Wow. Color me stunned. An OKC-based sports talk radio show took a poll and most people thought the team should be named OKC...

Why not poll some Tulsans? People from Lawton? Stillwater?

I don't think people in Tulsa, Lawton or Stillwater voted to fund the Ford center upgrades and the $21,000,000.00 practice facility either. People around here have to pay the tax every trip to the supermarket. This was sold to the people who actually voted as an Oklahoma CITY basketball team. The yard signs even said, "Big League City," (or was it major - I don't remember), but the thing that brought a lot of us on board was the exposure day in and day out for Oklahoma City - not Oklahoma. As some have already pointed out - who knows where the New Jersey Nets play? Do you think "Phoenix" when you hear the Arizona Cardinals? Obvously you don't care, but most of us who voted for this on March 4th care - a lot. In the NBA, it's the Phoenix Suns - not the Arizona Suns and we all know that. PHOENIX is the elite city.

OKC is the reason we are getting a team. The state is not. Every big city with an NBA team has suburbs and small towns within a couple hours drive that help support the team, and that makes no difference. Enough of the national media are going to say "Oklahoma ____" anyway, because "Oklahoma City ____" is so long. You often hear that now in various contexts. In fact, on my most recent flight back to OKC, the gate attended at DFW kept saying "flight 123 to Oklahoma is now boarding" and the flight attendant announced "we would like to be the first to welcome you to Oklahoma" right after we touched down. "City" will get dropped enough, let's not officially drop it.

Secondly, I like Thunder. It's one of the few nicknames that does not sound hickish and still goes with Oklahoma. Kelly Ogle's presentation last night at 10pm was pretty convincing. I can also hear sound effects of thunder in the Ford Center. I like it!

This...


I don't think limiting ourselves is the issue.

...and this...


Because CID, it's no business of the Tulsa, Lawton, and Stillwater people.

...don't jive.


I don't think people in Tulsa, Lawton or Stillwater voted to fund the Ford center upgrades and the $21,000,000.00 practice facility either. People around here have to pay the tax every trip to the supermarket. This was sold to the people who actually voted as an Oklahoma CITY basketball team. The yard signs even said, "Big League City," (or was it major - I don't remember), but the thing that brought a lot of us on board was the exposure day in and day out for Oklahoma City - not Oklahoma. As some have already pointed out - who knows where the New Jersey Nets play? Do you think "Phoenix" when you hear the Arizona Cardinals?
Are you implying that nobody will know that the Oklahoma Thunder play in OKC if we don't name them the OKC Thunder? Really? Do you have ANY other reason?


Obvously you don't care, but most of us who voted for this on March 4th care - a lot.
This couldn't be farther from the truth. I care very much. I care even more that the team is successful. I'd rather put nothing to risk and gain everything that's possible. By naming the team "OKC" all we do is imply that others aren't included in our club. Why not welcome the whole state? Because they aren't paying tax money? Selfish and juvenile.

This...



...and this...



...don't jive.


Are you implying that nobody will know that the Oklahoma Thunder play in OKC if we don't name them the OKC Thunder? Really? Do you have ANY other reason?


This couldn't be farther from the truth. I care very much. I care even more that the team is successful. I'd rather put nothing to risk and gain everything that's possible. By naming the team "OKC" all we do is imply that others aren't included in our club. Why not welcome the whole state? Because they aren't paying tax money? Selfish and juvenile.

You'll be invited to start an OKTalk instead of OKCTalk pretty quick with an attitude like that. Do only people in Dallas proper go see the Dallas Cowboys? Are the other areas excluded? It's not juvenile for our city to want our name on our basketball team. All NBA fans are welcome, but the team belongs to Oklahoma City. Is that so hard to figure out?

