A.J. McCloud Sports Legacy

How Crestmont, California will become the next big sports town!

Hello again!

So remember when I said that I had an amalgam of hobbies and interests? That’s correct - it was my last post!

I introduce you to my creation: Crestmont City. A sports utopia built by entrepreneur A.J. McCloud. (For some backstory: A.J. McCloud was always the name of an owner or general manager that I would use whenever playing any sort of sports game. )

I was starting a new franchise in Madden 25 one day, donning my normal A.J. McCloud moniker when I suddenly had a thought:

How cool would it be to have a utopian sports city? A city where all of its people are bound together by the joy, sorrow, excitement, and hope that sports can bring?

This thought spawned many a wakeful night (love you son) where I started mapping out a city. I knew that I wanted a sports utopia that encompassed themes of fantasy, with all of the sporting teams reflecting this.

Then - I mapped out the sports. I went with the big 5 (Baseball, Football, Soccer, Basketball, and Hockey) and started creating names:

1. Crestmont Ironclad (MLB)

   Team Colors: Steel Gray, Crimson, and Black

   1. Mascot: Ironheart – A powerful armored warrior with a mechanical suit made of gleaming steel plates. Ironheart is symbolic of unbreakable strength and resilience, representing the enduring spirit of the team. His heart, encased in steel, pulses with energy, and he stands as a guardian of Crestmont's legacy in the sport.

2. Crestmont Red Dragons (NFL)

   Team Colors: Steel Gray, Crimson, and Black

   1. Mascot: Inferno –a fire-breathing, armored red dragon with glowing eyes and massive wings

3. Crestmont Valkyries (NHL)

   Team Colors: Silver, Midnight Blue, and Ice White

   1. Mascot: Freya – A majestic Valkyrie with glowing silver armor and flowing wings. She symbolizes strength, courage, and the ethereal beauty of Crestmont’s high peaks. Her wings are her most notable feature, shimmering with a magical, almost icy glow

4. Crestmont Griffons (MLS)

   Team Colors: Royal Blue, Gold, and White

   1. Mascot: Griff – A regal griffon with the body of a lion and the wings of an eagle. Griff embodies courage, nobility, and agility, constantly soaring above the competition with a watchful eye over the field. His roar is a symbol of Crestmont’s pride.

      

5. Crestmont Arcane (NBA)

   Team Colors: Deep Purple, Black, and Mystic Green

   1. Mascot: Rune – A mystical sorcerer with flowing robes adorned with glowing runes and symbols. Rune represents the hidden magic and arcane power of Crestmont. His staff crackles with energy and is said to control the flow of time and space on the court.

As a side bar, I am not a tech savant by any means. So i created these via Madden 25, NHL 25, EA FC 25 (still doesn’t have the same nice ring that FIFA had), MLB The Show 25, and NBA 2k25.

Unfortunately due to this, it means a couple big things:

1. On Madden I had to relocate a team, so I chose the Arizona Cardinals.

2. Same for EA FC, relocating the San Jose Quakes

3. Same for MLB the Show 25 (Bye bye Oakland A’s!)

I wish those franchises were as flexible as NBA 2k and NHL when it comes to just simply adding expansion teams, but hey - they’re the multi-million dollar companies and I’m just some guy with a blog.

Also of note: obviously Crestmont is not a city, so I had to make due with team city audio names (I.E. “California Valkyries”, “San Jose Arcane”, “San Diego Red Dragons”, etc). Again, not a huge tech guy so I did the best i could with it!

By now you’re probably asking out loud: What’s the point of all this?

Well I hope to create a lore around these teams. I want to make these teams feel ALIVE. I hope that by using some creative smoke and mirrors, I can create seasons worth of content for these teams. All for your reading, and maybe one day, viewing pleasure.

I want to follow these teams and write sports columns about them. I want to be there for the triumphs of underdog wins, and crushing defeats. And I want YOU, dearest reader, to be apart of it. I hope you enjoy it (whenever I have time to roll it out).

Welcome, dearest reader, to Crestmont City: A Kingdom of Sport, a Realm of Dreams!

Go Red Dragons/Valkyries/Griffons/Arcane/Ironclad !

-Anthony