After Cyclists Attack, the Name Is a Natural

You can rest easy now that the controversy involving the Los Angeles franchise of the new and hopefully improved Arena Football League has been settled.

In a memo obtained by Morning Briefing, it has been learned the local team’s name has officially been changed from the “Wings” to the “Attack.”

The change was ordered in a memo from Joseph O’Hara, president of the league, to prospective Los Angeles franchise owner James C.P. Hartman. The league took the action to avoid possible litigation with the Los Angeles Wings of the National Cycle League, which maintained it had exclusive rights to the nickname.

O’Hara actually gave the Los Angeles franchise until 5 p.m. on March 31 to provide three alternative nicknames before taking action himself.

“Since you did not respond on or above that deadline,” O’Hara writes to Hartman in the April 9 memo: “I have proceeded--as I told you I would do--to select a new name without your input.”

So by the powers invested in O’Hara, the Los Angeles team became “Attack.”

The league also informed the Los Angeles team that its home jersey color would be navy blue, with gold pants, helmet and trim.

Other than that, Los Angeles is on its own.

Trivia time: The Indianapolis Colts own the first two picks in the upcoming NFL draft. When was the last time one team had the top two selections?

Say what?In Athlon magazine’s annual baseball issue, writer Ken Shouler handicaps the active major leaguers he says have the best chance of making the baseball Hall of Fame.

Shouler writes that pitcher Nolan Ryan is a cinch despite his “rather high ERA of 3.15.”

Rather high? This would be news to pitchers already in the Hall with higher lifetime earned-run averages, including Bob Feller (3.25), Red Ruffing (3.80), Early Wynn (3.54), Ferguson Jenkins (3.34), Bob Lemon (3.23), Lefty Gomez (3.34), Waite Hoyt (3.59), Dazzy Vance (3.24), Robin Roberts (3.41) and Catfish Hunter (3.26).

Add Hall: Of active players, Shouler says Ryan, George Brett, Robin Yount and Ozzie Smith are sure bets for induction.

Shouler has no problem with Smith’s lifetime batting average of .258.

Sure, and I’m Lincoln: If baseball is as American as mom and apple pie, why did the Boston Red Sox kick Uncle Sam out of their home opener last Monday at Fenway Park? Leroy Lincoln Rounseville, a peculiar patriot who had his named legally changed to Uncle Sam, told the Quincy Patriot-Ledger he was ejected by a security guard because of a team policy that does not allow spectators to wear uniforms.

Sam, of course, was bedecked in the traditional red, white and blue outfit with matching stovepipe hat.

Sam claims he showed the guard his driver’s license and business card to prove he was Uncle Sam. Rounseville has been designated the official Uncle Sam of Massachusetts by the state Senate.

El Sid: Supporting an item that appeared earlier this week, reader Rob Wold writes to confirm the significant role Minneapolis Star Tribune columnist Sid Hartman played in creating the Lakers. Wold says that Hartman hired him as the Minneapolis Lakers’ public address announcer.

“There’s no question he was the driving force behind the investment by three people in what was to become the Lakers,” Wold writes. “I think it’s reasonable to say the Lakers were born in 1947 in a deal recorded on a paper place mat in a back booth of the 620 Club, presided over by sports reporter Sid Hartman.”

Trivia answer: In 1958, the Chicago Cardinals used the top two picks to draft Rice quarterback King Hill and running back John David Crow of Texas A&M.;

Quotebook: Fritz Massmann, retiring as a sports trainer after 38 years, the last 22 with the New Jersey Nets: “I have no regrets. I’ve had enough. I’m tired. I forget things.”