Further Proof that the US is the Greatest Country in the World
>> Monday
Because of all the problems that are pressing and that state and federal government bodies COULD deal with, this is one deserves attention over things like wars and the economy and healthcare and all that. Capitol Weekly reports that U.S. Senator Dianne Feinstein (D-CA) will be introducing legislation later this month that would require the 49ers to get permission from the city of San Francisco to retain their name if they moved to Santa Clara.
Only one problem. The NFL owns the trademark, which means the 49ers can move wherever the hell they want, change their colors to pink and neon green and don't have to ask permission from an agency that doesn't even own the trademark anyway.
For the geographically challenged, Santa Clara is only about 40 miles from Candlestick Point, less distance than Great America is from the Chicago Loop.
Now, I can understand introducing legislation to ensure that economic development stays in the area (of course, a new stadium to replace Candlestick/3Com/Monster Park, which opened during the Eisenhower Administration would help too). However, here, Feinstein's crusade seems to be just about the name.
My favorite quote in this story is
"If the Niners were to relocate, and Senator Feinstein's bill passed, the
cost of the move could be the team's name and logo. In a speech before the
Senate Judiciary Committee on November 14, Senator Feinstein said, "The 49er is
the tradition of the city. San Francisco is the city of the Gold Rush. … You
can't move to Santa Clara and call yourself a 49er--you're not. And you
certainly can't call yourself the San Francisco 49ers--you're not."
I don't know what I enjoy about it most, that the 49ers headquarters and practice facility are already in Santa Clara, that this speech took place in the Senate Judiciary Committee, which I'm pretty sure would have absolutely no jurisdiction on this matter, or that when asked by YCS for remarks on Senator Feinstein's bill, the Irving Cowboys, East Rutherford Giants, Landover Redskins, East Rutherford Jets, and Orchard Park Bills had no comment.
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5 comments:
Wasn't the gold rush kind of a state-wide phenomenon? I don't know history, but I'm pretty sure it wasn't entirely and exclusively a San Francisco thing.
Chicago Bears football presented by Bank One was, however, happy to comment.
Shows what you know. It's Chicago Bears Football presented by Chase ever since Chase bought Bank One.
Also, upon cursory research, yes, you're right. The gold fields were in Northeastern and Eastern California, but with your only options in those days being to sail to Rice-a-Roni-land or to cross the mountains and snack on the leftovers of the Donner Party, most opted for the San Francisco Treat, and so the town grew.
But yes, there is no actual gold mine in San Francisco...unless you make a living selling Cher albums. (rimshot)
That was the most ridiculous comment ever. But I appreciate the cursory research.
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