07-09-2023, 09:57 PM
(This post was last modified: 07-17-2023, 03:02 PM by Jacky. Edited 3 times in total.)
So, my ISFL bank account is dangerously low, but JoeK is the most generous birthday boy and has provided us all with a very fortuitous double media time. This is too big of an opportunity to waste! But But I’m fresh out of novel ideas for media, so I will go with a tried and true media format: a rebranding of ISFL teams according to another form of popular media. In this case, I will choose the Pokemon universe! For each team, I assign them a Pokemon mascot based on their team’s current mascot, logo, and color scheme. But to make it just a bit original, I’m also going to give each pokemon-branded team a brand new stadium and head coach in the form of a pokemon Gym and its trainers! See the results and discussion of why I made each choice by conference and team below. Feel free to post in the comments if you feel I have missed a pokemon that would be a good fit for your ISFL team.
Having finished this article, I actually think that there is a pokemon that fits most ISFL teams very well. So I would like to petition all ISFL GMs to consider banding together for a pokemon-themed color rush for S43. We could even give the winners of the color rush games the badge of the hosting gym. Any takers?
NSFC
Baltimore Hawks
Pokemon mascot: Talonflame
Stadium: Violet Gym
Head coach: Falkner
So we will kick things off with the Baltimore Hawks. Assigning this team a pokemon seemed relatively straightforward at first: just pick one of the many flying-type bird pokemon available. But there are so many choices! We have to narrow it down. So I start by looking for those that are most reminiscent of birds of prey (excluding owls). That gives me a short-list of Braviary, Staraptor, Fearow, Pidgeot, and Talonflame. Of those, Braviary and Staraptor are most reminiscent of eagles while Fearow is reminiscent of a vulture. So that narrows down further to Pidgeot and Talonflame as the most hawk-like pokemon options. From those, I choose Talonflame because of its sleeker face and coloring which better match the vibe of the Baltimore Hawks logo.
When it comes to the Hawks’ stadium, we have three main options for flying-type gyms in the pokemon game series: Violet Gym with leader Falkner and the Zephyr Badge, Foretree Gym with leader Winona and the Feather Badge, and Mistralton Gym with leader Skyla and the Jet Badge. I’m going with the Violet Gym because it’s the most pure flying/normal type of the lot and its trainers and leader use the most birds of prey or their pre-evolutions.
Berlin Fire Salamanders
Pokemon mascot: Salazzle
Stadium: Violet Gym
Head coach: Kabu
Next up we have the Berlin Fire Salamanders. So we are looking for a fire-type lizard pokemon. The most obvious options are Charmelion (although he’s more of a dragon) and the Salandit - Salazzle evolution tree. While Salandit better matches the colors of Berlin, because we are talking about ISFL teams, I feel I should give preference to final evolutions… so we will go with Salazzle for Berlin’s pokemon mascot. Other ISFL teams beware as the combination of poison and fire make these salamanders extra dangerous.
On to the stadium! We are looking for a fire-type gym, which again gives us three main options: Cinnabar Gym with leader Blaine and the Volcano Badge, Lavaridge Gym with leader Flannery and the Heat Badge, and Motostoke Gym with leader Kabu and the Fire Badge. For the Fire Salamanders’ Stadium we’re looking for the gym with the most lizard-like foes to match their home-town team, so we go with Motostoke Gym because the trainers and leader in the gym have Salandit, Sizzlipede, and Centiskorch.
Cape Town Crash
Pokemon mascot: Rhyperior
Stadium: Viridian Gym
Head coach: Giovanni
Horns up! It’s time for the Cape Town Crash pokemon rebrand. Affectionately known as the chubby purple unicorns, we’re looking for a rhino pokemon. That immediately puts the Rhyhorn - Rhydon - Rhyperior evolution onto the short list, but its grey color just doesn’t match the bright purple and orange of the Crash’s current brand. So if we want to match the purple and still have a prominent horn on the pokemon, we have the Nidorino - Nidoking evolution line. I really had a hard time deciding between the literal best-fit and the aesthetic best-fit, so I did what any self-respecting media author would do… I asked the players on the team! And they wanted the true rhino, so Cape Town gets Rhyperior as its mascot; he’s got the chubby, he’s got the (two) horns, and he’s got that orange flare to at least bring some of the Cape Town colors home.
For the Cape Town stadium, we’re looking for a rock- or ground-type gym. Many of the rock-type gyms are the first ones encountered in the pokemon game (e.g., Pewter Gym, Rustboro Gym, and Oreburg Gym), meaning they have a reputation for being relatively easy to beat. That just doesn’t fit the fact that Cape Town are the defending Ultimus champions. So let’s look at the ground-type gyms for which there are two options: Viridian Gym with leader Giovanni and the Earth Badge and Driftveil Gym with leader Clay and the Quake Badge. Well, since Giovanni’s typical line up in the original pokemon Red and Blue features a Rhyhorn, and Rhydon, and a Nidoking it seems only fitting that the Cape Town Rhyperior have Viridian Gym as their home stadium.
