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.
I believe I will start flying an 1836 flag.
Oh, by all means, we should have done what the Euros do, then.
I see our Texas team wanted to be the oldest, though. Ha ha, those teams probably started in those years--the teams themselves!
In Houston, we don't allow anything to stand that was created prior to 1986.
Well what friggin' country are we in?! And does this now give us the right to protest the names of their sports teams? I doubt it.
Agree with the geographics but territorially they were born in Mexico. They just felt no love lost in fighting for freedom from Mexico.
Yeah, no kidding!
Thursdays at the ballpark can be "Free Illegal Immigrant" night. Free beer to illegal's that can provide evidence of past criminal records in Mexico.
I think the world's going insane.
You're only bad if they are watching the Billy Bob Thornton version...obviously, if they are watching the John Wayne epic, you are a great Dad.
It's the thought process that's behind the entire thing that is disturbing. I'm sure you'll agree, but just pointing it out in general.
March 6 ... After "13 Days of Glory" ... at the Siege of Alamo ...
trumpeting The Deguello ... No Quarter ....
"Remember The Alamo" ... "Remember Goliad" ....
And at San Jacinto, we caught them at siesta ... April 21
Yes, I was living "AFT" at the time, but I do remember seeing all the newsreel footage of the Mexican-American riots in all the major Texas cities and some of the smaller towns, too. So insensitive!
I will be offended at any other name they choose... so I guess they can't have a name since it will offend someone.
lol, good one.
The real story here in Houston is that it is SOCCER and nobody gives a shit!
What, are they going to change their name to May 5th?
In addition to the phony DL and unregistered, I mean stolen, vehicle, for $50.00 they can now purchase an insurance card, no insurance but a card that will satisfy the cop who stops them.
So we didn't fight mexicans or we won?
????
The point is in not taking Hollywood movies as historical facts. The only thing they usually get right is that they were Mexicans and The Alamo was overrun. Everything else is made up for consumer effect........
Please tell us the true story.
Details would be appreciated.
The only people who left a contemporary account of what actually happened at the Alamo were Mexican army officers' diaries. Remember, all the Texans were killed. The diaries do not tell a pretty story, and can be thought to be somewhat embellished. The real story will never be known until the end of time..........
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