Those of you coming in late on the thread on Thursday night - be sure and read my post about what Ron Thulin said on JOX930 this afternoon:
http://www.okctalk.com/135290-post115.html

You'll be invited to start an OKTalk instead of OKCTalk pretty quick with an attitude like that. Do only people in Dallas proper go see the Dallas Cowboys? Are the other areas excluded? It's not juvenile for our city to want our name on our basketball team. All NBA fans are welcome, but the team belongs to Oklahoma City. Is that so hard to figure out?

Those of you coming in late on the thread on Thursday night - be sure and read my post about what Ron Thulin said on JOX930:
http://www.okctalk.com/okc-metro-area-talk/12457-get-ready-oklahoma-fill-blank-not-okc-5.html#post135290
Pride rears its ugly head.

Pride rears its ugly head.

Jealousy is the green-eyed monster. Cid, you're not from OKC and you don't "get it" - can we just stop here? You're not changing any minds and neither am I.

On edit: I see from past posts that you probably are in Oklahoma City. My apologies. I think it was your post about the OKC radio station and how they should poll out-of-towners to see how they feel that led me to believe otherwise. At any rate, you are in the minority - most in OKC have waited years for a big league team and we want the recognition that comes with it.

Cid, you're not from OKC and you don't "get it" - can we just stop here? You're not changing any minds and neither am I.
What makes you think I'm not from OKC? Furthermore this "get it" phrasing sounds VERY familiar. Oh, now I remember... it was those 'Nawlins folks that said we just don't "get it" when we wanted the team to stay.

Pride rears its ugly head.So a few of us are sinners. Is yours envy?

So a few of us are sinners. Is yours envy?
Envy of what exactly?

It was said that Tulsa residents purchased 20% of the Hornet tickets the two years they were here. I actually think that is a good percentage and higher than I would have expected.

I have lived in Okc my entire life and I don't care either way on the name Oklahoma or Okc.

I actually think that because the state of Okla has such a poor self-image that this is such a big deal and Tulsa and Okc seem to bicker over the naming of a team.

Also remember that when Tulsa had the USFL it was called the Oklahoma Outlaws and not the Tulsa Outlaws.

I am not Kelly Ogle, but that is my 2 cents.

Are you agreeing that it SHOULD BE an OKLAHOMA team, and SHOULD NOT BE an OKC team? Just asking.

No I agreed with the post 2 above me, that said that people outside of OKC could care less what the team is named. They are going to come if they like basketball. Therefore, it's silly to think the team won't do as well if we name it OKC ____.

If we would have put a statewide tax up for a vote to upgrade the Ford Center I do not believe it would have passed. ..... It should be OKLAHOMA CITY____

This city (and our leaders) has gone all out in so many ways, even other than the sales tax to get this team.

I knew it might be a battle to get a good team name (please not the "Scissor tails") but I never dreamed we would be deciding whether it would be Oklahoma or Oklahoma City.

And by the way I spoke to several people at work who do not live in Oklahoma City city limits and none said they would not attend games or support the team if it was Oklahoma City and most said they never thought it would be anything but Oklahoma City.

No I agreed with the post 2 above me, that said that people outside of OKC could care less what the team is named. They are going to come if they like basketball. Therefore, it's silly to think the team won't do as well if we name it OKC ____.That clears it up for me. I thought you were agreeing with the post right before yours. Damn those leaps.

Envy of what exactly?I don't know. Thats why I ask.

ok everyone, contact the mayor and council about this.

Demand that the team be called Oklahoma City whatever!!! Oklahoma City is the reason why the team is coming and ultimately Oklahoma City will support the team.

An Oklahoma City team brings all sort of marketing ops to the state and the state surely will benefit but it is OKLAHOMA CITY's renaissance and we want to be damn sure people don't assume the team is based anywhere else but Oklahoma City!!!! Oklahoma City is the major league city, the big league city!!! So there should be no question as to where the team is based!

The owners are from OKC and OKC voters brought the team to their city - so they should be recognized by officially having Oklahoma City as the moniker.