Chicago Butchers
Pokemon mascot: Bisharp
Stadium: Canalave Gym
Head coach: Byron
Now we consider the Chicago Butchers the ISFL team that, in my opinion, is most desperately in need of a rebrand. So why not a pokemon? So we’re looking for a bladed pokemon that sports a bright silver and red color scheme; the more anthropomorphic the better. With those constraints the short list becomes Pawniard - Bisharp or Scizor. We’re going to go with Bisharp because of the more human form and the fact that his bladed arms are the bright metal that harkens back to the Butcher’s blade. Just imagine some dripping blood from a vanquished foe (or a cut of meat) and you have a perfect fit.
So where does the newly branded Chicago ISFL team play? Naturally, in a steel-type stadium such as Canalave Gym with leader Byron and the Mine Badge or Olivine Gym with leader Jasmine and the Mineral Badge. While I know that the Chicago GMs of old would love to have brought on a lady head coach such as Jasmine, we feel that Byron is a better fit for the Chicago team. So they will be adopting Canalave Gym as their new stadium.
Colorado Yeti
Pokemon mascot: Abomasnow
Stadium: Snowpoint Gym
Head coach: Candice
We travel west from Chicago to Colorado, where we take up the rebrand of the Yeti. We need a gargantuan and cold-weather pokemon to represent this team – one that will leave big, mysterious footprints in the snowy forest slopes. Asking in ISFL general chat led me to discover the wonderful Galarian form of Darmanitan, who is a delightfully bulbous and furry creature that transforms fire-type Darmanitan into ice-type. However, we can’t overlook the wonderful Abomasnow, the “frost tree” pokemon who perfectly blends grass- and ice-type to match the hippie, nature-loving, and cold nature of the Colorado mountains. So we have to go with Abomasnow for the Colorado Yeti’s pokemon mascot.
For Colorado’s new stadium, there are many ice-type gyms that could host the new team. The options include Mahogany Gym with leader Pryce and the Glacier Badge, Snowpoint Gym with leader Candice and the Icicle Badge, Icirrus Gym with leader Brycen and the Freeze Badge, Snowbelle Gym with leader Wulfric and the Iceberg Badge, and Glaseado Gym with leader Grusha and the Ice Badge. Since Colorado is an ISFL franchise with a strong legacy of female GMs, it’s only fitting that they would have a female head coach at the helm. So it’s a perfect fit to bring on as head coach Candice, who is known for training Abomasnow, and playing at Snowpoint Gym as the new Colorado stadium.
Sarasota Sailfish
Pokemon mascot: Seaking
Stadium: Sootopolis Gym
Head coach: Wallace
Next up are the Sarasota Sailfish, the fun-loving and ocean-frolicking fishe team of the ISFL. When it comes to assigning Sarasota a pokemon mascot, there are a lot of fish pokemon to choose from, such as Magikarp, Goldeen - Seaking, Chinchou - Lanturn, Remoraid, Barboach - Whiscash, Basculin, and many more. But despite so many options, none of the fish are similar to the sailfish or marlin of the family Istiophoridae. So, while some players on Sarasota wanted to go with a meme option to match their carefree nature (think: Wishiwashi), the shortlist was created based on which fish pokemon had a prominent snout or other protrusion from their face or forehead. The shortlist became Lanturn, Seaking, or Gorebyss. Having polled the team, the final pokemon mascot became Seaking to preserve the S-alliteration with Sarasota.
Now where will the newly branded Sarasota pokemon team play? Well, it will have to be a water-type stadium, which doesn’t narrow it down very much. There are a lot of options, including Cerulean Gym with leader Misty and the Cascade Badge, Sootopolis Gym with leader Wallace and the Rain Badge, Pastoria Gym with leader Crasher Wake and the Fen Badge, Humilau Gym with leader Marlon and the Wave Badge, Hulbury Gym with leader Nessa and the Water Badge, and the Cascarrafa Gym with leader Kofu and (also) the Water Badge. While we have a special fondness for the original Cerulean Gym, since Sarasota is an S22 expansion franchise such an old-school gym may not be the best fit as the home stadium. So Sarasota will settle at Sootopolis Gym under the leadership of Wallace. In the Ruby and Sapphire series, Wallace is known to train up Seaking and Sootopolis Stadium just keeps the S-alliteration going. Couldn’t ask for anything more!
