Ah, it was a fun story while it lasted. The Cleveland baseball team, deep in the process of transitioning its name from “Indians” to “Guardians,” ran into a speed bump when another professional sports team in Cleveland – specifically a roller derby team – was like, hey, guys, we are already the Guardians. Visions of a high-stakes battle on wheels danced in the mind, with players flipping players into the stands at Progressive Field, coaches using bases as weapons, and executives looking on from above and imagining Pay Per View scenarios for the whole spectacle.
Alas. It’s over: the teams jointly announced today that a settlement had been reached that would allow both teams to use the “Cleveland Guardians” name. No other terms were announced, but I reckon the derby squad got some seriously upgraded skates.
All I know is if the Cleveland Guardians baseball mascot, Slider, doesn’t start coming out onto the field in full derby gear on roller skates, they’ve missed a golden opportunity.