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Jellojigglin Star Player
Joined: 18 May 2001 Posts: 1548 Location: Venice, California
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Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 9:20 am Post subject: Lakers nickname comes from a Lake Freighter |
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So I'm a lifetime fan please send me proof the Lakers name is slang for a boat. I have lived my life understanding the name comes from the land of lakes. Do we need a new logo with a picture of a Lake freighter? _________________ "Bobbin' and weavin' and let the good get even" |
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LakersRGolden Star Player
Joined: 13 Jan 2002 Posts: 7922 Location: Lake Forest
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TooMuchMajicBuss Franchise Player
Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Posts: 21075 Location: In a white room, with black curtains near the station
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Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 9:46 am Post subject: |
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Who would have ever guessed Edmond Fitzgerald was a Laker? |
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Chronicle Retired Number
Joined: 21 Jul 2012 Posts: 31935 Location: Manhattan
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Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 9:51 am Post subject: |
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It was actually a lake freighter so big that it was a land and there were lakes in it _________________ Kobe |
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TooMuchMajicBuss Franchise Player
Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Posts: 21075 Location: In a white room, with black curtains near the station
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Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 10:00 am Post subject: |
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Chronicle wrote: | It was actually a lake freighter so big that it was a land and there were lakes in it |
Like... a thousand of them iirc. |
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P.K. Retired Number
Joined: 10 Jul 2003 Posts: 29713
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Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 12:59 pm Post subject: |
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TooMuchMajicBuss wrote: | Chronicle wrote: | It was actually a lake freighter so big that it was a land and there were lakes in it |
Like... a thousand of them iirc. |
more like 10,000 of them
Minnesota's state nickname is "Land of 10,000 Lakes"
from Wikipedia (which, of course, may not be right): The franchise (Lakers) began with the 1947 purchase of a disbanded team, the Detroit Gems of the National Basketball League (NBL). The new team began playing in Minneapolis, calling themselves the Minneapolis Lakers in honor of the state's nickname, "Land of 10,000 Lakes". _________________ LBJ + AD = More rings
Never argue with a fool - listeners can't tell you apart
Wilt's unstoppable fadeaway: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O9MgNfcGJA
NPZ's Magic Johnson mix: www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8Qbo0WqvOI |
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activeverb Retired Number
Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 37470
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Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 1:51 pm Post subject: Re: Lakers nickname comes from a Lake Freighter |
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Jellojigglin wrote: | So I'm a lifetime fan please send me proof the Lakers name is slang for a boat. I have lived my life understanding the name comes from the land of lakes. Do we need a new logo with a picture of a Lake freighter? |
The word Laker has a lot of meanings, including a sailing vessel; a fish living in or taken from a lake; and a person associated with a lake.
So while there are sailing vessels called Lakers, but I have never heard that the Minneapolis basketball team was named after those vessels (anymore than they were named after lake trout). Like you, I've always heard the name was a testament to the state's nickname of 10,000 lakes. |
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AFireInside619 Franchise Player
Joined: 11 Dec 2015 Posts: 11447
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Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 1:59 pm Post subject: |
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The LA Feighters |
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microbe obliterator Starting Rotation
Joined: 23 Jun 2017 Posts: 311
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Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 2:13 pm Post subject: |
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lakers vs. ...salties?! that's it! must petition for another team to change names to the salties for a true rivalry with us! |
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adkindo Retired Number
Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 40345 Location: Dirty South
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Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 2:25 pm Post subject: |
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always thought a "Laker" were people that lived among lakes...oh well. Good news is now we can have a mascot! |
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TooMuchMajicBuss Franchise Player
Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Posts: 21075 Location: In a white room, with black curtains near the station
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Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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P.K. wrote: | TooMuchMajicBuss wrote: | Chronicle wrote: | It was actually a lake freighter so big that it was a land and there were lakes in it |
Like... a thousand of them iirc. |
more like 10,000 of them
Minnesota's state nickname is "Land of 10,000 Lakes"
from Wikipedia (which, of course, may not be right): The franchise (Lakers) began with the 1947 purchase of a disbanded team, the Detroit Gems of the National Basketball League (NBL). The new team began playing in Minneapolis, calling themselves the Minneapolis Lakers in honor of the state's nickname, "Land of 10,000 Lakes". |
Yeah well I only considered those other 9,000 to be ponds, not lakes.
