Comments on: LFL Steals Name of the REAL Minnesota Valkyries, A Women’s Rugby Team

By: Brad

Brad — Mon, 04 Jul 2011 09:51:52 +0000

The state of MN doesn’t care if you have registered your team name. If you have the name Minnesota Valkyries all they have to do is call themselves Minnesota Valkyries LFL and it is totally legal. This happens all the time in Adult Amatuer Sports. I run a team that has a registered team name but is registered also for a different sport. We didnt know about the other team until after we registered our info with the state. Only difference is we have a few more words behind it.

By: nmlavoi

nmlavoi — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:34:48 +0000

Derek,
I agree the press release by the rugby Valks was very well done and classy. They obviously decided to take the high road and not disparage the LFL. I commend them for that. I will however continue to be a critic of the LFL. -nml

By: nmlavoi

nmlavoi — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:33:53 +0000

Ryan, Thanks for you post. My response to Carie above covers my response to your thoughts as well. -nml

By: nmlavoi

nmlavoi — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:32:06 +0000

David,
Thanks for you comments and adding a different dimension to the discussion. -nml

By: nmlavoi

nmlavoi — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:31:03 +0000

Carie,
You are right, I shouldn’t disparage the women who play, and as I’ve said many times…I’m sure many LFL players are very good athletes. What I should say is that in my opinion, the LFL is not REAL SPORT. If you argue the LFL is not a real sport, then it is hard to consider the women who play “real” athletes, whether they are athletic or not. The sex appeal dimension of the league undermines any potential for the players to be taken seriously as athletes. The athleticism of the LFL players is not what is being promoted as top billing. -nml

By: nmlavoi

nmlavoi — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:27:46 +0000

Roger, I’m guessing the Valkyries never trademarked their name otherwise the LFL could not use it. It is in the same product category and it would be trademark infringement. While I don’t play for the Valks, I certainly support them. -nml

By: nmlavoi

nmlavoi — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:26:33 +0000

Thank you for your post and good luck this season. -nml

By: Derek Fournier

Derek Fournier — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 21:04:38 +0000

I see the theme “Real Female Athlete” recurring. While I think I understand at least one of your issues with the LFL, are you really assuming or asserting that the women who play in the LFL are not “real’ athletes? Furthermore, is it not common for name overlap and reuse league to league? (Honest question. I imagine there could be trademark/service mark issues but those are both expensive and generally left to the major sports leagues to pursue in my limited exposure).

I covered our local LFL team here for the last two years and while I am in their target demographic that you point out above, I have maintained my coverage of them because what I found was women who were pretty impressive athletes with amazing dedication and heart. While i can see why people may take issue with the LFL on the surface and nothing is perfect, different does not have to be bad, does it? They don’t have to be sex and NOT sport, do they?

As for the naming, if it is common for name overlaps, I am not sure why you are upset. I read the PR release form the Rugby squad which was excellent. (By Jen Triemstra) and seemed to cover it well.

By: Ryan

Ryan — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 19:15:03 +0000

I can certainly understand your initial reaction to the story. However, while I certainly can’t speak to the LFL’s intentions or knowledge of there being another women’s team in Minnesota having the name Valkyrie, I do know that is is completely unfair, if not ignorant, of you to inply that the women of the LFL are not “real” athletes. You can be upset about the chosen name and you can have your own opinion that the LFL is somehow demeaning to women, but to make statements beyond that is simply ridiculous and void of facts, obviously reflecting your own, personal issues regarding women that happen to be both attractive and athletic. By your own admission, it’s likely none of the fans had any idea there was a women’s rugby team by the name–that alone should tell you something. To be successful and attract attention, sponsors and fans a sport needs to be both a great athletic spectacle and entertainment. Do you also look down upon the women of the 1940s that had to wear skirts in order to take advantage of the opportunity to play baseball? In fact, I would be willing to bet that if the rugby players answered honestly, they would probably tell you they would be more than happy to wear a little bit less clothing in exchange for filling the stands. While you’re making your case for the name change, try to do without disparging women you clearly know so little about.

By: David Patterson

David Patterson — Mon, 11 Apr 2011 18:58:46 +0000

On the incredible silliness and baseness of the LFL we cannot agree more.

On the naming thing…. I am struggling. The term Valkyries is hardly proprietary to the rugby club. I think this would be like a West Side Story fan expressing outrage at the notion of the San Jose Sharks.

Don’t get me wrong – anything that makes life hard for the LFL is a good thing. But, I am not sure that there is really a leg to stand on here. On the list of outrages committed by the LFL, co-opting the name of a rugby club (or…. probably more accurately, of a norse legend) is not that high on the list.

Maybe focus more on public funding and the use of public outlets, such as the stadium/field etc. No pro sports startup ever gets by without some public support (even if through the side door) so that might be a more fruitful avenue.

Best of luck!