It almost sounds like a joke, and if it wasn't a minor-league baseball team I'd assume it was, but the Akron Aeros have apparently changed their name to the Akron RubberDucks.
The double-A affiliate of the Cleveland Indians had gone by the Aeros name since 1997 when the team formerly known as the Canton-Akron Indians opened their downtown Akron stadium, and the name had previously survived a 2009 fan vote in which Rubber Ducks was one of the most popular choices.
But former Washington Post executive Ken Babby bought the team just over a year ago, and now the name change has gone into effect, whether the public likes it or not.
The new moniker is a nod to the city's rubber industry -- it has been called the Rubber Capital of the World -- and, apparently, Sesame Street.
" The logo accomplishes a lot of things. Right off the bat, it represents the grit and fierceness of this blue-collar market," Babby told MiLB.com . "But it also represents the brand of entertainment that we're trying to create: a place where you can come in, have fun and forget life's problems."
The RubberDucks' sudden name change certainly makes the team a contender for the "Weirdest Minor League Team Name" award, but they're not necessarily the favorite, just yet. Here are some other top candidates from around the country:
Albuquerque Isotopes (Simpsons-inspired Triple-A Dodgers affiliate):
Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs (Triple-A Phillies affiliate):
El Paso Chihuahuas (newly-minted Triple-A Padres affiliate):
Montgomery Biscuits (Double-A Rays affiliate):
Modesto Nuts (Class-A Rockies affiliate):
Cedar Rapids Kernels (Class-A Twins affiliate):
Lansing Lugnuts (Class-A Blue Jays affiliate):
Savannah Sand Gnats (Class-A Mets affiliate):
Jamestown Jammers (short season Class-A Pirates affiliate):
The original article can be found at FOXSports.com: Introducing your RubberDucks!.
Receive your weekly recap of all the happenings around the world of sports.