While I’m on the subject of sports teams logos… here’s a little rant I’ve had stored up in my heart for years. J.R. mentioned in the comments of the last post that he thought some NFL teams logos seemed like they belonged in the Arena League. Ouch. If there’s a sports league with a worse reputation for logos than the Arena League I don’t know of it. One common practice among sports logo designers that just plain drives me nuts, and is very “Arena League-esque,” is featuring sports EQUIPMENT in the logo! It’s as if you’re reminding your fans what sport they’re supporting. I hate the practice, and think it just plain lacks creativity and at it’s worst seems patronizing.
That’s why I think the NFL has far and away the best sports logos of any league. That and NFL logos know that “less is more.” Of the 32 NFL teams only three feature football equipment in the logo – The Dolphins logo has a helmet, and the Jets and Bucs both feature a football. For logos featuring sports equipment they’re pretty subtle. Trust me it could be worse. The NHL has been getting better over the years, slowly working these kinds of logos out of the mix and of 30 NHL teams only 6 feature sports equipment. The Thrashers, Sharks and Capitals all feature a hockey stick, the Avalanche logo includes a hockey puck, not to be outdone the Islanders have a stick and a puck and the Penguins take the cake with a stick, skates and gloves!
And then there are the BIG offenders. Major League Baseball and the NBA.
Just over half (16) of MLB’s teams feature baseball equipment in their logos. The NBA also has 30 teams, 21 of which feature sports equipment in their logo. In these leagues the graphic designer’s plan of action seems to be this – identify ball used in sport… basketball, check. Type team name over basketball, check. Pick font. Bill team.
I want to know whose logo came first, the Clippers of the Lakers? ‘Cuz they were either both pounded out in 5 minutes by the same dude or somebody owes somebody else an apology and perhaps some money.
Ha ha ha, for REAL!!! What terrible logos, and team names for that matter!
How about offensive ones? The Seminoles were attacked a few years ago about having their trademark Seminole mascot throw a flaming spear into midfield at the beginning of each season. I can’t imagine having a tribe’s name donned as a team name can be more offensive than some professional teams themselves.
The Washington Redskins are, in and of themselves, a derogatory term for American Indians. And their logo is just over-the-top, in-your-face ignornace. The Cleveland Indians have a more sensitive name, which is refreshing until you take a gander at their cartoonishly smiling logo of a Native American painted red.
I’m normally arguing that we’re all just too touchy, but this blatant misrepresentation and the general acceptance among Americans is absolutely beyond me.
But at least neither Washington nor Cleveland has equipment in its logo. That would be the baseball bat that breaks the camel’s back.
Yes Mike, thanks for getting all ethical on me.
Wow. That was quite a hilarious rant to keep pent up for all this time. Maybe that’s what you’ve been trying to articulate through your snores.
But when you linked to that crouching patriot with a football, I guffawed aloud. I do not remember that horrible logo, nor should a girl have to. The dude looks both deranged and gnarled. Uncool, Patriots, uncool.
Loved the rant. However, in defense of the logo designers (since I am one, however not for sports), they very well may not have had a choice. There’s a very good chance that the client (i.e. the team) was rather determined to have that element in the logo. With that being said, you’re absolutely right. Why do we need to remind fans what sport we’re watching?