Yellowknife Wraiths
Pokemon mascot: Duskull
Stadium: Montenevera Gym
Head coach: Ryme
And rounding out the NSFC we have the Yellowknife Wraiths. Known for their cold and spooky skull-based logo, the team is probably looking for a dark- or ghost-type pokemon for their rebrand. The pokemon that come to mind are Darkrai and, of course, Duskull. As a bit of a wildcard, we also added Glalie to the short-list since it gives off a bit of a skull-like and floating appearance and its ice-type could fit the chilly demeanor of a Wraith, that icy blue color of their current uniforms, and the climate of Yellowknife. But after thorough consideration, we will have to go with the literal fit in Duskull for the Yellowknife pokemon mascot.
And for the stadium, we will consider ghost-type arenas to match the pokemon mascot. For options we have: Ecruteak Gym with leader Morty and the Fog Badge, Hearthome Gym with leader Fantina and the Relic Badge, Stow-on-Side Stadium and leader Allister and the Ghost Badge, or Montenevera Gym with leader Ryme and (also) the Ghost Badge. For this one, it came down to the vibe of the stadium itself (in addition to the trainers and leaders affiliated with it). Ecruteak feels like a dojo while Hearthome gives off more haunted mansion vibes rather than evil, cold, mountain lair and Stow-on-Side feels like a big-city stadium. That leaves Montenevera Gym, which looks like a fridge nestled up into the cold, forested mountains of Paldea. It will feel just like home for the Yellowknife team as their new stadium.
ASFC
Arizona Outlaws
Pokemon mascot: Krokorok
Stadium: Spikemuth Gym
Head coach: Piers and Marnie
First up in the ASFC we have the Arizona Outlaws. Now this was a bit of a tough team to match to a pokemon because of the anthropomorphic nature of the team’s original mascot. However, going off of some of the key features and figurative interpretations of the team, a short-list was developed. This included Magmortar (because of his guns), Thievul (because outlaws are, by legend, thieves of the Wild West), and Krokorok - Krookodile (because of his eye mask and gold, black, and red-ish color scheme). Again, as any self-respecting media author would do when unsure of the right choice for another team, I polled some players. And they chose Krookodile because he is “smug, like us.” Hmm… good self-awareness, I guess.
Krokorok is a dual-type ground and dark pokemon, so he would feel most comfortable training in a new home stadium with a similar focus. And it just feels like dark-type is the best fit for the Arizona brand, so that leaves only one option for their new stadium: Spikemuth Gym with leaders Piers and Marnie and awarding the Dark Badge.
Austin Copperheads
Pokemon mascot: Seviper
Stadium: Turffield Gym
Head coach: Milo
Staying in the South we move from Arizona to Austin, where we meet with the Copperheads franchise to discuss their pokemon rebrand. They obviously want a snake pokemon, so we short-list Ekans - Arbok, Snivy - Servine - Serperior, Seviper, and Silicobra - Sandaconda. The Copperheads are looing for a pokemon as closely evocative to their pit viper namesake, so we go with Seviper. While its coloring is a bit different from the teal and bronze-brown of Austin’s current uniforms, its fanged face and forked tongue will make for a true-to-original refresh.
For Austin’s new stadium, we could go with a grass-type or a poison-type, as copperheads are ground-dwelling, venomous snakes. For poison-type gyms, the options are Fuchsia Gym with leaders Koga (or Janine) and the Soul Badge or Virbank Gym with leader Roxie and the Toxic Badge. For grass-type gyms, the options are more numerous, including: Celadon Gym with leader Erika and the Rainbow Badge, Eterna Gym with leader Gardenia and the Forest Badge, Coumarine Gym with leader Ramos and the Plant Badge, Turffield Gym with leader Milo and the Grass Badge, and Artazon Gym with leader Brassius and the (also) Grass Badge. Leaning towards a grass-type gym, but eliminating those that seem to evoke a garden or greenhouse, the two gyms that remain are Coumarine and Turffield. Coumarine Gym features a giant tree with a vine-based obstacle course that players could use to train, but Turffield Gym tests players by herding Wooloo. What could be more Texas than that?! So Austin brings leader Milo of Turffield to take on the head coaching role of their new pokemon-themed franchise.
Honolulu Hahalua
Pokemon mascot: Mantine
Stadium: Humilau
Head coach: Marlon
Next up we have the Honolulu Hahalua - the other fish team. This time, it’s almost too easy that we’re not having fun anymore. There is only one manta ray pokemon evolution line in the game: Mantike - Mantine. In the spirit of keeping ISFL teams as fully-evolved as possible, the Hahalua adopt Mantine as their pokemon mascot.
