No truth to OKC Marshalls
There is a buzz on talk radio and Internet blogs and message boards today about the nickname of Oklahoma City’s new NBA team. People are under the impression that the team will be called the Oklahoma City Marshalls. It’s not the Marshalls. The rumor is quickly gaining momentum because when you type www.okcmarshalls.com into your address bar it sends you to the official Web site of the NBA, NBA.com.
Well, it used to. When you click on the above link or type it into your address bar now, it directs you to a marshalls.com that says it’s “Transforming Britain’s Landscapes.” The link changed minutes after I spoke with the creator of okcmarshalls.com, an Oklahoma City resident named Lucas Lawver. He was evasive when I asked him questions about it and I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the link changed moments after I spoke with him.
Lawvery told me his domain name has no official connection to the real team name, which has yet to be announced. An NBA spokesman confirmed that Marshalls has no relation to the league, saying, “No steps have been taken on that front at this point. We’re still working on the process.”
Lawver created the domain name back in March like many other people who bought domain names in hopes that the team would settle on that name. It’s unclear how the Web site actually linked to NBA.com before the recent change, and Lawver said he had no idea the site linked to the NBA’s Web site until I told him. But after seeing it change moments after I spoke with him, I’m not buying that. I’m not tech savvy enough to know how to do those cool Internet tricks.
That probably explains why Lawver was short with his answers and told me he doesn’t want to be involved with any of this, which made me wonder why he bought the domain name in the first place? What’s also interesting is the domain name is misspelled, using two Ls instead of one. The clothing department store is spelled Marshalls. The spelling of the law enforcement officer or high-ranking military official is Marshal.
Here’s the entire conversation I had with Lawver:
DM: I’m trying to figure out what this okcmarshalls.com is about.
LL: I just bought that a long time ago.
DM: Well, you’ve got people thinking that’s the name of the team.
LL: I do? Well, there’s a bunch of them like that isn’t there?
DM: Well, this one links directly to the NBA’s official Web site, nba.com
LL: Oh it does?
DM: Yeah.
LL: I don’t even know what it’s linked at.
DM: When you type in okcmarshalls.com, it takes you straight to NBA.com
LL: Oh it does? I didn’t realize that.
DM: Are you responsible for that?
LL: No, I didn’t actually put where it links to. It was actually a long time ago. I don’t know what it links to.
DM: Why did you set up okcmarshalls.com?
LL: Uh, just for luck. I don’t know. Just to do it. I don’t know, there’s not really a good explanation.
DM: Is it in reference to the NBA team that’s coming here?
LL: Yeah, if it was to be that, but it’s probably not going to be that.
DM: So this has no official connection to the NBA as far as you know?
LL: No, it doesn’t. I’m 100 percent sure about that.
-DM-
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Comments
I think it would be easy to point a domain name to nba.com. If he bought the domain through godaddy.com it allows you to point a domain name at any web address that you would like. I’m pretty sure this is how he achieved this, and probably for the reason of selling the domain name to a potential buyer. For example, I have bought the domain okcprohoops.com and pointed it to my blog which is okcprohoops/blog.com or something of the like.
It’s funny because everyone who is buying domains has it wrong. It won’t be the Baron’s because there’s already a Barons and plus copyright issues. It could be outlaws but what people are forgetting is the .net extension.
I believe the new name will be http://www.okcmarshals.net
It’s the correct spelling of “marshals” and look at the owner of the domain in the whois. tadda!!
We are aware of the WNBA Seattle Storm but what’s more appropriate than the OKC Storm?? Imagine the team taking the court at introduction with tornado sirens blasting; thunder and lightning in the background too (with audio/video effects). The dancers would be called the OKC Rain – a light mist would fall over the stands (not on the court) as they dance during intermission. Our fans would be alled the “Storm Chasers”… Our state is infamous for its unpredictable weather – why not name our I after a force to be reckoned with like Mother Nature.
Redirecting a website isn’t some super skill and you don’t need any particular web vendor to do it. It is an extremely basic HTML command that you can embed in a web page. Anyone can do it.
There are a lot of people “squatting” on domain names. People are setting these sites up in the hope of basically scoring a la get rich quick style. I have read of one person who has registered at least 20 domains… they are thinking that they will be able to strong-arm the NBA into paying them for the domain, should they choose one of the names for the team. I think it’s pretty ridiculous myself.
lol. Marshalls? WTH? That would have to be the most lame name suggestion in the book. I just hope they dont give the team some ol country sounding name. lol.
They might can pull it off wit the Outlaws as long as the design is nice and kinda hip because I want to buy a jersey. lol.
I have no idea why people keep setting up web addresses with their hopeful team names. Maybe they think Clay Bennett will be influenced by them, or the publicity such as this. I know of one other website advertising the OKC Knights. I personally don’t like either name. Clay Bennett ought to publicise the names he is considering for the team, and then let Oklahomans vote on their choice, kind of like American Idol. But that is wishful thinking. I was living in Dallas when the expansion Mavericks got named and never remember a democratic process there, I doubt we’ll get one here, either.