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Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Canadian team draws heat for ‘Jack the Ripper’ nickname - Big League Stew - MLB�Blog - Yahoo! Sports

They say it isn't based on Jack the Ripper. No connection at all ...Canadian team draws heat for ‘Jack the Ripper’ nickname From the article:
From the London Free Press:

Team president and general manager David Martin was unapologetic, saying the name, Rippers, is a common baseball term that speaks to the bat prowess of the cartoon character they've created as part of a marketing strategy.

"That (Jack The Ripper) is not our story," said Martin, when told about the reaction. "Ripping a ball is used in baseball all the time."

Martin said the character's name is Diamond Jack, a frustrated hockey player who found he could "rip" the cover off baseballs. Despite his talent, teams grew weary of the expense of replacing balls so Diamond Jack decided to form his own team in London, Ontario.

"It's Phantom of the Opera meets baseball. He's a mysterious character who is somewhat edgy," said Martin.

Say, you know who was also a "mysterious character" who was, uh, "somewhat edgy"? The actual Jack the Ripper. The guy murdered at least five streetwalkers in the Whitechapel District and though his identity has never been revealed, he is most often portrayed as wearing a black top hat and a long black coat.

You know, just like the outfit the guy in the London Rippers logo is wearing.

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