After he said "We made it,” after he offered his congratulations and after he assured us the NBA will be in Oklahoma City next season, Clay Bennett got down to the business of answering some long-awaited questions.
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They included the team name, ticket prices, employment and the franchise's prospective practice facility.
Soon after the Seattle SuperSonics reached a settlement with the city of Seattle over their lease dispute, agreeing to pay $45 million for the right to relocate to Oklahoma City for the 2008-09 season, Bennett turned his attention to transitioning his franchise to Oklahoma.
"We will reserve the name Sonics and SuperSonics and the marks and the colors and will not use them,” Bennett said. "But we will return them to (Seattle) if a team does indeed return to Seattle.”
The team's new name and colors have not yet been finalized, Bennett said, but will be soon.
"We are working very closely with the NBA on the development of this new name and color scheme,” Bennett said. "There are vast legal issues and licensing issues relative to the league with how they use the name with the distribution that the league has around the world. A lot of work has to go into seeing that we can protect the name and use the name appropriately in our business.”
The location of the $20 million practice facility, which city voters approved on March 4, has not been determined. But team general manager Sam Presti is scheduled to visit Oklahoma City soon to begin weighing potential sites.
"There are several locations that are under consideration,” Bennett said, "and that will be coming into focus very, very soon...This will be amongst the finest practice facilities in the league.”
Bennett acknowledged that ticket prices will increase from what Hornets fans grew accustomed to from 2005-07, but he added that he aims to keep the games affordable.
"They're going to be higher,” Bennett said. "We will still have affordable seats. We are going to commit to making sure affordable seats exist throughout the building. We're going to focus very hard on making sure that everyone in this city and state that wants to go to a game can go to a game.”
Bennett said the franchise will do everything it can to allow former Hornets season ticket holders an opportunity to reclaim their seats. A plan for that, however, has not been finalized, and the franchise cannot make any guarantees.
"Of course without the experience of the Hornets we would not be standing here today,” Bennett said of New Orleans' temporarily displaced franchised. "We all know that and I appreciate that very much. It's going to be very difficult to say that if you had a seat at the Ford Center for the Hornets that you can have that very seat again with a new team and a new building.
"But rest assured we are cognizant of the passion that the Hornets fans had and have and want to try to find a way to somehow reward that and recognize that as we move forward.”
The team also will work with the Greater Oklahoma City Chamber of Commerce to hire new employees. A job fair will be held this summer to fill the vacancies left by any of the team's 125 staff members who choose not to relocate from Seattle.
Chamber president Roy Williams said the Chamber will also help the organization advertise ticket information and develop relationships with the business community.
"But we've done that, so we're not uncomfortable with that,” Williams said.
Oklahoma City Manager Jim Couch said the city is prepared to handle the transition and any of the team's needs after accommodating the Hornets when they relocated here one month before training camp began in 2005.
"It's not a breeze,” said Couch. "It's a lot to do in a short amount of time, but we'll be fine.”
The team's offices will be located downtown and inside the Ford Center once renovations are complete.
Bennett said Seattle also will retain its original 1978-79 championship banner and trophy, but the ownership group will create a duplicate banner and trophy to bring with the team to Oklahoma City "as a part of what we believe is the history that we purchased as part of this transaction.”
The team's historical statistics and records, Bennett said, will remain with the Oklahoma City franchise but are transferable to a future Seattle franchise.
All regular-season games will be played in Oklahoma City, Bennett said, but Tulsa likely will receive some preseason games.
"We want to make this Oklahoma's team,” Bennett said. "This is a team that's going to play games in Tulsa, it's a team that's going to promote in other markets and have appearances in other markets, and we really feel that bringing everybody together is a huge part of what this is all about.”
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What about the Knights even though it really doesn't represent OKC, 89ers even though it sounds like 76ers and the Redhawks used to be named that if im not mistaken. But seriously who would want to wear an "Oil Barons" jersey or one that says "Thunder" with a big lightning bolt across it? lol. I know Lightning causes Thunder but they are two separate things. lol. Well "The Barons" does sound a little better than "Thunder" to me. Whatever name they choose i'll be at the games. lol.
