Yesterday the verdict came in. The city of Seattle needed a payoff to allow the team to move to Oklahoma City. For $45 million up front and possibly $30 million later, the Seattle Sonics are no more. The previous owner is suing current owner Clay Bennett, saying he broke an agreement between the two to “make an honest effort” to work out a deal with the city of Seattle. This is nothing more than a publicity stunt. If the previous owner wanted the team to stay in Seattle he would have sold the team to someone not from Oklahoma City. Since there is no deal in writing this will be thrown out of court and Oklahoma City will enjoy NBA basketball in 2009.
Now, as part of the agreement between Seattle and Bennett, the green and white colors and the “Sonics” will stay in Seattle. So what should they name this “new” team.
The name of a team can go a long way towards success or mediocrity. It should be a name that makes sense for the city that hosts it while causing some level of intimidation. Here are some NBA teams that didn’t get it right.
"Charlotte Bobcats" – This name is just weak. The Bobcats sound like a middle school football team. The name came from the owner’s name, Bob. With that kind of reasoning it’s understandable how they hired Michael Jordan to make their basketball decisions. And how they’ve struck out.
- B/R Ticket Guide
"Memphis Grizzlies" – They faced a move from Vancouver to Memphis and took the Grizzly Bear with them. Outside of the Memphis Zoo it’s unlikely a Grizzly Bear has ever roamed the streets of Memphis. Thus the team has no identity.
"Washington Wizards" – They used to be the Washington Bullets, which was a perfectly good name, especially with the crime rates at times in D.C. No one likes to see bullets coming at them. The team struggled over the long haul so they booked the Wizard before he went to Alltel. Wizards make people laugh; they don’t intimidate anyone. It’s no surprise that after the first round of the playoffs the Wizards magically disappear.
"Los Angeles Clippers" – There are many definitions of a clipper. None of them have anything to do with basketball. The one the team inherited was the old 19th century ships that “were generally narrow for their length, could carry limited bulk freight, and small by later 19th century standards”. So they were fast but weak little ships that could get blown all over the place. I guess that explains why the Clippers are being blown away by the rest of the NBA every year in quick fashion. If they changed their name to “Stars” maybe they would turn into something
Now, Oklahoma City will have to make their decision on their colors and name. They can’t name the team the Sooners because another team in Oklahoma might have an issue with that. The name “Cowboys” is out too; otherwise the franchise will be chastised by a 40 year old man. Since Oklahoma is a big time college state I say they should have white and red-orange as their colors. That makes the most sense. The color could be like those red-orange jerseys the Sonics used to wear. That would keep a little of the old franchise alive. The name is a little trickier
They could just make up a name and call themselves the O.C. but I don’t think Oklahomans take kindly to Hollywood types around there. They need a name that has something to do with basketball and that natives in the area can relate to. One of the major industries (for lack of a better word) in Oklahoma City is the military. Therefore I think in 2009 the Sonics should transform into the Oklahoma City Shooters. It’s relevant to basketball, has something to do with the city, and rolls off the tongue nicely. And you can have Yosemite Sam as a mascot
That’s what I’ve come up with. Feel free to chime in.
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6 months ago
Shooters...sounds too D-league, but anything will after OK City. I agree with the color choices though.
Pro teams in OK City:
-OK RedHawks: AAA club of Texas Rangers
-OK City Yard Dawgz: afl2
-OK City Lightning: women's pro football
-OK City Blazers: central hockey league
Defunct sports teams:
-OK Wranglers: AFL
-OK 89ers: minor league baseball
-OK Stars: central hockey league
-OK City Coyotes: pro roller hockey
So, for 2008-09, the Oklahoma City...
-Settlers: 10,000 'settlers' came in one day to the 'unassigned land'
-66ers: D-league yes, but a major stop on Route 66
-Cyclones: OK City is in 'Tornado Alley'
-or a name that has to do with the massive amounts of intersates in OK
from 6 months ago
lol. cyclones aint bad but i always think of iowa state when i hear that.
from 6 months ago
Pro teams in OK City:
-OK RedHawks: AAA club of Texas Rangers
-OK City Yard Dawgz: afl2
-OK City Lightning: women's pro football
-OK City Blazers: central hockey league
Those are considered "pro" teams? The AFL2 is considered "pro"? Wow.
Good luck to OKC filling an arena once the novelty wears off.
6 months ago
Here are some ideas that I am trademarking in my mind. Should Clay Bennett decide to use any of these, he can send a $10 million check to (insert my address here). HA!
Some of these are serious, some are meant to be humorous.
