New Baseball Franchise Attempts To Hitch Its Wagon To Stephen Colbert's Star (Update)

The new Frontier League baseball team in Normal, Ill., needs a nickname, and it's up to you to rock the vote. Of course they're secretly hoping you'll opt for option "C."

The Normal Whatevers will commence play in 2010, and they're asking fans to go on over to their site and vote for a team name. The options: Normal Nutz (Beer Nuts brand is based in Bloomington); Normal NightHawks; Normal Coal Bears; Normal CornBelters (um ... no). Sorry, "Detasselers" was not a choice.

The third option of course is a rather naked attempt to get mentioned on The Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert's political satire funhouse which often veers into sports-related territory. Not long ago, the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League named their mascot Steagle Colbeagle the Eagle, which Colbert has mentioned on his show more than once.

Of course, people should be aware that Colbert, a Charleston S.C. native, is a passionate fan of the Charleston RiverDogs, which may preclude any Normal minor league baseball bonding.

Update: There may be voting shenanigans! Oh no!

We Live For Minor League Nickname Contests [Bus League Baseball] Normal Professional Baseball [Official Site] How Normal Baseball Screwed Stephen Colbert [Normal Baseball.com]