And for the stadium, we’re back to the water-type gyms. As arch-rivals Sarasota and Honolulu would never train in the same part of the ocean, we are left with Cerulean, Pastoria, Humilau, Hulbury, and Cascarrafa Gyms as our options. We are immediately drawn to Humilau for or sounding like it might be well situated on a Pacific Island and for having the nice H alliteration with Honolulu. This choice is only further confirmed when researching leader Marlon, who has experience training Mantine as well as some other wonderful ocean creatures.
New York Silverbacks
Pokemon mascot: Rillaboom
Stadium: Coumarine Gym
Head coach: Ramos
Welcome to New York! Home of the Silverbacks ISFL franchise and their quest for a new pokemon mascot. There are a lot of monkey pokemon for the team to choose from, such as the Mankey - Primape, Aipom - Ambipom, and Pansage/pour/sear - Simisage/pour/sear evolution lines, Chimchar - Monferno - Infernape, Passimian, Oranguru, or Darmanitan. But what must be kept in mind is that the Silverbacks are not truly monkeys, they are apes! So we have to go with the alpha of all ape pokemon for the team: Rillaboom. He’s also got that black and green coloring that the team already sports.
Choosing a new home stadium for New York’s pokemon theme was less straightforward as choosing their new mascot. The city, known for its cosmopolitan skyscrapers might lend itself to a steel-type gym, but none were a good fit. So we decided to replace the concrete jungle with a literal jungle and take the apes to Coumarine Gym. Under the leadership of Ramos, who awards the Plant Badge, the silverbacks are able to live beneath the sheltering canopy as they train to take over the planet… or league.
New Orleans Second Line
Pokemon mascot: Jigglypuff
Stadium: Virbank Gym
Head coach: Roxie
Moving on to the New Orleans Second Line, this was probably the hardest team to assign a pokemon mascot. Going off of the music theme, Kriketune was one option but the coloring and vibe just didn’t match the carnival-esque nature of the Second Line. One user suggested unown. Searching turned up the pokemon Meloetta, introduced in generation V, but she just doesn’t inspire. She seems derivative, while New Orleans represents the soulful homeland of Jazz and other music. So we have to go with the original, best-known musical pokemon for the team: Jigglypuff.
If New Orleans were going to adopt a new normal-type home stadium, it would be Goldenrod Gym with leader Whitney, awarding the Plain Badge. She has tremendous experience training Jigglypuff. But what New Orleans Second Line need in a new head coach is anything but normal – the need someone who can orchestrate a music-themed rebuild. And there is only one musical gym leader in the Pokemon world up to the task: Roxie of Virbank Gym. While she may be a bit Toxic, she has a way of commanding the home-town crowd and will conduct the team to victory.
Orange County Otters
Pokemon mascot: Floatzel
Stadium: Cerulean Gym
Head coach: Misty
Next up we have the Orange County Otters! There are two main evolution line options for otter pokemon: Oshawott - Dewott (but not Samurott) and Buizel - Floatzel. Of these, Buizel - Floatzel are orange, which make them a natural fit. So, in locking in the higher evolution, Orange County gets Floatzel as its pokemon mascot!
And for Orange County’s home stadium we are back to the water-type gyms. Sarasota has already claimed Sootopolis Gym and the Honolulu will play at Humilau Gym. This limits the options for Orange County to Cerulean, Pastoria, Hulbury, and Cascarrafa Gyms. Pastoria Gym could be a good fit as leader Wake has extensive experience training with Floatzel, but as the oldest of all the water franchises (a founding S1 franchise, even), Orange County has a strong claim on Cerulean as their home stadium. Since Misty fits in perfectly with the other Valley girls in the OC, Orange County will begin training their new pokemon-branded team in Cerulean.
San Jose Sabercats
Pokemon mascot: Raikou
Stadium: Vermilion Gym
Head coach: Lt. Surge
And last (and maybe least?) we have the San Jose Sabercats! We have so many choices for a derp-cat mascot: Meowth - Persian, Skitty - Delcatty, and Glameow - Purugly to name a few. But we won’t do that to the Sabercats, who have waited until the very end of this article (or impatiently scrolled all the way down) to learn what ferocious feline will represent them on as their pokemon mascot. And that would have to be Raikou, with his two prominent fangs, he is most evocative of a sabercat.
