Cleveland Cobras

[sounderfan]

http://www.section219.com/Portals/0/ProductImages/ClevelandCobras.gif

retro store link:
http://www.section219.com/Default.aspx?tabid=100&CategoryID=1&Category2ID=7&Category3=American+Soccer+League+(1933-83)&List=0&Level=3&ProductID=175

[fhsol76]

http://www.section219.com/Portals/0/ProductImages/ClevelandCobras.gif

retro store link:
http://www.section219.com/Default.aspx?tabid=100&CategoryID=1&Category2ID=7&Category3=American+Soccer+League+(1933-83)&List=0&Level=3&ProductID=175

god no

[Joe Stoker]

god no

LOL. This was actually the second logo in franchise history. Original colors were gold (yellow) and green. A new majority owner (Jules Cohen) came in in the latter '70s and dressed them down in cheap orange and black duds. Take my word for it, they were not flattering. Consequently, he changed the logo of the natural and intimidating viper to the cartoon character you see here. Cohen bailed and local hero Vito Colonna and friends revived the old strip, colors, and logo. Thankfully.

[fhsol76]

i just cant stand little cartoony nicknames that have nothing to do with the city.

[Joe Stoker]

The name Cleveland Cobras is currently being used by an award-winning Cleveland area developmental club program for teams of youngsters up thru high school age. Whether they have a legal handle on the moniker, I do not know, but IMO it makes it less likely the name would be considered for MLS.

www.clevelandcobras.com

Doesn't seem to be anyone there with a connection to the old ASL Cobras. Guess they just liked the name (likewise, see Baltimore Bays).

[Soccerstar25]

What about the Cleveland Comets? A friend and I were thinking of names and really, that isn't that bad. MLS should go with more American names and this would send them on the right track.
Cleveland has the best chance of expanding for 2007 with Toronto FC from what I've heard. I know someone who's part of the process of choosing and Cleveland will most probably expand this year and if not then next year. Everyone go with the Cleveland Comets!

[Soccerstar25]

Go with Cleveland Comets. What would their colors be...
Go with Cleveland Comets! It's the right choice.

[TheOtherBastard]

I know someone who's part of the process of choosing and Cleveland will most probably expand this year and if not then next year.

I'm curious who you know that is so close to this decision? Could your drop us a name or at least an idea of how they are "in the know"?

[Joe Stoker]

A few of us have mentioned that we wouldn't be surprised if Wolstein Jr. and co. stick with FORCE. At least it's not cartoony, as fhsol76 notes, and it has something to do with soccer history here. But so does STOKERS, although since Stein Sr. never owned that team, I doubt those chances.

I lean towards either CRUSADERS or BULLDOGS. Sure, the Cleveland Crusaders were our old hockey team 30 years ago, but a lot of us here have been crusading for pro soccer for nearly a lifetime. We deserve something, don't we?:rolleyes: Bulldogs, of course, was the old champion pointy-ball pro clubs in both Cleveland and Canton, but it would beg for orange and brown strip for our new soccer team unique to MLS.

Rehashed names do work: Colorado Rockies (originally an NHL team), New York Giants (baseball first), and, most noteworthy, Chicago Fire ('70s pro football). As long as it's logical.

[fhsol76]

A few of us have mentioned that we wouldn't be surprised if Wolstein Jr. and co. stick with FORCE. At least it's not cartoony, as fhsol76 notes, and it has something to do with soccer history here. But so does STOKERS, although since Stein Sr. never owned that team, I doubt those chances.

I lean towards either CRUSADERS or BULLDOGS. Sure, the Cleveland Crusaders were our old hockey team 30 years ago, but a lot of us here have been crusading for pro soccer for nearly a lifetime. We deserve something, don't we?:rolleyes: Bulldogs, of course, was the old champion pointy-ball pro clubs in both Cleveland and Canton, but it would beg for orange and brown strip for our new soccer team unique to MLS.

Rehashed names do work: Colorado Rockies (originally an NHL team), New York Giants (baseball first), and, most noteworthy, Chicago Fire ('70s pro football). As long as it's logical.

I could go with stokers or force but i see in your avatar that the stokers were red and white, and i dont want another red and white team. Whatever Cleveland is i would want either a green kit or a brown and orange. Possibly sky blue also

[Fiorentina lives!]

Remember guys, MLS has changed their naming philosophy.

You will not get a typical American name.

Be prepared for Cleveland SC or FC Cleveland or maybe Hello Cleveland (OK so I had to do the Spinal Tap reference :p )

Even Dynamo who was going to be Houston 1836 is Euro-styled as in Dynamo Moscow.