Let's not give almost all of those outside of OKC who said they'd vote no - now all of sudden leach in trying to say the team is a state team. It was NOT the state who built the ford center or the upgrade. It was not the state who will build the practice facility or even own any part of the team. Sure, OKC's market will be the whole state (just like Seattle's is pretty much the whole state of Washington minus the SW part - that belongs to Portland due to proximity), so the team should be named in honour of its owners/host!

Anybody know how to contact Clay and company? We need to contact EVERYBODY to make sure this is named for Oklahoma City!!!!!

Oklahoma ___ belongs to the NCAA!!! Let's not confuse the two (I can see the jokes now if the team is named Oklahoma.).

It was said that Tulsa residents purchased 20% of the Hornet tickets the two years they were here. I actually think that is a good percentage and higher than I would have expected.

I have lived in Okc my entire life and I don't care either way on the name Oklahoma or Okc.

I actually think that because the state of Okla has such a poor self-image that this is such a big deal and Tulsa and Okc seem to bicker over the naming of a team.

Also remember that when Tulsa had the USFL it was called the Oklahoma Outlaws and not the Tulsa Outlaws.

I am not Kelly Ogle, but that is my 2 cents.

Tulsa and 'Okc' bicker over the team? What team is this?
My A$$ that OKCs new team should be pschologically shared with the wanna be Bostonians, living in the chicken pooped waters of Tulsa.

From what I understand, the Oklahoma Outlaws of the old USFL franchise was
actually shared with OKC (co-owners with Tulsa). Tulsa had to 'accept' Oklahoma (Which has been very hard for most of its history).

Tulsa would have voted everything down from Maps to the Ford Center improvements to huge bonds. This has all led to OKCs rise to getting the NBA.


The last thing we want is a pompous city like Tulsa flicking buggers at our town when they come in to see the games, giving us the bird when they leave and then calling the team "Oklahoma's team" like its equally shared.
Screw the rest of the freakin state. If anything the state should be renamed OKC. The whole state of oklahoma is riding on OKC and will most likely do so for the next 60+yrs.

If Tulsa wants to celebrate the NBA in Oklahoma then let their bumper sticker say the OKC somethings.

Remember, the naming process is a one time deal. In five years it will either be a good name or not. Nobody will be discussing whether it was "predictable" when chosen. I love the Oklahoma City Thunder! Actually, I'm not even certain if that's what you mean by "predictable." The Dallas Cowboys: is that/was that predictable? Did it/does it matter?

Ok, I think it's lame and will be a washed up name in 5 years. I don't think it speaks anything to our current renaissance.

I agree with OKC Patrol, It would have been the Tulsa Outlaws if it wasn't fot the OKC connection. I have always heard the the owners wanted to move the team to OKC, but could not work out something. I know for a fact that a lot of Tulsans wanted the team to move to OKC. The Tulsa leaders are praying that "Oklahoma City" is nowhere on this basketball teams name. Tulsans are really proud of thier City, which is nothing wrong with that, but do not like sharing. Tulsa is a fine, fine city. I just never liked nameing a professional team with just the name of the state, not the city it is in.

Anybody listen to any sports radio this morning? Aside from March Madness the big topic is this whole branding issue of "Oklahoma" VS "Oklahoma City". Apparently there is an unwillingness on the part of the Professional Basketball Club, LLC to commit to anything regarding the name - even if it's going to be OKC or Oklahoma (!) until after the BOG vote and it's official. A couple of the hosts think exactly as I do - this shouldn't even be an issue. There's no reason in the world if it was going to be called "Oklahoma City" (as everyone had assumed) that they wouldn't go ahead and confirm that. Obviously, it's either one of two things:
1. It's going to be the Oklahoma _________.
2. They still haven't decided.

The emphasis on the state at the press conference raised a lot of eyebrows. Plenty of people are none too happy this isn't an easy question to answer.

