MetroWest Daily News
Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Nickname for Natick

Recent complaints about Natick High School using the term "Redmen" as a nickname got me thinking. What can the team use instead? My suggestions are as follows.

First we can try to use part of the name Natick, like the Philly's do with there home city of Philadelphia. That leaves us with the "Nats," the "Nates," the "Natties," or the "Ticks."

The "Nats"name is already a nickname for the Washington "Nationals," "Nate"is your uncle's name and the "Natties" doesn't exactly fit well with today's teenage fashion.

Though there are plenty of ticks in Natick, and the "Tick" was one of my favorite TV shows, I'm not so sure it would be a good moniker for the town.

Then we can move on to what Natick has been known for over the years.

"Home of Champions" is the town motto. How about the "Champs?" No, that would be a bit tough to live up to year after year. The "Black Labels?" Too much alcohol. The "Balls?" Let's not go there OK?

The "Malls?" Well, the "Natick Mall" doesn't want it anymore, and the town certainly has enough of them.

How about the "Jammers" to put some positive spin on the traffic situation?

Oh, Oh! I have it. Wasn't the town once occupied by the Native American Indians? Let's name the teams the "Native American Indians!"

I don't know what they were thinking about back in the '50[s] when they named the team after chewing tobacco. That stuff is gross.

AL WALKER
Natick