I, personally, think that it is ridiculous that MLS would prevent players from using anything other than their last names on the back of a jersey. So I thought I would throw together a petition to send on to MLS. An issue like this is certainly somethign that we could get them to change their minds on. http://www.petitiononline.com/mod_perl/petition-sign.cgi?jersey07 I mean, would you rather see "Herculez" or "Gomez?" It is that choice that adds to the character and the atmosphere of the game we all love. Saying that to have a first name on a jersey is unprofessional not only ignores years of sports history, but is an insult to the great players who went by anything other than their first name in the past. I hope that I am not the only one who feels this way and that you will join me in signing this petition. Please forward this on to any websites/friends/whatever that you feel appropriate. I am hoping to get a soccer specific stadium's worth of signatures and send this bad boy in. Thanks for your support.
I think that in the last part of the second sentence of the second paragraph you meant last name not "first name". "Saying that to have a first name on a jersey is unprofessional not only ignores years of sports history, but is an insult to the great players who went by anything other than their first (last?) name in the past."
A while ago we had a similar rule in England. Paul Peschisolido used to have Pesch on the back of his shirt during his Birmingham City days until the suits made him put his whole surname on there. Thankfully sense has now prevailed and eg, Tyrone Mears now has TYE written on his shirt. As for the Brazilian players, they nearly all just have nicknames on their shirts.
Hey, how did that online petition go about TFC moving their first home game to somewhere closer than LA? Yeah, that is what I thought.
Ok, moving a game, something that has been scheduled, money has been spent, only affects two teams... kinda hard. Changing a policy that results in new jerseys being printed next year maybe... not quite so hard.
Uber, I'm sorry dude, but it would be really smart of you to not assume that everyone knows the backstory to this, and maybe provide a link to one of the articles that have covered the whole Herculez Gomez deal. I was close to flaming you myself (I hate petitions, they are pointless) but I did my homework real quick, as others haven't. The Name Game Truthfully, MLS is extremely inconsistent here. "Because its his last season" is not a proper excuse for the exception to their so-called policy, as far as Cobi Jones is concerned. If Fred and Ubiparipovic can have the same consideration, regardless of the dude's name being too long, Herculez should be able to have his too. If thats how he's known, thats how it should be on his jersey if he wants it . . ESPECIALLY if he's already done it. The precedent has been set. Once again, MLS - you're wrong!
Preki is a great example. All hail Preki. Using the XFL as an example of why MLS should only allow last names is arbitrary. MLS is not run by vince mcmahon nor does MLS have players dumb enough to want "he hate me" on the back of their jersey. If MLS wants to be more like the global game they should quit trying to be akin to all the american pro leagues and start looking around the world. Don't we have a partnership with bundesliga? what is their stance on the issue ?
Sorry, but I'm not signing. I think of all the things one could launch a petition drive to give to MLS HQ, this is pretty low down on my list.