Cities Are No Longer Worth the Sentiment

All right, enough already. I am a longtime sports fan. I also am saddened by the departure of the Browns from Cleveland. But let’s stop being sentimental about all of these teams and traditions, etc. This is the era of megamarketing and big, big dollars, and nobody cares if you used to go to games and sit on daddy’s lap when you were 4 and watch Johnny U.

The solution is simple. Let’s just stop associating team with cities. Let’s make it like auto racing, with the teams known by their sponsors: Ed DeBartolo’s 3Com 49ers vs. Jerry Jones’ Nike/Pepsi Cowboys. It would take some getting used to, but then again, I still have trouble saying Arizona Cardinals.

CHARLES SMITH JR.

Santa Barbara