Like I said, I'm just saying. Let's compare what we have now (the reailty) with what could have been (a perfect world). A lion that wanders around the pitch throwing t-shirts in the crowd versus William Wallace, wearing a kilt, his face painted white and blue, swinging a Scottish claymore above his head. Who do you think would instill more "team spirit" in the stadium? Just think what our team would have looked like if in addition to the normal soccer kits, they all came on the pitch wearing kilts? Like I said, Checketts sold out to Real Madrid.
look at the population demographics my man, Salt Lake City and Utah for that matter will ALWAYS be associated with the mormon church and a very family oriented community. A friendly but fierce lion (like a certain Bear mascot) that interacts with the fans and kids IS representative of the local demographics. a scottish guy in a kilt with a violent claymore most definitely is NOT representative of the local demographics. something like that is more portland/seattle-ish (and as represented by the timbers by Timber Jim who walks around with a chainsaw), representative of those demographics. I'm sure the FO took this into account when they were thinking of a mascot, its very important to play to your local community and RSL does that nicely. i'm sure most of the many families that attend RSL games with tons of kids in tow wouldnt be thrilled with a guy swinging a weapon (fake or not) around trying to get them riled up. that guy would almost surely remain in the south end trying to get the supporters going, who really dont need any more motivation.
This debate also traditionally evaluates the "Real" label from an Anglo-centric point of view. I've never really read anything about how it 'sounds' or 'clicks' from a Latin cultural point of view. That'd be interesting, because despite the fact that the West side club seats are very white washed, the Hispanic demographic is just as important as the Anglo in the club's long-term - IMO.
I really like what the club has done to brand itself. The Lion crest could be another step in a positive direction.
one thing I actually like about us being Real Salt Lake is that it has opened the door to tons of things in terms of identification. I have a two-stick with a roman soldier hemlet on it that reads "Royal Army" above it totally applicable At the same time, I can create a two-stick with a lion on it totally applicable The problem with the Highlanders would have been obvious. Only so many William Wallace tifos are cool. After awhile, they get bland. With Real, the possibilities are endless (king stuff still to be explored - which in itself has many different possibilities)
If we were worrying about the demographic of Utah, our mascot should be a 1880's era polygamist since the majority of Mormons in the Great State of Utah are descended from polygamists and the concession stands would sell green Jello and Kool-aid. Like I said previously, the lion reminds me more of the Cowardly Lion in the Wizard of Oz. Maybe the FO was trying to get the whole family-oriented, Disney "Lion King" vibe going but I think our mascot is lame and stupid.
Has anyone ever tried talking to the organization about most people's preference for the RSL logo? Maybe organized a petition or something? Checketts is a St. Louis guy. We can point out the iconic StL logo the Cardinals use, or if he really wants to be like Madrid, their crest is just a combination of letters as well.
of all the things the FO deals with, I'm sure Leo the Lion is near the top. Please, people. This is getting ridiculous. So you don't like the lion, so what.
Youre obviously just not THAT creative, man. Tifo with Groundskeeper Willie and Connor MacLeod would NEVER get old!
+1. I like the lion, and despite what El-ahrairah thinks of a "cowardly" lion... How about Lions being the "king of the jungle" - Hence ReAL. I think there are a lot of options being REAL that have yet to be explored, but don't necessarily need to because RSL is growing incredibly fast as-is.
Well, since this is a thread about the new lion crest, ergo, I would think expressing your opnion about whether you like the lion crest or not would be "on topic", non?
When they were looking for a mascot they had a pole on it. can not remember what were the options but I do remember the lion being on there so the lion must have won.
a pole dancing lion, that might be interesting. we would probably want to change leo to a female lioness instead though. didnt Burger King retire their big headed king mascot. i kind of liked him in all of the football commercials they did. he might be good in soccer ones too?