The info was from around the horn listen to the podcast for july 3 2nd segment end of the conversation from the host when he ends it. He says both names and mentions which ever name they chose. for those wondering.
From what I heard there are 2 names romured to have been pass on to the NBA for sure that is the thunder and barons. I got that from ESPN on one of there shows. The new name should come out soon the season schedule I think is due out by the end of the month.
I know bennett said that the team name and colors would be decided soon, but has a specific date been set, or has anyone heard of when it will be announced?
Firebrands sound interesting, but I think it would be a little bit too cowboyish for my tastes. I would prefer a name that represents our native american history. Thunderbirds sounds like the best choice to me. I can even envision a large feathery thunderbird mascot. We could incorporate other native themes like totems poles, as well. Names like Barons and Outlaws seem to be in bad taste, especially considering how we got the team.
I like the idea of the team brand being relevant to our state, but come on, "Twisters" or "Thunder" is just plain hokie. We're going to be IN A NATIONAL spotlight (and in some sense an INTERNATIONAL spotlight) so we don't to feed in to others' negative preconceptions about our state. It is very likely the branding of our new team can shed a whole new positive perspective of our capitol city. That being said, here's a few ideas that I've come up with:
* The OKC Voltage - Garners our state's contributions to the all-important energy sector, PLUS it covers the violent weather systems commonly attributed to Oklahoma. Preferred colors are Silver & Blue. Logo: A striking neon-blue energy bolt arcing around a traditional orange basketball.
* The OKC Firebrands - Acknowledges Oklahoma's western heritage, plus it promotes the idea that the team is our very "own". Colors are Red & Orange. Logo is an "OKC" firebrander sizzling the side of a basketball with a flame rising diagonally. The "K" in "OKC" is the stem or handle of the firebrander.
The OKC Vortex - Again, Vortex expresses the violent Oklahoma weather but more importantly, the Vortex concept doubles as a guaranteed shot into the basket. This concept is conveyed in the logo where a tornado is inside the flexing basketball net, as a basketball appears to be suctioned in. The colors: Navy and Tan.
The OKC Trash - If an animal were to be chosen, there are no existing fish symbols in any of the NBA teams, hence the Trash. A freshwater fish such as a catfish or bass slapping a basketball with its tail serves as the team logo. Colors could be Black and Teal.
The OKC Pulse or Vibe - Probably the weakest idea of my list here, but it does convey energy, electricity and vibrancy. Colors can be black and yellow.
NAMES TO AVOID:
* Scissortails - might be great for a WNBA nickname, but a men's team?
* Outlaws - Only if we want to appear as lawless citizens, and the NBA might as well resurrect the Bullets for Washington.
* Twisters - I absolutely detest this one because it doesn't communicate strength, but rather a weak, flimsy dust devil. Vortex is a much better choice if a tornado concept is to be used.
* Buffalo or Bison - Big bulky animals might work for a football team, but the athletic trait in basketball is finesse. Besides, a large mammal would too closely resemble the Chicago Bulls or the Memphis Grizzlies.
* Thunder - this one is disappointing because it reminds me too much of the Wichita hockey team. Besides, thunder is only noise whereas lighting is what does all the damage.
* Barons - difficult to relate to.
* Pumas, Cougars or other cats - the newest team is the Charlotte Bobcats, and another big cat mascot just isn't creative.
How about the Oklahoma City Twisters or Tornadoes? We have enough of them in the state. The F5's would work as well, but I guess it would have to be changed to E-F5.
The knights have no connection with the city. I think it will probably be something oil related since thats the big business here and that is what some of the PBC people are involved with. if it is, it would only make sense to make the colors black and gold (hence Black Gold = oil) and I dont think there are any black and gold teams in the nba (besides when the wizards wear their alternate uni's)
I like the "Knights". It sounds more tough. A name like the "Thunder" does sounds pretty lame. What would the mascot look like? I like the Knights and OKC wont regret this name if this becomes the team's name.
