*By Conor White*
As the Short-Season Single-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, it isn't often the Staten Island Yankees make headlines.
That may be why the namesake team announced it would temporarily change its public image, trading in the rich tradition of baseball's most successful team for the street cache of a newly famous New Yorker: Pizza Rat ー [the hungry rodent that just wanted a slice to itself.](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UPXUG8q4jKU)
"It's an aggressive name, I think it's probably a little edgy, a little different," said Staten Island Yankees president Will Smith. "But I think everybody needs to remember that it's a promotion."
Still, the Staten Island Borough president James Oddo called the idea "dopey" in a statement.
The promotion will run for each of the Staten Island Yankees' five Saturday night home games this season, and fans in attendance will see a fully rebranded team, complete with uniforms. In an interview Thursday on Cheddar, Smith said the gear has been flying off the shelves.
"We've pretty much blown through all of our merchandise that we have," said Smith. "We're trying to place re-orders, I was actually trying to do that this morning, trying to order another thousand T-shirts, because we just didn't order enough, and you just don't know, but we're actually tracking way, way, way ahead of our entire online sales last year, and so far, so good."
The Pizza Rats name was first floated back in 2016, when it was the overwhelming favorite in an online poll to rename the team. Now, thanks to the promotion's immediate success, fans are wondering: Could the name change become permanent?
"Anything's possible," teased Smith. "I've always said until there's a new name, there's no new name."
For the full interview, [click here](https://cheddar.com/videos/every-pizza-rat-has-its-day).
New York Yankees great Bernie Williams somehow had time to become a Latin Grammy-nominated jazz musician during his 16-year run with the Bronx Bombers. The four-time World Series champion joins Cheddar to discuss his upcoming gig at New York's legendary Café Carlyle.
The four-time World Series champ and current jazz player says that the preparation process for both disciplines is very similar. But Bernie Williams told Cheddar that each career has its own challenges.
March Madness is going to be a little bit crazier than normal this year. A major scandal is rocking college basketball, just before the big tournament.
Dick's Sporting Goods announces it will no longer sell assault-style weapons in its stores. Amazon is buying video doorbell company Ring in a deal worth $1 billion. And is it time for "The Fresh Princess of Bel Air?"
This Changes Things: Advice for the executives and leaders of tomorrow, brought to you by American Express OPEN. On Between Bells: DACA, flying cars, and the Ryan Seacrest scandal. With Motor Trend, YourTango, and Reason Magazine.
Georgia's Lieutenant Governor is calling on Delta to reinstate its relationship with the NRA. The Dow closes down 300 points. Amazon is buying smart doorbell maker Ring. Former NBA star Al Harrington is looking to become the next marijuana mogul. Cronos Group started trading on the Nasdaq Tuesday. The vertically integrated company became the first marijuana company to join a major exchange in the United States.
Three-time Olympic medalist Elana Meyers Taylor was with Cheddar to discuss her journey to becoming the most decorated female U.S. bobsledder in history. Meyers Taylor showed off her shiny new silver medal that she just won at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics.
The former basketball player says his grandmother, who was suffering from glaucoma and diabetes, inspired him to get into this industry. Now, he's working on his own line of products with Harrington Wellness.
A federal judge dismissed a lawsuit challenging AG Jeff Sessions and the DEA on marijuana's classification of a Schedule I drug. The ruling marks a defeat for the plaintiffs who include a 12-year-old girl who treats her epilepsy with medical marijuana, a former professional football player, and a former U.S. Army Combat Veteran. An attorney on the case, and one of the plaintiffs share their reaction to the judges decision.
Since making his first custom car over 25 years ago, Doug DeBerti has made a name for himself in the auto world. Now his son is taking the wheel as he races towards a professional driving career. It's all chronicled in the new Discovery series "Twin Turbos."
