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The Richmond what? See what baseball fans think of the proposed team names.
Does Richmond have a hankering for Hush Puppies?
That was the winner of CNBC's push Wednesday for a wild-card entry in the Richmond baseball name-theteam contest.
Hush Puppies joins Flatheads, Flying Squirrels, Hambones, Rhinos and Rock Hoppers, names previously submitted by the public and chosen as finalists by the Double-A team's management. Hush Puppies was chosen from more than 9,000 votes during a 12-hour period.
"It goes to show the passion that people have. A name is not just a name," said Darren Rovell, CNBC's sports business reporter and vote conductor. "People really care."
Voting for finalists closes Sunday. The Eastern League franchise's name, picked by club operators after weighing public opinion, will be announced Thursday.
Last month, regional and team officials announced that the Double-A Connecticut Defenders are relocating to Richmond and will begin playing at The Diamond in the spring.
The suggestion of Hush Puppies as the name for the new Richmond team was submitted by Jeff Dunn and selected by Rovell. Dunn's hometown was not immediately available from CNBC.
Hush puppies are fried balls of cornmeal dough, and Hush Puppies are a brand of shoe. Factored into the process of winner selection will be an investigation by Minor League Baseball of trademark issues.
Chuck Domino, the chief executive manager of the Richmond franchise, said Hush Puppies "has a shot. . . . Sounds pretty good, I think, and it has some appeal from a merchandising standpoint with the kids, as well."
Rovell conceded that Hush Puppies has no specific connection to Richmond.
"That's clearly the risk I'm taking," he said. "But you've got the Southern heritage. It's definitely kid-friendly. Great mascot possibilities. And then you've got the concession tie-in. If this does become the name, they better have some good hush puppies, I'll tell you that. They better hire the guy who makes the best hush puppies in America."
Rovell said he gave serious consideration to Hellbenders, Grits, Stink Pots, Battle Ants, Cicadas, River Raptors, Tree Frogs, Blood Suckers and Dirt Balls.
Rovell estimated that more than 60 percent of the sixth-name entries were sent from the Richmond area. That response, he said, may reflect dissatisfaction with the five other finalists, which were chosen from among more than 6,000 entries.
Contact John O'Connor at (804) 649-6233 or joconnor@timesdispatch.com.
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