Massacred

The Stinking Onions staged a huge comeback this week to climb a mere seven points above the Massacre and stave off elimination for another week in the Chicago WPS Name the Team Sweepstakes. The Massacre is the third name eliminated in the Sweepstakes that continues through May 16th.

The name was originally conceived as an honor to Fort Dearborn and the first red star on the city of Chicago municipal flag. The idea of naming a team after an event in the War of 1812 that saw the ambushed slaughter of 50 US Soldiers, women and children never caught on for some reason. The ambush by the Potawatomi Indians occurred while 148 US Soldiers, women and children were abandoning the U.S. fort at the mouth of the Chicago River across from what is now the Wrigley Building. The group believed they had negotiated safe passage and were marching to Fort Wayne, Indiana when they were attacked (interestingly) at what is now the home of the United States Soccer Federation (18th and Prairie).

The added second reference to the (warning: gratuitous, yet historic, violent link ahead) St. Valentine's Day Massacre mob hit perpetrated by Al Capone's south side mob against Bugsy Malone's north side group wasn't an eye catching connection either.

The big mover of the week was 1871 who surged into the lead just 12 points ahead of Chicago Red Stars. On the other end, the other Potawatomi connected name besides Massacre, Stinking Onions, will need another big week to stay alive. The English translation for the Potawatomi "Checagou" trails the Chicago Union by 3 1/2%.

The Chicago Wind leads the Riot by one slim percentage point in the battle to be listed in a group of three over the final three weeks of this advisory vote from April 28th through May 16th.

Cumulative voting through 3/24

1871……………....1957…..20.3%
Red Stars………..1945…..20.2%
Wind……………....1433…..14.9%
Riot…………….....1339…..13.9%
Blues……………....1001…..10.4%
Union…………….....890…….9.2%
Stinking Onions….533….…5.54%

Massacre…………...526…….5.47% Eliminated March 24
Towers Eliminated March 17
Progress Eliminated March 10

Weekly vote: 3/17-24:

1871……………....1241…..33.4%
Red Stars………....766…..20.6%
Union…………….....484……13.0%
Riot…………….......461…..12.4%
Wind……………......298…..8.0%
Stinking Onions….234……6.3%
Blues…………….....176…..4.7%

Massacre………….....60……1.6% Eliminated March 24
Towers Eliminated March 17
Progress Eliminated March 10