Oklahoma City Talons
OKC Drifters
OKC Greenbacks (angry Seattle fans will appreciate this one)
OKC Not Going to Win a Championship This Year or Next
OKC Farmers (Hey, it's catchy)
OKC Bull Riders, or just Riders
OKC Marshalls
OKC Destroyers
OKC Big Butts
OKC Venegance
OKC Vipers
OKC Butt Plugs
OKC Accents (Has a nice ring, no?)
OKC Thick Accents
OKC Gamblers (probably more apropriate for a Las Vegas team)
OKC Monsters
OKC Cruisers
Thoughts?
from 6 months ago
I like the Marshalls. Bull Riders would only work if they played in Chicago's division, lol.
from 6 months ago
I also like the Marshals. For some reason the Cruisers, Farmers, and Vipers also stick out to me. Good work.
6 months ago
David clearly doesn't know much about Oklahoma. One of the major industries is "military"? I don't even know what that means. Also the "Oklahomans won't like Hollywood types around there" doesn't really make any sense unless you ignorantly believe that everyone who lives in Oklahoma is a backwoods redneck. In fact, many people who live in Oklahoma, like myself, are transfers from other states, and there is a lot of big business, particularly in the corporate, energy, banking and music industries.
Anyway...first, I think the colors should be black and gold. Black for oil, and gold for, yup gold. Oklahoma was discovered by Cornonado when he was searching for El Durado, so gold has a big role in the state's history.
I can also see the rationale behind the red-orange combo because of OU and OSU, but those colors clash, I'm not sure they would translate in to a classy uniform.
What I think is most important is that they should not go with some lame color set like blue and red, because there are so many teams in the league that have those colors.
Here are some team name options I've thought of:
Conquistadors
Honchos
Lighthorsemen
Wild Catters
Lariats
Rolling Thunder
Boomers
Strikers
Gathering Storm
Marshals
Viceroys
Bison
from 6 months ago
like i said before i didn't know how to word the military thing but there is alot of military driven activity in oklahoma city. as for the rest of oklahoma, no i don't know all that much, but that line was supposed to be a chuckle, c'mon. Good names though. Conquistadors could definately work.
6 months ago
how about maybe the outlaws since the oklahoma territory used to be a haven for outlaws. or maybe some thing to honor 1 of the indian tribes like the cherokees.just a thought
6 months ago
The Drillers would make a great nickname. Mean, relevant and easy to say.
from 6 months ago
since oil is a big deal that's a great one. kind of goes in line with the shooters thing without the political consequences of promoting gun use, lol.
6 months ago
It makes sense on a couple levels without sounding weak or offending anyone or anything, i think ... :)
6 months ago
Oklahoma City Texans!
6 months ago
i think that oklahoma is known for tornadoes,so they should just call them that or the Oklahoma city Twisters....i can see the logo at mid court. here are some other names roadrunners,bombers(jk)monsoon,pioneers,ranchers......what do you think
from 6 months ago
roadrunners, lol. the pa system could have a field day with that. only problem with that is the coach would be contractually required to run an uptempo offense.
6 months ago
Well, since they'll be near Bricktown....and they won all of 20 games.......the OC Bricks.
6 months ago
Good article. How bout the Oklahoma City Snake-Eyes?
6 months ago
Shooters? Will their symbol be a ak-47? How about the Oklahom City BOMBERS!
6 months ago
good read, however if they outlawed the bullets they definitely won't have the shooters.
i really like the Boomers to play off of the Sooners
but i hope the PC crowd wouldn't liken that to the OKC bombing.
boomers was my fave, the marshals aren't bad either, i also like the thunder.
6 months ago
out of all the ones suggested i'm leaning with the Drillers or the Marshals.
from 6 months ago
Drillers is already taken in the state by the Colorado Rockies AA affiliate located in Tulsa.
from 6 months ago
Well so much for that.
P.S. Do their pitchers just drill batters all day?
6 months ago
I'd have liked the Oklahoma City Grapes of Wrath.
Oklahoma was once a place of great interest, then a drought provoked many people to move to California.
After a drought in the win department in the once desirable location of OKC, especially elite success, the OKC NBA team will move to California...?
Also, after two years of champagne and high attendance, the 10 year hangover for Bennett's group will begin, and the team can be called the "Wrath of Grapes"
5 months ago
what about the STAMPEDE, with a Buffalo as the mascot and when they enter they can play the rumbling of a herd of buffalo
from 5 months ago
Well that beats THE THUNDER! I can't believe THAT won. Sure this mandates thunder sticks but man. Whose going to be afraid of thunder. It's everywhere, lol.
Ironically enough, since it's always raining in Seattle, maybe it's a tribute?
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