What's in a Name?

I know it's been a long time since I've written. It's not that there hasn't been anything to write about (although the winter is pretty slow). Mostly I've just been really busy, tired and uninspired by goings on in the world of football. I mean, how excited can one really be about Svengate Part 503? I don't care how much he's being paid at the FA, I would still want out. And sure, it's a bit inconvenient for an employer if a key employee is spending his free time scoping alternative employment opportunities. That may be grounds for dismissal, but it's not illegal to my knowledge. We don't get upset about the average Joe trying to get out of a job he doesn't like. I defy you to explain to me how football is different.

I think we all know that the real issue is that Sven just happens to have this annoying habit of being not English. Fine. Get rid of him. People will very quickly learn that there simply isn't an English manager in the game today who's worth a damn.

But I'm getting sidetracked. All I wanted to comment on was the fact that Houston has announced it's new name. We now have a fourth pseudo-traditional sounding team in MLS (well, fifth if you count United). Houston 1836. Destined, I hope, to be called the 36ers (you heard it here first). I actually quite like the name. It sure beats the hell out of Real Salt Lake (except when you just say RSL and forget what the letters stand for). I'm just a little skeptical about the motivation. Apparently the name is modelled on all of those venerable German clubs with names like Schalke 04, Mainz 05 etc. Of course, the dates in those names commemorate the founding dates for the clubs (ok, we have to be a little careful. Munich 1860 football club was certainly not founded in 1860. I think that date refers to the founding of the larger athletic club.) I guess Houston 2006 just sounds a little silly right now. Hey! We're no years old! It's like all of those silly Ye Olde Crappe stores all over this country with signs proudly proclaiming Est. 1983. Hell. I was established earlier than that. Now, the motivation behind the Earthquakes replacement name may simply be to honor the founding of one of the country's great cities (you can argue with that, but hey, everyone's heard of Houston, that must count for something). If that were the sole motivation, I would be all for the new name. But if it's just another gimmick to make this league sound more respectable to foreigners, then it just sounds a little silly. The way our teams play is what will bring our league respect, not the names we give to our teams.