What's in a Name?

The NFL team in Washington, D.C. just officially changed their team name to the Commanders. It was observed on ESPN that there is a big problem with this. That's because people always shorten a team name.  Even the NY Giants, which is pretty darn short, gets shortened to "Jints."  The White Sox are called the Sox, the Red Sox are the Sawks.  The Yankees are the Yanks.  There's the Pack, the Vikes, the O's, the Phils, Nats Cards and Celts.  For that matter, Washington's own old name, which they were finally compelled to change, was the Redskins, but was generally shortened to as the 'Skins. What this means is that when fans and broadcasters and media shorten the new Commanders, perhaps the most obvious nickname for them to be called would be -- the Washington Commies.

Yes, I know. 

​This is not great planning.

And honestly, it's really not that hard to think that short ahead for something like this.  Hey, when I write a screenplay and come up with names for the main characters, I think about what  shortened nickname their friends might refer to them as.  If I can can figure out the concept, I am absolutely certain that the marketing department of a major franchise worth $4.2 BILLION could figure it out, too.

Furthermore, what I also realized is that if they find that unpalatable, which they will, because it is, that pretty much only leaves calling the team the "Commas."

I think it's a fair guess that when the ballclub plays badly (which they have been for a while now), fans and critics will indeed call them one of these two names.

As far as I can figure, there is only one remaining alternative, and that's the "Coms," which is incredibly weak. ("Go Coms!!" just doesn't have the rallying cry you want...)  Of course, spelling it "the Comms" is an alternative option.  Although it, too, is painfully inept, this could at least allow them do a marketing tie-in with Campbell Soup and say that the team is Mm-mm Good.

​This is not great planning.