For the San Jose stadium, it makes sense to consider electric-type gyms to match the team’s new pokemon mascot and the aura of Silicon Valley. For electric gyms we consider: Vermilion Gym with leader Lt. Surge and the Thunder Badge, Mauville Gym with leader Wattson and the Dynamo Badge, Sunyshore Gym with leader Volkner and the Beacon Badge, Nimbasa Gym with leader Elesa and the Bolt Badge, Lumiose Gym with leader Clemont and the Voltage Badge, and Levincia Gym with leader Iono and the Electric Badge. Like Orange County, San Jose is an original S1 ISFL franchise and it has the most veteran GM of any team in CKRoyal. So it’s only natural that they would bring in another (war) veteran in Lt. Surge to lead their newly-charged pokemon team. San Jose adopts Vermilion Gym as its home stadium.
Having finished this article, I actually think that there is a pokemon that fits most ISFL teams very well. So I would like to petition all ISFL GMs to consider banding together for a pokemon-themed color rush for S43. We could even give the winners of the color rush games the badge of the hosting gym. Any takers?
NSFC
Baltimore Hawks
Pokemon mascot: Talonflame
Stadium: Violet Gym
Head coach: Falkner
So we will kick things off with the Baltimore Hawks. Assigning this team a pokemon seemed relatively straightforward at first: just pick one of the many flying-type bird pokemon available. But there are so many choices! We have to narrow it down. So I start by looking for those that are most reminiscent of birds of prey (excluding owls). That gives me a short-list of Braviary, Staraptor, Fearow, Pidgeot, and Talonflame. Of those, Braviary and Staraptor are most reminiscent of eagles while Fearow is reminiscent of a vulture. So that narrows down further to Pidgeot and Talonflame as the most hawk-like pokemon options. From those, I choose Talonflame because of its sleeker face and coloring which better match the vibe of the Baltimore Hawks logo.
When it comes to the Hawks’ stadium, we have three main options for flying-type gyms in the pokemon game series: Violet Gym with leader Falkner and the Zephyr Badge, Foretree Gym with leader Winona and the Feather Badge, and Mistralton Gym with leader Skyla and the Jet Badge. I’m going with the Violet Gym because it’s the most pure flying/normal type of the lot and its trainers and leader use the most birds of prey or their pre-evolutions.
Berlin Fire Salamanders
Pokemon mascot: Salazzle
Stadium: Violet Gym
Head coach: Kabu
Next up we have the Berlin Fire Salamanders. So we are looking for a fire-type lizard pokemon. The most obvious options are Charmelion (although he’s more of a dragon) and the Salandit - Salazzle evolution tree. While Salandit better matches the colors of Berlin, because we are talking about ISFL teams, I feel I should give preference to final evolutions… so we will go with Salazzle for Berlin’s pokemon mascot. Other ISFL teams beware as the combination of poison and fire make these salamanders extra dangerous.
On to the stadium! We are looking for a fire-type gym, which again gives us three main options: Cinnabar Gym with leader Blaine and the Volcano Badge, Lavaridge Gym with leader Flannery and the Heat Badge, and Motostoke Gym with leader Kabu and the Fire Badge. For the Fire Salamanders’ Stadium we’re looking for the gym with the most lizard-like foes to match their home-town team, so we go with Motostoke Gym because the trainers and leader in the gym have Salandit, Sizzlipede, and Centiskorch.
Cape Town Crash
Pokemon mascot: Rhyperior
Stadium: Viridian Gym
Head coach: Giovanni
Horns up! It’s time for the Cape Town Crash pokemon rebrand. Affectionately known as the chubby purple unicorns, we’re looking for a rhino pokemon. That immediately puts the Rhyhorn - Rhydon - Rhyperior evolution onto the short list, but its grey color just doesn’t match the bright purple and orange of the Crash’s current brand. So if we want to match the purple and still have a prominent horn on the pokemon, we have the Nidorino - Nidoking evolution line. I really had a hard time deciding between the literal best-fit and the aesthetic best-fit, so I did what any self-respecting media author would do… I asked the players on the team! And they wanted the true rhino, so Cape Town gets Rhyperior as its mascot; he’s got the chubby, he’s got the (two) horns, and he’s got that orange flare to at least bring some of the Cape Town colors home.
For the Cape Town stadium, we’re looking for a rock- or ground-type gym. Many of the rock-type gyms are the first ones encountered in the pokemon game (e.g., Pewter Gym, Rustboro Gym, and Oreburg Gym), meaning they have a reputation for being relatively easy to beat. That just doesn’t fit the fact that Cape Town are the defending Ultimus champions. So let’s look at the ground-type gyms for which there are two options: Viridian Gym with leader Giovanni and the Earth Badge and Driftveil Gym with leader Clay and the Quake Badge. Well, since Giovanni’s typical line up in the original pokemon Red and Blue features a Rhyhorn, and Rhydon, and a Nidoking it seems only fitting that the Cape Town Rhyperior have Viridian Gym as their home stadium.
