Baseball in Richmond has been a hot topic for sometime now, and it looked like the heated debate was coming to an end as a new team was found for the city. However, Richmond residents are expressing their unhappiness with the potential names of the new team.

After a contest that allowed residents to nominate names for the new team, the Double-A franchise selected five finalists, none of which seem to appeal to many Richmond residents.

Hopefully, the franchise, city officials and residents can work together to get the new team off to a great start and attract new fans that will help boost the local economy.

"After receiving more than 6,000 entries, including duplications, the front office of Richmond's Double-A baseball franchise has selected five finalists.

Flatheads. Flying Squirrels. Hambones. Rock Hoppers. Rhinos.

The Richmond team will adopt one of those names, all offered by the public in a name-the-team contest. The winner will be announced by Oct. 15. The franchise encourages online voting for one of the final five. The choice of the front office will be influenced by public input, according to Vice President and Chief Operating Officer Todd Parnell, but the winner will not necessarily be the top vote-getter.

The franchise's front office liked the five finalists for these reasons, according to Parnell:

Flatheads: a kind of catfish commonly found in the James River.

Flying Squirrels: soar in Virginia.

Hambones: paying homage to Virginia ham.

Rock Hoppers: people or animals on river rocks.

Rhinos: alliteration featuring a powerful image.

Each finalist received trademark clearance, and approval from Minor League Baseball and Major League Baseball. In terms of marketing potential, 'every single one of these has a life of its own,' said Parnell, who added that team operators will be satisfied with any of the five candidates.

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