Check this link out:
http://jeffreyvancealbertson.com/okcinnba.html
I love this. I mean the colors may be kinda bright but that would be a good name for the team. I a name like the "Knights" doesn't really represent anything about Oklahoma but I think it would be a great name. know it really doesnt represent.
Isn't the Sonic food chain hdqtrs in OKC. Call them the OKC Sonic Burger #2 w/mayo. Seriously I am in favor of soemthing that would go with black, red and silver team colors. Black gold, red man, silver lining. Plus those colors will cause aggresive play.
I also like the Oklahoma Thunderbirds, for the very reason Jerry from OKC mentioned. I can see it shortened to T-Birds real easy in the sports media, but no worries there. As for the P&Mers whining about the move, it ain't the good folks of Oklahoma (Afton HS 1975, Okie State 1979, still have family in Miami & Fairland) that did it- go after Clay Bennett. Next, go after that idiot who owns Starbucks & overbuilt his five-dollar-cup-of-coffee empire. Then, chew on the colective butts of the Seattle city leaders. The fans (that's you and me, Bunky) are the ones who seem to get worked over by team ownership. Yelling at us is a waste of good oxygen- save it for the real suspects. And oh by the way, unless you've been to Oklahoma, your comments mean nothing to me. I've been to the Pacific Northwest, and it's a pretty awesome area, but that isn't where my heart is. I like sunrise over Grand Lake, hiking in the Arbuckles, canoeing on the Mountain Fork River, looking out over miles & miles of wheat fields ready for harvest, listening to the crickets at night under a sea of stars............I'm not a big-city person, but I will go now & then. Don't hate us Okies, Seattleites- hate the current & former owner, and their greed. All those banners? Shoot, keep 'em- they belong to you. If I could, I'd FedEx 'em back in a heartbeat.
I'd like to harken back to the glory days of the CBA and call them the OKC Cavalry. I LOVED that team! Of the names already mentioned, Thunderbirds is my favorite.
I also like the Thunderbirds moniker for several reasons. I think the colors should be blue, white and green. Green and white are our state colors, and blue the primary color of our flag. Wouldn't be nice if the uniforms would match the Oklahoman flag? Also green and white, would represent the team's history with the Sonics, while the blue and white would represent our city's history with Hornets.
You know something as I was scrolling through the posts. I came upon a post that the team should be called Oklahoma City insert name. You certainly will be stuck with paying the taxes but dont be fooled to think that if its possible, making a state tax of some sort so that you all there in the city can get help. You know the good 'ol hotel tax and what not. That is great and you are right that people of OKC have to foot the bill.However do not say that its not Oklahoma's team when the nicknames that are being mentioned are ones for which Oklahoma is known for and they are wanting to make this OKLAHOMA'S team. Secondly when the metro fans that will stop going to games when they get fed up with the losses remember that is will be other OKLAHOMAN'S outside of the metro that make the drive to fill the seats vacated by the ones there in the metro that will have the team at thier beck and call. So again the team shall be called OKC what ever the team name is. But remember that this is Oklahoma's only major league professional sports team.So in the end yes this is OKLAHOMAS team.
Scalpers?!? Kim, you are such a card. I like a shady, swarthy looking fellah holding a bunch of tickets to "scalp!" Geddit??? Ok, c'mon people --- the OKC VICTIMS. We'll always get the sympathy fans and we can only go up! God Bless Henry Bellmon and Roger Miller!
Seattle ownership placed a price tag on the team...Clay Bennett paid the price....such a ruthless bast**d. When someone goes down to a car dealership and purchases a vehicle, are they expected to leave that vehicle on the lot? Like it or not, Bennett bought the team. It's his.
Seriously - OKC Thunderbirds. It has a connection not only to the Native American roots of this State but also one of the great Military units in history - The 45th Infantry. Remember - OKC is home to the 45th Museum! The name just shouts Oklahoma!
I was on another blog and someone had posted this link in there
Oklahoma City Knights - LOGOS on this url . . http://jeffreyvancealbertson.com/okcinnba.html
I happen to like this design because the "Knights" sound like a real mascot. The "Thunder" is a OK name but I really like this disign and I think the Knights would be a great name. If not then "Thunder" should be OK and I mean just that OK. lol.
