Posted on 02/15/2006 5:36:26 AM PST by Dog Gone
If you're one of the thousands who went out and bought a Houston 1836 T-shirt, run to your closet, bag it and hide it in a safe place.
If you don't have one, hurry to a nearby sporting goods store. The shirts are about to become collector's items.
Why? You might say the team is having an identity crisis.
Harris County Precinct 2 Commissioner Sylvia Garcia said Tuesday that Philip Anschutz, owner of the Anschutz Entertainment Group, which in turn controls 1836, confirmed that a name change is in the works for the Major League Soccer franchise.
"He (Anschutz) indicated that they (AEG) were strongly considering a name change, and before the weekend was over they committed that they would be doing it." said Garcia, whose director of communications, Paul Mabry, met with Anschutz over the weekend in Los Angeles. "I've confirmed that (that they would change the name) today (Tuesday) with the owner, Philip Anschutz, who's the CEO of the Anschutz Entertainment Group. I suspect we'll be hearing an official announcement very soon."
A person close to the situation said "Lonestar" or "Lone Star" looks to be the team's next name. Choices such as Apollos or Mustangs also are being considered, the person said. An announcement is expected no later than Tuesday.
News of an impending name change might catch fans by surprise, but such a radical measure had been demanded by many in the Mexican-American, corporate and political communities since the team's unveiling of 1836 and logo Jan. 26.
The name also has been the subject of debate and scrutiny by the Spanish-language media.
Neither MLS nor 1836 president Oliver Luck could confirm Garcia's assertion, saying only that no decision has been made. Calls to AEG went unanswered Tuesday.
"We're leaning toward changing the name," Luck said. "At this point, a final decision hasn't been made.
"We've listened to concerns that people have within the Mexican-American community, in particular, and we're giving it due consideration. It's a complicated decision, obviously, which involves a lot of different parties (including) the league and the owner."
Many Hispanics have voiced their dislike for the controversial name, claiming it carries an anti-Mexican sentiment and lends itself to be a divisive tool among Houstonians.
Although 1836 was meant to symbolize the year Houston was founded, it also has links to other significant events some Mexican-Americans might find offensive. Those include Texas' independence from Mexico, the Battle of the Alamo and the defeat of Gen. Antonio López de Santa Anna's Mexican army at the hands of Gen. Sam Houston in the Battle of San Jacinto during the Texas Revolution.
The logo, a star with "Houston 1836" emblazoned on it, depicts a silhouette of Houston riding a horse.
"We believed, and many people still do, that 1836 was a great name because it symbolized the founding of the city, and we thought people would rally around that," Luck said. "But obviously we hit a bit of a raw nerve within the Mexican-American community."
Garcia, who initiated the dialogue with AEG, had been one of the more vocal elected officials to echo the feelings of Hispanics.
"While I have been an ardent supporter of bringing professional soccer to the area, I have privately and publicly encouraged the organization to strongly consider a more appropriate name, one which is free of controversy and embraced with enthusiasm by all segments of the community," Garcia said in a release last week.
If 1836 hasn't been ditched, the league seemed apologetic to those who claim to be offended.
"The bottom line is that at no time did the team or Major League Soccer ever want to offend any members of the Houston community," said league spokesman Dan Courtemanche. "We certainly apologize to those who feel wronged or insulted. We're listening to their concerns, and we're carefully analyzing the situation. We want everyone to be part of Major League Soccer in Houston."
The name 1836 was the leader in an online poll conducted after AEG announced the move of the franchise, known as the Earthquakes, from San Jose, Calif., in December.
Of more than 11,000 hits, 1836 garnered around 20 percent, or around 2,200 votes, a team official said.
The franchise has a history with names. A charter member of MLS, it was originally called the Clash. The name changed to Earthquakes in 1999.
Most of the movies about the Alamo are heavily romanticized and not very accurate, historically. To believe them to be otherwise than Hollywood's attempt to rewrite history in their own image is dangerous........
And tear down the San Jacinto Monument out at battlefield park off of HWY225.
Honestly, this decision was more economic than anything...I am sure there are a lot of Freepers that like soccer but only the latins are really into it.
Well, it *was* a stupid name to begin with, but not for this reason.
The owners said at the time that many of the other soccer teams have 'unusual' numerical names and nicknames. Funny, they didn't give a single example.
And in other sports, they sure don't call 'em "The 1849" or "The 1776".
Why not just name them the 'Fiestas Patrias' and be done with it?
Even though this is about a stupid soccer team, you'll both find this interesting.
You forget to mention christian.
German soccer teams such as Hannover 96 (1896), Bayer 04 Leverkusen, FC Schalke 04 (both 1904) and FSV Mainz 05 (1905) are among the most popular in Europe.
I suggest they change thier name to the Houston PC Pussies.
An obscenity comes to mind here.
I think you hit it on the head with that sentence, but may not have realized it. Are you aware that there is a huge move afoot---not yet being talked about much--for Mexico to take back Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, and part of California?
I know this sounds absurd, and sort of poohed-poohed it when I first began hearing about it--but, little by little you learn more. I think the reason there's so much controversy over the name 1836 is because these Mexicans don't want people reminded of Santa Ana's defeat,.
There is even a course being taught at the University of Texas here in Austin, on the legitimacy of Mexico legally owning all of that territory.
The way the world has gone completely mad in the låst 20 or 30 years, it would not surprise me a bit to see Mexico try this. Look at what their attitude has been concerning illegal aliens--what's more bizarre than that?
There's Mex. store in my town that is an Alamo car rental agent. I always get a snicker when I drive past the Alamo sign with a big Mex. flag.
And should do so immediately~!
Don't Mess with Texas!!!!
"One of my boy's favorite movies is The Alamo. They run around fighting off Santa Ana's Mexican army. Does that make me a bad dad?
"
Yes. The PC police are on the way.
Though I disagree with the name change. I still can't help but yawn at talk of the 10th most popular sport in Texas - Soccerrrr.
Just biding time until they can take it back.
Yes they can all go back to Mexico where they came from, especially the 10 illegals that live behind us, yesterday I called one of them over and told them their boys had better stop throwing golfballs and rocks at my garage door because the next time it happens the Police will be here to tell them to knock it off and proceeded to show him the collection of golfballs we have as evidence. And if possible the INS will be called, (oh yeh I am sure that scared them NOT!)
So does the Houston Sports Authority. Houston has been looted by the powers that be.
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