Just Plain Weird

I've already written about feelings-oh-feelings, a very self-reflecting post; but this time, however, I would like to do a study on the weird names people come up with.

Let's go in alphabetical order and start with E&P. Elephants and Pineapples don't exactly go together, to state the obvious. Perhaps it was a reference to the players... fat and clumsy. Like Tania.

(pause for laughter)

Probably not. E&P had an average age of 14.9 years, and, if I'm right, none of them reached past 5'6. They could've done with someone bulkier to guard the goal, but had to make do with Eulene, a stick-thin thirteen-year-old. As it was, however talented Ivy was as a tennis player; however gifted Wei-Lynn might be as a ballerina, the only person who knew more than just how to hold a floorball stick was Tania.

Good effort, though I don't think I'll be seeing most of them anytime soon in floorball. Prove me wrong, girls.

(It actually started with an icebreaker Tania was doing during youth. When dividing them into two groups, she thought the 1 and 2 numbering system was boring, so she divided them into Elephants and Pineapples instead. Random, really. And when she was in a dilemma over the team name, Joyce just went ahead and wrote E&P on the form.)

Next up, Ednamodes and Violets. The names were ripped from the main characters of Pixar animation 'The Incredibles'. High school kids watching animated movies... what ever has the world come to?

The names did match, however. The ladies in Ednamodes shared the same vocal tendencies of Edna Mode, the super-fussy and loud character from the movie. Probably not as short, but incredibly comic, as some would attest to in Ednamode's game with UniHawks. Loyal also, supporting each other with screams that would burst the roof open though staring into the jaws of defeat.

Violets showed promise, Pei Yi for one, and should be a team to watch out for in the years to come.

(The names started long before when Sheryn was still in MGS. She suggested that they use superheroes for names and thought of The Incredibles, because she had watched it before signing up. Plus, she liked it.)

Fury and Inferno. No mistakes in pronouncing Inferno, but I cringe when people call Fury 'Furry' and twist it even further to make up 'McFlurry'. Then cue the whole line of Frontliners McChicken or Frontliners ApplePies jokes.

Frontliners performed credibly with the resources available though Pei Li tried too hard to do everything and simply exhausted herself. Sonia more wisely stuck to the job and did well to carry the team to 6th place.

Sugar. Gods above, of all names, why Sugar? Combine it with the name used in Youthwave earlier this year and you get Contact SugarPuffs. Though to take it at name value, Sugar was good. Outside of court.

Once they stepped inside, they transformed into scary beasts that fought and scrapped for every ball. Hardly any goals went in thanks to Penny's industrious performances, and Sheryn up front was bullying her opponents into submission. They didn't score many goals, didn't let in many either, and it worked.

(Turns out Sugar is another species of ants. Just like Fire Ants. Puffs, however, was random, coming from Powerpuff Girls to denote power. Yeah, it fits.)

And for the names that have been forever. UniHawks and Innebabes. I was bemused, to be frank: How in the world could UniHawks have not won the title? Looking at the stats: UniHawks scored sixteen and let in one, appearing unstoppable. To state more statistics, they were the oldest team in this category with an average age of 22.4 years, each had played floorball before and could run well enough.

Maybe some things just can't be explained.

Innebabes, well... the word would be solid. Their one weakness was defence, Kao Yi Lin prone to using illegal body parts to stop the ball. But usually their opponents concentrated too much on neutralizing the threat of the triumvirate of Valerie, Elaine and Cui Lin to threaten Innebabes.

Not so weird now, after the study. As always, most amazing mysteries have very ordinary explanations. It does add color to floorball... but it will remain now and forever: Weird.

Of course, it could be worse. Just think of all those people naming their kids what they named their teams.