And the first time the mascot throws the Scottish claymore into the crowd and a head rolls out and down the stairs then what? Of all the possible team names and mascots "Highlanders" was the absolute worst. It's beyond unoriginal and after claymores and kilts its not creative. IN THE LEAST. In the real world just the thought of naming a team after a toyota deserves a UPinSLC type response. It's MOTHER FUC(%%%%$$^((((((((+++#+$%^#*@ STUPID. IF YOU WANT TO WEAR A DRESS TO THE GAME WITHOUT ANY PANTIES PLEASE DO BUT STAY AWAY FROM SECTION 3. Highlanders really is dumb. It is so dumb. The other posters are correct in seeing that REAL has so many different directions to go when creatively representing your team. RSL and its fans are well on the way to creating some very cool representations and directions unlimited by kilts and claymores. Free your mind bro.
nobody is stopping you from nick naming the club "the highlanders" we are the claret and cobalt salt lakers royals etc all of which I hate. might as well throw Highlanders in there
Um, which came first, the Scottish Highlanders or the Toyota Highlander? If you said the Toyota version, well, I guess you are a graduate of the American school system. I guess you are going to tell me now that the San Francisco 49ers are named after someone who decided to live in Frisco in 1949 and the New England Revolution is named after the Great American Revolution of 1976. I might be getting a load of grief for stating that I think the lion sucks, but at least I get my history facts straight.
Not sure but I do think most ppl would prefer the RSL crest as the official crest and this lion crest of the Real one.
No shit sherlock. Stellar comeback. With a name like highlander I didn't think you could be so clever. Touche. You got me. Highlanders is a stupid name and I was pointing out that its also a toyota and still a stupid name. Make a banner, wear your skirt to the game and carry around your giant plastic pointy stick, yell Freedom, bare your painted arse at the opposing team. It will be epic. On second thought maybe the Salt Lake Explorers would be a better name? I think they out sell highlanders any way. Did Scottish Highlanders come before Scottish Explorers? Where there Scottish Explorers? You're the history expert. Where they the ones that found gold in San Francisco that you were talking about? Anyway, Highlanders is still the worst name ever considered for a team from Salt Lake. EVER.
I guess you weren't around when they were also considering Alliance Salt Lake for the name of the team or did you think that was a good name also?
Really? I got a like 5 latino dudes sitting around me. They always ask for limes when I pass them the prawn sandwhiches.
I have to spread rep around before repping you again... hehehe I don't know if I care enough to agree or disagree but someone lit a fire under you!
Gotten out of hand? I think not. It just shows that although the team name is Real Salt Lake and probably will be until hell freezes over, it doesn't mean that everyone thought that it was a good idea or still does. Maybe if the whole "we have an agreement with Real Madrid" thing had worked out the way that it had been presented, things would have been different, but I don't remember Real Madrid coming over to Utah every year to play friendlies. Therefore having a team named Real Salt Lake in the middle of lily-white Utah where most of the inhabitants are descended from English and Scandanvian pioneers seems kind of out of place. (and yes, I'm also talking about a certain basketball team named the Jazz. I don't remember being taught in school about all those Mormon Jazz musicians that showed up in the valley in 1847). Ergo, I ain't stupid enough to think that bitchin' about the name of the team will ever get changed, but it doesn't mean that I have to drink the kool-aid and say that the name makes sense for Utah. And as for the Cowardly Lion, no matter what anyone says, he still sucks.
They could dress like Scottish Insurance Agents, no? Alliance Salt Lake, the best place for Scottish Highlander attack insurance. "We are there for you when a Scottish Claymore comes out of no where" There were plenty of bad names to go around but for some reason just the thought of a team, anywhere, named Highlanders pisses me off.
Salt Lake Pony Boys Salt Lickers Really Salty Lake No... but seriously, how about: Salt Lake Destroyers Salt Lake Atomic Bombs Salt Lake Dragon eating fire breathers Oh... I guess I'm still not serious.
