I still think we still need to have Redcoats as one of our nicknames, if not the only one. It has such great potential for adding to the rivalries with the Revs, DCU and I just got this off Wikipedia about the Philly Union: Philadelphia Union's colors are navy blue and gold, representing the primary colors of the Continental Army's uniforms during the American Revolutionary War. The team's primary logo is circular, symbolizing unity. Its thirteen gold stars represent the original Thirteen Colonies, while the shield's contour derives from the Philadelphia coat of arms. The rattlesnake pays homage to a political cartoon by Benjamin Franklin that was featured in the 1754 Pennsylvania Gazette. The rattlesnake eventually became a national symbol during the American Revolution, representing the danger of disunity, and was featured on the Gadsden flag.[ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Philadelphia_Union
I'm kind of neutral on the whole redcoats nickname...I could take it or leave it. I'm not a fan of trying to 'force' nicknames to happen though. I think it's better if they come naturally. I think though that when we play those teams that you mentioned, they'll probably start calling us that anyway.
Understood, but I'd seriously like to know what this "natural" or "organic" creation of a nickname is. They don't just grow out of the ground. Every nick in history is the result of an idea coming into somebody's head and them using it. As for rivalries, up until now we haven't really had any natural rivals. When Vancouver enters next year, that'll be a rivalry good an proper. That said, I still like Redcoats. I've heard some Americans calling us the "Tories", which is kind of neat. One should note though that American usage of that term has nothing to do with the CPC.
Redcoats? nah lets just keep it as the REDS, redcoats make no sence in football terms.Why do fans want to over do it with nicknames? TFC is fine, we never needed a nickname or a gimicky last name like Red Bulls etc lets just keep what we have and dont over do the name bit.
we don have natural Rivalries...Columbus, Chicago, DC Utd, Even New england...Vancouver will NOT be one, as they matter little, and are too far away to be considered a rival. Lets stick to the rivals we have now, maybe over time the TFC -Vancouver thing might happen, doubt it though.
I don't really like redcoats either. Not that it doesn't necessarily make sense in soccer terms, because i think it makes just as much sense as any other nickname, but it makes us sound British...which we're not. A nickname should represent the area the team plays for in my opinion and not just match the opposite of another team's nickname just to make for some sort of rivalry.
It's not so much about being British as it is about how Canada came to be, i.e not joining the American Revolution. Reds to me is a dull nick, it's very generic and about 50+ teams around the world use it. To me it's just a placeholder.
I'll agree Reds does sound a touch boring. But I do find with the Revolution and Union there's already a lot of that colonial influence going on in the league's team names. I think a name that reflects Toronto's diverse international community would be neat. I've always admired that about Toronto...but that's just me.
Diversity has always been a Toronto strongpoint, but I'd like to see a more unifying nickname behind the club, something about the city itself and where it comes from. And honestly, I don't see how a single nickname could reflect a large array of cultures. Also, I'd like too see something Canada-oriented to disinguish us from the American clubs. It's part of what makes us unique in this league.
I think that Canada-oriented identity should be reeled in a bit now. Back in year one I can understand wanting to push the idea that we're MLS's first and only team from Canada, but now with Vancouver coming in 2011 and Montreal on the verge any season now us being "Canada's Team" is a little arrogant. We already have a stylized maple leaf on our badge and currently have an imprint of one on our jersey. To keep pushing that we're Canadian just furthers the idea that we should be treated differently from the US teams. Like when people say "this week's ESPN game is in Toronto, viewership will be lower than if it were in [US city x]," when in reality we're just another team like any other and should be treated no differently by MLS fans. I mean would I cry if we called ourselves the Redcoats or Canucks or Maple Syrup Suckers? No (for the exception of Maple Syrup Suckers, but I think you know what I mean ), I'll always cheer for TFC. And maybe I'm making too big a deal of the Canadian/US distinction...it's just how I see the situation of pushing our nationality into the league.
Our Canadian identity is important we were the FIRST Canadian team in MLS and to this date still are has the Caps have yet to kick off a ball in the League yet. Vancouver and Montreal will always be second to Toronto in that, as they are in everything to do with Canada. A nickname is not important as who really cares? Reds may be boring, no question but its better then some team names like Whitecaps or worse Impact. The team represents Toronto and Ontario, we should not try to be the Canadian national team as they are not a team you would want to copy yourself after..