We have got to push for Oklahoma City at all costs.

solitude, PR101, it would be PR nightmare to start jumping the gun without the BOG vote at least, and perhaps even the court trial (or buyout, whichever comes first). Otherwise, they are opening themselves up to more controversy than necessary. They are already trying to keep the media as quiet as possible, the team can't come until a.) a buyout is made b.)court makes decision, so why jump the gun.

I DO hope it is OKC and not Oklahoma. While it's not a deal killer, it is in OKC's best interest to have the team named OKC.

solitude, PR101, it would be PR nightmare to start jumping the gun without the BOG vote at least, and perhaps even the court trial (or buyout, whichever comes first). Otherwise, they are opening themselves up to more controversy than necessary. They are already trying to keep the media as quiet as possible, the team can't come until a.) a buyout is made b.)court makes decision, so why jump the gun.

I DO hope it is OKC and not Oklahoma. While it's not a deal killer, it is in OKC's best interest to have the team named OKC.

But I think the point is, after Stern's visit the other day, there's no reason not to say simply, "Yes. It's going to be Oklahoma City." That could hardly be controversial. It's no more jumping the gun than some of the NBA people saying this week, "They're coming, it's not a matter of if but when." There's no reason they can't tell us what we all assumed - it's an OKLAHOMA CITY branded team. PR101 says don't start a controversy when they're shouldn't be one. PR101 says, "Nip it in the bud!."

The radio people were saying we should contact whoever we can so I called the Mayor's office. I got the idea they have had a few calls. She told me that Mayor Cornett is committed to it being "Oklahoma City". She said the decision is out of his hands but he is committed to it being OKC and will push hard for it. I have a bad feeling that if this was an open and shut deal there wouldn't be any need to wait and see. I wasn't expecting controversy about this. The team name and mascot maybe but the thought of it being anything but Oklahoma City never crossed my mind. From the people I talk to they didn't either and would be very disappointed if it was a state named team. Let's hope it's OKC!

They are already trying to keep the media as quiet as possible,

What!? They've had the media out flogging for them for months on this.

Tulsa and 'Okc' bicker over the team? What team is this?
My A$$ that OKCs new team should be pschologically shared with the wanna be Bostonians, living in the chicken pooped waters of Tulsa.

From what I understand, the Oklahoma Outlaws of the old USFL franchise was
actually shared with OKC (co-owners with Tulsa). Tulsa had to 'accept' Oklahoma (Which has been very hard for most of its history).

Tulsa would have voted everything down from Maps to the Ford Center improvements to huge bonds. This has all led to OKCs rise to getting the NBA.


The last thing we want is a pompous city like Tulsa flicking buggers at our town when they come in to see the games, giving us the bird when they leave and then calling the team "Oklahoma's team" like its equally shared.
Screw the rest of the freakin state. If anything the state should be renamed OKC. The whole state of oklahoma is riding on OKC and will most likely do so for the next 60+yrs.

If Tulsa wants to celebrate the NBA in Oklahoma then let their bumper sticker say the OKC somethings.

Man, they can eff off. Tulsa (the city of) hasn't done a damn thing to help us on any of this... now they expect to share the name by stripping the CITY off of it? Whatever.

Tulsa needs to recognized they've been passed and that they're the No. 2 city in this state and not much can change that in the future, as they've given us a nearly 20-year head start in the revitalization game.

Fact is, the team name WILL have the state mentioned no matter what. So why strip the host city? Tulsa wants this because some people will hear "Oklahoma Thunder" and say "Oh wow, didn't know Tulsa had a team now." That's all they're wanting. They're wanting to be CONFUSED with being a big league city. OKC actually is about to be one. This is driving Green Country nuts. With the city on the team name, OKLAHOMA will be mentioned. OKLAHOMA CITY. That makes it totally clear where this team plays at... both CITY and STATE.