Then again, the "LA Ponders" doesn't sound like a good basketball team. Sounds more like this team with Byron Scott designing the offense. |
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adkindo Retired Number
Joined: 16 Jun 2005 Posts: 40345 Location: Dirty South
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Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 3:10 pm Post subject: |
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wait, I just looked up Laker in the dictionary.....and
Quote: | laker
[ley-ker]
noun
1. a person associated with a lake, as a resident, visitor, or worker.
2. a ship designed for navigating on lakes, especially the Great Lakes.
3. a fish found in lakes or caught in a lake, especially the lake trout.
4. (initial capital letter) any one of the Lake Poets. |
I always thought it was #1...but maybe we are just "trout"? |
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P.K. Retired Number
Joined: 10 Jul 2003 Posts: 29713
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Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 3:10 pm Post subject: |
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TooMuchMajicBuss wrote: | P.K. wrote: | TooMuchMajicBuss wrote: | Chronicle wrote: | It was actually a lake freighter so big that it was a land and there were lakes in it |
Like... a thousand of them iirc. |
more like 10,000 of them
Minnesota's state nickname is "Land of 10,000 Lakes"
from Wikipedia (which, of course, may not be right): The franchise (Lakers) began with the 1947 purchase of a disbanded team, the Detroit Gems of the National Basketball League (NBL). The new team began playing in Minneapolis, calling themselves the Minneapolis Lakers in honor of the state's nickname, "Land of 10,000 Lakes". |
Yeah well I only considered those other 9,000 to be ponds, not lakes.
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LOL...
you can actually canoe about 1/2 way across the entire state of Minnesota (east/west) through Voyageurs Natl Park & the Boundary Waters Canoe area.
You paddle down a lake, do a portage (carry the canoe) across a short land segment, paddle down the next lake, repeat..
a college friend was from Minnesota, and we did a trip there 1 summer. we spent 10 days fishing and canoeing, and never touched the same lake twice.
10,000 lakes might be an underestimation
100million mosquitoes the size of small planes probably isn't
_________________ LBJ + AD = More rings
Never argue with a fool - listeners can't tell you apart
Wilt's unstoppable fadeaway: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O9MgNfcGJA
NPZ's Magic Johnson mix: www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8Qbo0WqvOI |
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HAL 9000 Sixth Man
Joined: 12 Oct 2017 Posts: 53
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Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 4:09 pm Post subject: |
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microbe obliterator wrote: | lakers vs. ...salties?! that's it! must petition for another team to change names to the salties for a true rivalry with us! |
Lakers vs Utah Salties. Jazz doesn't make any sense. |
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Alpha Moderator
Joined: 07 Jul 2002 Posts: 25149 Location: hawaii
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Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 4:42 pm Post subject: |
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Wow, this is really a team in search of an identity. |
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TooMuchMajicBuss Franchise Player
Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Posts: 21075 Location: In a white room, with black curtains near the station
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Posted: Thu Oct 12, 2017 9:31 pm Post subject: |
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P.K. wrote: | TooMuchMajicBuss wrote: | P.K. wrote: | TooMuchMajicBuss wrote: | Chronicle wrote: | It was actually a lake freighter so big that it was a land and there were lakes in it |
Like... a thousand of them iirc. |
more like 10,000 of them
Minnesota's state nickname is "Land of 10,000 Lakes"
from Wikipedia (which, of course, may not be right): The franchise (Lakers) began with the 1947 purchase of a disbanded team, the Detroit Gems of the National Basketball League (NBL). The new team began playing in Minneapolis, calling themselves the Minneapolis Lakers in honor of the state's nickname, "Land of 10,000 Lakes". |
Yeah well I only considered those other 9,000 to be ponds, not lakes.
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LOL...
you can actually canoe about 1/2 way across the entire state of Minnesota (east/west) through Voyageurs Natl Park & the Boundary Waters Canoe area.
You paddle down a lake, do a portage (carry the canoe) across a short land segment, paddle down the next lake, repeat..
a college friend was from Minnesota, and we did a trip there 1 summer. we spent 10 days fishing and canoeing, and never touched the same lake twice.
