Whether that will be the name of this city's NBA franchise, as reported by KOCO-TV, still is a mystery.
The team's owners aren't commenting, and they, along with a couple head honchos at the NBA's office, are the only souls who know what the nickname will be. The ones in the know are sworn to secrecy, and most are dutifully, if not masterfully, abiding by that oath.
KOCO-TV sports reporter Mark Rodgers, however, apparently has found the one brave being willing to tell all, an unnamed "source close to the NBA ownership group.”
There are reasons to think Rodgers' report is accurate and reasons that indicate it could be off base.
Here's why it could be accurate:
Corporation Service Company, the registrar of record for the NBA, did indeed register okcthunderbasketball.com and okcthunderbasketball.net on July 10. The domain branch of this company exists for the sole purpose of preventing "cybersquatters” from profiting from a brand. You can bet the company didn't register the names in hopes of acting as the very people it exists to stop.
The ownership group isn't denying it. If the report was off base, you would think the ownership group would at the very least issue a statement that says as much and that no decision has been made. Instead, all Dan Mahoney, a spokesman for the ownership group, says is, "We're not commenting on the process, and we're not going to until we have something to announce.”
The name Thunder is a good one. Readers of The Oklahoman selected it the winner of the paper's 64-nickname bracket contest, meaning the owners and the NBA perhaps listened to the people. Endless marketing and promotional opportunities also would be available, from weather-related themes to a Buffalo mascot and logos. AC/DC's hit song "Thunderstruck” could boom over the Ford Center's PA system just before the team's starting lineup is introduced and immediately after the final buzzer of a home win.
Here's why the report could be inaccurate:
The registration of the two domain names could mean absolutely nothing. Who's to say that's not the first of many Oklahoma City-related domain names the company will register over the next few days. While the domain names are one small piece of evidence, they certainly don't make it clear that the name is the Thunder.
The reporter's unnamed source could be wrong. The person close to the ownership group is really what gives the report legs, but people are sometimes misled or don't have all the facts. The NBA and the ownership group could have been close to deciding on Thunder at one point, but that could have changed in recent days. The source might have provided once-accurate information that is now outdated.
Thunder doesn't end in the letter "s.” Team chairman Clay Bennett has said privately he's not wild about nicknames that don't end in "s.” Names that end in "s” are also more enduring to the community, according to Tom Fugleberg, executive creative director at Olson, a Minneapolis-based branding agency. "I think there's more of a sense of a community when you are a fan of the Blazers and not the Storm,” Fegleberg said. "There's a feeling that you are a part of that.”
The ownership group's silence could be working for them. Rather than deny the report if it is inaccurate, the excitement over the possible name could divert media types and fans from honing in on any other possibilities. This ownership group has used silence to its advantage in the past. Remember, the "Poisoned Well” plan the group's attorneys patiently sat on during the trial with the city of Seattle while the city leaked e-mail after e-mail they thought would incriminate the owners?
Thunder is taken. Forget about the Trenton Thunder, the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, and the Wichita Thunder of the Central Hockey League, there's the Oklahoma Thunder of Tulsa and the World Football League. The law might not prohibit Bennett and Co. from using the name, but marketing experts say they shouldn't want to. "You don't want your team confused with anybody else's even if it's in another sport. That doesn't help your brand,” said Vince Orza, dean of the Meinders School of Business at Oklahoma City University.
Sit tight. We aren't likely to know the truth for another couple of weeks. Unless of course another few brave souls spill the beans.
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Someone said OKC Outlaws were one of Bennett's picks, I don't know how you know that, but the name is great. I like it. One thing is for sure I don't like the Trojans or Brownies, I mean who want to be linked with dirty underwear or condoms?
Here's a good one! THE OKLAHOMA CITY OTTERS! I've seen Otters in Oklahoma. Let me tell you, don't be dismayed by their cute and cuddly appearance, they're meaner than rattlesnakes!
I have a couple of names in mind! Oklahoma City Ballers
or Oklahoma City Hoops or maybe Oklahoma City Ninjas let me know if these sound like good names? i dont like the name thunder right off i think of a t-ball name whene i think of Thunder, def not NBA style! but im gunna rep Oklahoma City either way! Home town!
Maybe if the Daily Oklahoman would have offered a cash award like the Tulsa World does for choosing a name for OKC's NBA team we'd have the perfect name by now! But they're just too cheap to pay $50!
Can't you idiots read! "Thunder is taken. Forget about the Trenton Thunder, the Double-A affiliate of the New York Yankees, and the Wichita Thunder of the Central Hockey League. The law might not prohibit Bennett and Co. from using the name, but marketing experts say they shouldn't want to. 'You don't want your team confused with anybody else's even if it's in another sport. That doesn't help your brand,' said Vince Orza, dean of the Meinders School of Business at Oklahoma City University."
