15 Times Pro Sports Tried to Reinvent Their Image In Ridiculous Ways
![15 Times Pro Sports Tried to Reinvent Their Image In Ridiculous Ways](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/2/2/3/888223_320x180.jpg)
Since the NFL and NHL have been around for a little over a century, and professional baseball began in the 1850s, we’re pretty sure that we’re now watching more modern versions of the sports. These, the NBA, and a slew of other professional sports have undergone many updates, rule changes, and complete reinventions over the years, and sometimes we’re lucky enough to witness some real unusual ones.
Much like studio executives sit around all day conjuring up wild what-ifs for the film industry, we like to picture the hilarity of league executives and franchise owners think-tanking the next glowing puck or Lingerie Football League. “Guys! Guys, I’ve got it! Hot chicks in lingerie who tackle the hell out of each other! ‘Merica, baby!” The problem is that, unlike a sport evolving over time, a complete and instantaneous reinvention is just so glaring. Whether the fans were into them or not, here are 15 bizarre ways that pro sports have tried to reinvent their image.
Philly (and only Philly) rallies behind Gritty.
![Sports Reinvented GRITTY: THE PHILADELPHIA FLYERS MASCOT With Philly's Broad Street Bullies era in the '70s, it's clear that the Flyers' identity is things everyone else hates. The newest offense is Gritty, the ugliest, meanest mascot, who terrorizes fans and opposing players. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/0/8/887508.jpg)
Nickelodeon’s collaboration with the NFL.
![Sports Reinvented ©CBS SPORTS BY NICKMAS GAME nickolodeen 61 77 SAS ALI 61 1ST nick DEN П LAB 10 5-39 2C PATRICK STAR DOES NFL PLAY-BY-PLAY The NFL's Nickmas Game game had SpongeBob's Patrick Star commentate on a Denver Broncos and L.A Rams game. Patrick got pretty amped up for a Bobby Wagner interception. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/1/2/887512.jpg)
NFL
The Bears took time out of their historic season to record a silly smash hit.
![Sports Reinvented OC 7 5 3 83 0 5 THE SUPER BOWL SHUFFLE The historically dominant 1985 Chicago Bears showed their sillier side with the song (and video) The Super Bowl Shuffle. It reached #41 on Billboard, received a Grammy nom, and sold half a million copies (with the proceeds going to charity). CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/1/1/887511.jpg)
Red Label
Lingerie Football was the only logical next step for the NFL.
![Sports Reinvented ALFRA N THE LINGERIE FOOTBALL LEAGUE The concept of scantily clad girls playing football premiered as the Lingerie Bowl at the 2004 Super Bowl. It began its inaugural season in September 2009, and in 2013 rebranded to the Legends Football League (based in Vegas, of course.) CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/1/6/887516.jpg)
When WWE’s “Attitude Era” came to an end.
![Sports Reinvented THE FAMILY-FRIENDLY WWE The early 2000s Attitude Era featured bloody matches with foreign objects, and that suck it gesture. Chris Benoit's murder-suicide in 2007 and John Cena's popularity with kids had the WWE transition to PG content. N CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/1/9/887519.jpg)
The pandemic helped make necessary updates to pro tennis matches.
![Sports Reinvented Mi MOJ COVID REINVENTED TENNIS With a steady decline in participation, sales, and ratings, the game took time to capture audiences in lockdown with accelerated scoring, less time between points, piped-in audience applause, new rules, and drone camera coverage. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/1/4/887514.jpg)
Swimming gets a glitzy rebrand in Las Vegas.
![Sports Reinvented a SWIMMING: VEGAS STYLE In 2019, some of swimming's biggest names competed in the International Swimming League. At Mandalay Bay Events Center, under flashing lights, pulsating music spun by an on-deck DJ, the winning team split $100,000. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/1/0/887510.jpg)
Boxing embraces technology in the ’70s.
![Sports Reinvented THE SUPER FIGHT In 1970, Murray Woroner entered Muhammad Ali and Rocky Marciano's career stats into a computer, pitting them against each other virtually. The boxers filmed a reenactment, where a 13-year retired, toupee-donning Marciano beat Ali. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/0/5/887505.jpg)
Basketball with trampolines and physical contact. Genius.
![Sports Reinvented CLASHERS 12 LATMORE 33 IT'S SLAMBALL! Invented in 1999 by Mason Gordon, body- checking basketball on trampolines known as SlamBall aired on Spike TV in 2002. It has had sporadic TV stints over the years, including Cartoon Network in 2008, and returns to CBS Sports summer 2023. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/1/5/887515.jpg)
Hockey players play more hockey now.
![Sports Reinvented 20 O УМЕ HOCKEY IS PHASING OUT THE VIOLENCE The NHL's arms race of enforcers bare knuckle boxing on skates has all but silenced. With stricter rules against retaliation, fight statistics decline each year, with more focus on speed and skill. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/1/7/887517.jpg)
The Toronto Raptors let all of Canada in on the action.
![Sports Reinvented in WE THE NORTH As the only Canadian team in the NBA, the Toronto Raptors slogan We the North unified Canadian fans in 2014. Even though they were far from Toronto, everyone got to enjoy the team's 2019 Championship. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/1/3/887513.jpg)
The NFL gives in and finally cares about concussions.
![Sports Reinvented SP THE NFL RECOGNIZES СТЕ For years, The NFL ignored research on Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (a brain condition from head injuries.) In 2016, they finally admitted that it is an issue, and implemented concussion protocols and sideline tents for injured players. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/1/8/887518.jpg)
Fox thought technology could help grow the NHL in U.S. markets.
![Sports Reinvented THE NHL'S GLOWING PUCK After new fans complained that the puck was hard to follow, Fox Sports experimented with FoxTrax, a luminescent disc in the puck that debuted (and completely failed) at the 1996 All-Star game. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/0/6/887506.jpg)
Fox Sports
Bollywood helps the Indian Premier League reinvent cricket.
![Sports Reinvented SSI Jio e rs . INDIA SPICES UP CRICKET The Indian Premier League turned the slow paced gentlemen's game into a thrilling sports drama featuring Bollywood stars. The 2008 season set a worldwide record with 200 million viewers. (The highest ever Super Bowl viewership was 114 million.) CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/0/7/887507.jpg)
Time to show off those White Sox, boys.
![Sports Reinvented THE WHITE SOX WEAR SHORTS On August 8, 1976, then-owner Bill Veeck's wife Mary claimed that she was doing the team a favor by having them wear shorts. The players were mortified, and went right back to pants the next game. CRACKED](https://s3.crackedcdn.com/phpimages/imageset/5/0/9/887509.jpg)