Oklahoma City Thunderbirds, Barons, Outlaws or Thunder

[Mac the Knife]

From NewsOK.com...

They can't always explain why they like it. They just do. "I don't know what it is,? said Kasey Moody, a 23-year-old Duncan resident. "It just looks good.?

It is the color scheme that's gaining steam for the uniforms of Oklahoma City's prospective NBA franchise ? black and gold.

With The Oklahoman's NBA Team Name Contest now whittled down to the Final Four nicknames ? Thunderbirds, Barons, Outlaws and Thunder ? opinions still vary on what the team should be called. But some, like Moody, are among a growing segment who thinks black and gold could work as the team colors no matter the nickname or mascot. "It's just different,? said Moody, who designed the black and gold "Oklahoma City Barons? jerseys that appeared on the cover of The Oklahoman's sports section on April 14 as one of hundreds of reader-designed jersey submissions.

But unlike the Pittsburgh Steelers, whose team colors are athletic gold and black, the color scheme used for the popular Barons design is varsity gold and black, closer to the shade found in Notre Dame and George Washington's school colors.

The Washington Wizards in 2006 unveiled an alternate set of road jerseys with a similar scheme, with gold as the primary color for the jerseys and black being the dominant color on the shorts. It's unclear how the NBA regulates the selection of team colors that would be similar to other franchises in the league. An NBA spokesman couldn't confirm the league's policy Monday.

But perhaps the best thing about black and gold in Oklahoma is that it isn't crimson and cream or orange and black.

"I actually started out with red, white and silver,? said Moody of his design. "But then I decided I didn't want to include any colors from OU or OSU. I thought both fan bases might like something different. And I didn't want to upset any Oklahoma State fans.?

Moody, an OU fan who works at Territory Golf & Country Club and dabbles as a graphic designer for fun in his spare time, said he posted his design on message boards and was taken aback by the overwhelming positive responses he received.

"At first I liked (the colors), but I didn't know how well other people would or what they would think about that,? said Moody, who wanted his design to reflect a western feel. "I can't believe how many e-mails I've gotten from people who said they love black and gold. It's been pretty cool.?

Mike McGinnis, 67, of Norman, is the regional sales manager for Iowa-based DeLong Sportswear. McGinnis submitted a similar jersey design to The Oklahoman but with the team name Oilers.

"The reason I (chose black and gold) is because I named the team the Oilers, which is black gold,? McGinnis said. "So I thought that was appropriate colors if they're named anything relating to the energy industry. I just think they look good together.?

No matter the team name, McGinnis said. "Absolutely,? he said. "I don't think that'd be a problem at all. Just the look of black and gold is good no matter what the mascot is. I just think it's pleasing to the eye. Aesthetically, it's pleasant to look at.?

[McCall]

Is that Moody guy on here? I don't mind these color/name choice, really. Yes, it would look similar to the Wizards' alts, but they need to ditch those anyway. My only thing with Moody's concept is it's "Oklahoma" instead of "Oklahoma City", and also how he has the location and nickname on the front. But it's definately a start, and a great uniform template and color choice that would definately work for the team. I do like the idea of the Oklahoma City Oilers and the reasons for black and gold being used with that name, but I just don't know if they'll necessarily wanna use a name already in use in one of the four major leagues. Though Panthers is a pretty recent duplicated name and it works. Who knows.

[FiddySicks]

Im thinking that something unique and colorful would work really well for the new OKC franchise, something nobody else has tried before. I've always thought that a navy and red or a navy and powder color scheme would fit perfectly. It's unique, bold, bright, and innovative.

[mania]

Im thinking that something unique and colorful would work really well for the new OKC franchise, something nobody else has tried before. I've always thought that a navy and red or a navy and powder color scheme would fit perfectly. It's unique, bold, bright, and innovative.

[DG_YouKnowWhatThatMeans]

But perhaps the best thing about black and gold in Oklahoma is that it isn't crimson and cream or orange and black.

Call bias on me if you like, but if that's a concern, then your locality shouldn't have professional sports. Get over yourselves and the local colleges. If the proposed pro team is already taking any sort of cues from the universities, then it isn't long for success. What happens when a Sooner or Cowboy is up the draft? Is the pro team compelled to select them?

I mean, I understand trying to create the most diverse marketplace possible and not alienating any fan base, but I never really hear that market rationale in situations like this. Instead, it's always paying lip service to college football fans. Really, if your fandom is so ridiculous that you won't cheer on an unaffiliated sports team because of its colors, then you deserve a kick in the face.

[philly97flyer]

But perhaps the best thing about black and gold in Oklahoma is that it isn't crimson and cream or orange and black.

