This ain't no book of fast sports facts. "Naming Rites" works from the history on out to reveal the truths and debunk the creation myths behind nearly three-thousand major league, college, and semi-pro teams. Readers will travel a map of interlocking narratives to reveal one rich tale after another, each infused with more "why-didn't-I-know-that-"ness than the last.

Of team-naming backstories, Bill Littlefield (NPR's "Only a Game") says, "Naming Rites" has "got a million of 'em ... or 455 pages of 'em, anyway." Ex-NFL player and best-selling author Tim Green says, "If you like sports or...