2/9/07: Gunning for Dollars

[BuffloSoldier]

International partnership afoot--Denver Post (http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_5189597)

Revealed: the US billionaire who is in talks with Arsenal--The Independent (UK) (http://sport.independent.co.uk/football/premiership/article2251275.ece)

Arsenal linked with American billionaire - paper--Reuters (http://today.reuters.co.uk/news/articlenews.aspx?type=footballNews&storyID=2007-02-09T110430Z_01_L09581628_RTRIDST_0_SOCCER-ENGLAND-ARSENAL.XML&WTmodLoc=UK+Football-C1-Headline-2)

USA can't waste momentum building against Mexico--Philadelphia Daily News (http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/sports/16659090.htm)

Stadium deal to delay Kreis' retirement--Salt Lake Tribune (http://www.sltrib.com/realsaltlake/ci_5191207)

Stadium plan is Real as it gets--Deseret News (http://deseretnews.com/dn/view/0,1249,660194049,00.html)

'Real Salt Lake is here to stay'--Salt Lake Tribune (http://www.sltrib.com/ci_5190977)

MLS stays in Salt Lake, but St. Louis benefits--St. Louis Dispatch (http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/othersports/story/655EA9ADA2B00D608625727D0018DF1C?OpenDocument)

[MightyMouse]

I'm not crazy about the Rapids changing their name to Arsenal, but if it somehow brings Thierre Henry to Colorado in the future... I'll completely shut the F*(% up.

I know, I know, it will never happen... but I also say never say never.The likelihood is .000000000000000000000001%, but I would love to see that guy over here playing one day.

[BuffloSoldier]

Fire? Here are five hot spots--Daily Southtown (http://www.dailysouthtown.com/sports/249913,091SPT3.article)

Donovan hopes for mission accomplished--AP via USAToday (http://www.usatoday.com/sports/soccer/national/2007-02-09-donovan-mission_x.htm)

Revs captain not just average Joe--Boston Herald (http://sports.bostonherald.com/soccer/view.bg?articleid=181901)

[Golazo]

From the Independent's piece:

"The Independent understands that another American billionaire, with three franchises "in US sports", has been looking at Premiership clubs." who isn't Kraft.

That's gotta be a short, short list. Surely the BigSoccer braintrust can come up with some names.

[Frankie Boy]

I'm not crazy about the Rapids changing their name to Arsenal, but if it somehow brings Thierre Henry to Colorado in the future... I'll completely shut the F*(% up.

I know, I know, it will never happen... but I also say never say never.The likelihood is .000000000000000000000001%, but I would love to see that guy over here playing one day.

Since Dick's is on the site of the old Rocky Mountain Arsenal (chemical warfare facility)-we can now call them "the gassers" :)

[Frankie Boy]

From the Independent's piece:

"The Independent understands that another American billionaire, with three franchises "in US sports", has been looking at Premiership clubs." who isn't Kraft.

That's gotta be a short, short list. Surely the BigSoccer braintrust can come up with some names.

sounds like Kroenke-rapids, avalanche and St louis Rams (with Georgia :( )

[bbsbt]

I'm not crazy about the Rapids changing their name to Arsenal, but if it somehow brings Thierre Henry to Colorado in the future... I'll completely shut the F*(% up.

I know, I know, it will never happen... but I also say never say never.The likelihood is .000000000000000000000001%, but I would love to see that guy over here playing one day.I wouldn't be THAT pessimistic with the odds. I'm more hopeful that he'll come here, so I would probably put it at about .000000001%.

[John_Harkes_6]

From the Independent's piece:

"The Independent understands that another American billionaire, with three franchises "in US sports", has been looking at Premiership clubs." who isn't Kraft.

That's gotta be a short, short list. Surely the BigSoccer braintrust can come up with some names.

Yeah - its Kroenke

[Jasonma]

sounds like Kroenke-rapids, avalanche and St louis Rams (with Georgia :( )

Also the Nuggets

[denver_mugwamp]

Also the Nuggets

And the Mammoth?

