Just not cricket or football either for that matter.

[anotheoldgit]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-113386 3/Cricket-team-told-Crusaders--case-offends-Mu slims-Jews.html

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/eu rope/article3035438.ece

[jake-the-peg]

Offend's probably a strong word.

They rather look on it in the same way we look on the word Jihad

What would you think of say a cricet team called "Lahore Jihadis?"

[naomi24]

Well, the muslim lawyer says it's 'offensive to Muslim sensibilities', so it seems to be the right word.

If muslims look upon the word 'Crusader' in the same way as we look upon the word 'Jihad', then they should think again. The difference between the two words is that one is still very much alive and relevant in today's world, and the other relates, in the main, to the annals of history. It's time muslims stopped this nonsense and got over themselves. The rest of the world can't keep bending to their 'sensibilities', and they shouldn't expect it to.

[tigerlily11]

Well that makes a change. Another country besides us in their line of fire.

[B00]

I'd be more worried about the pink shirts/jumpers they have to wear than their name if I was them.

[dot.hawkes]

Plenty of snow up your way B00? My area manager is up there and she's stuck indoor

(soz AOG for hijack ) (Can I use hijack in a flippant context these days?)

[Gromit]

Both stories are nonsensical.

Middlesex Crusaders obviously do not have any religious quest on their agenda, and the the word is used of its more benign meaning "a vigorous campaign in favour of a cause" in this case, the cause being a cricket team. So no name change was necessary.

My hunch is that the name change was not at the behest of Muslims and Jews but the Lottery Sports Fund. The Lottery Sports Fund give millions of pounds to Cricket every year, but their rules on very strict and anything vaguely sectarian would bar them from funding.

The Turjkish Lawyer's motives are not based on him defending his faith, but defending the football team he supports. He wants the result anulled. Football fans often lose the plot when it comes to their team.

[Gromit]

Middlesex Country Cricket Club press release:

Introducing the Middlesex Panthers!

Following a brief article which appeared in today�s national media concerning the renaming of the Middlesex one day side, we are proud to announce that from this season our one day side will now be known as the Middlesex Panthers.

Having secured a new main sponsor for the club for the next few seasons, we felt that the time was right for us to take a look at our one day image and unanimously reached the conclusion that rebranding to a new look would be the right decision at this time.

It is disappointing that the news of our rebrand has leaked to the media, especially under a cloud of negativity, as this has denied us the opportunity to officially unveil and celebrate the new Panthers brand at our pre season press launch in mid March, however like us, I�m sure all Middlesex fans and members will share our belief that this is the perfect time for us to move forward with a new one day image and build on the success that we achieved last year in the Twenty20 Cup!

Vinny Codrington - Middlesex CCC Chief Executive

No mention of complaints by anybody about the old name.

[B00]

No mention of those hidious pink shirts either Grom....

[rov1200]

Are ther any Muslims in the Western world who try to create harmony? Their silence is deafening!

[Oneeyedvic]

Are ther any Muslims in the Western world who try to create harmony? Their silence is deafening!

On the basis that there are a few million Muslims who are just getting on with their lives as normal, what do you want them to do?

Go on tv and say this is rubbish? Which news station or newspaper will print that?

How many doctors led a mass protest when Harold Shipman killed more people than Muslims have in this country?

[Supernick]

I just don't understand your points anymore OG. I really feel that it might be time for someone to stage an intervention and sit you down with a cup of sugary tea. You really don't need to get angry about these things. It's one man, saying something mental, not backed up by anyone.

[carsonking]

You Muslim lovers, WHEN the s**t hits the fan and we can finally do something about this plague, who's side are you going to be on?

[Quinlad]

If it does happen, we'll probably be better prepared than you. We won't have wasted all our energy crying over pointlessly trivial stuff like this.

But thanks for all you're doing, comrade.

[Sgt.Rock]

"What would you think of say a cricet team called "Lahore Jihadis?"

Jake - I played against a Pakistani team team called Al Fatah over 20 years ago so not much difference!!

Easilt the most unfriendly ,nasty bunch of bad losers I have ever encountered. They later refused to play in the league claiming they had experienced racism. Nothing changes does it.

[naomi24]

I don't know why people are getting at AOG for this particular post. He's provided a link not only to the Daily Mail, but to a more reputable newspaper too, which is fair enough. Yes, he is bigoted much of the time, but on this occasion he's offered no opinion whatsoever, but still you attack him - so what does that make you?

[Gromit]

Middlesex Crsuaders/Panthers.

Apparently the name change was more to do with financial pressure that any complaints from Jews and Muslims.

The Crusaders name was dreamed up by marketing men ten years ago oblivious of its connotations.

The Crusader name originated as a reflection of the three seaxes on the county crest. A seaxe, or seax, is an Old Saxon sword dating to a period before the Crusades, but that subtlety appears to have been lost.

A previous Jewish President of Middlesex CCC objected to the name but it was never changed.

Now it appears that new marketing men, with an eye on the new and potentially lucrative Twenty20 Champions League, which Middlesex hope to qualify for, have concluded that a rebranding needs to take place. The first competition takes place on the subcontinent in October. The subcontinent is now where the money is in cricket, and the name change reflex a desire for the Middlesex team to be more marketable.

[Gromit]

the name change reflects a desire for the Middlesex team to be more marketable.

[Oneeyedvic]

I don't know why people are getting at AOG for this particular post.....

....but on this occasion he's offered no opinion whatsoever, but still you attack him

Who has attacked him?

[naomi24]

Read the posts, Vic. It seems one or two are rather anti-old gits.