El Paso Chihuahuas? Yap, yap, yap, yap, yap, yap, yap, yap!

[mistabinks]

Originally Posted by Almeida93

Is there a video online about this? I would like to hear their points

If you are online right now, Brad Taylor is taking questions in an El Paso Times chat. He is not avoiding the hard questions.

[HookTheBrotherUp]

Originally Posted by mistabinks

If you are online right now, Brad Taylor is taking questions in an El Paso Times chat. He is not avoiding the hard questions.

I was logged in and watched the entire session (while I worked on other things ). I agree, he did answer everyone's questions. There were probably only three, or four "tough" questions for him, but he seemed to have canned answers, always saying in one way or another, that 'it would grow on you'. Funny, a few of the posters said the same thing which was that their kids (daughters) liked the name, so they liked it too. Some cats were hitting him up for marketing jobs, mascot jobs, etc. One even wanted to know if they would sell half season tickets. Why waste an opportunity? It was annoying to keep seeing the disclaimer about 'being busy, and being patient'. I think there were as many of those posts as there were real posts. HA!

Hopefully he'll have more of these.

[mistabinks]

I was happy with the chat. Everything I submitted was addressed. Other than "I hate the name," I don't anticipate any other hard to answer questions. They were asked, ad nauseum, and he replied. The El Paso Times, which is under a new editor, has too much to lose to grease the wheels in an interview like this.

[Almeida93]

How long was the Q and A. I also saw about 4 pages of questions and answers. It seems like it only lasted 1 hour?

[Chuco]

Originally Posted by mistabinks

I had always planned on attending two games a month (once a payday). Nothing has changed for me. If nothing else, I have to admit, I am even more excited about the ball club now. I love that MountainStar is not only sticking to their guns but addressing and interacting with the opposition. I have heard the President of MountainStar on Sports Talk, the KLAQ Morning Show, and a few news broadcasts. They took the hard calls and stayed the course.

I respect everyone's opinion. I am not trying to say anyone is wrong or tell anyone what to do or think. In my opinion only, it is silly that one's support would hinge on the name of the team. Chihuahuas wasn't my first choice and I would probably change it tomorrow if I could. Still, its AAA baseball in El Paso. That is all I need to know. I remember the days when Jim Paul tried to acquire a AAA franchise. I remember a few other groups that tried as well. I remember MountainStar striking out their first two times. We have AAA ball now though. I won't let a silly name ruin it for me.

Great post Mistabinks! and I agree with you 100%.

Originally Posted by Almeida93

Is there a video online about this? I would like to hear their points

Here is the channel 7 Xtra show that came out this past Sunday night at about 10:30pm.
It's about a 25 minute show and interview with Chihuahuas General Manager Brad Taylor and former Diablos owner Jim Paul.

ABC-7 Xtra: El Paso Chihuahuas | Video - Home

[NMMatt]

Originally Posted by HookTheBrotherUp

Most people are always welcomed in El Paso. FYI, I was not trying to be succinct, or snappy, but really, it takes a while to explain, it would be a book if I wrote it here. It truly is something that needs to be discussed.

In a nutshell, for a long time, people of Chihuahua in Juarez, an El Paso were considered the equivalent to the hillbillies of the Appalachian Mountains. Many of their manners, and behaviors were embarrassing to the Mexican American population in El Paso. Many of the older generations completely illiterate; their families in the country illegally, receiving many forms of welfare, though not technically eligible, having generation after generation of children, pregnant before 15 years of age, uncontrollable little children and the gangsters many of them turned out to be.

You get the idea. Not all were/are like this, but many, thus the stigma of a Chihuahueno. They were also called 'FronChis', a derogatory name based on the license plates of their vehicles 'Frontera Chihuahua' where Chihuahua is the state, and frontera meaning border. Many lived/live in El Paso but use those plates to circumvent the insurance requirements on vehicles in the US. Many shop at Walmart, usually no respect for others, do not drive well. If you've lived there long enough, you've no doubt seen them, just did not know what the rest of El Paso thinks of them... not everyone of course.

Yeah, having grown up in El Paso, this is what I thought of when I heard the name Chihuahuas. Maybe they should have the cholo'ed out yappy dog mascot drive around in a old pickup that would never pass emissions complete with the ol' orange "Front Chi" plates during the 7th inning stretch . Definately seems like a name imposed on El Paso from the outside. I guess the bright side is that if they do sell lots of hats maybe they can reimburse the city for the cost of the stadium... like that would ever happen .

Anyway, I'll probably take in a few games driving down from Cruces. Hope the team succeeds regardless of how imposed on El Paso from the outside this all feels - from Paul Foster buying off city council to fund the stadium to the name loved by America as a fad, but offensive to El Pasoans. I for one would have thought the old "Diablos" name would have been great to try to keep if it were really about El Paso.

[catetote]

El Paso in located in the Chihuahuan Desert!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It's not only approporiate but brilliant from a marketing strategy. Children are the basis for these baseball games. They can't keep the merch on the racks. Good job!

[Bron_Brodir]

Hey didn't El Paso have a "Triple A" baseball team for a bit under the Diamondbacks? What level was the old school Diablos back when they were next to the barn and near the zoo? It seems to me El Paso gets these things, they find out the price of admission and then all support goes out the window.. I expect the same here. No one WANTS to go downtown, and this name thing.. yeah I hope they pan out, but I don't expect it will.

As for people questioning the merchandise.. everything I have read suggest it is flying off the shelves.

[mistabinks]

The Brewers and Diamondbacks affiliate teams were both AA. El Paso has never had AAA baseball. The Diablos organization chose to drop affiliation with the Brewers and go with the D'Backs. They were able to do this because of a strong fan base. The El Paso D'Back team was sold and relocated. Never did the D'Backs drop or leave El Paso.

El Paso's history with baseball goes back to 1915. That only happens when you have strong support. The crabs are simply wrong about this one.

The independent Diablos averaged 3275 people a game. That's a huge number. Triple A baseball will most likely do a lot better. It's fine if one dislikes the name and/or team. The merchandise is all over town so obviously a lot of other people do like it.