketball coach for five seasons. I’ve named upwards of a dozen teams in my day.

Here’s my five suggestions, but I am open to tweaks or other plans.

Send me your list at casey@rushing-media.com.

Let’s talk.

Suggestion 1: New Orleans Gators

OK, I know it’s cliche. But the Gator is to Louisiana what the orange is to Florida. The big, lazy reptile has to make the list, simply because of how synonymous it is to people’s image of the state. Likewise, a green and white color scheme with red trim isn’t half bad, either, and could be appealing to fans. And if we’re digging REALLY deep into this, let’s think about the gameday experience and how popular a giant alligator mascot would be clumsily walking around the Shrine on Airline to mingle with kids. Gator isn’t my preference, but it’s an obvious contender just because of what it represents in Louisiana culture.

Suggestion 2: New Orleans Creole

Now, things are heating up – literally. You can’t talk about Louisiana traditions for very long before someone mentions the state’s amazing food. And a huge influence in that culture are the state’s people – the Creole French settlers who have lived in the state for countless generations, and have made this place unique. Creole is a contender, because it’s abstract, which means that the logo and/or mascot

could literally be anything. It’s also unique, which works in minor league baseball – the land where awful team names like the Rubber Ducks, the Chihuahuas and the Sand Gnats roam.

Suggestion 3: New Orleans Mudbugs

What’s more Louisiana than delicious, savory freshwater mudbugs? The answer is nothing. And that’s exactly why the mudbug is a real contender to take home this title. We go with mudbug over ‘crawfish’ or ‘crawdad’ because it just is catchier and rolls off the tongue with ease. It also sounds fiercer and is more apt to be the title of a professional sports franchise. I envision the color scheme being red, grey and maybe some blue trim mixed in there. I see a crawfish with a Fleur-de-lis logo as a possible alternative logo, as well. I don’t mean to play favorites here, but I think the New Orleans Mudbugs is my favorite of the crop. It just might have my vote to win the title.

Suggestion 4: New Orleans Krewe

There has to be at least one suggestion that plays off of Mardi Gras, right? To me, the Krewe is the best of the Mardi Gras-related options, because the name lends to so many different possibilities. For starters, how cool would it be if the field would be named the Neutral Grounds? Or how about if the mascot would parade around the field and throw beads every game? Or heck, if they want to really get crazy, the mascot can even be a Mardi Gras bead. It’s an oddball, sure. But who knows? It just might stick to the wall if we throw it hard enough.

Let me name the Zephyrs