I apologize I wasn't sure if you country folk could spell so I didn't bother. I will guarantee they will never do one thing my Sonics did and that's win a championship!!!!
Youre right eric, bennett stole it right out from under seattle by paying $350 million for a team that was worth $225 million...thats robbery if ive ever heard of it. Give me a break...Bennett didnt steal anything, Seattle has only their apathetic city and state leaders to blame for the loss, and we appreciate you wanting us to "fale" (i assume you meant fail) but thats what all the haters said when the hornets came in 05 so bring it on. Really, there's nothing better to do today in Phoenix than come put in your two cents on the Oklahoman website? Pretty comical.
Eric in Phoenix - ha ha - the joke's on you - you can't even spell "fail". Seattle never wanted to keep the team, it was all about getting money, the settlement proves it. NBA in OKC will be bigger than in Seattle.
Clay Bennett is a traitorous scoundrel who does not deserve to own a team nor does okc itself. this team was stolen from the great people in Seattle and I hope it does nothing more than fale in okc.
Daniel, some tribes wouldn't care like they don't care about the NCAA thing, but others would. I personally think Stampede is cool. I can do without Barons or Outlaws (see Marlow) or even Thunder. How about Storm since the girls team refused to come. haha!
I would also point out that for all the knocks on Oklahoma City from our friend Nick of Seattle on this board, it would appear that Nick is either the most bored person on this planet to waste as much time as he has on this board. Or, more likely, Nick doesn't have a job, a wife and family, or a hobby, or much else to keep him occupied beyond carrying on here. Seattle can't be all that great if Nick has this much free time.
Great news for a great city. I am an Oklahoma transplant, having lived in Pennsylvania, North Carolina, Louisiana, Minnesota, and Ontario (Canada) as a child and young adult. Moved to OKC in my 20's. The NBA couldn't have come to a better city.
bennett paid 350 MILLION... so how is that stealing. it's called business. keep crying seattle, no one here cares. few around the nation care either. the only reason MARK CUBAN voted no on the NBA vote is due to the fact that OKC is 3 hours away from DFW and he we are gonna cut into his fan base and coffers.
i don't see durant moving... he played here for the big 12 championship and saw the record breaking crowds. the hornets were down in the dumps until they came to OKC. when you have a whole community freaking the f*ck out and supporting you wholeheartedly... it does something to you. it empowers you. the hornets did not want to leave... chris paul did not want to leave. even their coaches said publicly they wished to stay.
and to anyone saying that we should be the OKLAHOMA _______, it's been said by clay bennett and mayor cornett that it will be the OKC _________. our city has been bombed by homegrown terrorists and devastated by huge tornados... we need something positive associated with OKC.
END OF STORY.
OK Mary, how about renaming the Indianapolis Colts, The Arizona Cardinals, the St Louis Rams, the Utah Jazz, the Los Angeles Lakers, the LA Dodgers, the San Fransisco Giants, the Texas Rangers, etc etc to the Stealers? All these childish accusations of Oklahoma City "stealing" the sonics are getting old. Teams move. It happens. Deal with it.
I think the players probably do not have a good idea of what to expect here. OKC may not be a Miami or L.A. in terms of nightlife and such. However, Bricktown will explode with this and I'm sure we will see more upper class attractions popping up. We haven't had a lot because there wasn't a need for it, now there will be a need. The players will start pumping in money into the local economy just as the Hornets players did. OKC is not a dusty, dry cow-town for anyone that thinks so please do some research. I hope the team chooses a good name that doesn't negatively impact them in the future.
Ok, we'll forgive you northwesterners that are bitter and disappointed. I've never been a fan of team moves, but hey, they happen, that's why Utah has jazz (the OLD New Orleans team for you newbies), these days. God knows any day the Dallas Cowboys could become the Fayetteville Cowpigs any day now with the hayseed owner they got. Any way, on to team names - what should we name them? The Bison Stampede? The F5's? The Scissortails? I sure hope the name and colors are original and don't match an existing name in some other pro sport.
