MLS
Adios Houston 1836, Hello Dynamo
By Shane Killian
March 6, 2006
In an effort to satisfy Houston's hispanic population, Houston's MLS team has changed its name from Houston 1836 to the Houston Dynamo.
"We'd like to once again reiterate that at no time did MLS or AEG ever want to offend any members of the community in Houston," said Team President and GM Oliver Luck. "We want everyone to feel welcome and become a part of professional soccer in Houston. Similar to soccer around the world and in our other MLS markets, the sport embraces all cultures and unites the community. We certainly believe this team will be a positive meeting place for the fabulous diversity of this city."
Team officials said the new name will be representative of a hard working team and inclusive to all fans.
"Dynamo is a word to describe someone who never fatigues, never gives up," said Luck. "The new name is symbolic of Houston as an energetic, hard-working, risk-taking kind of town."
"To me, Dynamo has a blue-collar feel to it, as well as an association with the energy business, which is one of the things Houston is known for. We think this is a great name that Greater Houston can rally around."
The scientific genius behind the dynamo's invention is the rotation of a single magnet, whose North and South poles create electricity in a nearby coiled wire.
"We believe a parallel can be drawn to the two major communities in Houston: English speakers and Spanish speakers, who together will create electricity at games unlike any other in MLS," said Luck.
Another fitting word for this team is dynamic, and that certainly describes Dominic Kinnear's team.
"This team can beat you in several ways, be it the powerful heading of Brian Ching, the lightning quickness of Brian Mullan or unpredictability of Dwayne De Rosario," said Luck.
Houston has landed a team that by no means is an expansion franchise. Many of the players who make up the Dynamo helped the squad win the MLS title twice when it was based in California -- in 2001 and 2003.
The Houston team boasts star quality, as goalkeeper Pat Onstad was named the MLS Goalkeeper of the Year in 2005, and helped the squad to a league-leading 31 goals allowed last season. Forward Dwayne De Rosario was runner-up as the MLS MVP last year and has twice won Goal of the Year in fan voting. Midfielder Brad Davis was an MLS All-Star in 2005. Kinnear was named MLS Coach of the Year in 2005, as the squad became the second in the 10-year history of the league to total at least 60 points with its 18-4-10 record. The team won the MLS Supporters' Shield despite the departure of such internationally known players as Landon Donovan and Jeff Agoos from the 2004 squad.
"This team had the best record in Major League Soccer in 2005. This is a team that went unbeaten at home, the first club in the League's 10-year history to not lose a game at home," said Luck.