I really don't see why this is controversial. The reason this state is about to get the NBA is three-fold:

1. MAPs
2. The Ford Center existing
3. Ford Renovations

In each case, OKC -- not the state -- did the heavy lifting. OKC voted to approve MAPs, not Tulsa, who has voted down several similar issues to spite us and feel superior that they wouldn't make such a mistake. MAPs included a pro-level arena, because we were confident in our future as a city. And lastly, that confidence spilled over to the Ford renovation vote, because we realized we built the arena on the cheap the first time around.

I'll be madder than a hen if it's not OKC. There's less than zero reason why the team shouldn't be called Oklahoma City.

But I think we really don't have anything to worry about. I think the recent NBA visit sold OKC as the CAPITAL of the state of OKLAHOMA, and that the entire state looks to OKC for just about everything. I think the relocation committee was informed about just how important OKC is to every corner of this state. That other place can't claim that. So I think they stressed that to the committee and some took that as a sign that OKC wouldn't be the name. I think what they did was play up the state to help shore up numbers the committee might think we're weak on. No more, no less. I doubt the league is telling them it can't be OKC. If that was the case, the Hornets would have been the NO/Oklahoma Hornets.

I think what you'll see happen is this:

-- Absolutely ZERO mention of the new team name at all prior to the BOG vote.
-- The vote is in OKC's favor and as a result, Seattle capitulates and gives up the ghost and the team moves for next season.
-- The team is unveiled as the "Oklahoma City (Thunder!) _____________" sometime in early July.

This deal pisses me off, but I think there's a reason for it. But Tulsans better get ready to buy OKC gear, because that's just what will happen. No way this team of OKC businessmen are going to miss on a cherry opportunity to get free advertising for its city where their major companies are based. That's the important thing, right there. This team was bought and will come here to raise OKC's stature.

Let's keep the state name to the state schools on the college level. That's where it belongs.

but the team belongs to Oklahoma City

To clarify something Solitude posted previously, the team actually belongs to Professional Basketball Club, LLC. It's not Oklahoma City's team. That may seem like hair-splitting, but the partners and the NBA know the difference.

Now, it may be that the team will be named the Oklahoma City something-or-other.

But whatever the name is will be decided by PBC and the NBA. It's not Mayor Cornett's or the City Council's decision, any more than they can tell any other business what to call itself.

The only say we as citizens had on this was the sales tax vote, and we made our decision on that.

On another note: I lived in Tulsa for a couple of years, and I want to say that this notion that Tulsans sit around in leather club chairs holding their brandy snifters with pinky finger extended and snorting about awful Oklahoma City is just delusion.

It's sort of like the delusion we used to have that if one of Coach Switzer's players raped someone or shot up the athletic dorm, it was because Sports Illustrated or the Dallas Morning News put 'em up to it.

It's sort of like Sen. Coburn's delusion that teenage lesbians are prowling the stalls of high school restrooms, or State Representative Kern's delusion that gays are infiltrating schools to seduce students.

It's sort of like the delusion that anyone who questioned the wisdom of the Sonics deal was some sort of saboteur sent from Seattle.

Although I was born here and have lived here most of my life, I have lived in some other cities both larger than smaller than OKC, and nowhere did I see people so constantly persuaded that nefarious "others" were sneaking around trying to somehow do them in.

Stop being so paranoid. If you want to be seen as a Big League City, act like grownups.

Here here Jwill

Bornhere, I disagree. This is Oklahoma City's team. Oklahoma City will support this team. The owners are from OKC and speak Oklahoma City. They all along bought the team to move it to Oklahoma City. So I see NO REASON why the team name should not be Oklahoma City ___.

It is Oklahoma City's team, for all of the aformentioned reasons in prior posts!! Oklahoma City is the reason why Oklahoma City is getting this team (and some stupid mistakes my town (Seattle) has done).

We need to do EVERYTHING to make sure this is an Oklahoma City named team. Oklahoma City is the big league city and therefore its name should be on the team moniker!

Like JWill said (and I said earlier), leave the state name Oklahoma to the NCAA!