[VioletCrown]

USA can't waste momentum building against Mexico--Philadelphia Daily News (http://www.philly.com/mld/dailynews/sports/16659090.htm)

That headline writer should be fired. It makes no sense whatsoever.

Or have I already gotten old enough that American English has changed on me?

[Beau Dure]

Not Kroenke, unless I'm misreading this graf:

In a development which is separate from the Kroenke-Arsenal talks, The Independent understands that another American billionaire, with three franchises "in US sports", has been looking at Premiership clubs. A well-connected source at a New York investment firm said that this unnamed owner considered a bid for Liverpool last year. The source said that the person in question is not Robert Kraft, the owner of the NFL's New England Patriots, whose previous interest in Liverpool was well publicised, but declined to say who it is. The speculator is believed to be considering other options.

That would leave ... the Hunt family? Anschutz? That's pretty much it, isn't it?

[Sigil]

Hunt has three franchises in US Sports.

Anschutz has four, if you don't count Lacrosse.

[Honore de Ballsac]

International partnership afoot--Denver Post (http://www.denverpost.com/sports/ci_5189597)

So some dickwad at the Rapids is more of a fan of Arsenal than he is the Rapids. And he probably wants to work for Arsenal.

So Rapids fans get screwed and eleven years of league history gets flushed. Along with the unique, cool name of a charter member team.

Thierry Henry? Who gives a ********?! Almost nobody in the US remembers Michel Platini! What we do seem to be getting on our knees for is any association with a big long-standing soccer brand. I think you get that by having your own unique name and sticking with it - once you have, you know, a decade under your belt.

[Honore de Ballsac]

Hey did you kids check out the COOL POLL at the Rapids website??

------------------------POLL---------------------------------------
How Soon Until the Rapids' New Identity Is Completely Revealed?

*Within 24 Hours *Within 48 Hours

*Within 72 Hours *By This Time Next Week

*Not Soon Enough!

{submit}
--------------------------------------------------------------------

Yes these are the marketing geniuses who hold the reins of your team. The ones naming teams "Real Salt Lake" and "Arsenal." The ones we are supposed to defer to because they're "real businessmen" who know what they're doing. We're just Trekkies.

[Anthony]

SO Honore -- tell us how you feel about this.

[Honore de Ballsac]

http://sjl-static6.sjl.youtube.com/vi/oezgBZtbZfo/2.jpg




.

[Honore de Ballsac]

http://www.livejournal.com/userpic/40346178/2497543
No sir, I don't like it.





.

[luis_mx]

So some dickwad at the Rapids is more of a fan of Arsenal than he is the Rapids. And he probably wants to work for Arsenal.

So Rapids fans get screwed and eleven years of league history gets flushed. Along with the unique, cool name of a charter member team.

Thierry Henry? Who gives a ********?! Almost nobody in the US remembers Michel Platini! What we do seem to be getting on our knees for is any association with a big long-standing soccer brand. I think you get that by having your own unique name and sticking with it - once you have, you know, a decade under your belt.

Man, I see this as growth for the MLS alltogether and for your soccer, you see it as nothing good :P.

[jamesf24]

Ok, the picture still says Rapids on the jersey, just another color change and partnership with Arsenal FC. But, take a look at the two examples below:

Original 10:

Columbus Crew
Kansas City Wiz - renamed "Wizards"
Tampa Bay Mutiny - RIP
Colorado Rapids - RIP
DC United
LA Galaxy
San Jose Clash, rebranded Earthquakes - RIP
Dallas Burn - RIP
New York / New Jersey Metrostars - RIP
New England Revolution

-----------------------
Today:

Chicago Fire
Houston Dynamo
FC Dallas
KC Wizards
DC United
Red Bull NY
LA Galaxy
New England Revolution
Real Salt Lake
Denver Arsenal
Columbus Crew
Toronto FC
Chivas USA

Maybe it's just me, and I'm not a Eurosnob, but to me, the 2nd group is much better.

It's hard and controversial to "re-brand", but when you screw up as bad as marketing did in picking team names in the beginning, you go ahead and bite the bullet and make it right.

James