Chicago Butchers
Pokemon mascot: Bisharp
Stadium: Canalave Gym
Head coach: Byron
Now we consider the Chicago Butchers the ISFL team that, in my opinion, is most desperately in need of a rebrand. So why not a pokemon? So we’re looking for a bladed pokemon that sports a bright silver and red color scheme; the more anthropomorphic the better. With those constraints the short list becomes Pawniard - Bisharp or Scizor. We’re going to go with Bisharp because of the more human form and the fact that his bladed arms are the bright metal that harkens back to the Butcher’s blade. Just imagine some dripping blood from a vanquished foe (or a cut of meat) and you have a perfect fit.
So where does the newly branded Chicago ISFL team play? Naturally, in a steel-type stadium such as Canalave Gym with leader Byron and the Mine Badge or Olivine Gym with leader Jasmine and the Mineral Badge. While I know that the Chicago GMs of old would love to have brought on a lady head coach such as Jasmine, we feel that Byron is a better fit for the Chicago team. So they will be adopting Canalave Gym as their new stadium.
Colorado Yeti
Pokemon mascot: Abomasnow
Stadium: Snowpoint Gym
Head coach: Candice
We travel west from Chicago to Colorado, where we take up the rebrand of the Yeti. We need a gargantuan and cold-weather pokemon to represent this team – one that will leave big, mysterious footprints in the snowy forest slopes. Asking in ISFL general chat led me to discover the wonderful Galarian form of Darmanitan, who is a delightfully bulbous and furry creature that transforms fire-type Darmanitan into ice-type. However, we can’t overlook the wonderful Abomasnow, the “frost tree” pokemon who perfectly blends grass- and ice-type to match the hippie, nature-loving, and cold nature of the Colorado mountains. So we have to go with Abomasnow for the Colorado Yeti’s pokemon mascot.
For Colorado’s new stadium, there are many ice-type gyms that could host the new team. The options include Mahogany Gym with leader Pryce and the Glacier Badge, Snowpoint Gym with leader Candice and the Icicle Badge, Icirrus Gym with leader Brycen and the Freeze Badge, Snowbelle Gym with leader Wulfric and the Iceberg Badge, and Glaseado Gym with leader Grusha and the Ice Badge. Since Colorado is an ISFL franchise with a strong legacy of female GMs, it’s only fitting that they would have a female head coach at the helm. So it’s a perfect fit to bring on as head coach Candice, who is known for training Abomasnow, and playing at Snowpoint Gym as the new Colorado stadium.
Sarasota Sailfish
Pokemon mascot: Seaking
Stadium: Sootopolis Gym
Head coach: Wallace
Next up are the Sarasota Sailfish, the fun-loving and ocean-frolicking fishe team of the ISFL. When it comes to assigning Sarasota a pokemon mascot, there are a lot of fish pokemon to choose from, such as Magikarp, Goldeen - Seaking, Chinchou - Lanturn, Remoraid, Barboach - Whiscash, Basculin, and many more. But despite so many options, none of the fish are similar to the sailfish or marlin of the family Istiophoridae. So, while some players on Sarasota wanted to go with a meme option to match their carefree nature (think: Wishiwashi), the shortlist was created based on which fish pokemon had a prominent snout or other protrusion from their face or forehead. The shortlist became Lanturn, Seaking, or Gorebyss. Having polled the team, the final pokemon mascot became Seaking to preserve the S-alliteration with Sarasota.
Now where will the newly branded Sarasota pokemon team play? Well, it will have to be a water-type stadium, which doesn’t narrow it down very much. There are a lot of options, including Cerulean Gym with leader Misty and the Cascade Badge, Sootopolis Gym with leader Wallace and the Rain Badge, Pastoria Gym with leader Crasher Wake and the Fen Badge, Humilau Gym with leader Marlon and the Wave Badge, Hulbury Gym with leader Nessa and the Water Badge, and the Cascarrafa Gym with leader Kofu and (also) the Water Badge. While we have a special fondness for the original Cerulean Gym, since Sarasota is an S22 expansion franchise such an old-school gym may not be the best fit as the home stadium. So Sarasota will settle at Sootopolis Gym under the leadership of Wallace. In the Ruby and Sapphire series, Wallace is known to train up Seaking and Sootopolis Stadium just keeps the S-alliteration going. Couldn’t ask for anything more!
Yellowknife Wraiths
Pokemon mascot: Duskull
Stadium: Montenevera Gym
Head coach: Ryme
And rounding out the NSFC we have the Yellowknife Wraiths. Known for their cold and spooky skull-based logo, the team is probably looking for a dark- or ghost-type pokemon for their rebrand. The pokemon that come to mind are Darkrai and, of course, Duskull. As a bit of a wildcard, we also added Glalie to the short-list since it gives off a bit of a skull-like and floating appearance and its ice-type could fit the chilly demeanor of a Wraith, that icy blue color of their current uniforms, and the climate of Yellowknife. But after thorough consideration, we will have to go with the literal fit in Duskull for the Yellowknife pokemon mascot.
