Go, Squirrels!

Well, so much for that. Richmond's new ball team will officially be known not as the Generals, the Ravens, or any of the other spiffy monikers suggested by area residents. They are now the Flying Squirrels.

That name might not strike anyone outside the franchise as ideal, but -- as we noted yesterday -- on the bright side, they could have done a lot worse.

Say this much for the ball club: The team isn't even close to taking the field, but already it has provided the Richmond community with a great deal of entertainment. Even those who haven't passed through the gates of The Diamond in years joined in the sometimes heated discussion about what to call the team. Fans and non-fans alike razzed the umpires who, many felt, blew an obvious call: "Rock Hoppers? Hush Puppies? Whaddaya, blind?" A good time was had by all, and no real harm was done.

And isn't that, after all, the purpose of sports? To provide a diversion from the often grievous cares that weigh upon the heart? To give a community something everyone can care about, argue over, get wrapped up in -- without becoming so morally self-righteous that the winners and the losers can't shake hands and share a laugh afterward? Politics, said Henry Adams, is the systematic organization of hatreds. The world of sports has led to some colossal rivalries through the years. It has never once led to ethnic cleansing.

From that perspective, the new name is just about perfect. It is easy to have a good time cheering on the Flying Squirrels. It is hard to take yourself too seriously while you do so.

The past couple of years have been filled with grim developments and glum warnings of more bad news to come. The departure of the R-Braves for the Elysian Fields of Gwinnett, Ga., added yet another sour note. We're glad to have a ball club back in town, whatever it's called. Given the way the franchise has generated excitement and buzz already, we expect it will continue bringing a much-needed dose of fun to River City.

To do that, of course, the team is going to have to keep in mind an old saying: Yesterday's home run doesn't count in tomorrow's ball game.