Relax Nick, go have an early beer. I have to admit, I love your Applebees suggestion :-). Good one. Now back to the story topic. By the time league play begins next year there will be near nothing left of this franchise that will resemble anything that was SuperSonics. The new GM will shed some pathetic players our GM wasted high picks on over the last several years. Any remaining core talent will be so young that they'll have insignificant Sonics history. Owners new...GM gone...coaches gone...players gone...announcers gone...front office employees gone. There is no franchise continuity here. In principle I favor having records, names, mascots & colors remaining with the original city that birthed them. We don't need any more Utah Jazz or Memphis Grizzlies or LA Lakers. Glad to see that many of you agree that it is in your hands to create your own destiny, and that you have no interest in packing up tangible Seattle history in the moving vans. Demand excellence, because in the end we were shafted by inept local ownership that drove our team into the ground, killed fan interest, and reduced all subsequent decision making to the lure and scarcity of the almighty dollar. The boiling point for everyone here was reached the second we heard out of town folks bought the team. We recognize (as you all do) "half-truths" by a distant sports owner when we hear it, so bitterness and vindictiveness started there and has not ceased. Our city, its citizens and former players deserve to keep those momentos of our history together here in Seattle.
Brad - give Nick a break. He apologized and he has a right to be bitter. Imagine how you'd feel if The Sooners moved to Stillwater! :) Nick, I couldn't agree with your assessment of Clay Bennett and the other people involved in this more. And I fully understand your frustration and bitterness. For the real fans it does bite big time.
How about the Oklahoma Wind, like Bag-of-Wind Bennett. Brian Bosworth must be thrilled with Bennett who easily replaced him as the biggest BS'ing phony who ever came to Seattle from Oklahoma. To the good Oklahomans, please send the front half of a horse to Seattle sometime -- all that you have sent so far has been the back half. And by the way, the fans did support the Sonics. The lawmakers just didn't succumb to Bennett's demands for 500 million in tax money to build himself a new Taj Mahal. Funny how 150 million in renovations to an existing arena in OKC satisfied him.
Greg, We don't send them, they go there on their own. No idea why. I feel the same way about the money that was asked for from Seattle and what was settled for here. I give Bennett et al 3 years before asking for a lot more.
They'll be passing up a good name if they overlook Tornadoes or Twisters. Dusters, I've heard, is being considered. Lousy idea. Just imagine what the sports writers will do with that: OKC Dusters got dusted last night by . . ., OKC Dusters better dust off their A-game . . ., OKC Dusters can't seem to get the dust out of their eyes . . .
WOW! This Nick guy from seattle is an idiot. I can certainly se why Seattlle couldn't support a team if the fans are all like him. Most fans are supportive of the move since Seattle clearly didn't have what it takes to keep them OR make them a winner. Sour grapes Nick................
Nick, I hope you do come to OKC sometime. I'll bet you'll have a nice time. Bring the family. You'll find Okies are very courtious and warm people. I enjoyed my visit to Seattle a few years back. Not one of my top 10 cities I've visited or anything, but it was nice. I'd love to go to Portland some day. Everyone I hear that has been there raves about how nice it is.
all right folks, sorry for making fun of your city. just incredibly bitter. DEfinitely blaming Clay Bennett - who is a disenginious, lying, scumbag...also blaming Wally Walker, SEattle Pols and Howard Schultz...I hate myself...Im leaving to go jump in the sound...unfortunately - we have to root for your demise down there...again, sorry for being childish...
