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View Full Version : Hey, has Blake Griffin gone pro yet?



bri
4/2/2008, 12:03 PM
There was supposed to be some sort of announcement last night or something, but I never heard anything.

Just wondering...

sooner_born_1960
4/2/2008, 12:14 PM
Yes, but in an odd twist, he's joined the Pro Bowlers Tour.

tommieharris91
4/2/2008, 12:22 PM
... ... ...

......

...this...thread...is...boorish...

nativesooner
4/2/2008, 12:55 PM
The Jokelahoman keeps saying he's going pro, but oddly no one else has.

OKC-SLC
4/2/2008, 02:53 PM
stay tuned......

....

big announcement KFOR..................

Civicus_Sooner
4/2/2008, 03:21 PM
The only cool thing about it would be that the OKC Thunderbirds (formerly the OKC Sonics) would likely draft him. Ho frickin cool would it be to get to play in the NBA for your hometown?

sooner518
4/2/2008, 04:06 PM
stay tuned......

....

big announcement KFOR..................

I dont like the sound of that one bit

stoopified
4/2/2008, 05:23 PM
Has Dean given odds on this yet?

OKC-SLC
4/2/2008, 09:16 PM
I dont like the sound of that one bit

(see Soonerus's thread from last night)

bri
4/2/2008, 09:20 PM
The only cool thing about it would be that the OKC Thunderbirds (formerly the OKC Sonics) would likely draft him. Ho frickin cool would it be to get to play in the NBA for your hometown?

Aside from the gaytarded name? Pretty cool, I suppose.

goingoneight
4/3/2008, 01:40 AM
Thunderbirds?


THUNDERBIRDS!?!


I'm telling you... the OKC "Sooner Scout Team" is the best way to go.

birddog
4/3/2008, 08:55 AM
don't tell me. rus is too baned to respond again?

sooner518
4/3/2008, 09:31 AM
(see Soonerus's thread from last night)

I figured about an hour after I posted that it was a joke or some sort of sarcasm. shoulda known

Mad Dog Madsen
4/3/2008, 10:07 AM
Talked to his brother personally, and he said Blake Griffin isn't going anywhere. End of discussion. :rolleyes:

tommieharris91
4/3/2008, 10:09 AM
Talked to his brother personally, and he said Blake Griffin isn't going anywhere. End of discussion. :rolleyes:

Well, I can say I've seen him on campus. I assume he is still going to class.

Civicus_Sooner
4/3/2008, 10:53 AM
Aside from the gaytarded name? Pretty cool, I suppose.
It's actually not a bad name at all. It ties up three very improtant things; 1) Our rich military history, 2) Our Native American history and 3) has the Ford tie in.


Glad you're a Tulsan and your opinion doesn't really matter. ;)

bri
4/3/2008, 11:04 AM
You're right, Thunderbirds is a great name. You can have these guys perform during time outs!

http://www.hollywoodteenmovies.com/GreasePic1.jpg

:D

Civicus_Sooner
4/3/2008, 11:19 AM
Man, Travolta has lost that look long ago!

You really don't like the name?

Civicus_Sooner
4/3/2008, 11:21 AM
Hey Bri, you're a sponser. Maybe you could start a pole on the potential name?

bri
4/3/2008, 11:31 AM
It just doesn't sound good. Most good pro names are short and snappy, and the longer ones eventually get shortened. "Mavericks" becomes "Mavs", "Timberwolves" becomes "T-Wolves", hell, "Celtics" becomes "Celts" as if those extra two letters are really taking it out of sportscasters.

And I think someone else already did a name pole.

Civicus_Sooner
4/3/2008, 11:37 AM
T-Birds

bri
4/3/2008, 11:45 AM
Which brings us back to...

http://www.hollywoodteenmovies.com/GreasePic1.jpg

:D

Seriously, I understand the desire to want to "pay tribute" to Oklahoma in some way with the team name...but don't. We've already paid tribute to Oklahoma history with Sooners, Cowboys, Drillers, Oilers, Roughnecks, 89'ers, so on and so forth. This is the big time; it's no time to be all small and provincial because that's exactly what everyone expects. You want the general public and players like Shaq and Grant Hill to warm up to the idea of the NBA being in OKC? Here's a good first step; get a good name. Something marketable that will have a wider appeal than just in Oklahoma. If OKC truly wants to be a major leage town, don't give the NBA franchise a minor leage name.

Civicus_Sooner
4/3/2008, 12:04 PM
I heard someone say "OKC Metropolitans" and the short version would be the OKC Metros. What do you think of that?

sooner518
4/3/2008, 12:13 PM
I heard someone say "OKC Metropolitans" and the short version would be the OKC Metros. What do you think of that?

lol I'd say they (or you) are pulling your (or our) leg.

bri
4/3/2008, 02:30 PM
I heard someone say "OKC Metropolitans" and the short version would be the OKC Metros. What do you think of that?

