Ottawa's Can-Am league baseball team has a name and a manager. Can-AM League commissioner Miles Wolff held a news conference today to announce the team would be known as the Ottawa Rapids. Hmmmm. Do I call them Raps or 'Pids? If Stu becomes their mascot, the name 'Pid becomes extra attractive.I guess I was hoping for something that made you at least, you know, react. I'm not trying to disrespect rapids. They're powerful and... um, watery. But rapids are a long way from mother nature's most inspiring work. I'd put Rapids right in there with the Ottawa Trees. The Ottawa Snow Drifts. Or the Ottawa Windchill.
You want to be named after people of leadership or toughness. Or something patriotic. Or an angry animal with big teeth that's out to getcha. Rapids? It isn't bad, it's just bland.
Ah, there's so many ways to say "Welcome to Ottawa," isn't there?
Anyway, Rapids is a better name than Expos and I eventually grew to love that. I'll get used to this too. At least it isn't a singlular name. Our short-lived lacrosse team, the Ottawa Rebel, sounded like it was a roster of one player.
The Rapids' first manager is anything but bland. Ed Nottle will be the team's skipper. Nottle most recently managed the Sioux City Explorers of the American Associaton of Independent Baseball. His best gig came in the mid-80's, managing the Pawtucket Red Sox, Boston's top farm club. Known as singin' Ed, Nottle gave the media a sampling of his pipes at Thursday's news conference. On a team that will have to fight tooth and nail for credibility in this town, I'm not sure breaking into song was a strong play at the first newser in club history.
It would have been great to see former Lynx manager Tim Leiper take the reigns, as many had hoped. But it wouldn't be great for him. The Can-Am League is good baseball but a stepping stone to nothing. Leiper is prepping for his third season as manager of the Altoona Curve, the Pittsburgh Pirates' double A affiliate. At 41, I still think he'll get a big league shot someday.
In any event, this is all secondary stuff. These guys appear to have have ensured I'll get to enjoy a beer and a dog in a terrific baseball park again this summer. For that, they have my thanks. After the Lynx were put down, hopefully we don't have to "shoot the Rapids" anytime soon.
