The baseball team in London, Ontario, Canada is a new entry in the independent Frontier League, a 14- team circuit in the US and Canada, whose 2012 season begins in mid-May. When London unveiled their new logo and nickname recently, sparks flew immediately, especially with women's groups.   

The image on the poster introducing the London Rippers bears a strong resemblance to the notorious English serial killer Jack the Ripper, complete with top hat and dagger. No one believes that the Ripper, who is named Jack, is not based on the London murderer, who terrorized the British capital in the 1890s, stalking and brutalizing women. 

A Toronto sports marketer named Richard Powers notes that the team is naive to think they did not have Jack the Ripper in mind when the logo was designed. 

Added Powers:  "It is distasteful, raises negative connotations, and celebrates a very despicable criminal." 

Rippers marketing pitches include the phrase "scare opponents" and their slogan is "Get Ripped."  

The Rippers may have struck out months before any of their players come to the plate.