Team Names Not Allowed

fastone371 said:
That list is unbelievably long, I didnt read all of them but many are not bad at all. It is pretty typical of the squeaky wheel syndrome though, whine loud enough and you will get your way. I feel if someone is offended by something I say its their problem, not mine, being offended is a choice.
Click to expand...
It is 100% about media, image, and protecting the brand (think Cleveland Indians). It is 0% about some adult in a bar being offended. A single off-color name can cost you customers and sponsors, so the rules are a bit strict. Stricter at the national level than at the local level, because that's where big sponsors come from. APA allows each individual LO to be as loose or as strict as they want. I've ratcheted it down in my area quite a bit in the rise of social media, but it started when the newspapers would no longer publish my standings (yes, we used to get the standings published weekly) because of some of the team names. Another big concern is how the team name sounds when read aloud, not whether one "gets it" when reading the name somewhere. It has become a game of seeing what you can get away with, without consideration for what "getting away with" it just once might cost the organization.

The list is long and grows every year, and not every rejected name is on the list. It can't possibly be all-inclusive, a point that confuses teams every year ("it's not on the list, so it should be ok, right?").
 
APA Operator said:
It is 100% about media, image, and protecting the brand (think Cleveland Indians). It is 0% about some adult in a bar being offended. A single off-color name can cost you customers and sponsors, so the rules are a bit strict. Stricter at the national level than at the local level, because that's where big sponsors come from. APA allows each individual LO to be as loose or as strict as they want. I've ratcheted it down in my area quite a bit in the rise of social media, but it started when the newspapers would no longer publish my standings (yes, we used to get the standings published weekly) because of some of the team names. Another big concern is how the team name sounds when read aloud, not whether one "gets it" when reading the name somewhere. It has become a game of seeing what you can get away with, without consideration for what "getting away with" it just once might cost the organization.

The list is long and grows every year, and not every rejected name is on the list. It can't possibly be all-inclusive, a point that confuses teams every year ("it's not on the list, so it should be ok, right?").
Click to expand...
Cool for a "big sponsor" like pooldawg to send marketing emails with the F-bomb but, should you insinuate the word for a pool team, you're out!
 
This is pure BS. I can understand the "raw" stuff, but some of it is merely silly, although killing clever, innuendo. C'mon y'all, we have jumped all the fences -- "XXXX" (oops, forgot where I was, I really meant "fcku") is heard daily on the news, and I am truly surprised we don't have 3 year olds talking about going and grabbing handfuls of pussy. I can be as civil and appropriate as the occasion requires, and even enjoy myself, but I ain't gonna put on my party manners to hang around drunks with pool cues . . .
 
Last edited:
APA Operator said:
It is 100% about media, image, and protecting the brand (think Cleveland Indians). It is 0% about some adult in a bar being offended. A single off-color name can cost you customers and sponsors, so the rules are a bit strict. Stricter at the national level than at the local level, because that's where big sponsors come from. APA allows each individual LO to be as loose or as strict as they want. I've ratcheted it down in my area quite a bit in the rise of social media, but it started when the newspapers would no longer publish my standings (yes, we used to get the standings published weekly) because of some of the team names. Another big concern is how the team name sounds when read aloud, not whether one "gets it" when reading the name somewhere. It has become a game of seeing what you can get away with, without consideration for what "getting away with" it just once might cost the organization.

The list is long and grows every year, and not every rejected name is on the list. It can't possibly be all-inclusive, a point that confuses teams every year ("it's not on the list, so it should be ok, right?").
Click to expand...
You don't suppose that there are true Indians that were honored to have sport teams like the Indians and Redskins named after them, do you? The folks who I have spoke with that were of American Native descent thought it was silly that sports teams changed their names so as not to offend anyone. I am willing to bet that no "Americans" gave it a second thought when they were busy taking their land and lives. I suppose pretty soon the Bears, Lions, Seahawks, Panthers, Bucks, etc. will have to go too, heaven forbid should we offend some animals.
 
You can call yourself whatever you want, as far as I'm concerned. But I've seen quite a few APA matches on "Billiards TV", so it's not just drunks in pool halls who see these names.
 
Jimmy_Betmore said:
Oh, I'm not saying it some of them aren't ridiculous. But that's coming from someone who isn't really "offended" by anything that isn't an insult aimed squarely at me. Even then, if it's from someone I don't know or care about then it's doesn't mean anything to me. But everybody is different. And if not being able to name my league team whatever I want is the worst thing that happens to me on any given day, it's been a good day.

As far as the old ones being sexually suggestive, it's still about liability, brand image, and trying not to offending anyone. I mean, 99% of these leagues are played in bars. So it's not like anyone should be worried about kids seeing them. It's so grown adults hanging out in bars aren't offended (oh, the irony...) and that getting put out in the media and tarnishing the brand.
Click to expand...
Many people in positions of authority get felt up by the dumbest shit. They're just unimaginative and bored. Want everyone to be as miserable as they are.
 
couldnthinkof01 said:
Cool for a "big sponsor" like pooldawg to send marketing emails with the F-bomb but, should you insinuate the word for a pool team, you're out!
Click to expand...
That's going the other direction. APA apparently is tolerant but other potential sponsors may not be (and who knows how many they've lost in the past because of team names), so yes, it does make perfect sense.
 
APA Operator said:
That's going the other direction. APA apparently is tolerant but other potential sponsors may not be (and who knows how many they've lost in the past because of team names), so yes, it does make perfect sense.
Click to expand...
I'm glad I got away from league a long time ago.

Seeing a few of my old team names on that list makes me laugh. Never been asked to change a name before, during, or after the tournament.

Some were banned many years after the fact, it looks like.

It's amateur pool, it's a bit of fun. Alas, I understand.
 
fastone371 said:
You don't suppose that there are true Indians that were honored to have sport teams like the Indians and Redskins named after them, do you? ,,,
Click to expand...
I'm not so sure about "Redskins", but there is this example:

1754250358372.png
 
fastone371 said:
You don't suppose that there are true Indians that were honored to have sport teams like the Indians and Redskins named after them, do you? The folks who I have spoke with that were of American Native descent thought it was silly that sports teams changed their names so as not to offend anyone. I am willing to bet that no "Americans" gave it a second thought when they were busy taking their land and lives. I suppose pretty soon the Bears, Lions, Seahawks, Panthers, Bucks, etc. will have to go too, heaven forbid should we offend some animals.
Click to expand...

I don't know if it is true, but I have seen it floating around that when the Redskins changed their name/logo, an Indian tribe was upset because the logo was based on a real person and they though it represented the strength and fighting spirit of the people well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top