[simple simon]

SAN DIEGO -- Las Vegas Mayor Oscar Goodman continues to roll the dice trying to lure the San Diego Chargers to his gambling and entertainment mecca.

Although the Chargers haven't responded -- yet -- to overtures from cities outside San Diego County, the team's top negotiator said Goodman called earlier this week to say he's still interested in having the team move to his city.


It was the second time in less than nine months that Goodman contacted Southern California's only NFL team, which says it needs a new stadium to remain financially competitive within the league.


Goodman's renewed interest comes at a time when the Chargers are a good bet in any Las Vegas sports book to win their first Super Bowl title.


Mark Fabiani, who's heading the Chargers' stadium effort, said he returned Goodman's call on Friday, telling the mayor that the team will continue to look for a site within San Diego County, "for the time being."


http://cbs.sportsline.com/nfl/story/9910506/rss

[simple simon]

i wouldnt mind seeing Vegas get a team......but i dont want it to be the Chargers

San Diego without the Chargers would just seem wrong

[Volphins]

If they can win the Super Bowl this year, they just might get that new stadium & I agree Simon, San Diego without the Chargers would seem wrong & I don't like teams moving unless they really have to.

[Nuke]

Originally Posted by simple simon

San Diego without the Chargers would just seem wrong

I'm with Simon on this. If there is one thing I detest in pro-sports it's team relocation just for a newer stadium. I know there is probably more to it than that but the Chargers are in San Diego and there they should stay because they have a great fan base and a great team so why mess it up? Here in NYC I see so many Tomlinson jerseys. The Chargers are becoming a national team if they aren't already!

[Lefty Noob]

Why would it seem wrong to have the Chargers relocate away from San Diego?

Don't forget the team did start out as the Los Angeles Chargers. It's not like Cleveland without the Browns or Dallas without the Cowboys.

[San Diego Chargers News]

Funny stuff here about a possible name change for the franchise, should they move to Vegas.

San Diego Chargers Move to Vegas; Change Name to Bionic Thunder Donkeys
Vegas Pop, NV - Jan 6, 2007
So let's say the Chargers can't find a site in San Diego County for their new stadium and they did move to Vegas. What would the team's name be? I hate it when a team moves and keeps the same name -- hello, Arizona Cardinals. Vegas Chargers fits in with the power generation of Hoover Dam and neon power consumption on The Strip, but the name doesn't really fit in with the "cash is king" mentality of Vegas, and besides, it is someone else's name.

One of the problems with naming a Vegas team is that Nevada doesn't have very threatening state animals that would be appropriate for a menacing team name:
- Vegas Mountain Bluebirds (state bird)
- Vegas Desert Bighorn Sheep (state animal)
- Vegas Desert Tortoises (state reptile)
- Vegas Lahontan Cuttthroat Trouts (state fish)
- Vegas Tule Ducks (state artifact)

Not much help if we looked to Nevada history for the team's moniker:
- Vegas Settlers (Mormon settlers)
- Vegas Battlers ("Born to Battle" slogan)
- Vegas Snowcaps (Spanish Nevada translation)
- Vegas Silver Strikers (mining history)

An obvious and wealthy source of names can be found in the gaming industry. There are a couple of poker-related teams found other sports like the Royals (MLB) or the Kings (NBA), but that still leaves hundreds of names:
- Vegas Black Jacks
- Vegas Aces
- Vegas Jackpots
- Vegas Rouletters
- Vegas Gamblers
- Vegas Full Boats

Although MGM Mirage or Harrahs could take a fraction of the billions in revenue, buy and move a team here and go the way of the Anaheim Ducks with the Vegas Pharaohs, Vegas Knights, Vegas Maximus, Vegas Flamingos -- the list is endless with the themed resorts.

We could pay homage to the Mayor himself and go with the Vegas Sapphires in honor of one of his favorite spirits. We could pay tribute to Siegfried and Roy and go with the Vegas White Tigers.

If we do get a team, maybe there will be a naming contest. If so, I'm going to submit the name I use for my fantasy football team, Bionic Thunder Donkeys. We do have wild burros around and donkey is a poker term, although unflattering. However adding both bionic and thunder, should conjure the fear suitable for a team name.

Sat, 06 Jan 2007 09:22:00 GMT

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[Nuke]

Originally Posted by Lefty Noob

Why would it seem wrong to have the Chargers relocate away from San Diego?

Don't forget the team did start out as the Los Angeles Chargers. It's not like Cleveland without the Browns or Dallas without the Cowboys.

Because there is too much relocation as it is and in my view it shows greed and everything that is wrong with sports. It's nothing more than team free agency with a team bouncing from city to city when their stadium gets old. It destroys fan bases and frankly is tacky, annoying and confusing to keep up with. What happens when the Chargers want a new stadium in Vegas 30 years down the road? Do they become the San Antonio Chargers? Hey if Vegas wants an NFL team more power to 'em but it has to be an expansion team not stealing some other cities franchise.

[MTCharger]

No way will their ever be NFL football in vegas.....betting on football will never come off the sportsbooks...

The Chargers belong in S.D. and they should go back to the Baby Blue Uniforms as Chris Berman says: The greatest uniform in sports....