Let's dont confuse the two (or give Tulsa credit when they surely dont deserve it - which is what they are surely hoping for).

Ok, I think it's lame and will be a washed up name in 5 years. I don't think it speaks anything to our current renaissance.

Metro, I notice how you keep putting down all the possible names of the team. But , I haven't seen your idea for a team name?? If you have mentioned it , I must have missed seeing it. It is easy to keep saying that you don't like something , but you must have something in mind that you do like.

So what is you great name that speaks volumes about Oklahoma City??

Folks, I don't think we have a need to argue over the team's name, colors, etc. I'll bet all that has been decided and is waiting to be unveiled once the team is free of its lease in Seattle.

Let's say there's a settlement just before the court hearing in June, or that the court would rule in such a way that would allow the team to come to Oklahoma City for the 2008-2009 season. In literally a matter of days, the team has to get league approval, jerseys, signage, tickets, print and broadcast advertising, letterheads, merchandise -- you name it. They aren't going to have time to play name-that-team. I'm guessing it's ready to go at a moment's notice.

Get ready for the Oklahoma City Blue Flames

:welcome5:

"With a nod towards the commodity that funded their acquisition, the Oklahoma City Blue Flames represent the league's first environmentally friendly team."


There ya go. :bright_id

Natural gas is only marginally more environmentallly friendly than plain ol' oil. Nor is it sustainable.

However, nice idea.

Bornhere, I disagree. This is Oklahoma City's team. Oklahoma City will support this team. The owners are from OKC and speak Oklahoma City. They all along bought the team to move it to Oklahoma City. So I see NO REASON why the team name should not be Oklahoma City ___.

I think you're getting emotionally invested in a decision over which you have no control, which may be setting yourself up for disappointment.

This happens all the time, of course, with pro sports. The owners, as part of the marketing strategy, try to inculcate in the fans a false sense of ownership. Then, when the owners make decisions that benefit themselves as owners but don't benefit the fans, some fans feel betrayed – as happens pretty much anytime a team moves, for example, or a popular player is traded.

Developing an emotional or sentimental attachment or sense of ownership in a sports franchise makes no more sense than it would if the object of affection were a Wal-Mart or a Wendy's. At some point, whether it's this naming issue or something else down the road, the owners will make a decision that benefits themselves at the fans' expense, and the fans will like they've been betrayed.

As for practical reasons for naming the team 'Oklahoma' rather than 'Oklahoma City,' one would be encouraging viewership in TV markets such as Lawton, Tulsa, and Ada. Another would be to broaden legislative support for the change to the Quality Jobs Act.

But no one knows what they're going to do except them, and I think it would be best to not get overly caught up in this name thing.

But no one knows what they're going to do except them, and I think it would be best to not get overly caught up in this name thing.

This is how I'm feeling. I think some of the NBA names are terrible, but if I lived in that city I'd support them. I happen to personally dislike the name Barons quite a bit and a couple of the others suggested almost as little, but if that ends up being the name, I'll be wearing gear with that name on it.

As far as not getting emotionally invested in a team, it's a catch-22. If you're not invested enough, you only go to games if the team is winning and/or enjoyable to watch. That increases the likelihood of the team leaving. If you're too invested, if something happens and the team leaves, you're heartbroken, but it also increases the likelihood of voters voting for arena upgrades or new arenas and the fans going to games even when the team is not doing well or playing well. I'm planning on getting emotionally invested, because it makes it more fun to go to games, and I'll take the chance on getting my heart broken. In the long run, if enough people feel the way I do, that increases our chances of a team doing well here. I see it as a risk worth taking.

Having a team in Oklahoma City named "Oklahoma City" would still encourage viewership in markets such as Lawton, Tulsa, and Ada.

What else do they have in those markets that could compete against anything in OKC?

Plus, having an Oklahoma City named team would not confuse non-Oklahomans with the Oklahoma Sooners and Oklahoma State Cowboys.