Call bias on me if you like, but if that's a concern, then your locality shouldn't have professional sports. Get over yourselves and the local colleges. If the proposed pro team is already taking any sort of cues from the universities, then it isn't long for success. What happens when a Sooner or Cowboy is up the draft? Is the pro team compelled to select them?

I mean, I understand trying to create the most diverse marketplace possible and not alienating any fan base, but I never really hear that market rationale in situations like this. Instead, it's always paying lip service to college football fans. Really, if your fandom is so ridiculous that you won't cheer on an unaffiliated sports team because of its colors, then you deserve a kick in the face.

+1

[rams80]

But perhaps the best thing about black and gold in Oklahoma is that it isn't crimson and cream or orange and black.

Call bias on me if you like, but if that's a concern, then your locality shouldn't have professional sports. Get over yourselves and the local colleges. If the proposed pro team is already taking any sort of cues from the universities, then it isn't long for success. What happens when a Sooner or Cowboy is up the draft? Is the pro team compelled to select them?

I mean, I understand trying to create the most diverse marketplace possible and not alienating any fan base, but I never really hear that market rationale in situations like this. Instead, it's always paying lip service to college football fans. Really, if your fandom is so ridiculous that you won't cheer on an unaffiliated sports team because of its colors, then you deserve a kick in the face.

Sure....I'm just going to go tell the Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, and...(I'm sure there are more) that.

[DG_YouKnowWhatThatMeans]

I knew about the Falcons, but not about the Bears. I'm assuming they took their colors from U of I?

Again, I'm biased. I come from the Northeast where we by and large don't care about college sports -- not unless they're winning (which isn't often). When I lived in Florida and Kentucky, I was surprised by just how pervasive college sports were in people's lives. And I was especially surprised by how important universities were to people who had never attended them.

[rams80]

I knew about the Falcons, but not about the Bears. I'm assuming they took their colors from U of I?

Again, I'm biased. I come from the Northeast where we by and large don't care about college sports -- not unless they're winning (which isn't often). When I lived in Florida and Kentucky, I was surprised by just how pervasive college sports were in people's lives. And I was especially surprised by how important universities were to people who had never attended them.

Yup...

This is just conjecture on my part, but I would say that for other parts of the country, college sports are so pervasive and well-supported because they used to be the outlet for which your local region or state gained national attention. It's a source of state pride. Unlike the Northeast, which has had established major-league professional organizations for more than a century in some cases, college sports were the only game in town pre-expansion. While post expansion teams have subsequently made inroads into the local fanbase, it is still important to embrace the local collegiate fans...as that is a good way to get their sporting dollars.

[TBGKon]

I'd say if they go with a color scheme similar to Iowa, Southern Miss, etc. that it might work. I just think it might also need a 3rd color, like silver or a brown/bronze. As for the name options, I like Barons and Outlaws.

[HedleyLamarr]

And I was especially surprised by how important universities were to people who had never attended them.

How is fandom for college sports different than fandom of professional sports?

I've never played for the Braves, Falcons, or Thrashers, but I'm still a big fan of these teams....

[DG_YouKnowWhatThatMeans]

And I was especially surprised by how important universities were to people who had never attended them.

How is fandom for college sports different than fandom of professional sports?

I've never played for the Braves, Falcons, or Thrashers, but I'm still a big fan of these teams....

You're right. And I'm a fan of Syracuse University athletics, even though I didn't go there (although I was accepted for undergrad and offered a bunch of money, but that's neither here nor there). It just felt different to me down South. Instead of something to watch on game night, it was something to BE all year long -- spring scrimmages, winter recruiting, summer schedule releases, etc. It was the worst of over-the-top excessive sports coverage, because instead of being the product of wealthy millionaires, it was tied for forever to the region people lived in.

Like, instead of rooting for the Bengals or Colts, you either ARE a 'Cat or a Card. Just like in Florida. Instead of being a fan of the Dolphins or Jaguars, you ARE a Gator or Seminole, regardless of whether you went there or not. It's not a cult per se, but the behavior I noticed wasn't too dissimilar.

And I repeat that I'm from the Northeast. I probably just don't get it.

[HedleyLamarr]

And I was especially surprised by how important universities were to people who had never attended them.

How is fandom for college sports different than fandom of professional sports?

I've never played for the Braves, Falcons, or Thrashers, but I'm still a big fan of these teams....

You're right. And I'm a fan of Syracuse University athletics, even though I didn't go there (although I was accepted for undergrad and offered a bunch of money, but that's neither here nor there). It just felt different to me down South. Instead of something to watch on game night, it was something to BE all year long -- spring scrimmages, winter recruiting, summer schedule releases, etc. It was the worst of over-the-top excessive sports coverage, because instead of being the product of wealthy millionaires, it was tied for forever to the region people lived in.

