Here is what some business people and NBA fans have to say about Oklahoma City's new nickname.
"It's not bad. It could be worse. I'm not a big fan of the non-plural names. It sounds like we're a WNBA team." — Tyler Solomon, 21, Norman
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“I can close my eyes and hear AC/DC coming through the speakers. I can also hear at halftime Garth Brooks playing ‘The Thunder Rolls.’ I can see the headline in the paper. From a marketing standpoint, Thunder works. You don’t have to be a marketing expert to know that it’s a great name.
From a fan perspective, it takes a while to get adjusted to new brands. The owners will spend lots and lots of money promoting the brand and several years from now it will look just like all the other NBA brands.
From a marketing perspective, it’s a can’t-miss name.” — Renzi Stone, president of Saxum Public Relations and former Sooner basketball player
“I think it’s a fine name, and it’s great for Oklahoma City that the team is here. I can see a Bison as the mascot and the AC/DC song, Thunderstruck, as the theme song.” — Tom Searls, vice president of Schnake Turnbo Frank PR in Oklahoma City
"For being part of the National Basketball Association, I don't think (the logo) is as professional as it should be. The Thunder is definitely something that's gonna have to grow on me and everybody. Oklahoma does have some pretty good thunderstorms, but I don't think that should represent us." — Taylor Toth, 22, Tulsa
"I think it's really cliché, thinking of Oklahoma and storms. I think they could have been a lot more creative; it's really generic." — Erin Nelson, 21, Owasso
“My first reaction was wonder what the logo for thunder would look like? Overall I like it. .... Of course we all know Thunder comes after Lightning so as long as there is not an NBA team by that name we have a chance at the championship.” — Troy E. Jones, president of Access Financial Resources in Oklahoma City
"I'm not much for it. We could have come up with something better." — Steven Gray, 23, Norman
“I think it’s a cool name. I think it certainly fits our region, don’t you? I think it’s a great name. I think it’s a pretty exciting time for Oklahoma. You think about all these issues we usually talk about, helping attract entrepreneurs and growing entrepreneurial ventures. Part of that is having a region that has a really cool and attractive quality of life. I know we had an NBA team the last few years but now we have our own. That’s pretty neat.” — Tom Walker, chief executive officer at i2E, the not-for-profit corporation that mentors many of the state’s technology-based start-up companies
"It's starting to grow on me. I liked it better than the other five choices." — Clark Laster, 21, Oklahoma City
“With the thunderstorms we have in our state, ‘Thunder’ is a name Oklahomans can relate to and get behind. It’s simple. It’s clean. And it will make for good cheers.” — Jim Farris, president of James Farris Associates human resources firm in Oklahoma City
"I don't like it very much. It's OK, but I think they could have done better." — Brad Bridges, 28, Shawnee
"Thunder was definitely one of the better choices of the five they trademarked." — Joseph Kent, 19, Norman
“We're just excited it's finally official. I love it. I'll love it a lot more when there are 20,000 people coming to see it at Ford Center.” — Jim Cowan, director of the Bricktown AssociationContributing: Staff Writers Debbie Blossom, Jason Kersey, Steve Lackmeyer, Don Mecoy, Jack Money, Jennifer Palmer and Jim Stafford.
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Is there anything that you professional naysayers (mostly young, I assume) DO like? I'll bet that you even critisize your own mothers. The reason that I assume that you are young is that you seem to have no concept of what is really important. If you are able to live as long as I have, you will eventually learn.
"Thunder" is great. I liked it from the very start. If you don't like it now, at least accept it because that's what it is. If ESPN or anyone else (especially Seattleites) don't like it, they can go climb a rope or something because I really don't care.
NO ONE outside Okie-land will be calling NBA Apparel saying, "FedEx me that hat with the Happy Pastel Thunder logo." NO ONE outside of Okla is gonna have a "Thunder" sticker on their car because they'll get tired of it being mixed up with the 8 & under girls soccer team. A namby-pamby name, Tropical Mike & Ike Candy colors, and a logo so WNBA'ish that it will be dispensed as an anti-Viagra medication when "something" happens for more than 4 hours. This was a chance to be among the top tier cities and we're settling for second-rate. Fail.