I never said that we are "Canada's team", all I was saying is that we should take pride in our identity as a Canadian team, as should Vancouver and Montreal when they join MLS. What's wrong with being seen as different from the American clubs? We are different, and should be proud of Canada, its history and identity.
I still think its good to be proud to be Canadian. I am, don't get me wrong. Just with a badge with a maple leaf, an imprint of a maple leaf on the chest of our jersey, and an actual Canadian flag on our sleeve (yes, I know all teams have their nation's flag on the sleeve), a Canadian team name like your suggested Redcoats might just come off a little over bearing...at least it does to me. And I mentioned "Canada's team" because I think I heard TFC referred as such on GolTV. I'm sorry if I seemed I was putting words in your mouth. Maybe if we don't have that imprint on the chest and the league doesn't have everyone wear a flag on the sleeve Redcoats might not sound too bad to me. It would work because with Redcoats you could still just call them the Reds if you preferred I suppose.
Last I checked we weren't British. Players aren't wearing coats on the field. Good luck trying to force a nickname the majority of people roll their eyes at. In case people are confused we already have a nickname. If you don't know what it is don't bother pretending to be a fan of TFC anymore.
Agreed. Hell, I've nothing against the heritage of this country. I'm half English! I just think Redcoats doesn't work as a nickname. We're doing fine as TFC and as the Reds. Let's not force the issue here. .... and I think the Revolutionary War stuff as done in N.E. is pure out and out cornball. The last think we need to emulate is a bunch of guys firing Brown Bess muskets.
Seems this discussion comes up every off-season too. Until we get rid of the English (ok German, but whatever) Queen as our head of state, we're British - if only in a formal sense. Sure most Torontonians don't identify with it, but that doesn't mean we're not British either. Yet, some people don't care for the current nick for the reasons mentioned here, and having one doesn't preclude adding another. You can make a case for the redcoats name being used for the Canadian military, especially when referring to the some infantry formal dress uniforms IIRC. If a supporters want to dress up in full period military uniform (as I believe the OP has done on occasion, like his avatar suggests) as their way of supporting the team, I have no issue with it, even if that's the last thing I would want to do.
The Redcoats are a big part of our history. The term can apply to the RCMP just as well, and you don't get more Canadian than the RCMP. There are a number of good arguments for and against Redcoats, but this has to be the dumbest one I've ever seen. I don't know if you follow other teams, GoodDead, but just to fill you in, the Toronto Raptors aren't actually a bunch of dinosaurs trained to play basketball. It's just a nickname. Similarly, the Blue Jays aren't actually birds and the Leafs aren't foliage (although it's hard to tell sometimes). New York's basketball team doesn't wear knickerbockers either.
Let's remember that nicknames aren't something official to be officially adopted, it's just a matter of whether or not people choose to use them. It doesn't matter if someone consciously thinks one up or it magically grows the lovely magic garden of organic nicknames that I keep hearing about. It's whether or not people like it enough to make it stick. Sometimes, nicknames come form opposing fans, like I said before, many American fans have called us the "Tories". Chivas fans have been known to call us "Tontos FC" (Tontos being the Spanish word for "idiots"), which I think is pretty funny even if it does take the piss out of us.
tonto means dummy... idiot is idiota... hilarious nonetheless... IMO... I don't care what they call us.. just as long as they call us.. I kinda liked The Red Army... but I'm half russian
I'm part German, and I still think Red Army is pretty cool. Or of course, Red Rockets, which has a specifically Toronto origin, i.e. the same as the classic streetcars.
...and a hilarious game played in South Park haha. Red Army is cool as well. It kind of gives a sense unity among players and fans alike. Personally I think with a nick like the Reds already you could call the team anything that is prefixed with "Red-" and they all would work together. Reds, Redcoats, Red Army, Red Rockets, Red Machine, Redmen, Red This, Red That. There would always be a choice, so if you don't like one, use another. Next time I'm in Toronto I'll be chanting "when the Reds go marching in" though. The Reds is good enough for me.
I like the redcoats nickname, since that's what the militia from areas like southern Ontario wore when they successfully sacked detroit and held off an actual army from the south in 1812. It also helps to develop a sense that our region is better than say, New England...which, let's face it, we are.
I dunno man.. I tend to agree canada is more of an America Jr (as Homer so eloquently put it) than England Jr... we celebrate their holidays, speak more like them than the english, but as canadians we hate to admit this... the only province truly euro centric IMHO is Quebec god bless them...