Like, instead of rooting for the Bengals or Colts, you either ARE a 'Cat or a Card. Just like in Florida. Instead of being a fan of the Dolphins or Jaguars, you ARE a Gator or Seminole, regardless of whether you went there or not. It's not a cult per se, but the behavior I noticed wasn't too dissimilar.

And I repeat that I'm from the Northeast. I probably just don't get it.

As Rams80 touched on, the south didn't have any professional teams until the 1960's. If you're a native Georgian born well before 1966, the closest thing to top-tier local sporting events are college sports, namely football. The closest city to Atlanta that had professional sports then was either Cincinnati, St. Louis, or Washington DC. Even though a lot of these expansions cities such as Atlanta now have pro teams, they are still playing second-fiddle to colleges to the native-born. If those states/regions still don't have a local pro team, college sports is still king there...

[mrfab]

GO NBA OC Thunderbirds! I'm telling you all, an evocative "bird the size of an airplane" logo & mascot, possible Native American design themes, a marketing WINNER! I can hang with a black & gold color scheme. It seems the NBA is the only big league that hasn't done that combo to death. And apparently I AM the only one who like the Wizards' thirds, as Globetrotter-opponent-esque as they may be. Can't say they're yet ANOTHER NBA blue-based color scheme.

"How 'bout them T-Birds?!?!" See?!? You'll LOVE YOUR T-Birds, Oklahoma (City!)

[B-Rich]

And I was especially surprised by how important universities were to people who had never attended them.

How is fandom for college sports different than fandom of professional sports?

I've never played for the Braves, Falcons, or Thrashers, but I'm still a big fan of these teams....

You're right. And I'm a fan of Syracuse University athletics, even though I didn't go there (although I was accepted for undergrad and offered a bunch of money, but that's neither here nor there). It just felt different to me down South. Instead of something to watch on game night, it was something to BE all year long -- spring scrimmages, winter recruiting, summer schedule releases, etc. It was the worst of over-the-top excessive sports coverage, because instead of being the product of wealthy millionaires, it was tied for forever to the region people lived in.

Like, instead of rooting for the Bengals or Colts, you either ARE a 'Cat or a Card. Just like in Florida. Instead of being a fan of the Dolphins or Jaguars, you ARE a Gator or Seminole, regardless of whether you went there or not. It's not a cult per se, but the behavior I noticed wasn't too dissimilar.

And I repeat that I'm from the Northeast. I probably just don't get it.

As Rams80 touched on, the south didn't have any professional teams until the 1960's. If you're a native Georgian born well before 1966, the closest thing to top-tier local sporting events are college sports, namely football. The closest city to Atlanta that had professional sports then was either Cincinnati, St. Louis, or Washington DC. Even though a lot of these expansions cities such as Atlanta now have pro teams, they are still playing second-fiddle to colleges to the native-born. If those states/regions still don't have a local pro team, college sports is still king there...

Just my own two cents... Rams80 and Hedley all bring up good points that I think explain about 80% of the college fever in the south and to some degree the West. My addition to the remaining 20% is the fact that in the south, in particular, there is more of a balance towards the large, state-oriented public colleges (UGA, LSU, University of Texas, ad inifinitum) which feature top-flight college programs. There is nothing similar northeast of Penn State-- traditionally, the few big names in college football there have been private or different-oriented schools (Boston College, Syracuse, in the old days-- Army). I think this tends to help the less affluent general public get into the college football fandom-- maybe they didn't go to State Tech, but SOMEBODY in their family went to or goes there....

I understand of which DG speaks. As an LSU grad, I'm amazed at the number of fans attending games and such that never went to LSU. Some are nice people that went to other smaller state colleges (like the family that has seats in front of me in Tiger Stadium), while to be perfectly honest, a few are rowdies who may not have even graduated high school... What (luckily) I don't see is the Florida and Kentucky 'schisms' he describes, as there is no major two college split in Louisiana (though Fred T. Jane may say that ULL is workin' on that... )

[agentrygraphics]

GO NBA OC Thunderbirds! I'm telling you all, an evocative "bird the size of an airplane" logo & mascot, possible Native American design themes, a marketing WINNER!

For the last time someone tried a native american theme to their logo...please see the hellacious original jersey trim and alt logos of the Vancouver Grizzlies.

I like the idea...but there's just too much room to screw it up.

[koizim]

GO NBA OC Thunderbirds! I'm telling you all, an evocative "bird the size of an airplane" logo & mascot, possible Native American design themes, a marketing WINNER! I can hang with a black & gold color scheme. It seems the NBA is the only big league that hasn't done that combo to death. And apparently I AM the only one who like the Wizards' thirds, as Globetrotter-opponent-esque as they may be. Can't say they're yet ANOTHER NBA blue-based color scheme.

