At least they're calling it something stupid
It's starting to — pardon the expression — resonate that our departed Seattle SuperSonics hence will be known in OkieHoma City as the Thunder. Perhaps it's worth noting that both nicknames are sound-oriented and that, indeed, thunder is a mere sonic noise while SuperSonics is, well, supersonic.
In any case, not everybody seems enamored with the new nom de guerre (albeit, a guerre that may already be lost this coming season since the Soops were losers of 62 of 82 games in 2007-08 and don't promise to improve much just because they'll be playing in a new city — well, town, anyway).
This review from the Web site Odds and Sods:
The Oklahoma City franchise formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics will now be called "The Thunder." Could they have a found a more soulless, expansion-franchise-sounding name? Or at least not have ripped off the Tampa Bay Lightning?
What happened to the good old days, when teams had proper names? Teams were identified by the colors of their socks, or objects of universal fear (Lions, Tigers, Bears, People with Red Skin). Teams even had names that made no sense (Red Wings).
Now, in the age of the advertising executive, we get numb, nonentity names. Our sporting lexicon is reduced to what some yuppie executive thinks will sell the most t-shirts to twelve-year-olds. "Hence, names like "The Thunder" and the Minnesota "Wild," whatever the [bleep] that means. They will probably select some cool edgy colors based on trends in marketing research as well. Look forward to Black and Magenta!
Pretty bitchy, that last dishing, especially since management for the Sonics during the late '60s didn't even bother with market research, evidently just flat out stealing the team's colors from the Oregon Ducks.
Comments:
Posted Thu, Jul 24, 6:26 p.m. inappropriate
Typical Seattlite Garbage: Get over yourselves. Let me help you out, there is a big world beyond your little grey corner of the continent. Your childish comments, ignorance, and name calling does nothing but show the rest of the country how truly narcissistic, petty, and closed minded you are.
I was born in Oregon and lived in Seattle for years. I've been a Seahawks fan since 79. I make it to several Hawks games a year. I've got family sprinkled throughout your region. I know a little about the PNW. I've seen the backwoods people in Seattle that could star in Deliverance II. I know of your inherent self doubt. No doubt your immature name calling makes you feel better and bully for you. Enjoy.
BTW, you trash the name Thunder and cheer for a team called the Sounders? How many outside of your little corner of the world knows anything about the Seattle Sound and therefore have a clue what a Sounder is?
Now go hug your tree.
Posted Thu, Jul 24, 11:26 p.m. inappropriate
RE: Typical Seattlite Garbage: So, I guess that means you like the name "Thunder"?
Minor correction - the above post is simply quoting Odd and Sods, a sports blog that doesn't have any relationship to the PNW. Perhaps the good folks at Crosscut will forward your rant to them.
One more correction - although the PNW may be grey, it is not located in the "corner of the continent." As it turns out, our continent extends north beyond the Washington into a land known by its inhabitants as "Canada." I kid you not.
P.S. Few people outside Oklahoma know what a "Sooner" is, but that's what makes it a great name for an Oklahoma sports team. "Thunder" in contrast is so generic it could apply to any city, which also makes it a great name for an Oklahoma sports teams since they'll likely be moving somewhere else after 4 or 5 years.
Posted Fri, Jul 25, 10:37 a.m. inappropriate
Stupid Team Names: Who ever came up with the bright idea of naming teams after a process or event that can't be represented plurally? It's easy to say "I'm a Sonic" or "I'm a Seahawk" but what does a member of The Thunder (can Thunder be subdivided?) call himself? "I'm an elemental constituent of an aggregate known as The Thunder!" Gack! It's as silly as the British practice of naming warships after virtuous states of mind. HMS Resolute, HMS Stalwart, HMS Obsequious. Maybe sports franchises can adopt names like that as well. "I'm an Impervious fan" or "I root for Staunch." Well, like countless generations of parents have been telling their kids, "Don't be afraid, it's only the Thunder."
Posted Fri, Jul 25, 4:32 p.m. inappropriate
RE: Stupid Team Names: I'm going to call them the Thuds.
Posted Fri, Jul 25, 5:08 p.m. inappropriate
For my money, the worst names in the NBA, NFL, and MLB (leaving aside incongruities like the Utah Jazz and the L.A. Lakers) are the Washington Wizards (though perhaps we're lucky that they didn't become the Dragons, Express, Stallions, or Sea Dogs), the Houston Texans, and the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, respectively. It was tough picking that last one, since I also had the Diamondbacks, Marlins, and Rays to choose from (apparently no longer representing the fish, but rather "a beacon that radiates throughout Tampa Bay and across the entire state of Florida"), but L.A. Angels of Anaheim won out for its sheer unnecessary complexity.
Posted Fri, Jul 25, 5:14 p.m. inappropriate
When I was a kid, they were simply the California Angels.
Posted Wed, Jul 30, 2:55 p.m. inappropriate
OKC development... it gets worse.: Heard last night at Old Pequliar trivia (and confirmed it today in the Times) that they are also considering the Barons, the Bison, the Energy, the Marshalls (yes, with two l's), and the Wind.