From Newsok.com:

The Oklahoma City Thunder mascot will be a bison and will be unveiled at the Thunder's Feb. 17 home game against the New Orleans Hornets, sources have confirmed.

Stick with NewsOK.com as information becomes available.

http://newsok.com/oklahoma-city-thunder-mascot-to-be-a-bison/article/3344538?custom_click=lead_story_title

oh boy... a Bison... Well, I'll have to see it before making a comment or stating an opinion I guess ... just waiting for the B.S. comments to begin.

I think a bison mascot would be "cute"...just the message we're going for! This is what it could look like:

http://cache.gettyimages.com/xc/52459914.jpg?v=1&c=ViewImages&k=2&d=17A4AD9FDB9CF1939847EC77F5F8D1CE19D773D2FF33B909 A40A659CEC4C8CB6

Much better than this:

http://www.wnews.info/images/school_3_07/Image23.gif

I can't think of a better mascot though, maybe Thor the God of Thunder? Its the best choice, given the options. Can't wait to see it!

Well, when they run in a herd that's what they sound like...

oh boy... a Bison... Well, I'll have to see it before making a comment or stating an opinion I guess ... just waiting for the B.S. comments to begin.

I also understand that the current logo actually will become the secondary mark. The bison will serve as our primary logo, likely to be unveiled for the nba draft. No reason to unveil it now since they are still putting the "old" logo on t-shirts...

wow it takes like 6 months to come up with a bison? I wish they would have put that much thought/time into the "dorito" logo.

Well, it makes at least some of us smile dag nab it.

Thanks Clay, and others!

kevinbuffaloatheartpate

and of course, good ole paul from yukon had to chime in. Not about the mascot, but about the teams record. That guy is so lame and his comments are always hilarious in their stupidity.

New mascot sounds cool and I can't wait to see the new logo...

oh boy... a Bison... Well, I'll have to see it before making a comment or stating an opinion I guess ... just waiting for the B.S. comments to begin.

Well, Karrie I am actually glad it is going to be a bison. Go to the Wichita Mountian range in southwestern Oklahoma. If you get lucky enough to hear a heard of bison running across the prairie, it literally does sound like thunder.

If it were a bull or longhorn steer, I would expect the BS comments to come rolling in. And if people to shoot off at the mouth, be quick to remind them that Oklahoma has gone to great lengths to keeping this species preserved and repopulated. That'll shut them up.

Remember, Karrie, you are living in a state that has been ridiculed for the last 70 years over a drought that was blown out of proportion by the national media. It doesn't matter how progressive we get. Our nation's prejudice is too deep to cut Oklahoma a break.

At least we won't have a cute lil horsey, a bunny, a cuddly bear or a puppy dog. I actually think a bison is the best mascot for our team, and have been hoping that's what it would be from the start. It's a great link to the name Thunder and the two make each other logical, IMO.

I'm excited about that, too.

You have to wonder, though, exactly WHERE that idea came from. With ALL of the discussion of mascots before the first logo was announced, I know there were more than a few "bison" suggestions thrown about in these threads. And it was evident by some decisions that WERE made that these threads were highly watched, as were the comments section on the Oklahoman.

As for the current logo being a "secondary" logo? Metro?! Are you kidding me? You're in this business. What company in their right mind would brand themselves with a "secondary logo" first - use that as their corporate identity - then go through the expense of changing it all six months down the pike?

While the "dorito chip" as you call it has gotten mixed reviews at best, I cannot imagine any organization jumping ship to a new brand identity six months in. Call me wrong if I am (we'll obviously find out in April), but that just doesn't seem like a very sound marketing move imo.

I don't have a problem with the mascot.. I said I'll have to see it before I have an opinon... a bison might be hard as a mascot because of it's enormous head.. you know, running around, jumping and doing acrobatics.

While the "dorito chip" as you call it has gotten mixed reviews at best, I cannot imagine any organization jumping ship to a new brand identity six months in. Call me wrong if I am (we'll obviously find out in April), but that just doesn't seem like a very sound marketing move imo.

The dorito chip has actually grown on me, but I think the NBA interchanges their logos fairly often and teams flip between primary and secondary. I'm sure our current one will be on the NBA webpage indefinitely, as the more corporate appearing logo for most teams is there. Regardless, a mascot and even new secondary logo means new merchandise and more sales for the team and the league.

