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MLS Nicknames Confuse Joe Sixpack

By Howard M Alperin On August - 25 - 2011

From the beginning, MLS should have required franchise names to be recognizable to all sports fans.  Toronto FC, Sporting KC, Chivas USA, FC Dallas, Seattle Sounders FC, Real Salt Lake, Vancouver Whitecaps FC are unnecessary names.

FC should not be associated with any MLS nickname.  Too many sports fans don't know what it stands for and it makes them feel further separated from soccer than is really the case.  Reality is there is not a big divide between U.S. sports fans and soccer.  Everyone is familiar with the game. 

MLS will never achieve success until the average everyday sports fan understands what is going on in their game.  There is a lot to overcome, but rather than making it easier for themselves, some MLS teams have decided on foreign names that are not consistent with U.S. lexicon.

Many nicknames of MLS franchises and words used to describe basic tactics of the sport are articulated without consideration of the American sports fan.  There is an air of snobbishness exuding from&...

Read Complete Article at Bleacher Report - Sports & Society
Article is property of BleacherReport.com

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