Anyway, good luck getting that team ;) But please not red and white AGAIN. :D

[TuleTowner]

Those Stokers were one of the import squads from England for the old USA league, right? (Stoke City?)

I dunno if that'd get reused, since IMO it's pretty close to a total knockoff of another team's name and colors.

I know, we've come close before on either count (Dynamo name/Blackpool colors), and both Chivas and Red Bull were/are brazen copies born of ownership's desires. But Cleveland can do better than that.

The Stokers were (I believe) the summer edition of a still existing team in another country. Let 'em stay in the history books of Cleveland sports and Stoke City FC. Let Cleveland have somthing unique unto itself.

[Joe Stoker]

Those Stokers were one of the import squads from England for the old USA league, right? (Stoke City?)

I dunno if that'd get reused, since IMO it's pretty close to a total knockoff of another team's name and colors.

I know, we've come close before on either count (Dynamo name/Blackpool colors), and both Chivas and Red Bull were/are brazen copies born of ownership's desires. But Cleveland can do better than that.

The Stokers were (I believe) the summer edition of a still existing team in another country. Let 'em stay in the history books of Cleveland sports and Stoke City FC. Let Cleveland have somthing unique unto itself.

Guess you weren't around in '68. After a year of Stoke subbing for us, we had a real team. Good enough to beat Pele and Santos at their best. Imagine the Galaxy knocking off Real Madrid. The Stokers made it happen. They may never return, but don't knock real Cleveland soccer history. Read the book due out in September.

Knockoffs? MLS is loaded with 'em.

PS: Brown and orange stripes in place of red this time around would be wholly acceptable.

[ClevelandMark]

If Cleveland builds a first class SSS, there is no reason Wolstein/Garafolo will not have the name of choice. My strong suspicion is that it will be FORCE. Its fine by me.

There is a lot of conversation hoping it will incorporate FOREST CITY in the name. THAT WILL NOT HAPPEN. Cleveland-based Forest City Enterprises is a development company in direct competition to Wolstein's Developers Diversified Realty.

In my humble opinion, get used to your new MLS team being called the CLEVELAND FORCE.

[Coach Dad]

In my humble opinion, get used to your new MLS team being called the CLEVELAND FORCE.

As long as the supporters group isn't called "The Midi-chlorians".

Oops, my geek is showing.

[TuleTowner]

Guess you weren't around in '68. After a year of Stoke subbing for us, we had a real team. Good enough to beat Pele and Santos at their best. Imagine the Galaxy knocking off Real Madrid. The Stokers made it happen. They may never return, but don't knock real Cleveland soccer history. Read the book due out in September.

Knockoffs? MLS is loaded with 'em.

PS: Brown and orange stripes in place of red this time around would be wholly acceptable.

True enough, not around in '68. Not attempting to knock history, just didn't know. :o

And it's kind of hard to avoid looking like a knockoff, after 130+ years of world soccer history. ;) IMO, the thing is to do what fits, and make it your own, regardless of who else has already done it somewhere. :cool:

That being said, Cleveland has plenty of underused options on the ol' color wheel, I'd like to see 'em use 'em too.

[Hodson]

My vote would go to Stokers FC, AC Stokers, or Stokers(insert year of formation here). I'm not one for tying team names to cities just because.

Howw about involving Cuyahoga into the scheme? It is regional enough, and yet very local to the area. How's about Cuyahoga Ohioans Soccer Club (because 'Mericans still only have one kind of football)?

[ClevelandMark]

My vote would go to Stokers FC, AC Stokers, or Stokers(insert year of formation here). I'm not one for tying team names to cities just because.

Howw about involving Cuyahoga into the scheme? It is regional enough, and yet very local to the area. How's about Cuyahoga Ohioans Soccer Club (because 'Mericans still only have one kind of football)?

The team will be based in Summit County. With such involvement of the Summit County Port Authority underwriting the project and all the politicing, I am fairly certain they will not go for naming the team after a neighboring county.

[tallguy]

For a team nickname, I'd like to see either "the Bulldogs" or "the Stokers." There's no way you guys can go wrong if you're honoring your history, IMO.

Good luck -- looking forward to seeing your team lose to mine at RFK in the not so distance future. Now, in a couple of hours it's will be time to leave for the United-Revs match and it can't come soon enough for me . . .

[TequilaJoal]

Congrats... on your new appointment to MLS how about a name befitting the great city of Cleveland.



Cleveland Riverfire