We Have A Name!

[HOT ROD]

Barons just rolls off the tounge better, to me. Plus, I saw the graphics for the Barons that was posted a few weeks ago - and it just "stuck" for me.

Barons has great marketing opportunities, and doesn' t sound hick at all. Plus, it fits OKC (be it Oil Baron, Rich Baron, or Robber Baron - all befitting OKC and not just because of Seattle - but because of OKC's history [robber barons were part of okc's history, ya know?]).

I do agree, Thunder isn't hick and does have marketing appeal and fits OKC; all very true. I was just saying Im still hoping for Barons because it's alreay in my mind that the team is the Oklahoma City Barons.

I mean, it just sounds like an NBA team, ya know.

[JWil]

Does Heat sound NBA to you?

I think the color/logo can almost be MORE important than the name. If they really go with the sky blue/ reddish-orange/ silver deal that would... uh, take some getting used to.

The Black/Gold combo is really the best option and its not overdone in the league.

[HOT ROD]

Heat fits Miami - and it does sound NBA to me.

Thunder does not, YET.

But Barons already does. It has some streetworth to it - something which in the NBA - HipHop world, you have to recognize. I mean, we want to be marketable.

But I agree, Thunder is slowly growing on me.

I also agree that the logo/colour means more - but what colours can you get with thunder?

[jstanthrnme]

I don't understand what the worry is about the mascot or logo is. I agree that the colors should be chosen carefully. If you consider that the city hardly has an identity yet, then you should agree that a more ambiguous logo should be chosen, and patiently let a mascot surface, and then integrate the two. That will sustain the edge of your seat excitement we all got on this boat for. We'll have things to look forward to on and off of the court. Lets play this thing smart guys.

[BFizzy]

I don't think anyone has mentioned this yet...

The NBA D-League already has teams named Thunderbirds, Stampede, and Energy.

It doesn't really matter if, in fact, the team will be called "Thunder". However, it is pretty interesting to see how those logos look when designed/approved by the NBA.

The NBA Store

[HOT ROD]

Thunder is very minor league or WNBA.

I'd expect OKC's WNBA team to be called Thunder.

Barons or Outlaws is more befitting.

[BG918]

Thunder is very minor league or WNBA.

I'd expect OKC's WNBA team to be called Thunder.

Barons or Outlaws is more befitting.

I agree. Love Barons or Outlaws, despise Thunder or Thunderbirds...

[Platemaker]

We aren't getting a WNBA team anymore... Bennett sold the Storm to a local Seattle women's group back in January.

Clay Bennett selling Seattle Storm

[Platemaker]

The NBA D-League already has teams named Thunderbirds, Stampede, and Energy.
The NBA Store

The D-Leauge also has the Dakota Wizards.... and the NBA has the Washington Wizards.

Pretty strange that they would allow that.

[MrZ]

I'm pretty shocked at the severity of negative comments on the newsok comments section. Some pretty vicious comments over there. You would think they were talking about changing the state name to Thunder. Chill out some people!

[OKCMallen]

All the trash posts on those comments; don't sweat them MrZ.

[AFCM]

I think it makes for an entertaining read at work.

[Pete]

Of all the names proposed, I liked Thunder best.

Looking forward to seeing the colors and logo.

[Grant]

Barons is much better than Thunder IMO. It doesn't have to mean robber baron or oil baron. What about the Red Baron? Or the fact that baron is a title of nobility? Thunder sounds way too WNBA to me. Plus Seattle's WNBA team is the Storm.......

[Saberman]

All the trash posts on those comments; don't sweat them MrZ.

I'm afraid a lot of those neg. comments come from people outside of Oklahoma. Mainly from a certain area of the country.

[Kerry]

I was listening to ESPN radio on Sunday and the OKC team name was up for discussion. The ESPN host liked the name 89ers but he wondered where it came from. A caller from Chicago said it was the name of OKC AAA team in the 80's. So the announcer said, "Oh, that is where it came from. You learn something new everyday."

Huh, he didn't learn anything from that. I think 89ers would be a very good name and could actually help educate the sport watching nation at the same time.

[Thunder]

What about the Red Baron?

You must have tapped into my mind. At work, I was resetting some of the freezer sections and I saw some Red Baron pizza. Oh great, I thought to myself, there are people wanting OKC to be a pizza team. Barons is bad... It has too many negative strings attached.

[JWil]

Over time, Barons would be an albatross surrounding the neck of the franchise. Hard to market, difficult to understand what it is and basically pretty boring.

[HOT ROD]

I disagree JWil, but that is the nice thing about America.

I think Barons is very easy to market, gives OKC some street credit, easily rolls off the tounge, and just sounds like an NBA team.

With Baron, you could do an Oil Baron, or a Robber Baron, or a Rich Baron or the Red Baron (aviation) as the mascot - all of whom would befit OKC. Also, I liked the cool colours and logo that was showcased on this forum - .

Who cares what Seattle people will say about Barons, they know it is the best name out there that sitll gives OKC lots of credibility.

Like I said, I was thinking about OKC's Nba team, daydreaming a few days ago - and 'Barons' just seemed NATURAL.

[JWil]

Ah, well if you dreamed about it... wasn't there an entire season of Dallas based on a dream? Let's run with it.

[okcfan9805]

I'm new, so be gentle. I love the OKC Barons with Black and Gold for colors.

[Chefdavies]

I had heard they have a name and its "thunder." This was coming from very wealthy restaurant owners. Basically, the ppl that sit courtside everyday. But who knows.

[HOT ROD]

lol JWil, very true. Dallas is my all-time favourite soap opera! LoL.

I still watch it on Soap.Net on cable.

But still, lol - It is true, I daydreamed it and it just seemed so Natural (like we'd had the team Barons for years).

[JWil]

Heh... I love Dallas too, just haven't seen it in years.

If it were Barons, as long as it was black/gold I could deal with it. It just seems too stogy to me.

"Daddy I can't wait to be a Baron when I grow up!"

[BDP]

Barons or Outlaws is more befitting.

I think Barons is kind of goofy sounding and have been surprised at how many people have even considered it, let alone liked it. I think it goes to show what a jersey mock-up can do for a name. I guess they could play with cigars in their mouths and we could replace the bench with Executive's chairs.

Outlaws sounds like your kid's soccer team, to me. It doesn't seem right that a group of grown men would be the Outlaws. I think you'd also see a lot of western themed promotions, mascot, marketing, etc. similar to OSU.

At least Thunder wouldn't be the worst NBA nickname by far. There's about 10 or so that are pretty weak. I still kind of laugh at Heat and Magic and the idea of naming your team after a footwear ornament is really goofy. But, a few championships and you don't think about it much any more.