Major League Soccer launched a decade ago and some of the nicknames it brought us have already gone by the wayside. The Mutiny sank in Tampa Bay the same year the Fusion fizzled with folding of Miami.
Clash, Wiz and Burn eventually changed to Earthquakes, Wizards and FC. Now those San Jose Earthquakes are Houston 1836.
Houston team President Oliver Luck explains, ''While the name Houston 1836 refers to the year that our City of Houston was founded by brothers Augustus C. and John K. Allen, we also incorporated the star and silhouette of General Sam Houston, which clearly are iconic symbols of Houston which will remind fans that this team represents their City.''
Sam Houston led the fight against Mexico to create an independent Texas, winning the decisive battle in 1836, and became its first president before helping bring it into the Union, in 1845.
The five-syllable 1836 means Houston has the longest nickname in MLS. Its colors will be black, blue and orange.
And as Luck has it, the logo reflects ''the pride, loyalty, heritage, bravery and most of all … winning spirit and 'wildcatter, go-get-em' attitude of Houstonians and all of Texas.''