From August 2005 but still funny.

I thought it was brilliant. Someone brought it up in a thread the other day.

Whatever became of the AL rock band analogy article?

AL Band List

Thanks. I was damned close with my Buffalo Springfield/Mariners analogy. Right idea, wrong country. Maybe the guy lurks here, read that, but didn't want to plagiarize it entirely ; ).

Oakland A’s are The Velvet Underground: Pretty much unimpeachably cool to be a fan. Hero worship and derision of the group mastermind are rampant in almost equal measure (Andy Warhol; Billy Beane). They have served as inspiration for countless imitators, even if their own commercial success largely eluded them.

I'm OK with this. The Rangers one is spot on, too.

Maybe the guy lurks here, read that, but didn't want to plagiarize it entirely ; ).

Hmmm...

Me: Maybe Santana or Jefferson Airplane/Jefferson Starship/Starship for the A's. In addition to the Bay Area connection, all had great success in the past, followed by periods of relative obscurity, followed by more success in different incarnations.

Him: Los Angeles Angels are Jefferson Airplane / Starship: Frequent, senseless, and largely mocked name changes. Originated in 1960s California. Impressive groups of talent overshadowed by years of shocking collapses and sadness (1986 ALCS, September 1995; break-ups, relationship disasters, deaths). Latter-era surge in success attributed to silly things (Rally Monkeys; the Mannequin soundtrack).

Hey, Misirlou, if the Angels are Jefferson Airplane, who's Jack Casady? I knew him in Jr. High School but never kept up with his music, since I was strictly an R&B fan.

Jim Fregosi?

Jim Fregosi?

Oh, no! I would've thought more Nolan Ryan. Jack did play a mean guitar at the Friday Night Club at Alice Deal.

Comparing the Orioles to Marge Simpson is an insult to Marge Simpson.

The older Simpsons' episodes cannot compare to the greatness of the newer Simpsons' episodes.

The older Simpsons' episodes cannot compare to the greatness of the newer Simpsons' episodes.

Troll! :)

Actually, the new Simpsons episodes are great. I even gave them a nickname--Family Guy.

Yeah, but Ryan wasn't with them during the Airplane years. Ryan is Marty Balin. Paul Kanter is obviously Gene Autry.

On second thought, Fregosi is Grace Slick. Hugely important in the 60's/Airplane era, not so much for most of the Starship era, being overshadowed by Kanter/traded to the Mets, but makes a big comeback later (managed the 1979 division winners/"We Built this City". Casady is more Dean Chance.

The Simpsons list is actually pretty damn good.

I'd quarrel with the Cubs (Moe Syzlak), the BoSox (Lisa Simpson), and the Tigers (Lionel Hutz)... I'd stick the BoSox with Nelson Muntz, the Tigers with Agnes Skinner... not sure who I'd match the Cubs with.

Some other faves:

Best "Ha Ha Ha" for a team I hate

Chicago White Sox - Edna Krabappel - Betrayed by those closest to them somewhere in the distant past (Edna's husband leaving her, the Black Sox), leaving them bitter and jaded.

Most apt, perfect comparison (tie)

Tampa Bay Devil Rays - Hans Moleman - Whenever they're on TV, you can virtually guarantee that they're hopelessly overmatched and that something bad is going to happen to them. You could start feeling bad for them, but then you remember that you don't care.

Kansas City Royals - Gil the Salesman - Forever facing in an uphill battle to be competitive. Their failures tend to be more sad than comical. Others are just glad they're not them.

Honorable Mention

Arizona Diamondbacks - Inanimate Carbon Rod - Inexplicably shot to prominence after an unbelievable rescue (sealing the Space Shuttle during re-entry, 2001 season). Hit the covers of every major magazine as heroes, and then faded back into obscurity almost as quickly as they arrived.

I think Professor Frink would be good for Oakland. They think they are smarter than everyone else but it never quite works out.

Where did this get dug up from? It's 2 1/2 years old.

Actually, the new Simpsons episodes are great. I even gave them a nickname--Family Guy.

The new Simpsons are at least as sharp as the new Family Guys and usually far moreso. Anyone who ditched the show when it hit rock bottom really should go back to it now, it is running up to its lofty standards once again.

The new Simpsons are at least as sharp as the new Family Guys and usually far moreso. Anyone who ditched the show when it hit rock bottom really should go back to it now, it is running up to its lofty standards once again.

I watch them both, but I much prefer Family Guy to the Simpsons now. I just wish they showed them back to back as they can't seem to find any non-crap program to put between them. The thinly veiled Seinfeld rip off doesn't do it for me. I like American Dad, but they are going to Futurama that show, it looks like.

If I had any idea who any of the characters in The Simpsons were, I'm sure this would be quite amusing.

This article shows its age. Red Sox "antagonistic relationship with those in positions of power"? Yeah, right. And the Washington Nationals references are almost entirely applicable to their Expos days, not to anything since the team moved to D.C. And to Lassus: the Orioles were compared to Maggie Simpson, not Marge.

I wish Lurleen Lumpkin had made more appearances -- not only did she look kinda hot in an animated sense, but Beverly D'Angelo voiced (and sang) that character beautifully.