As long as this guy doesn't come with the name, why not?

http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/41633000/jpg/_41633634_baseball_416.jpg

;)

Mudskipper
4/4/2008, 08:45 AM
Does anyone know the deadline for declaring for the draft?

the_ouskull
4/4/2008, 09:31 AM
I've always liked "Outlaws" as an OKC team name. At least that's the name that I always pick in Madden when I move either the Saints or the Texans to OKC.

It isn't g*y, it includes some of that "wild west tradition" that the state is known for, and it's marketable. Also, considering that some in Seattle feel like we're "stealing their team" (they took errr jobs!) it'd be a nice middle-fingered salute to them as well. It's a win-win-win situation, IMHO.

the_ouskull

bri
4/4/2008, 10:18 AM
I'd be willing to loan you guys "Outlaws", since Tulsa only had the USFL one season. ;)

BigRedJed
4/4/2008, 11:08 AM
Metropolitans was the name of the first professional baseball team in OKC, believe it or not, around the turn of the twentieth century. Not a fan of that name myself, though.

BigRedJed
4/4/2008, 11:11 AM
It's actually not a bad name at all. It ties up three very improtant things; 1) Our rich military history, 2) Our Native American history and 3) has the Ford tie in.


Glad you're a Tulsan and your opinion doesn't really matter. ;)
There probably won't be a Ford tie-in after the team ownership has the opportunity to shop the FC name, which is a contractual provision.

And, while you seem to be convinced the team would be called the Thunderbirds, I remain pretty convinced that they would NOT be called the Thunderbirds. We'll see.

All_Day_28
4/4/2008, 11:13 AM
Outlaws>>>>>

bri
4/4/2008, 11:25 AM
And, while you seem to be convinced the team would be called the Thunderbirds, I remain pretty convinced that they would NOT be called the Thunderbirds. We'll see.

Please be right. Please be right.

Civicus_Sooner
4/4/2008, 11:38 AM
There probably won't be a Ford tie-in after the team ownership has the opportunity to shop the FC name, which is a contractual provision.

And, while you seem to be convinced the team would be called the Thunderbirds, I remain pretty convinced that they would NOT be called the Thunderbirds. We'll see.I just have a friend that is pretty close with the Mayor and he's said that right now, that's the name at the top of the list. Obviously, that can change.


As I understand the naming rights out, Ford will get to rebid on the name. They could very easily keep their place, for a higher price, of course.

Readyfor8
4/4/2008, 12:02 PM
It's actually not a bad name at all. It ties up three very improtant things; 1) Our rich military history, 2) Our Native American history and 3) has the Ford tie in.


Glad you're a Tulsan and your opinion doesn't really matter. ;)

I'm tired of seeing this. Every state has a "rich tradition" in everything you have mentioned, it doesn't set us apart that Indians lived here, they lived everywhere in the US, thats why Florida, Ohio, New York, Utah, etc etc all have Indians in a team name...

Military tradition? We aren't famous for fighter jets or even training fighter jets like the Thunderbird. We are famous for Awac's and we really aren't famous for it... If the average american picked the top Air Force bases in the country they probably wouldn't pick us in the top 5, so it doesn't make us stand out there either.

And the Ford tie in? Seriously? If Ford wants a tie in they can pay for it, we are already bumping up their investment by getting a Professional Team in the arena, why should we give them more free pub? Not only that but I am unaware of any NBA team that has picked the name on their jerseys by corporate sponsor. And I don't want to be the first town to do it.

Civicus_Sooner
4/4/2008, 12:39 PM
I'm tired of seeing this. Every state has a "rich tradition" in everything you have mentioned, it doesn't set us apart that Indians lived here, they lived everywhere in the US, thats why Florida, Ohio, New York, Utah, etc etc all have Indians in a team name...

Military tradition? We aren't famous for fighter jets or even training fighter jets like the Thunderbird. We are famous for Awac's and we really aren't famous for it... If the average american picked the top Air Force bases in the country they probably wouldn't pick us in the top 5, so it doesn't make us stand out there either.

And the Ford tie in? Seriously? If Ford wants a tie in they can pay for it, we are already bumping up their investment by getting a Professional Team in the arena, why should we give them more free pub? Not only that but I am unaware of any NBA team that has picked the name on their jerseys by corporate sponsor. And I don't want to be the first town to do it.Whether you like it or not there are more indians in Oklahoma than any other state (exept NY). Whether you measure it in per capita, pure numbers or number of tribes.

