11 marca 2006
MetroStars - Now With Taurine!
Okay, the worst of the existing MLS names was probably the MetroStars. But since it was never as bad as the Kansas City Wiz or the Dallas Burn (names that have been retired), I guess I sort of got used to it. Also, the way the league slowly worked the clumsy "New York/New Jersey" moniker off of the name helped make fans accept the name.
And frankly, it was never a team I liked much anyway. Hey, they were from New York.
Along comes the unfortunately named Dietrich Mateschitz, an Austrian billionaire who owns Red Bull. He purchased the team and has changed the name to, get this, Red Bull New York. At least it's not a team I ever, ever planned to root for.
Red Bull New York GM Alexi Lalas and other league officials assure everyone that they are excited about this deal. You can tell by this picture, Alexi is thrilled.
The fans on Big Soccer are split on the move, but generally think that a team named for a soft drink makes the league sound like a joke. Some guy named Soccer Sam complained about it on a radio program in Rochester. His complaints would have meant more to me if they weren't bracketed by the words "Dunkin' Donuts."
Also, New Jersey politicians are ticked off. Local governments have footed $185 million to build the team a new stadium, and any trace of the words "New Jersey" have now been officially wiped from the team's name. There is a small chance that this could scuttle the deal for the stadium entirely. Like they even knew they had a soccer team in the first place.
This isn't the first time Herr Mateschitz has messed with the name of a team. He purchased SV Wüstenrot Salzburg, and changed the name to Red Bull Salzburg and declared that it was a "new club with no history." Given the chronically underperforming MetroStars of the last ten seasons, this might not be a bad idea...
SV Salzburg had a great history though, they won the Austrian championship three times and players have included Oliver Bierhoff and Thomas Häßler.
Needless to say the fans were not pleased and founded a club called Initiative Violett-Weiß to fight the changes. Interestingly, UEFA still puts a club logo up from SV Casino Salzburg, which the club hasn't been known by since 1997, and refers to the team as SV Austria Salzburg, a name which hasn't been used since the 1970's.
I suppose it could have been worse. Maybe Kronik or Rock Star?
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
And frankly, it was never a team I liked much anyway. Hey, they were from New York.Along comes the unfortunately named Dietrich Mateschitz, an Austrian billionaire who owns Red Bull. He purchased the team and has changed the name to, get this, Red Bull New York. At least it's not a team I ever, ever planned to root for.
Red Bull New York GM Alexi Lalas and other league officials assure everyone that they are excited about this deal. You can tell by this picture, Alexi is thrilled.The fans on Big Soccer are split on the move, but generally think that a team named for a soft drink makes the league sound like a joke. Some guy named Soccer Sam complained about it on a radio program in Rochester. His complaints would have meant more to me if they weren't bracketed by the words "Dunkin' Donuts."
Also, New Jersey politicians are ticked off. Local governments have footed $185 million to build the team a new stadium, and any trace of the words "New Jersey" have now been officially wiped from the team's name. There is a small chance that this could scuttle the deal for the stadium entirely. Like they even knew they had a soccer team in the first place.
This isn't the first time Herr Mateschitz has messed with the name of a team. He purchased SV Wüstenrot Salzburg, and changed the name to Red Bull Salzburg and declared that it was a "new club with no history." Given the chronically underperforming MetroStars of the last ten seasons, this might not be a bad idea...
SV Salzburg had a great history though, they won the Austrian championship three times and players have included Oliver Bierhoff and Thomas Häßler.
Needless to say the fans were not pleased and founded a club called Initiative Violett-Weiß to fight the changes. Interestingly, UEFA still puts a club logo up from SV Casino Salzburg, which the club hasn't been known by since 1997, and refers to the team as SV Austria Salzburg, a name which hasn't been used since the 1970's.
I suppose it could have been worse. Maybe Kronik or Rock Star?
Hasta la proxima. Do zobaczenia.