And for the stadium, we will consider ghost-type arenas to match the pokemon mascot. For options we have: Ecruteak Gym with leader Morty and the Fog Badge, Hearthome Gym with leader Fantina and the Relic Badge, Stow-on-Side Stadium and leader Allister and the Ghost Badge, or Montenevera Gym with leader Ryme and (also) the Ghost Badge. For this one, it came down to the vibe of the stadium itself (in addition to the trainers and leaders affiliated with it). Ecruteak feels like a dojo while Hearthome gives off more haunted mansion vibes rather than evil, cold, mountain lair and Stow-on-Side feels like a big-city stadium. That leaves Montenevera Gym, which looks like a fridge nestled up into the cold, forested mountains of Paldea. It will feel just like home for the Yellowknife team as their new stadium.
ASFC
Arizona Outlaws
Pokemon mascot: Krokorok
Stadium: Spikemuth Gym
Head coach: Piers and Marnie
First up in the ASFC we have the Arizona Outlaws. Now this was a bit of a tough team to match to a pokemon because of the anthropomorphic nature of the team’s original mascot. However, going off of some of the key features and figurative interpretations of the team, a short-list was developed. This included Magmortar (because of his guns), Thievul (because outlaws are, by legend, thieves of the Wild West), and Krokorok - Krookodile (because of his eye mask and gold, black, and red-ish color scheme). Again, as any self-respecting media author would do when unsure of the right choice for another team, I polled some players. And they chose Krookodile because he is “smug, like us.” Hmm… good self-awareness, I guess.
Krokorok is a dual-type ground and dark pokemon, so he would feel most comfortable training in a new home stadium with a similar focus. And it just feels like dark-type is the best fit for the Arizona brand, so that leaves only one option for their new stadium: Spikemuth Gym with leaders Piers and Marnie and awarding the Dark Badge.
Austin Copperheads
Pokemon mascot: Seviper
Stadium: Turffield Gym
Head coach: Milo
Staying in the South we move from Arizona to Austin, where we meet with the Copperheads franchise to discuss their pokemon rebrand. They obviously want a snake pokemon, so we short-list Ekans - Arbok, Snivy - Servine - Serperior, Seviper, and Silicobra - Sandaconda. The Copperheads are looing for a pokemon as closely evocative to their pit viper namesake, so we go with Seviper. While its coloring is a bit different from the teal and bronze-brown of Austin’s current uniforms, its fanged face and forked tongue will make for a true-to-original refresh.
For Austin’s new stadium, we could go with a grass-type or a poison-type, as copperheads are ground-dwelling, venomous snakes. For poison-type gyms, the options are Fuchsia Gym with leaders Koga (or Janine) and the Soul Badge or Virbank Gym with leader Roxie and the Toxic Badge. For grass-type gyms, the options are more numerous, including: Celadon Gym with leader Erika and the Rainbow Badge, Eterna Gym with leader Gardenia and the Forest Badge, Coumarine Gym with leader Ramos and the Plant Badge, Turffield Gym with leader Milo and the Grass Badge, and Artazon Gym with leader Brassius and the (also) Grass Badge. Leaning towards a grass-type gym, but eliminating those that seem to evoke a garden or greenhouse, the two gyms that remain are Coumarine and Turffield. Coumarine Gym features a giant tree with a vine-based obstacle course that players could use to train, but Turffield Gym tests players by herding Wooloo. What could be more Texas than that?! So Austin brings leader Milo of Turffield to take on the head coaching role of their new pokemon-themed franchise.
Honolulu Hahalua
Pokemon mascot: Mantine
Stadium: Humilau
Head coach: Marlon
Next up we have the Honolulu Hahalua - the other fish team. This time, it’s almost too easy that we’re not having fun anymore. There is only one manta ray pokemon evolution line in the game: Mantike - Mantine. In the spirit of keeping ISFL teams as fully-evolved as possible, the Hahalua adopt Mantine as their pokemon mascot.
And for the stadium, we’re back to the water-type gyms. As arch-rivals Sarasota and Honolulu would never train in the same part of the ocean, we are left with Cerulean, Pastoria, Humilau, Hulbury, and Cascarrafa Gyms as our options. We are immediately drawn to Humilau for or sounding like it might be well situated on a Pacific Island and for having the nice H alliteration with Honolulu. This choice is only further confirmed when researching leader Marlon, who has experience training Mantine as well as some other wonderful ocean creatures.