For all of the people already dissing the mascot: offer a better idea in its stead.

Nice.
Great call it will be the only one in the league, an All American icon.
Native America
Very well done.

I think it will totally work.
A statue in its honor should be made and placed somewhere downtown.

I'm not so sure about introducing it at the game against the Hornets though. They have arguably the best mascot in the league.

http://www.statesymbolsusa.org/IMAGES/Oklahoma/Bison_ownby380.jpg

Just imagine the bison above with a Thunder jersey and NBA headband. Sweet!

Also, I think our mascot would be able to take just about any other mascot in the league... ;)

Someone might recast a mini herd of the bison, like those which received all the corporate paint a while back. Then a few someones might paint them all with flag blue shirts and add that honkin' big dorito chip on a flank. Then they can call it art. It won't be, but they will call it that.

Even with this, admittedly disturbing, image in my head, I'm still very happy with the mascot choice overall.

kevinbuffaloatheartpate

FritterGirl: As for the current logo being a "secondary" logo? Metro?! Are you kidding me? You're in this business. What company in their right mind would brand themselves with a "secondary logo" first - use that as their corporate identity - then go through the expense of changing it all six months down the pike?

While the "dorito chip" as you call it has gotten mixed reviews at best, I cannot imagine any organization jumping ship to a new brand identity six months in. Call me wrong if I am (we'll obviously find out in April), but that just doesn't seem like a very sound marketing move imo.

I know, I totally agree with you and didn't say anything otherwise. I think the bison is a good mascot, however the whole logo/image and overall marketing of the team has been poor at best since day 1 and continues to be poorly marketed/promoted. I agree, they appear to already be appearing to jumping ship, however they know the logo sucks at the same time. So do the colors, what kind of buffalo/thunder has bright and cheery colors? When I think of bison or thunder, I don't think of sky blue and orange or an Oklahoma sunset. Why aren't the Thunder advertising more on tv for a branding campaign and why aren't they hyping up their public PR events in the community more like the Hornets did. This organization baffles me beyond belief. Despite all the flaws, I'm stoked we have our own team!

I like the idea of having a bison as the mascot. I don't hate the current logo, but it's kinda generic. You know, this might be a case of "it seemed like a good idea at the time". Perhaps, now that we've gotten to see the current logo in action over the course of a season, the owners decided they needed something with a stronger identity.

So based on the comments/suggestions , I came up with this for the mascot. The shading on the upper shoulder took me about 3 hours but it was worth it.

http://www.okctalk.com/gallery/data/500/bison.jpg (http://www.okctalk.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=2692)

I think it will totally work.
A statue in its honor should be made and placed somewhere downtown.

lol!

If it is a bison, I suspect we'll see new colors on some of the decorated bison around town. I just hope outsiders realize the artwork were in place long before the presumed mascot makes its entrance in our city.

wow

that's exciting

(with a sarcastic undertone)

So based on the comments/suggestions , I came up with this for the mascot. The shading on the upper shoulder took me about 3 hours but it was worth it.

http://www.okctalk.com/gallery/data/500/bison.jpg (http://www.okctalk.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=2692)

HAHAH nice.

Metro, that may be the funniest thing you ever posted. I like the number as well.

I'll be the first one to buy the NBA sweatband with the horns sewn on.

Also, I think our mascot would be able to take just about any other mascot in the league...


They are pretty tough beasts, but I think a raptor, grizzly and a rocket could take out a bison...

At first I sighed at the sound of this, but as I think about it more I think it's a good fit. People all over the country will make fun of it and find ways to associate it and us Oklahomans as hick/redneck/country etc...but who cares.
If you actually look at it, most logos in professional sports are pretty silly.

I doubt it, I bet more Oklahomans will make fun of it and call it redneck than outsiders...We still have that inferiority complex, well at least most do.

I doubt it, I bet more Oklahomans will make fun of it and call it redneck than outsiders...We still have that inferiority complex, well at least most do.

Agreed.

Well, you might be right on that.

wow it takes like 6 months to come up with a bison? I wish they would have put that much thought/time into the "dorito" logo.

It's not going to be a generic buffalo suit from High School Mascots 'R Us. It SHOULD take 6 months to pick a mascot, design a suit, and get it made.

It's not going to be a generic buffalo suit from High School Mascots 'R Us. It SHOULD take 6 months to pick a mascot, design a suit, and get it made.