Plus, having an Oklahoma City named team would not confuse non-Oklahomans with the Oklahoma Sooners and Oklahoma State Cowboys.
Realistically, I think this is the best argument I've heard for using 'Oklahoma City' instead of 'Oklahoma'.

I agree.

I think you're getting emotionally invested in a decision over which you have no control, which may be setting yourself up for disappointment.

This statement describes about 99 & 44/100th of the topics and posts on this blog. Yet I still keep reading and posting.

On topic, I think "OKC" has a great ring to it, much like "NYC". Sports casters love acronyms they can emit with reckless abandon. Besides, OKC voted the jack to pay for improvements to the Ford Center, so at least OKC can get credit every time PTI mentions OUR team.

Hmmmm.... this is an interesting headline: NBA Officials Confident STATE will support team (http://newsok.com/article/3223148/1206963068).

Makes you wonder if given the fact that two of our major potential sports sponsors (Chesapeake & MidFirst) are already part owners in the team, part of the rationale for naming the team the Oklahoma _______ is that there are broader sponsorship opportunities outside of the OKC Metro.

I don't think the owners are wanting to market their business outside OKC via the NBA. I think they have 2 financial motivations for bringing the NBA to OKC. First, they want to have an incentive to bring larger employers to OKC that will be customers of their businesses, and second, they want to be able to use the team as a recruting tool to attract employees. This is why I believe the name will be OKC.

Things are looking worse for an OKC branded team. Trust me on this. Mick Cornett says he is committed to the "Oklahoma City" branded team, but Mick also wants to be the next United States Senator from Oklahoma (when Inhofe retires), he ain't bucking anybody. It's all about the bucks. The continued emphasis on the state (I'm sick of hearing about it) has completely overtaken our votes for a "Big League City."

And yes, it matters. A lot.

imagine, am ex OKC mayor possibly replacing an ex Tulsa mayor.

This morning on KREF sports radio, Toby Rowland said he has an excellent source that confirmed the team name will be Oklahoma City and not Oklahoma. He guranteed it 100%, and said it came from an individual that is with the ownership group.

I know there has been a lot of emphasis on the entire state supporting this team, but I still don't think that is necessarily an indication that the team will be the Oklahoma ____.

I never understood the correlation arguement between fan support and team name. That is like saying only people in Miami will support the Miami Hurricane or UCLA will only be supported by people in LA. It just doesn't work that way.

The press conference made it clear to me that this NBA team will be called the Oklahoma Whatever. While the presser is still going on, I am guessing the question won't be asked and wouldn't be answered if it was. I am excited about the NBA, I voted YES on March 14th (with reservations), but the unbelievable application for Oklahoma Quality Jobs Program money makes it a clear (to me anyway) that this team will be the OKLAHOMA ______ and not the Oklahoma City ________ ala Salt Lake City/Utah.

The emphasis on the STATE economy and the STATE population and STATE companies and STATE money was another indication of what's to come name-wise. So ------- brace yourselves. I am guessing that's not going to go over real well here.

The application to seek OQJP money is shocking. That program was set-up to bring in jobs, and pay directly to companies, that bring good jobs to Oklahoma. There will be new jobs created, but the vast majority will be third-party jobs that have nothing to do with the actual Professional Basketball Club, LLC. Another giveway.

And again, I think the message today was clear --- it will not be the Oklahoma City anything. Take that to the bank.

looks like you were wrong. btw, if a nba team is called by its state or city name it doesnt play into that much of a difference to local and/or regional economies because fans of any nba team can pretty much reside anywhere, even those fans spread across the globe, military especially. the sale of team merchandise and paraphenelia plays a huge part in a teams revenue as well.

I never understood the correlation arguement between fan support and team name. That is like saying only people in Miami will support the Miami Hurricane or UCLA will only be supported by people in LA. It just doesn't work that way.

id like to quote the late ed mcmahon "You are correct, sir!"

Wow.......old thread!

Why'd this get bumped?