The name and logo are just about what I ( and according to the national poll) expect out of this cowtown....somebody said this state is the "national punchline" and seems the Okies are trying to solidify this image....
76'ers, Celtics, Lakers, Thunder, which one doesn't fit? Answer is Thunder, the other 3 are big league names. What is this team another AA baseball team? CBA? WNBA? Embarrassing!
All the comments are from people under the age of thirty--most under 25. Is that where most of the ticket buying public is? Thunder sucks...the color is okay but the name reaks! plural names are terrible! ARROWS is better....plenty of great headline material...
LMAO!! OK the rear kissing by local media members starts, I was ready for this, the logo will grow on you blah blah blah . no it will not, the name sucks the colors suck the logo sucks. plain and simple save us the rear kissin your layin on Clay and his boys were not falling for it. For God sake! please someone in the media have a backbone!! please fans lets get a protest going at the ford center signs pickett lines the whole sha-bang I am for it the local media isnt about to do anything they wont endanger the invites to clays party.
I like the name Thunder, the logo seems a little lame, and I will withhold judgment on the colors until I see the jerseys. Afterall, the jerseys are what really matters, much more than the stupid logo. There are a bunch of teams with lame logos and nicknames, and some that dont make any sense (Lakers?? - maybe when they were in Minneapolis, but L.A. "stole" them) (Knicks?? - named after pants? We could be the OKC T-shirts) (Clippers?? - a boat, another team that was "stolen" twice) Anyways, we could have done worse, but I hoped for better. In the end, its about basketball and turning this franchise into a winner.
Go to sportslogos(dot)net and check out the NBA section. Zzzzzzz. A lot of them are pretty *blah*. This was our chance to be a stand-out. Name fail. Logo fail. Color fail. Smart move (no charge): Tie things (quickly) to buffalo/bison and re-vamp all the marketing (don't use the 6th grade art class this time).
A triangle with two lines through it and a basketball on the inside? If the lettering was taken away what part of this logo says "Thunder"? Ditch the logo immediately. Colors are OK.
lol @ mike. I couldn't agree with you more. OKC could of done better and should of done better. This is not greatness. I thought we were better than this. I guess not. Out of those names Barons and Marshals were the best choices hands down. Being that were are in Oklahoma we cant just come up with any name. We need all the support we can get. lol. I could see a city like Dallas, Philly, or Miami doing some shyt like this but not us. Im feel so embarrased for OKC. lol.
Why do I care that the logo sucks? Because it's indicative of the subpar work people expect from the Oklahoma market. It's going to affect sales of shirts and other merchandise. We're going to have to look at it during every news story on TV, in print and online. I can't wait to see the clown-like uniforms they pull out of those colors with that logo that looks like a Doritos throwback from the early 90s.
Matt from Stilwell, you are so right! Who cares what the logo/colors are. We have an NBA team and it's not temporary. Be proud to be an Oklahoman and support the team. After a few years, it will be just another NBA team name. And plus, there’s nothing special about the other NBA team logos.
The only people interviewed that "loved it" are people that are looking to get business from the team. It's brutal. The name is brutal, it's cliche, and the logo looks like the product of a first year graphics arts student. But, as bad as the logo is, it will be better than the product on the floor this year. It's a bad team; they have their work cut out for them THIS year to be even decent.
I wish people would stop saying we should play "The Thunder Rolls." That song is about a guy who cheats on his wife. Not exactly the image we want for our new team.
Im tired of hearing everyone talk about how much they hate the name,logo,colors. Have you guys actually looked at the other team's logos? Would you rather the team name be Nuggets,Heat,Magic,Pacers,Bobcats.....? When you think about it most pro names are lame or generic. Everybody needs to quit acting like they are so cool and just enjoy this.
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Tis OK, let'em laugh at OUR team but they will wonder why Seattle doesn't have profesional basketball...
>:)