So the Bison mascot is more important to you then putting that much effort into the dorito's type logo and color scheme?:doh:

I like the idea of having a bison as the mascot. I don't hate the current logo, but it's kinda generic. You know, this might be a case of "it seemed like a good idea at the time". Perhaps, now that we've gotten to see the current logo in action over the course of a season, the owners decided they needed something with a stronger identity.

Look at Portland's logo. It looks like something you would see on a corporate letterhead. I don't think they matter all that much, especially given NBA teams' propensity for coming up with new ones. I think the Hornets have at least 5, the fleur de bee being the most recent (and least attractive, IMO). Teams survive ugly logos, colors, unis and mascots, once they're established. Take a look around the league and you don't come away impressed, for the most part.

So the Bison mascot is more important to you then putting that much effort into the dorito's type logo and color scheme?:doh:

Didn't say that. You seemed to think that there was no way that it would take that long to "come up with" the bison mascot. You should know there's a lot more to it than that.

Its kinda cool that we already have bison present throughout the city. I like it. I think our guy would look good with our logo on his forehead...

http://www.okctalk.com/gallery/data/500/bison.jpg (http://www.okctalk.com/gallery/showphoto.php?photo=2692)

Well, they announce/present the mascot tonight at halftime, I doubt it will beat the one I created. Can't wait to compare! :artist:

some of the ugliest uniforms in history are also the coolest

http://www.authenticsportscollectibles.com/store/images/49497.jpg

To bad the mascot could not have been the thunder bird

I like the bison for a mascot a lot - it fits OK perfectly. The Native Americans derived much of their sustenance from the massive herds of long ago; it is a very tough, strong animal; and it just happens to make a thunderous noise when large numbers of them run. All in all, this could be a home run for the team (one it badly needs in the PR dept).

I wonder if the team might use the current blue colors as a third uniform like many teams now have. I really, really, really liked the scheme someone came up with for the potential Barons name. I think the bison mascot would work pretty well with black, gold, and grey/white - and the dorito chip would look pretty decent on the side of black shorts.

But I also realize it is doubtful the team would make such a dramatic change - too much $$ tied up in the current colors.

I'm wondering if the bison will be brown or blue. Benny the Bull in Chicago is red, so I think it's possible the bison won't be brown. But then again, Squatch was brown and the Sonics didn't have brown in their colors. So, who knows! If he is blue, our colors aren't changing anytime soon. I think we're more likely to see something navy and gold than black and gold, since navy and yellow are two of our colors.

The Thunder website currently shows a silhouette of the bison mascot. Can't really make out too much, but he boasts hands instead of hooves...

but he boasts hands instead of hooves...

Of course he does ever tried to dunk a ball with a hoove?:ohno:

Of course he does ever tried to dunk a ball with a hoove?:ohno:

I've never even tried to dunk a basketball with hands! I'm only 5'8". :doh:

some of the ugliest uniforms in history are also the coolest

http://www.authenticsportscollectibles.com/store/images/49497.jpg

If you're bringing 1970's stylish jersey in here you better not forget this...

http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_SJYaJzfRGw4/RhqyVNqoYjI/AAAAAAAABfM/KnebeTCGs_8/s200/padresawesome.jpg

I think RUMBLE looks pretty damn cool! I was thinking the mascot was gonna be cheesy but its cool! but his eyes kinda creep me out!

He's hairy, that's for sure! But the guy can play the drums and certainly can dance. I like him!

looks like the squatch suit got recycled and a new head was ordered

Yea I think he looks pretty good....dang he was rockin them drums out!

Presenting..... (drumroll)

Rumble!

http://thunder-nba.com/rumble/dynamic/photogallery/%5B20090217091210%5Dmascot_winter09_-72.jpg

A coworker said he looks like Teen Wolf with Horns... I agree.

P.S. Here's his site: http://thunder-nba.com/rumble/

P.S. Here's his site: http://thunder-nba.com/rumble/

Check out the video of his "Story". A true hero.

Also, I think this coloring sheet is cool: http://thunder-nba.com/rumble/downloads/Rumble%20Coloring%20Sheet.pdf

Great game by the way!

The story is cute. I left my opinion on how he looks in the other "Rumble" thread.

Cue Metro whining in 3... 2... 1...