Mary - I think she was talking about schools for the player's kids. Believe it or not, they do care. But let's face reality - they won't be going to public school anyway. I'm all for supporting your home town/State - I do it whenever I think it's right - but let's not go overboard in our gushing. lol
Good Schools??? Maybe I'm missing something here? Half these athletes didn't finish college. Certainly I don't think their children go to any public schools. Does this have something to with Bill Gates? He didn't finish college either. Tornadoes??? I've lived in Oklahoma for over fifty years and have only been in the path of one. I think these guys can afford to build safe rooms, basements and storm cellars, albeit they may need to be specially built to accommodate their size. Hey I like David Payne! I'd rather watch him chase a tornado than catch a rerun of Greys Anatomy! That's overblown (no pun intended). Yes we have noodling but we also have tremendous bass, crappie, sandbass and striper fishing. Maybe we don't have more lakes than Minnesota but we have more shoreline than the entire West Coast! Maybe we don't quite have the club life of some big cities but then again maybe an athlete is less likely to get shot like in Denver. You know you can't please everyone, so you just have to please yourself! Kudos to the gentlemen in Oklahoma City who worked hard to bring this NBA team to Oklahoma City! Screw Seattle!!!
So, Nick - how good do those sour grapes taste?
:)
Hey - I spent part of my life in NYC and some of the people in Brooklyn STILL whine about the Dodgers abandoning them and moving to LA, so I've seen it before. But why don't you get it right - OKC did not steal the team. If it was stolen by anyone it was the new owners and they were helped by the ineptitude of the Seattle City leaders, the Washington State legislature and the majority of the people of Seattle that bothered to cast a vote on the new arena. Go ahead, I dare you - tell me Seattle won't do the same thing if it gets a chance and another NBA city drops the ball as badly as you guys did.
basically, the push for NBA fans is going to be to boo the Oklahoma Thieves at every visiting arena...Bill Simmons already has it on his blog, there is going to be a massive movement to humiliate and shame this team and city for what it did...I look forward to going to Portland and booing the F out the Thieves...maybe I'll even pack up my taste for a weekend, swallow my sophistication and come down to cow town to boo in person...I bet your economy goes through the roof if you get a tourist or too...
Nick, to be perfectly frank, I never wanted the team. Out of the top pro sports - Football, Baseball, Hockey and Basketball - I think BB is the worst fit for OKC. On top of that, I don't think the owners will really be happy with the Ford Center very long no matter what they say, even with the improvements, and will be demanding a new arena be built so they can move into it as soon as the lease runs out - just like the current and former owners did in Seattle. And OKC will have a much harder time getting 1/2 billion to build a new facility than Seattle did. But teams move all the time and usually for all the wrong reasons. And other than the people of Seattle and OKC, I don't expect the rest of the country to give a rat's patoot within a month where this team is located. In the end, I hope this all works out all the way around. But I am one of the doubters. But if "Seattle" had really wanted the team, they would have given in to the extortion. The die hard fans in Seattle are great - but I think the majority of the city was tired of being hit on for welfare for millionaires and I don't blame them one bit. Personally I think all cities will one day hit that point. And OKC didn't steal anything - Seattle handed the team to us on a silver platter by not dealing with the old or the new owners. Bennett might still have moved the team, but it would have been a lot more difficult if he got anything close to what he asked for.
So all you have to do is get all new players and let the dust settle on them...sounds like a winner...there's a curse coming with this team...YOU GUYS STOLE OUR TEAM...so what if Bennett duped our idiot owner, its still ill gotten gains...and it turns out they never prosper...plus, read ESPN, Yahoo, CNNSI...fans and writers everywhere are appalled by what has happened...have fun being hated by everyone in the country and sucking...
Nick - I wouldn't go that far. I'm just saying the things Mary listed are not something the average NBA player will consider. I know Chris Paul loved OKC - and still does, he was back here just a week or two ago for his BB camp - as did many of the other Hornets. But I seriously doubt it was for any of the reasons Mary listed. Like I said, OKC is really a great place to live and there will be players that agree. Maybe not any of the ones currently with the Sonics, but if they give us a chance I think we will grow on them.
:)
Exactly Jerry - Im sure OKC brings it for a small town and for its native people, but its going to be a curse to get drafted by OKC...no way you sign a real free agent...plus, you also have incompetent owners and look what our incompetent owners did for us...The Oklahoma Thieves will be hitting the dusty trail within five years...maybe you'll win 80 games in that peroid...