"How 'bout them T-Birds?!?!" See?!? You'll LOVE YOUR T-Birds, Oklahoma (City!)

ACCENTUATE WORDS BY USING CAPS! SOUND LIKE YOU'RE PITCHING A PRODUCT TO SOMEONE!!! OVERUSE EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!!!!!! SNORT WAY TOO MUCH BLOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[dfwabel]

And I was especially surprised by how important universities were to people who had never attended them.

How is fandom for college sports different than fandom of professional sports?

I've never played for the Braves, Falcons, or Thrashers, but I'm still a big fan of these teams....

You're right. And I'm a fan of Syracuse University athletics, even though I didn't go there (although I was accepted for undergrad and offered a bunch of money, but that's neither here nor there). It just felt different to me down South. Instead of something to watch on game night, it was something to BE all year long -- spring scrimmages, winter recruiting, summer schedule releases, etc. It was the worst of over-the-top excessive sports coverage, because instead of being the product of wealthy millionaires, it was tied for forever to the region people lived in.

Like, instead of rooting for the Bengals or Colts, you either ARE a 'Cat or a Card. Just like in Florida. Instead of being a fan of the Dolphins or Jaguars, you ARE a Gator or Seminole, regardless of whether you went there or not. It's not a cult per se, but the behavior I noticed wasn't too dissimilar.

And I repeat that I'm from the Northeast. I probably just don't get it.

As Rams80 touched on, the south didn't have any professional teams until the 1960's. If you're a native Georgian born well before 1966, the closest thing to top-tier local sporting events are college sports, namely football. The closest city to Atlanta that had professional sports then was either Cincinnati, St. Louis, or Washington DC. Even though a lot of these expansions cities such as Atlanta now have pro teams, they are still playing second-fiddle to colleges to the native-born. If those states/regions still don't have a local pro team, college sports is still king there...

Just my own two cents... Rams80 and Hedley all bring up good points that I think explain about 80% of the college fever in the south and to some degree the West. My addition to the remaining 20% is the fact that in the south, in particular, there is more of a balance towards the large, state-oriented public colleges (UGA, LSU, University of Texas, ad inifinitum) which feature top-flight college programs. There is nothing similar northeast of Penn State-- traditionally, the few big names in college football there have been private or different-oriented schools (Boston College, Syracuse, in the old days-- Army). I think this tends to help the less affluent general public get into the college football fandom-- maybe they didn't go to State Tech, but SOMEBODY in their family went to or goes there....

I understand of which DG speaks. As an LSU grad, I'm amazed at the number of fans attending games and such that never went to LSU. Some are nice people that went to other smaller state colleges (like the family that has seats in front of me in Tiger Stadium), while to be perfectly honest, a few are rowdies who may not have even graduated high school... What (luckily) I don't see is the Florida and Kentucky 'schisms' he describes, as there is no major two college split in Louisiana (though Fred T. Jane may say that ULL is workin' on that... )

Before I comment on the tangent, let me talk about the OP and the thread as a whole. The newspaper ran the contest, not the ownership group running it through the newspaper. Until the ownership group has ideas, I don't really care what is done to get web hits and sell papers.

As far as the affiliation with the major university, sometimes it is what the nation knows about the state. Think about Nebraska. Outside of the Cornhuskers (and until the 1990's Warren Buffett), what do you know about Nebraska? Fans want to have the state known for something, if there is not a company or industry of note. Why not take pride in what get the most national attention for your state? Louisiana was known for state corruption (sorry), like Michigan was known for the auto industry (another sorry). Then again, Texas A & M former students and fans sometimes go a bit too far.

[DarkJourney]

So Oklahoma City will sue for 150 million in damages if the Sonics do not relocate.

[Lee.]

GO NBA OC Thunderbirds! I'm telling you all, an evocative "bird the size of an airplane" logo & mascot, possible Native American design themes, a marketing WINNER! I can hang with a black & gold color scheme. It seems the NBA is the only big league that hasn't done that combo to death. And apparently I AM the only one who like the Wizards' thirds, as Globetrotter-opponent-esque as they may be. Can't say they're yet ANOTHER NBA blue-based color scheme.

"How 'bout them T-Birds?!?!" See?!? You'll LOVE YOUR T-Birds, Oklahoma (City!)

ACCENTUATE WORDS BY USING CAPS! SOUND LIKE YOU'RE PITCHING A PRODUCT TO SOMEONE!!! OVERUSE EXCLAMATION POINTS!!!!!!!! SNORT WAY TOO MUCH BLOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!