Paul Volponi

Word Play

New York Knicks (1946-present)

The National Basketball Association’s Knicks, or Knickerbockers, received their nickname from the term used to refer to early Dutch settlers of the 1600’s in New York. “Knickers” were a style of knee-length trousers worn by men and boys during this era. The writer Washington Irving even used Knickerbocker as a penname for his 1809 book, A History of New York. Then, in the late 19^th century, a newspaper cartoon featured a character called Father Knickerbocker who became an early symbol of New York City, dressed in a cotton wig, three-cornered hat, buckled shoes, and of course, knickers. When the New York Knicks were born, they adopted the character of Father Knickerbocker as their first logo, with him pictured dribbling a basketball. The team’s name was a fitting choice considering that basketball players participate in shorts.

New York Yankees (1913-present)

During the American Revolutionary War (1775-1783), “Yankee” was a derogatory term used by the British toward natives of the American colonies. British redcoats even began singing a marching tune, Yankee Doodle Dandy, to mock the American forces that fought in their work clothes, instead of military uniforms. But with each victory over their British counterparts, the colonialists began to adopt “Yankee” as a source of pride. A century later, Southerners (Confederates) used the same term to refer to Northerners, or those in the Union, during the American Civil War (1861-1865).

Yankee also refers to those living in New England, which consists of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont. Author Mark Twain penned a book called A Connecticut Yankee in King Arthur’s Court, about a man transported back in time. The main character uses modern technology to fool the people of the Early Middle Ages into believing he is a great magician. Twain himself practiced a little bit of deception over his own name. Mark Twain is actually a pen-name meaning deep water. The author’s real name is Samuel Clemens.

Despite fielding some of the greatest baseball players of all-time, including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Mickey Mantle and Derek Jeter, the Yankees are the only professional sports franchise which does not have their players’ names arched across the back of their uniforms. That’s because the nickname across the front—Yankees—is supposed to be more important, blending individual players into a team unit.

Interesting Dilemma: If New Englanders are actually Yankees—and the city of Boston, Massachusetts is part of New England—how can fans of the Boston Red Sox despise their bitter rivals the New York Yankees so much? Aren’t they really despising themselves?