A team with no name
We’ve encountered the first problem with having a major-league franchise. What the heck do we call this team?
I don’t mean Thunderbirds or Barons or Energy or any of the myriad names suggested for Oklahoma City’s NBA franchise. I mean, what do we call them until they pick a name?
The order came from the sports editor Wednesday night. Can’t refer to them as the Sonics. They’re not the Sonics anymore. ESPN’s SportsCenter alluded to the same thing.
I don’t know. Sounded a little like Pierre Trudeau, the old prime minister of Canada, who wouldn’t let Taiwan into the 1976 Olympics using the name Republic of China. “They’re not China,” Trudeau said, a logic he did not extend to the cold-war states of East and West Germany.
Anyway, the team formerly known as the Sonics have no such fallback name as Taiwan. Ex-Sonics doesn’t work; sounds like Ray Allen and Rashard Lewis. Oklahoma City’s NBA team is a mouthful.
I don’t know what to call them. Everyone will call them Sonics until a different name is picked. I wrote around them last night, but if they’re not going to let us call them what everyone around town is calling them, I’m lost.
The new name has got to come quickly. I don’t see how Clay can sell his team to sponsors or much of anyone until he’s got a name to hang his hat on. Stumbling over all those words to describe a team, when a simple word like Sonics could do it, only gets in the way of marketing.
Hurry up, Clay Bennett, and pick a name. Business of the NBA in Oklahoma City can’t start without it.
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Comments
For the philosophy- and linguistics-minded out there, Mr. Tramel didn’t use ‘Sonics.’ He mentioned ‘Sonics.’ Big difference. So he technically never called the team ‘the Sonics.’ Well done!
Apparently, Joey is from Seattle. I think it’s funny how they think our citizens stole the team. Franchises come and go. Your civic leaders repeatedly showed no interest in the teams future. When relocation papers were filed, everyone acted surprised.
Losing the Sonics was nobody’s fault but Seattles.
Please just don’t give the team a generic, indoor-soccer/arena football team-like name such as “Thunder” or “Energy.” The coolest NBS mascots are unique: Pistons, Celtics, Spurs, Knicks, and not generic like Nets, Heat, and Cavaliers. If you want the team to go unnoticed, name the team the “Thunder” and be like the Tampa Bay Lightning, Atlanta Thrashers, or Nashville Predators. I liked the Barons, its unique and relevant to the area.
I think the Seattle folks were just tired of building sports stadiums for billionaires. They still owe for the Kingdom. That was bulldozed so they could help the Nintendo billionaire build a modern baseball stadium. A few years later they were privileged to help Paul Allen, the Microsoft multi-billionaire, build the new foorball stadium. When still another rich guy came calling hat in hand for a basketball arena, the taxpayers in King county finally said “when pigs will fly.”
Having got past that, the people in Oklahoma City will have a good time watching this team come of age. They already have a nice collection of young stars-in-the-making and several more high draft choices will be added in the next couple of years. This team could explode on the scene in three or four years.
personally all of the names that ive heard are pretty lame and corny 
………. however, the name Oklahoma City Marvels hav a good ring to it ! 
The “Oklahoma City Legand” The name speaks for itself. Out of the past, Into the new, in a city and state of Legenday pepople from all walks of life.
I am convinced that Oklahoma City Stealth is the best name for our new team. Not only does it represent our State, but it also goes a long way representing the fabulous Mr. Clay Bennett. Thanks again for not forgetting about us.
I absolutely agree with Kathy Jones. I think the name Oklahoma City Stealth is a fantastic name for our NBA team. Yes, it does represent Oklahoma and just is a cool name. It would also be easy to make a mascot in form of a steath bomber. How cool is that? Go Kathy!!!!!
Grifters still fits.