Make no mistake about it I am in the "Keep the Astros the Astros" camp. But As I pondered a new name; I began to wonder... should we go back to our roots?
Houston Buffs were a minor league team (missing a few years) from 1888-1961. They were an American Minor League team for the Cardinals and some well known players came through Houston as minor leaguers such as Dizzy and Daffy (Jerome and Paul) Dean, Joe Medwick, Hal Epps and Solly Hemus. In Houston's last minor league season they were the AAA team for the Cubs in 1961. (Any wonder why there are still plenty of Cardinals fan here?)
In 1962; Houston was granted the NL team known as the Colt 45's. Later the name was changed to the Astros Or officially the Houston Astronauts honoring Houston's association with the Space program and NASA.
Would there be support for re-naming the Astros the Buffaloes (for Buffalo Bayou), Colt 45's (The original name) or perhaps taking a jab at Bud Adams from the baseball side and using the Oilers (anything that upsets Bud is a good thing in my mind)??
What do you think?
0 recs | 18 comments
If they were to change the name those are the three names I hope they would pick, for all the reasons you stated. Bud Adams made it to where not NFL team can use the Oilers name again, he would be beyond pissed if we named our MLB team that. Again I also am not oppose to the Houston Honeybadgers.
Astro#1fan - January 25, 2012
I vote Colt 45’s, but only if we can make sure Billy Dee Williams is prominently involved.
MadMartygan - January 25, 2012
Speaking of Billy Dee Williams
How about Houston Scoundrels?
Or Houston Gamblers? (It would probably piss off Selig.)
Hal J - January 25, 2012
Houston Gamblers would be awesome
Astro#1fan - January 27, 2012
If we had to change it
No if’s and’s or butt’s…I would say the colt 45’s or some variation of it. Really would F over the people that got Astros tattoos though.
Its Gonna Happen - January 25, 2012 via mobile
Like someone else suggested have the colt shot out a Star, in your tatoo scenario then at least they would have the star
Astro#1fan - January 25, 2012
The Astros dropped the Colt 45 name because Colt firerams considered it a trademark infringement. I think the same obstacle remains to using that logo again.
clack - January 25, 2012
Re: Trademarks
Would the Colts be a problem due to the NFL team having that name? I know there are Giants and Cardinals in both MLB and the NFL, but those teams have existed for a very long time and existed in the same city at one time. Could/would the Indianapolis Colts stop Houston from using the Colts name?
Hal J - January 25, 2012
As a Texan’s fan, rooting for the Colts with no 45 would feel dirty.
MadMartygan - January 25, 2012
I don’t know the answer to that question.
clack - January 26, 2012
the Indianapolis “Colts” have nothing to do with Colt .45s, or firearms in general. A “colt” is also the name of a horse. So they are fine.
Jake Sumeraj - January 26, 2012
Team names aren't really "trademarked"
Just recently in hockey, the Atlanta Thrashers moved to Winnipeg and became the “Jets”. The Jets in football have been around for quite some time, but it didn’t prevent anything.
The Houston Cowboys, Houston Titans, or Houston Mavericks would all be legally acceptable names, unlike the Houston Pepsi’s
Terps12 - January 30, 2012
This intellectual property blog has three lawyer answers to a question about potential trademark infringement on the use of sports team names. Apparently this isn’t a simple legal question, because trademark infringement for a sports team depends on a number of factors, including the aggressiveness of the trademark holder (one of the answers mentions that some ML baseball teams have sued little league teams for using their team name). The third lawyer’s answer seems the most helpful. He points out that trademark infringement is based on potential for confusion or dilution of the trademark holder’s “brand,” and could be affected by the existence of similar team colors, and the extent that the name has been commonly used. For instance, “Tigers” would be a team name commonly used throughout sports but “chanticlers” is not so common. It seems to me that Colts would be fairly common (particularly if the logo was significantly different), but Colt 45s would be more unique..
clack - January 30, 2012
Titans...
Good luck trying to convince Houstonians to agree to that.
mike_o - February 3, 2012
Right
So now they will be an official sponsor. Free ammo night. First 10,000 kids get kevlar.
ntn - January 26, 2012 via mobile
Has anyone mentioned Houston Gamblers? I was always partial to that USFL team, running the Run & Shoot behind QB Jim Kelly, head coach Jack Pardee, and offensive coordinator Mose Davis before any other professional team used the offense.
clack - January 26, 2012
I think I did, but that could be a controversial name also.
Hal J - January 30, 2012
http://footer.mlblogs.com/2012/01/30/jim-crane-we-will-not-change-the-name-astros/
Hal J - January 30, 2012
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