That’s My Team!

How did author Edgar Allen Poe influence the naming of the NFL’s Baltimore Ravens? What major historical events inspired the naming of the Philadelphia 76ers, San Francisco 49ers, and Oklahoma Sooners? And what caused the NBA’s Washington Bullets to change their name to the Wizards?

In That’s My Team! The History, Science, and Fun behind Sports Teams’ Names, Paul Volponi shares the answers to these questions and more. Leading readers on a fast-paced journey through different parts of the United States and the world, Volponi reveals fascinating pieces of information on pop culture, history, science, literature, and a slew of other subjects through the lens of sports. Both reluctant and sports-crazed readers, teens and preteens alike, will find this book an exciting way to learn about a variety of subjects through their favorite sports teams.

Author’s Note

Introduction

1: World History

2: American History

3: Literature, Language, and Mythology

4: Music and Pop Culture

5: Changing Society: Gender and Race

6: The Natural World

7: Geography

8: Industrial Revolution

9: Foreign Studies

10: People and Politics

11: Marine Sciences and Meteorology

12: Electives and Independent Studies

Challenge Answers

Notes

Suggested Readings

Index

About the Author