Survival79 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Warriors mulling mascot change OAKLAND, Calif. (AP) -- With the Oklahoma City Thunder now part of the NBA lineup, the Golden State Warriors' mascot might be a goner. Thunder is his name.Thunder has been part of this franchise for some 12 years and his likeness is featured on the team's primary logo, though the team doesn't use that image much anymore.Warriors team president Robert Rowell is willing to make the switch for the benefit of the other Thunder, formerly the Seattle SuperSonics. When the timing's right, that is."We're clearly going to do something to accommodate Oklahoma City and not have our mascot named Thunder," Rowell said. "For the sake of not making things confusing, we're going to do something. We just have to figure out a good exit strategy."He just might have one -- leave Thunder in China during the team's upcoming trip to Asia."He might get lost in the crowd over in China," Rowell said. "There are 1.3 billion people there."For about two years Golden State had been considering a rebranding of the club, Rowell said. So this may be the time to go forward with a new mascot after this season. The Warriors don't want to be without one this season."The other thing we were thinking is maybe we trade him to Oklahoma City for a mascot to be named later or something like that," Rowell cracked. "I know that Oklahoma City has already mentioned that their new mascot is in the works, so they're not going to have one when the season starts."We may trade Thunder's rights while he's in China -- though we'd have to go through NBA China to get approval on that. He may not get a ticket back with us, I don't know. We haven't figured it out."Thunder is rarely seen on merchandise aside from a few children's items, Rowell said. In fact, his name and true identity are kept secret. He is acrobatic, muscular and faceless, with glowing blue skin and shiny eyes, a lightning bolt coming out of his head. He's been leaping off a trampoline during timeouts and jumping into sections of fans to say hello since 1997-98."Thunder doesn't comment," Rowell said. "Thunder's an outfit. Thunder doesn't get a vote. He's never been quoted. Thunder is a persona."Thunder also has an official bio:--Name: Thunder.--Height: Stands above the clouds.--Weight: Lighter than air.--First Appearance: June 19, 1997, during a sudden cloud burst.--Birthplace: Upper Atmosphere University.--Drafted By: Golden State Warriors, first round, 1997 mascot supplemental draft.--How acquired: Recruited by a Warriors talent scout, via worldwide search.--Miscellaneous: Full name is ThunderBolt. Parents are Brenda Bolt and Charles Charger.Chris Mullin, Golden State's executive vice president of basketball operations, played his final season for the Warriors during 2000-01 when Thunder was around. But soon Thunder may be no more."That's show business," he said. "They should do [the trade] in midair off the trampoline." "If things have gone wrong, I'm talking to myself, and you've got a wet towel wrapped around your head." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TrueYankee26 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 It's a shame, he's a cool mascot! trueyankee26.wordpress.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrySmalls Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 For shame, someone else giving into Clay and his posse even though the original Thunder was around longer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Admiral Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 That's okay, it's a good reason to unload that awful mascot. sep. @ birth? ♫ oh yeah, board goes on, long after the thrill of postin' is gone ♫ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wingsfan85 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 That is the absolute worst mascot in the history of mascots Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Admiral Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Trade Thunder to the Thunder for the rights to the old Supersonics uniform template. ♫ oh yeah, board goes on, long after the thrill of postin' is gone ♫ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbackdiehard17 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 That is the absolute worst mascot in the history of mascotslmao... i needed that laugh High Quality Entertainment for the masses. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rams80 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Somebody played for the 1980s Athletics. On 8/1/2010 at 4:01 PM, winters in buffalo said: You manage to balance agitation with just enough salient points to keep things interesting. Kind of a low-rent DG_Now. On 1/2/2011 at 9:07 PM, Sodboy13 said: Today, we are all otaku. "The city of Peoria was once the site of the largest distillery in the world and later became the site for mass production of penicillin. So it is safe to assume that present-day Peorians are descended from syphilitic boozehounds."-Stephen Colbert POTD: February 15, 2010, June 20, 2010 The Glorious Bloom State Penguins (NCFAF) 2014: 2-9, 2015: 7-5 (L Pineapple Bowl), 2016: 1-0 (NCFAB) 2014-15: 10-8, 2015-16: 14-5 (SMC Champs, L 1st Round February Frenzy) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyk Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Trade Thunder to the Thunder for the rights to the old Supersonics uniform template.Whats about a NBA mascot trade. Thunder for the right to Squatch (Sonics Mascot) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SLAM Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Trade Thunder to the Thunder for the rights to the old Supersonics uniform template.Whats about a NBA mascot trade. Thunder for the right to Squatch (Sonics Mascot)Squatch will refuse to cheer for the Thunder. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nyk Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Trade Thunder to the Thunder for the rights to the old Supersonics uniform template.Whats about a NBA mascot trade. Thunder for the right to Squatch (Sonics Mascot)Squatch will refuse to cheer for the Thunder.No since Squatch allegedly refuses to report to OKC (j/k), trade him to Golden State for Thunder. Thunder cheer for Thunder, Squatch cheer for the Warriors Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HowBoutThemFins Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Trade Thunder to the Thunder for the rights to the old Supersonics uniform template.Whats about a NBA mascot trade. Thunder for the right to Squatch (Sonics Mascot)Oh no. I just realized that there's no more Squatch! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Admiral Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 What's Portland's mascot? A white twentysomething with rich parents, vintage shirts, and a canvas Farmer's Market bag? ♫ oh yeah, board goes on, long after the thrill of postin' is gone ♫ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dgthree Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Somebody played for the 1980s Athletics.haha that gave me a belly laugh. To bad no rep points on this site. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkJourney Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Message to the Oklahoma City Thunder:Thunder the Mascot is all yours. You can have him free of charge. Plus now the Warriors can rebrand themselves. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
habsfan1 Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 That sucks for the team. Wasn't there a rule in the NBA where you can't name a franchise after an existing mascot from another team? Meh. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkJourney Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 I'm glad the Warriors are getting rid of him. I would rather have a sweet new Warriors logo and no mascot at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ManCalledAmp Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 I'm really amused at the way they're going about that. They're treating the mascot as a player (sort of) and either "abandoning him" overseas or "trading him" so that confusion is lessened, and a mascot has, keeps, and continues a backstory. Something fun for the kiddies to hear about.And while we're at it, I have to say I kinda like "Squatch," odd-sounding name aside. (I get the reference, but what it winds up sounding like seems a little un-PC even for the NBA.) However, my main thoughts upon seeing that pic? CHEWIE!Hard to believe that an iconic Star Wars character would need more work on the side... Go Gators. Go Blue Raiders. Go Commodores. Go USC Trojans.Preds & Avs. Braves, Rays, & Dodgers. Titans, Colts, Broncos, Cardinals. Grizzlies. 14ers, Jam. Team Spirit + Laziness = Yay. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
See Red Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 Poor Thunder. He's been one of my favorite mascots since the All-Star game was in Denver. We were at the NBA All-Star fanfest thing and we were watching, I think, a street game that they were having going on at the court there and they kept giving away tickets and whatnot... so we kept bothering the lady giving the tickets away for tickets to the rookie/sophomore game, but she wouldn't give them to us. When Thunder went walking right in front of us, we stopped him and asked him to get us the tickets... he somehow managed to get some tickets off of her and came back a few minutes later and gave them to us. Ever since then he's been one of my favorites. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ferrousoxide66 Posted October 3, 2008 Share Posted October 3, 2008 It's a shame, he's a cool mascot!Really? Really??!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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