Oklahoma FINALLY gets a national sports team.

[Ginsu Victim]

It's about time.

The Seattle Supersonics are now the Oklahoma City Thunder.



I wasn't sure about the name at first, but after thinking about some of the other names (including what they used to be), it's not a bad name at all for an NBA team.

(I mean, come on, Heat, Jazz, Spurs, Suns, Nets, Wizards, Grizzlies, Raptors?)

It's nice that we finally have one major sports team, since most people around here are huge OU Sooners fans (can't stand 'em, and college ball is all we've had until now).

[ark_ader]

 


Where is Oklahoma?

[Ginsu Victim]

Ouch. Burn.

[massive88]

Its a terrible name, sounds like it belongs in the WNBA.  Of all those you listed the bad ones are the last three, which were also the most recent expansion teams, so I guess the Thunder falls in line with those.

I'm saddened that Durant will have to play in Oklahoma.  The organization really screwed the fans of Seattle.

[Hoopz]

The Wizards were the Bullets which didn't sit well with the politically correct crowd so it wasn't an expansion team; it just lost like one.  I get your point though.   

It's unfortunate that they left Seattle though they are happy in Oklahoma.   With only a cursory following as the story developed the last couple of years, it comes down to new stadiums being funded by public dollars v. private funds from the owner(s). 

I don't know the history of why the Lakers left Minneapolis or why the Jazz left N.O. but when the Colts, Rams, Cardinals, Browns (Ravens), Raiders etc all left it was because of stadium deals (and Al Davis being crazier than anyone ever).  Sad for the home teams to lose a team for any reason.  Great for the new city. 

[boykster]

Harumph!

[ChadTower]

I wonder how many seasons it will be before they start yelling "small market revenue!  Help us!  Make the Knicks give us their profits!"

[Hoopz]

Beats having the Knicks give them players or coaching tips.   

[Jdurg]

Its a terrible name, sounds like it belongs in the WNBA.  

Well then, suggest a better one.  Right now it just sounds like the distaste is caused by your bitterness from them leaving Seattle.

Honestly, I don't think it sounds bad at all.  I mean there are some "Classic" NBA teams that sound bad.  Jazz, Clippers, Warriors, Rockets, Hornets, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Magic?

Frankly, "Thunder" sounds pretty good.  Especially considering the area.  I mean, other options such as "Twisters, "Plains", "Flatlands" could have been used too.   

[Donkey_Kong]

They gotta get AC/DC's Thunder struck as their theme song.

[boykster]

Honestly, I don't think it sounds bad at all.  I mean there are some "Classic" NBA teams that sound bad.  Jazz, Clippers, Warriors, Rockets, Hornets, Nuggets, Timberwolves, Magic?

Hornets are a "classic" team?  Really?

I don't blame Oklahoma, or even Bennett for buying and moving the team, I blame Howard Schultz for his years of ownership where he let the team flounder and then sold out his ownership group by making the deal to sell.  I'm apathetic about the sale and move - basketball in seattle has been flat for years.  I miss the heyday of the 90's in seattle hoops - back when they put a decent team on the floor and regularly made the playoffs. 

I know that Oklahoma city has the chops to support the team short-term at least.  My brother in law worked in PR for the Hornets post-Katrina when they played in OK, and he was overwhelmed by the community support for hosting the team.  In some ways, it was that experience that led to the Sonics move, since it was Bennett who led up a lot of the OK sponsorship of the Hornets stay.

I think the Thunder is a decent name....

[shmokes]

Its a terrible name, sounds like it belongs in the WNBA.  Of all those you listed the bad ones are the last three, which were also the most recent expansion teams

Can you possibly think of any reason aside from coincidence that the bad names just happen to be the most recent names?  Cos it's not a coincidence.  Think of what you thought of the name iPod the first time you heard it.  It's seriously the stupidest, most nonsensical name ever -- aside from the Nintendo Wii, of course, which has also stopped making you wince.  You grew up with all the other teams and got used to them being the only teams.  When new names come in, they sound stupid -- not because they are stupid, but because you aren't familiar with them.  But to your kids, the Oklahoma Thunder will sound every single bit as normal as the Boston Celtics or the Houston Rockets.  Admittedly, though, the Wizards will always be a stupid name just as the Nuggets always will be.

[ChadTower]

There are some really old ones that suck pretty bad, too.  Who hasn't made a Packers or Canucks joke?

[ChadTower]

Is that before or after they changed it to the Astros?   

[Ginsu Victim]

They gotta get AC/DC's Thunder struck as their theme song.

They already do. When they debuted the new name, it was the song they played.

[ChadTower]

Good to see they're thinking originality... no one has ever played ACDC at a stadium event before.

[Ginsu Victim]

Good to see they're thinking originality... no one has ever played ACDC at a stadium event before.

It's Oklahoma. There's your answer.

Also, Thunderstruck is better than having to hear OK-raised good-ol'-boy himself Garth Brooks' song "The Thunder Rolls".

[boykster]

Too bad the Colts pussed out and dropped the 45 from their name.

Heck, I thought it was wussy that they changed the name from teh Washington Bullets to the Wizards...come on, what's wrong with the Bullets?    Def. cooler sounding that wizards, that's for sure.

[ChadTower]

Also, Thunderstruck is better than having to hear OK-raised good-ol'-boy himself Garth Brooks' song "The Thunder Rolls".

I 100% guarandamntee you will. 