New York Silverbacks
Pokemon mascot: Rillaboom
Stadium: Coumarine Gym
Head coach: Ramos
Welcome to New York! Home of the Silverbacks ISFL franchise and their quest for a new pokemon mascot. There are a lot of monkey pokemon for the team to choose from, such as the Mankey - Primape, Aipom - Ambipom, and Pansage/pour/sear - Simisage/pour/sear evolution lines, Chimchar - Monferno - Infernape, Passimian, Oranguru, or Darmanitan. But what must be kept in mind is that the Silverbacks are not truly monkeys, they are apes! So we have to go with the alpha of all ape pokemon for the team: Rillaboom. He’s also got that black and green coloring that the team already sports.
Choosing a new home stadium for New York’s pokemon theme was less straightforward as choosing their new mascot. The city, known for its cosmopolitan skyscrapers might lend itself to a steel-type gym, but none were a good fit. So we decided to replace the concrete jungle with a literal jungle and take the apes to Coumarine Gym. Under the leadership of Ramos, who awards the Plant Badge, the silverbacks are able to live beneath the sheltering canopy as they train to take over the planet… or league.
New Orleans Second Line
Pokemon mascot: Jigglypuff
Stadium: Virbank Gym
Head coach: Roxie
Moving on to the New Orleans Second Line, this was probably the hardest team to assign a pokemon mascot. Going off of the music theme, Kriketune was one option but the coloring and vibe just didn’t match the carnival-esque nature of the Second Line. One user suggested unown. Searching turned up the pokemon Meloetta, introduced in generation V, but she just doesn’t inspire. She seems derivative, while New Orleans represents the soulful homeland of Jazz and other music. So we have to go with the original, best-known musical pokemon for the team: Jigglypuff.
If New Orleans were going to adopt a new normal-type home stadium, it would be Goldenrod Gym with leader Whitney, awarding the Plain Badge. She has tremendous experience training Jigglypuff. But what New Orleans Second Line need in a new head coach is anything but normal – the need someone who can orchestrate a music-themed rebuild. And there is only one musical gym leader in the Pokemon world up to the task: Roxie of Virbank Gym. While she may be a bit Toxic, she has a way of commanding the home-town crowd and will conduct the team to victory.
Orange County Otters
Pokemon mascot: Floatzel
Stadium: Cerulean Gym
Head coach: Misty
Next up we have the Orange County Otters! There are two main evolution line options for otter pokemon: Oshawott - Dewott (but not Samurott) and Buizel - Floatzel. Of these, Buizel - Floatzel are orange, which make them a natural fit. So, in locking in the higher evolution, Orange County gets Floatzel as its pokemon mascot!
And for Orange County’s home stadium we are back to the water-type gyms. Sarasota has already claimed Sootopolis Gym and the Honolulu will play at Humilau Gym. This limits the options for Orange County to Cerulean, Pastoria, Hulbury, and Cascarrafa Gyms. Pastoria Gym could be a good fit as leader Wake has extensive experience training with Floatzel, but as the oldest of all the water franchises (a founding S1 franchise, even), Orange County has a strong claim on Cerulean as their home stadium. Since Misty fits in perfectly with the other Valley girls in the OC, Orange County will begin training their new pokemon-branded team in Cerulean.
San Jose Sabercats
Pokemon mascot: Raikou
Stadium: Vermilion Gym
Head coach: Lt. Surge
And last (and maybe least?) we have the San Jose Sabercats! We have so many choices for a derp-cat mascot: Meowth - Persian, Skitty - Delcatty, and Glameow - Purugly to name a few. But we won’t do that to the Sabercats, who have waited until the very end of this article (or impatiently scrolled all the way down) to learn what ferocious feline will represent them on as their pokemon mascot. And that would have to be Raikou, with his two prominent fangs, he is most evocative of a sabercat.
For the San Jose stadium, it makes sense to consider electric-type gyms to match the team’s new pokemon mascot and the aura of Silicon Valley. For electric gyms we consider: Vermilion Gym with leader Lt. Surge and the Thunder Badge, Mauville Gym with leader Wattson and the Dynamo Badge, Sunyshore Gym with leader Volkner and the Beacon Badge, Nimbasa Gym with leader Elesa and the Bolt Badge, Lumiose Gym with leader Clemont and the Voltage Badge, and Levincia Gym with leader Iono and the Electric Badge. Like Orange County, San Jose is an original S1 ISFL franchise and it has the most veteran GM of any team in CKRoyal. So it’s only natural that they would bring in another (war) veteran in Lt. Surge to lead their newly-charged pokemon team. San Jose adopts Vermilion Gym as its home stadium.