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Stacker Sports- Day 86- The Flying Cloud

813 sats \ 18 comments \ @grayruby 29 Feb Stacker_Sports

The Flying Cloud

What's in a name?

I was watching a bit of the Lakers vs Clippers game last night. It's always a heated rivalry between the two LA based teams that currently share an arena. The Clippers have always taken a back seat to arguably the NBA's most famous franchise, but that's part of the reason their fan base loves them.

Staring next season the Clippers will begin charting their own path, moving into a brand new arena. As part of the move the team is undergoing a rebrand and logo change. Ditching the current style for a more traditional look and leaning into the "Clipper" theme. Apparently the team considered a name change as well but fans voted overwhelmingly to keep the Clippers name.

Here is their new logo and jersey designs:

https://m.stacker.news/18130 https://m.stacker.news/18131

I really like the new jerseys and I am a fan of the style of the new logo but I think they missed the mark on the ship and compass elements. Could have been better but I do appreciate them trying to connect the imagery around the team with the name.

I had long thought Clippers was a pretty dumb name for a sports team but after some research I have changed my position. Clippers were incredibly fast and useful sailing ships in the 1800s and the team originated in San Diego which was and still is a popular port city. I think the fans made the right call to keep the team name.

In my research I discovered one of the most famous American Clipper ships of the 1800s was called the Flying Cloud. Since the Clippers are leaning into their Clipper history starting next season, it would be fitting if one of the players adopted the nickname, the Flying Cloud.

Sats for all, GR

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121 sats \ 2 replies \ @gnilma 1 Mar

Thanks for doing your research and sharing this info. I knew a clipper was a fast boat, because the Chinese translation for LA Clippers is 快艇 which literally means "fast boat". I did not know that it was a sail boat though.

New logo looks pretty cool. The jerseys look like they just got the font changed, subtle change versus the current jersey which I think looks fine. Personally, no particular preference between the old and new jersey.

I'm not sure about a player bearing the nickname Flying Cloud, because players get traded all the time and it don't seem to sit right to be able to take the nickname away from a player when they get traded. Maybe use that for a mascot or something team specific that will continue to stay with the Clippers no matter what.

21 sats \ 1 reply \ @grayruby OP 1 Mar

That's cool that the name translates directly to fast boat. There were also Chinese clippers at the time as well called tea clippers. I wonder what the Chinese called them though. If it was the direct translation fast boat or they had another name for them.

50 sats \ 0 replies \ @gnilma 1 Mar

So I did a quick search on tea clipper, and this site came up. Its seems they were just clippers but were used to carry tea from China and India to UK and America.

I don't know if the Chinese have a specific term for tea clippers but they probably refer to them as fast sail boats or something like that.

100 sats \ 2 replies \ @WeAreAllSatoshi 29 Feb

I always wondered what Clippers represented but never took the time to look it up. TIL, thank you!

0 sats \ 1 reply \ @grayruby OP 29 Feb

All those years you thought they were named after a hair cutting tool. Haha

50 sats \ 0 replies \ @WeAreAllSatoshi 29 Feb

I did... lmao

50 sats \ 11 replies \ @Undisciplined 29 Feb

I'm trying to think about how someone could earn the nickname "The Flying Cloud" and nothing flattering is coming to mind.

77 sats \ 9 replies \ @grayruby OP 29 Feb

What do you think of the new look?

50 sats \ 8 replies \ @Undisciplined 29 Feb

The jerseys don't look very different to me from their current jerseys (or at least jerseys they've used). I think they're better than most of the monstrosities out there.

77 sats \ 7 replies \ @grayruby OP 29 Feb

Yes, they are nice. They do look similar to current main jerseys but I think the lettering is more stylized and maybe similar to older clippers jerseys.

50 sats \ 6 replies \ @Undisciplined 29 Feb

You're right. It's a blend of the two eras. I'd say an improvement on each.

77 sats \ 5 replies \ @grayruby OP 29 Feb

But still not down for the flying cloud nickname? haha

50 sats \ 4 replies \ @Undisciplined 29 Feb

It's fine if it fits. It would have to be an athletic, but not explosive, white guy with great touch, probably tall too.

Really, it sounds more like a signature shot to me than a nickname.

77 sats \ 3 replies \ @grayruby OP 29 Feb

Haha Mason the flying cloud Plumlee is really the only option on the current Clippers roster. Maybe they will draft for this role.

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77 sats \ 0 replies \ @grayruby OP 29 Feb freebie

It seems like an old school nickname a guy would have in the 70s or 80s. Guy floats through the air like a flying cloud. So since they are going back to their San Diego Clippers roots, why not?