No seriously, mary - NBA players love bigots...I think your bigotry will be the biggest draw...WORST DESTINATION IN PRO SPORTS...ill gotten gains never prosper...
And I love OKC, but come on now. Do you really think most NBA players care what their houses cost? They can get exactly the same thing anywhere they want to - money is no object when you ahve millions. Do you think NBA players from a city with Pro Football and Baseball will care about OU or OSU football? I certainly don't. Short winters? Well, yes. But the winters in Seattle aren't that bad either. No blackouts, earthquakes, floods, etc - but we do have very severe thunderstorms and the 'occasional tornado or two.' Spring and Fall - I guess we occasionally see a short one between summer and winter. Indian casino gambling and horse racing? They can fly to much better gambling and horse racing venues than we can dream of. The lottery - well, who doesn't have that. Now, fishing is another matter, but what type? Compared to Marlin, noodling for catfish isn't all that glamorous. As for lakes - I think Minnesota might argue that point with you. What more can we want? How about better nightlife, four star restaurants and more cultural activities (although we have made some really nice progress on that last one the past decade...) Sure, OKC is a great place to live for the average person. But for an NBA player? I don't think most of us can even conceive of what type of lifestyle they live.
The players will love it in Oklahoma City! They'll get great value for their homes, I hasten to say homes because they'll be more like castles, built in or near Oklahoma City. We have "real" brick here in OKC. We have acres of land for homesites. We have some of the finest college football facilities in the nation at our two state institutions. We have wonderful Spring and Fall seasons and generally mild Winters. We don't have blackouts, earthquakes, floods, landslides, or forest fires. We have more lakes per square acre than any state in the nation. We have Indian Casino Gambling, Horse Racing, Fishing and a Lottery. What more could you ask for?
The name should be the Oklahoma City Thunderbirds. Period.
Bennett never intended to keep the team in Seattle no matter what he says - everyone with half a brain knows it. That's the 'deserved' part Trammel was talking about.
I give it three years and attendance will start its slide toward dismal. OKC has the attention span of an ADHD two year old and Basketball has never been a big sport here. The only way the team will maintain interest is if they are contenders EVERY year. Otherwise...
To me the biggest joke out of this whole thing was Mick Cornett saying the team will be here because we (OKC) have a lease - and he had the nerve to say that while they were trying to break the lease in Seattle! Was that irony or rank stupidity? (I'll keep my opinion to myself on that one...)
Finally, I love OKC. I chose to live here and choose to remain here. But an NBA team in no way makes us "Big League." And to be honest, I don't see that changing any time soon - which suits me just fine.
:)
Hey Nick. I am in Seattle RIGHT NOW, how about I pop by and watch you ENJOY crying---you whiny little baby....Good lord. Look at it this way, at least now you won't have to "enjoy" watching your basketball team get destroyed by the Trailblazers for the next 10 years--
Dry your eyes little boy. Maybe you will get the NBA again in 5 or 6 years---try to support them next time.
153
http://jeffreyvancealbertson.com/nbainokc.html
* The OKC Voltage - Garners our state's contributions to the all-important energy sector, PLUS it covers the violent weather systems commonly attributed to Oklahoma. Preferred colors are Silver & Blue. Logo: A striking neon-blue energy bolt arcing around a traditional orange basketball.
* The OKC Firebrands - Acknowledges Oklahoma's western heritage, plus it promotes the idea that the team is our very "own". Colors are Red & Orange. Logo is an "OKC" firebrander sizzling the side of a basketball with a flame rising diagonally. The "K" in "OKC" is the stem or handle of the firebrander.
The OKC Vortex - Again, Vortex expresses the violent Oklahoma weather but more importantly, the Vortex concept doubles as a guaranteed shot into the basket. This concept is conveyed in the logo where a tornado is inside the flexing basketball net, as a basketball appears to be suctioned in. The colors: Navy and Tan.
The OKC Trash - If an animal were to be chosen, there are no existing fish symbols in any of the NBA teams, hence the Trash. A freshwater fish such as a catfish or bass slapping a basketball with its tail serves as the team logo. Colors could be Black and Teal.