[Donkey_Kong]

Good to see they're thinking originality... no one has ever played ACDC at a stadium event before.

No ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- sherlock, but with a name like "Thunder" it actually fits to play the song. CT :dizzy

[ChadTower]

No ---steaming pile of meadow muffin--- sherlock, but with a name like "Thunder" it actually fits to play the song. CT :dizzy

If they named them the Testicles they could also play ACDC.  That doesn't make it good.

[punxrus]

Hailing from Washington State and close to Seattle, all I can say is...LAME! First NY buys all of the great baseball players from the Mariners and now whole teams are being moved to other states! If teams and players were traded like commodities, I would be freakin' rich! But honestly, if you have to take the Sonics...please, please, please take the Seattle Storm as well!

[Hoopz]

and now whole teams are being moved to other states! If teams and players were traded like commodities, I would be freakin' rich!

Now?  Huh?  See Dodgers, Giants (baseball), Lakers, Jazz, Colts, Browns, Rams, Cardinals... This is just the last of many. 

Well, last until the next one.   

[Ginsu Victim]

Seattle will have another team someday.
I was a Houston Oilers fan. We lost them, but eventually got another team.
Seattle's too big not to.

Oklahoma had NOTHING until we got this. At least you guys have other sports teams...

[punxrus]

and now whole teams are being moved to other states! If teams and players were traded like commodities, I would be freakin' rich!

Now?  Huh?  See Dodgers, Giants (baseball), Lakers, Jazz, Colts, Browns, Rams, Cardinals... This is just the last of many. 

Well, last until the next one.   

Speaking of which...wonder who's next...

[shardian]

I was a Houston Oilers fan. We lost them, but eventually got another team.

Are you sure that is a positive? 

Well, i guess you can use them to see the real NFL teams that visit.

[ChadTower]

They are actually getting better.  Sometimes the Texans play the Chiefs or Raiders.

[Ginsu Victim]

I was a Houston Oilers fan. We lost them, but eventually got another team.

Are you sure that is a positive? 

Well, i guess you can use them to see the real NFL teams that visit.

Why do you think I went to see games in Houston? It was always for the other team, especially back when the Astros were still in the Astrodome.

[BobbyG66]

OK  , that changes one of my favorite sports trivia questions.
Of the four major sports (Baseball, Basketball, Football and Hockey) apologies to those outside the US.
what are the nine team names that do not end in the letter "S".
...sorry no prizes on this one.

[CCM]

Wild
Avalanche
Lightning
Red Sox
White Sox
Jazz
Magic
Heat
Thunder

[massive88]

Of the four major sports (Baseball, Basketball, Football and Hockey)

Hah!  Good one.

[BobbyG66]

Of the four major sports (Baseball, Basketball, Football and Hockey)

Hah!  Good one.

Ya, I think are still the lowest paid of the four sports.
At least in Boston now, the Bruins have the cheapest ticket in town.
It was the Celtics a couple of years ago.
Heck, maybe in a couple weeks people will be giving away Pats tickets...

[massive88]

Ya, I think are still the lowest paid of the four sports.
At least in Boston now, the Bruins have the cheapest ticket in town.
It was the Celtics a couple of years ago.
Heck, maybe in a couple weeks people will be giving away Pats tickets...

Thats nothing.  Its all about TV ratings.

 It wasnt long ago that the Stanley Cup finals games (1.4 and 1.1 for games one and two) got beat by the NCAA Softball Championships (1.6).

The also got beat by Frasier reruns episode, and Arena League regular season.

Game 7 of the 2003 NHL finals was the most watched hockey game in 29 years, and it only pulled in a 4.7

The average Monday Night Football game pulls in 3-4 times that many people.  The highest superbowl pulled a 49.1, more than 10x that number.

The worst NBA finals in the history of ratings was a 6.2, the best an 18.7

The lowest I could find for a World Series game is an 8.0, with the highest at 38.9

Hockeys is so far behind its not even funny.

[ChadTower]

Every time they start to increase fanbase they go on strike.  They keep moving franchises around, alienating the fans they do have, and dropping them into places that will never care about hockey.  It's no surprise that no one gives a crap anymore.

[Hoopz]

Gary Bettman is an idiot.  Hockey was exploding a few years ago and he totally ruined it. 

[Malenko]

I love hockey, its like basketball but you dont have to worry about wondering if kobe Bryant is going to go anally rape a girl then give his wife diamond ring. Also, they can actually hit each other.


As for pro sports teams, I'd like to quote my favorite line from Wayne's World:

"Hi, I'm in Delaware"

[ChadTower]

I love hockey, its like basketball but you dont have to worry about wondering if kobe Bryant is going to go anally rape a girl then give his wife diamond ring.

Instead you have to worry about whose family is going to be threatened by the Russian mafia this season.  Or who is going to end up in ICU after a stick attack or get their throat slashed.

[punxrus]

I love hockey, its like basketball but you dont have to worry about wondering if kobe Bryant is going to go anally rape a girl then give his wife diamond ring.

Instead you have to worry about whose family is going to be threatened by the Russian mafia this season.  Or who is going to end up in ICU after a stick attack or get their throat slashed.

Wow! I need to start watching hockey!

[ahofle]

Really makes you wonder why the ratings aren't higher.  
I love watching hockey.  That sport has it all: speed, skill, fighting/physical play, and very few stoppages of play and much quicker pace compared to other sports.

[shardian]

I'm not huge into NHL, but semi-pro local hockey kicks total ass. I really miss our local team.