10,000 lakes might be an underestimation
100million mosquitoes the size of small planes probably isn't
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PK that sounds like a great trip. Assuming you had good repellant of course. I've seen that region and all kidding aside I'll bet that was awesome. |
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P.K. Retired Number
Joined: 10 Jul 2003 Posts: 29713
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2017 12:19 am Post subject: |
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TooMuchMajicBuss wrote: | P.K. wrote: | TooMuchMajicBuss wrote: | P.K. wrote: | TooMuchMajicBuss wrote: | Chronicle wrote: | It was actually a lake freighter so big that it was a land and there were lakes in it |
Like... a thousand of them iirc. |
more like 10,000 of them
Minnesota's state nickname is "Land of 10,000 Lakes"
from Wikipedia (which, of course, may not be right): The franchise (Lakers) began with the 1947 purchase of a disbanded team, the Detroit Gems of the National Basketball League (NBL). The new team began playing in Minneapolis, calling themselves the Minneapolis Lakers in honor of the state's nickname, "Land of 10,000 Lakes". |
Yeah well I only considered those other 9,000 to be ponds, not lakes.
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LOL...
you can actually canoe about 1/2 way across the entire state of Minnesota (east/west) through Voyageurs Natl Park & the Boundary Waters Canoe area.
You paddle down a lake, do a portage (carry the canoe) across a short land segment, paddle down the next lake, repeat..
a college friend was from Minnesota, and we did a trip there 1 summer. we spent 10 days fishing and canoeing, and never touched the same lake twice.
10,000 lakes might be an underestimation
100million mosquitoes the size of small planes probably isn't
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PK that sounds like a great trip. Assuming you had good repellant of course. I've seen that region and all kidding aside I'll bet that was awesome. |
those mosquitoes just laughed at Deep Woods Off - we were using 100% DEET by the quart (Off is only 25% DEET). Fortunately the mosquitoes won't come more than about 50' from shore, so when you were on the lake, you were out of the combat zone. We had to wear mosquito head nets over our hats when we were setting up camp at night though. The fishing was great though, we almost never had to break out the freeze dried food. _________________ LBJ + AD = More rings
Never argue with a fool - listeners can't tell you apart
Wilt's unstoppable fadeaway: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O9MgNfcGJA
NPZ's Magic Johnson mix: www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8Qbo0WqvOI |
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ChickenBeckerman Star Player
Joined: 08 Jul 2012 Posts: 2060
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2017 6:43 am Post subject: |
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lol @ all this.
Again, this was one of the most interesting episodes on Laker Line many years back as longtime Laker statistician Frank Pollack was a guest and was stumping everyone, even Stu Lantz about many Laker facts, especially that was driving callers crazy was the little fact about the Great Lakes Steam Ships that the team was named after. Caller after caller kept answering the conventional land of a thousand lakes answer and getting a strict NO.
Finally he explained the answer and Stu was shocked that even he never knew.
Take it up with Frank Pollack if you do not believe. |
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Aeneas Hunter Retired Number
Joined: 12 Jul 2005 Posts: 31763
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2017 7:23 am Post subject: |
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Ben Vereen wrote: | lol @ all this.
Again, this was one of the most interesting episodes on Laker Line many years back as longtime Laker statistician Frank Pollack was a guest and was stumping everyone, even Stu Lantz about many Laker facts, especially that was driving callers crazy was the little fact about the Great Lakes Steam Ships that the team was named after. Caller after caller kept answering the conventional land of a thousand lakes answer and getting a strict NO.
Finally he explained the answer and Stu was shocked that even he never knew.
Take it up with Frank Pollack if you do not believe. |
I’ve never heard of Pollack,but I am throwing the BS flag on this one. Miineapolis is an inland city that is not on the Great Lakes. It is on the Mississippi River. One of the nicknames of Minneapolis is “city of lakes.” Those lakes do not include the Great Lakes.
If the original owners in 1948 decided to name the team after something that is not associated with the city, I would expect that there would be a source for this other than Pollack, whoever he is. I see how this story might sound credible to people who have never been to Minneapolis, though.
Edit: To illustrate the point, here’s a map. Tell me why someone in Minneapolis would name the team after a ship on the Great Lakes.
https://goo.gl/images/yJdgBp
Last edited by Aeneas Hunter on Fri Oct 13, 2017 7:30 am; edited 1 time in total |
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TooMuchMajicBuss Franchise Player
Joined: 17 Sep 2008 Posts: 21075 Location: In a white room, with black curtains near the station
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2017 7:29 am Post subject: |
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Quote: | lol @ all this.
Again, this was one of the most interesting episodes on Laker Line many years back as longtime Laker statistician Frank Pollack was a guest and was stumping everyone, even Stu Lantz about many Laker facts, especially that was driving callers crazy was the little fact about the Great Lakes Steam Ships that the team was named after. Caller after caller kept answering the conventional land of a thousand lakes answer and getting a strict NO.