The OKC Pulse or Vibe - Probably the weakest idea of my list here, but it does convey energy, electricity and vibrancy. Colors can be black and yellow.
NAMES TO AVOID:
* Scissortails - might be great for a WNBA nickname, but a men's team?
* Outlaws - Only if we want to appear as lawless citizens, and the NBA might as well resurrect the Bullets for Washington.
* Twisters - I absolutely detest this one because it doesn't communicate strength, but rather a weak, flimsy dust devil. Vortex is a much better choice if a tornado concept is to be used.
* Buffalo or Bison - Big bulky animals might work for a football team, but the athletic trait in basketball is finesse. Besides, a large mammal would too closely resemble the Chicago Bulls or the Memphis Grizzlies.
* Thunder - this one is disappointing because it reminds me too much of the Wichita hockey team. Besides, thunder is only noise whereas lighting is what does all the damage.
* Barons - difficult to relate to.
* Pumas, Cougars or other cats - the newest team is the Charlotte Bobcats, and another big cat mascot just isn't creative.
Check this link out:
http://jeffreyvancealbertson.com/okcinnba.html
I love this. I mean the colors may be kinda bright but that would be a good name for the team. I a name like the "Knights" doesn't really represent anything about Oklahoma but I think it would be a great name. know it really doesnt represent.
What do you guys think about the "Knights"?
http://jeffreyvancealbertson.com/okcinnba.html
Oklahoma City Knights - LOGOS on this url . . http://jeffreyvancealbertson.com/okcinnba.html
I happen to like this design because the "Knights" sound like a real mascot. The "Thunder" is a OK name but I really like this disign and I think the Knights would be a great name. If not then "Thunder" should be OK and I mean just that OK. lol.
Or, Natives!
The Ford Center could be dubbed the "Snake Pit".
http://jeffreyvancealbertson.com/okcinnba.html
www.myspace.com/oklahomacityrocks
i don't see durant moving... he played here for the big 12 championship and saw the record breaking crowds. the hornets were down in the dumps until they came to OKC. when you have a whole community freaking the f*ck out and supporting you wholeheartedly... it does something to you. it empowers you. the hornets did not want to leave... chris paul did not want to leave. even their coaches said publicly they wished to stay.
and to anyone saying that we should be the OKLAHOMA _______, it's been said by clay bennett and mayor cornett that it will be the OKC _________. our city has been bombed by homegrown terrorists and devastated by huge tornados... we need something positive associated with OKC.
END OF STORY.
http://jeffreyvancealbertson.com/okcinnba.html
LOGOS on this url --> http://jeffreyvancealbertson.com/okcinnba.html
:)
Hey - I spent part of my life in NYC and some of the people in Brooklyn STILL whine about the Dodgers abandoning them and moving to LA, so I've seen it before. But why don't you get it right - OKC did not steal the team. If it was stolen by anyone it was the new owners and they were helped by the ineptitude of the Seattle City leaders, the Washington State legislature and the majority of the people of Seattle that bothered to cast a vote on the new arena. Go ahead, I dare you - tell me Seattle won't do the same thing if it gets a chance and another NBA city drops the ball as badly as you guys did.
:)
Bennett never intended to keep the team in Seattle no matter what he says - everyone with half a brain knows it. That's the 'deserved' part Trammel was talking about.
I give it three years and attendance will start its slide toward dismal. OKC has the attention span of an ADHD two year old and Basketball has never been a big sport here. The only way the team will maintain interest is if they are contenders EVERY year. Otherwise...
To me the biggest joke out of this whole thing was Mick Cornett saying the team will be here because we (OKC) have a lease - and he had the nerve to say that while they were trying to break the lease in Seattle! Was that irony or rank stupidity? (I'll keep my opinion to myself on that one...)
Finally, I love OKC. I chose to live here and choose to remain here. But an NBA team in no way makes us "Big League." And to be honest, I don't see that changing any time soon - which suits me just fine.
:)
Dry your eyes little boy. Maybe you will get the NBA again in 5 or 6 years---try to support them next time.