The NBA has filed for trademark rights to six nicknames for Oklahoma City's franchise — Barons, Bison, Energy, Marshalls (spelled with two Ls), Thunder and Wind, according to the U.S. patent and trademark office.
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The filings were Monday.
All six trademark requests were filed with the NBA Development League as the "owner.” It's uncertain why the NBADL was part of the trademark process.
KOCO-TV has reported that "according to a source close to the ownership group,” the name will be Thunder.
Thunder won a fan vote on NewsOK.com. All the names, except for Marshalls, were top picks by readers, as well.
There is more evidence Thunder could be the nickname. A search of Whois reveals the domain name Thunder.com was created for Thunder.Net Communications in July 1994, but the domain name rights expire Sunday.
It's not known whether the NBA or team Chairman Clay Bennett have held talks with Thunder.Net Communications.
"The NBA will not have a comment on this until a nickname is selected,” said Tim Frank, NBA senior director of basketball communications.
One theory is Oklahoma City must choose a nickname before the 2008-2009 schedule, traditionally is released the first week in August.
"That's a flawed theory,” Frank said. "The schedule is not done. We're not holding up the schedule because of the nickname.”
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I like Thunder because it denotes power and action. Wind would be the subject of crude jokes. Energy and Barons are too mild and lame. Bison might be OK. Marshalls is spelled wrong.
Barons is a great name. Land barons, cattle barons, oil barons & train barons. Make the mascot the red baron and it even hints at the state's aviation history. Plus the NBA has a history of teams named after nobility. The Sacramento Kings were once the Rochester Royals, and the old ABA had the Kentucky Colonels and the Virginia Squires.
Thunder doesn't work for me -- do you want to be known (among those that hate the move to OKC) as the Oklahoma City Blunder? Oklahoma City Plunder? Or, in honor of some NBA refs, the Oklahoma City Over/Under?
I also don't like "Energy." What is this, an Arena Football franchise? Or worse yet, a soccer franchise?
Marshalls is the place I go for polyester clothes.
Also, I agree with someone from another site -- get rid of "City" in the name -- all the New York franchises don't have to tell everyone they are in a city, neither does OKC. The nickname rolls off the tongue better too without it.
I like names like Stallions, Rattlesnakes (or just Rattlers), Tornados, Riflemen, Troopers, and Conquistadors (too long for a uniform?)
I like Thunderbirds also. I was in Oklahoma National Guard and my dad in WWII. Why not Use 4 of the listed names as one? Maybe that would help please more people because part of their favorite name would be used in the name or logo.
Thunder is the only really good name on the list for the NBA team. Bison recalls only buffalo and reminds me of slow moving things, and not very smart ones. The Wind is actually stupid......think of the jokes this would cause!! Energy is just play wrong. It sounds like an advetisement. Marshalls, with two L's, reminds me of the Movie 'We are Marshalls', or of law enforcement and not basketball. And The Barons appears to be kind of elete....only for the rich and popular????? Not for us common folk, surely. Ok, the name Thunder does arise some weather issues.....but 'rolling in like thunder....the power of thunder as well as weather......hey, everyone know this part of the country gets severe weather. For heavens sake, guys......get it toggether!!! THUNDER is the only plausible name evryone can connect to! AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO END IN S!
Thunder is the only really good name on the list for the NBA team. Bison recalls only buffalo and reminds me of slow moving things, and not very smart ones. The Wind is actually stupid......think of the jokes this would cause!! Energy is just play wrong. It sounds like an advetisement. Marshalls, with two L's, reminds me of the Movie 'We are Marshalls', or of law enforcement and not basketball. And The Barons appears to be kind of elete....only for the rich and popular????? Not for us common folk, surely. Ok, the name Thunder does arise some weather issues.....but 'rolling in like thunder....the power of thunder as well as weather......hey, everyone know this part of the country gets severe weather. For heavens sake, guys......get it toggether!!! THUNDER is the only plausible name evryone can connect to! AND IT DOESN'T HAVE TO END IN S!
Danny, one of the Oklahoma City TV news stations last night showed a proposed logo showing a charging buffalo herd with the name Oklahoma Thunder. The association worked well in my opinion. I don't have a dog in this fight, but if the name " Thunder " is adopted along with the buffaloes, I think it makes an effective and strong image. It ain't just about rain even though I'd welcome some.
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I also don't like "Energy." What is this, an Arena Football franchise? Or worse yet, a soccer franchise?
Marshalls is the place I go for polyester clothes.
Also, I agree with someone from another site -- get rid of "City" in the name -- all the New York franchises don't have to tell everyone they are in a city, neither does OKC. The nickname rolls off the tongue better too without it.
I like names like Stallions, Rattlesnakes (or just Rattlers), Tornados, Riflemen, Troopers, and Conquistadors (too long for a uniform?)