Nice try Jim in Issaquah - but you very much did have "something to do with the Sonics moving from Seattle". At very least you and the rest of the state of Washington are responsible for the politicians in your state. You all elected them. I certainly realize if you're not a Seattle resident, your hands were tied about the Mayor, City Council, et. al. - but you're still on the hook... All you trolls want to do is compare the states and cities - well fine then, let's do exactly that on this issue. As you can see I'm from Tulsa, which is 80 miles away from the Ford Center in OKC. When the relocation committee came to OKC for their tour, in addition to meeting the local elected officials of OKC, they also met state officials including the Governor, as well as a group that included the mayor of TULSA! Stern made it a point to talk about how impressed he was that the ELECTED leadership of the entire state, notably Tulsa, was contributing to bring the NBA here. Again, if one were rational, one would know all politicians, whether they live and serve in a Red or Blue state are driven by polls. Your politicians did what they did because they believe that even given all the whining you trolls do on the internet - the general populace of Seattle and the entire state of Washington is going to continue to vote for them BECAUSE of their decision to let the team go. Oklahoma's politicians did the same thing - acted according to how their constituency wanted. I don't spend tons of time on the media outlets for Seattle - so I may have missed it - but I don't recall reading anything where the mayor of Issaquah - or any other city in Washington - upon feeling the political pressure of his or her city, communicated to the NBA or even to the leadership in Olympia that a new arena was crucial and needed to be built - even at a cost to people living miles away from Seattle. No, all I read, was the pious people of Seattle ridiculing Oklahomans for "giving Clay Clay whatever he wants". You're right about one thing though, I don't care about how you feel now. I might have, if you and the rest of the trolls didn't regularly show up on the message boards insulting our intelligence and home. You've done that from the get-go. You and your cohort burned up any goodwill you might have hoped to receive from the likes of me and most other Oklahomans. Frankly, you all played this entire fiasco so poorly that you've gotten exactly what you deserve. Well done!
Truth told, for all the silly little games being played, there is an NBA team in Oklahoma City with an NBA Championship. They can keep the original trophy in a storage locker in Federal Way till doomsday, the TEAM that won the championship is in Oklahoma City. And the history belongs to the team, not to Seattle or Washington or anyone else. It belongs to the team, and the team's in OKC. You can remember it fondly, we can be proud of this team's past, history doesn't have to have a geographic location.
I didn't say WASP or Anglo-Saxon I said OKLAHOMA CITY SAXONS! How many black Celtics do you think there are other than the ones on the basketball team? If you'll brush up on your history you'll find that most of the early Saxons were in fact Catholic. I'm not trying to make a racial slur or be politically incorrect I'm just trying to come up with a name for the team that sounds good and has a "warrior" history rather than a puffy rain cloud! The word "saxon" actually has to do something with a sword! I just thought it would be a good name to make for a good rivalry with the Celtics, not to mention that it doesn't sound bad either with OKC!
Ya know, I don't love the name Thunder, but let's look at some of the other nicknames around the NBA and think about what the reaction in that city must have been when the team was named: Nets. Wow, now there's a good one. Magic? Wizards? Cavaliers? When I think of Cleveland, 18th century guys in curly wigs, ruffled shirts and high heels always come to mind. Clippers. A ship? Mavericks? A cow. Pacers? I know what a pace car is (barely, because I don't follow car contests), but it's a pretty lame name. Heat? At this time of year here, it might be intimidating, but it's really pretty lame as names go. Suns isn't great either. Lakers, Knickerbockers, Celtics. If I'd been around when they announced those, I might have been underwhelmed. So, the NBA is full of bad names, and the teams have survived them. Thunder is a lot better than some of the other names, IMO. If it's the name, everyone will get used to it, and we might even learn to like/love it if the logo and colors are good enough.
Jill, www.okcthunderfans.com - Jul 23, 2008 at 3:18 am
I had no power over the Sonics moving from Seattle, and you, Scott, did nothing to bring them to OKC. I had been a fan all my life, now they're gone. I realize you don't give a rat's %$& about me or the rest of the fans who lost their team. So screw you, I hope they suck in Oklahoma. Sure I'm a sore loser, so what...as to the fact the Celtics mortgaged their future to win the trophy...they still won the championship, and they have many more behind that trophy. The Celtics as a franchise will be just fine. How many trophies does OKC have? NONE!! So *&*^ you...and how many NBA teams do I have to root for? NONE!!! So *&^* me too.
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Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant and his teammates may soon be known as the Thunder. ASSOCIATED PRESSTickets going fast
Dan Mahoney said the franchise is pleased with the level of support. Fans who signed up for the ticket request list can expect to hear from sales representatives soon with more details, Mahoney said.
More than 16,000 people have added their names to a ticket request list for Oklahoma City's new NBA team, the team announced Sunday.
The team conducted its first phase of requests from July 2 through July 18.
Fans can add their names to the request list by calling (888) 618-4667, or by registering at www.nba.com/oklahomacity.
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or Oklahoma City Hoops or maybe Oklahoma City Ninjas let me know if these sound like good names? i dont like the name thunder right off i think of a t-ball name whene i think of Thunder, def not NBA style! but im gunna rep Oklahoma City either way! Home town!