Finally he explained the answer and Stu was shocked that even he never knew.
Take it up with Frank Pollack if you do not believe. | Yeah I definitely learned something new here. Although now I can't get that Gordon Lightfoot song out of my head.. |
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Big Game Jeff Starting Rotation
Joined: 12 Jan 2011 Posts: 387
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2017 9:32 am Post subject: |
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Been a Laker fan for over 30 years and never really questioned the origin of the name. Thanks OP... _________________ LAKERS RAIDERS KINGS DODGERS AZTECS MIDSHIPMEN |
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Eindhoven Star Player
Joined: 14 Jul 2015 Posts: 1930 Location: Zürich
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2017 10:11 am Post subject: |
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Aeneas Hunter wrote: | Ben Vereen wrote: | lol @ all this.
Again, this was one of the most interesting episodes on Laker Line many years back as longtime Laker statistician Frank Pollack was a guest and was stumping everyone, even Stu Lantz about many Laker facts, especially that was driving callers crazy was the little fact about the Great Lakes Steam Ships that the team was named after. Caller after caller kept answering the conventional land of a thousand lakes answer and getting a strict NO.
Finally he explained the answer and Stu was shocked that even he never knew.
Take it up with Frank Pollack if you do not believe. |
I’ve never heard of Pollack,but I am throwing the BS flag on this one. Miineapolis is an inland city that is not on the Great Lakes. It is on the Mississippi River. One of the nicknames of Minneapolis is “city of lakes.” Those lakes do not include the Great Lakes.
If the original owners in 1948 decided to name the team after something that is not associated with the city, I would expect that there would be a source for this other than Pollack, whoever he is. I see how this story might sound credible to people who have never been to Minneapolis, though.
Edit: To illustrate the point, here’s a map. Tell me why someone in Minneapolis would name the team after a ship on the Great Lakes.
https://goo.gl/images/yJdgBp |
I don't know where the truth is, but this version makes much more sense to me. _________________ .... |
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activeverb Retired Number
Joined: 17 Jun 2006 Posts: 37470
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K2 Franchise Player
Joined: 25 Dec 2011 Posts: 23529
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2017 12:03 pm Post subject: |
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Just-ming was here.
Last edited by K2 on Fri Oct 13, 2017 1:45 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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P.K. Retired Number
Joined: 10 Jul 2003 Posts: 29713
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Posted: Fri Oct 13, 2017 12:07 pm Post subject: |
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I wouldn't be too quick to dismiss the idea that the Lakers might actually be named after a type of Great Lakes cargo ships. Back in the era of that of the Minny Lakers, iron mining made up a big chunk of Minnesota's economy and most of that iron ore was shipped via Great Lakes freighters
Minnesota used to be (may still be) a major producer of iron mines. It's also worth noting that the Minnesota mines were hugely important to the armaments industry during WWII. And that most of the iron that went into the post-war the auto industry was mined in Minnesota's Iron Range Mtns, and then shipped to steel mills along the Great Lakes, which then shipped finished steel to the auto plants. Gary Indiana, for instance, used to be a big steel mill town that supplied the auto industry - Joe Jackson (father of the Jackson 5) somewhat famously worked in the steel mills in Gary. Cleveland was also a pretty big mill town. Both are located right on Great Lakes waterfront.
One of the largest iron mines in the US was in Hibbing, MN - north of Minney and west of Duluth. Most of their iron ore was shipped via the Great Lakes through Duluth. For those that don't know, shipping by ocean freighter is usually less then 1/2 the cost per ton/mile compared to shipping via rail (and rail is over 4x cheaper then shipping by truck)
Most of the money people in Minnesota are in Minneapolis/St Paul - and a lot of that money in the 1940's and 1950's (when the Lakers were in Minneapolis) was from iron mining.
So, there's at least a logically good chance that the owner of the Minny Lakers may have named it after the ships that were shipping iron ore from Minnesota mines and powering the states economy. _________________ LBJ + AD = More rings
Never argue with a fool - listeners can't tell you apart
Wilt's unstoppable fadeaway: www.youtube.com/watch?v=8O9MgNfcGJA
NPZ's Magic Johnson mix: www.youtube.com/watch?v=q8Qbo0WqvOI |
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