Ever heard of the 45th infantry? Here get a clue man. http://www.45thdivisionmuseum.com/ Oklahoma has more people in Iraq and the war on terror than any other state (exept S. Carolina). http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-43143101804321_1919_3918684

bri
4/4/2008, 12:45 PM
So, are you gonna take that link door to door so people understand why their NBA team has a sh*tty name? :D

kevpks
4/4/2008, 12:45 PM
[QUOTE=Military tradition? We aren't famous for fighter jets or even training fighter jets like the Thunderbird. We are famous for Awac's and we really aren't famous for it... If the average american picked the top Air Force bases in the country they probably wouldn't pick us in the top 5, so it doesn't make us stand out there either.[/QUOTE]

You are off base on this point. "The center's facilities house some of the most sophisticated technical repair and manufacturing processes in the world, acquiring and maintaining the world's best aviation systems in partnership with our customers and suppliers...." (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/tinker.htm)

Despite what the "average American" might think there is a reason Tinker survived numerous base closures over the years. I don't care for the name Thunderbirds for the team either, but you (like a lot of "average Americans") should check a fact or two before spouting off.

Rock Hard Corn Frog
4/4/2008, 04:45 PM
I think we all agree that the F-5's won't really work either.

BigRedJed
4/4/2008, 04:45 PM
I just have a friend that is pretty close with the Mayor and he's said that right now, that's the name at the top of the list. Obviously, that can change.


As I understand the naming rights out, Ford will get to rebid on the name. They could very easily keep their place, for a higher price, of course.
Sure. The CENTRAL OKLAHOMA FORD DEALERS ASSOCIATION, who currently owns the naming rights to the Ford Center (This is a marketing association of a few car dealers, NOT FORD MOTOR COMPANY PROPER), and who is currently paying around $500,000 a year for FC naming rights, will have first right of refusal on a new deal. The new naming rights agreement is estimated to cost upwards of $50 million over the life of the agreement, with an NBA team housed in the facility. So yeah, they might renew, but I doubt it.

Of course, they could involve Ford Motor Company, and then all bets are off. But more than likely the name will change.

All I know about the team name change is that the Thunderbirds name was being pushed for a while, and now it is apparently "off the table," according to someone I really, really trust in the matter. He suggested your information was probably old.

But seriously, I don't want to get into comparing sources, or anything of the like. I've posted here for a long time without name dropping in regard to subjects where I might be lucky enough to hear some scoop, and want to keep it that way. In fact I always post with the assumption that someone on the board might know more about a subject than I do. It's a good rule to follow, Civicus.

If I'm ever in a position to hear things that I think might interest people here and that would be OK to share, I do it, that's all.

shaun4411
4/4/2008, 05:46 PM
Metropolitans was the name of the first professional baseball team in OKC, believe it or not, around the turn of the twentieth century. Not a fan of that name myself, though.

wouldnt really be a good name for okc. this isnt exactly a large metropolitan area. nyc however is quite the metropolitan area, hence the name of the baseball team.

How about Tornados? Twisters? i know it sounds like the name of a peewee soccer team, but it describes oklahoma. 89ers? bring it back! indians? this is going to be a tough decision i think. theyll probably end up just using the sonics. maybe change the color to red and offer a free sonic burger to everyone in attendance if they win

bri
4/4/2008, 05:53 PM
This just in....Blake Griffin....still hasn't gone pro yet......details at 10....watch the news......that is all....

BigRedJed
4/4/2008, 05:59 PM
...theyll probably end up just using the sonics...
Not if the city of Seattle comes to their senses, decides that someday they might want pro hoop in their city again, and accepts a lease buyout from the team, they won't. And that appears to be the current direction everyone is headed in.

KC//CRIMSON
4/4/2008, 06:53 PM
T-Birds

G-Tards

BigRedJed
4/4/2008, 07:37 PM
Jealousy rears its ugly head.....

BigRedJed
4/4/2008, 07:43 PM
:D

KC//CRIMSON
4/4/2008, 07:46 PM
Jealousy rears its ugly head.....

Why do you spend soooo much emotional effort on this...you have no real impact...

Big Red Ron
4/4/2008, 08:04 PM
Why do you spend soooo much emotional effort on this...you have no real impact...
I wouldn't bet on that if I were you.

BigRedJed
4/4/2008, 09:05 PM
Why do you spend soooo much emotional effort on this...you have no real impact...
Heh. I think one of us should go start a meaningless thread just for the hell of it. :D

tommieharris91
4/4/2008, 10:38 PM
Heh. I think one of us should go start a meaningless thread just for the hell of it. :D

I will start one ... about how boorish ... this board is ... and how i ... don't know ... the english ... language ...

Readyfor8
4/5/2008, 12:46 AM
Whether you like it or not there are more indians in Oklahoma than any other state (exept NY). Whether you measure it in per capita, pure numbers or number of tribes.

Ever heard of the 45th infantry? Here get a clue man. http://www.45thdivisionmuseum.com/ Oklahoma has more people in Iraq and the war on terror than any other state (exept S. Carolina). http://us.st11.yimg.com/us.st.yimg.com/I/yhst-43143101804321_1919_3918684

The point is, the Indian stuff is done to death, and I love how you quote something as more than any other state (except for that other state), so what you are saying is we aren't the biggest Indian state in the country.

As for the 45th infantry link, so there are two TBirds which are gutted in a Museum here. Going by that we should probably name ourselves the Will Rogers'... Or the John Wayne's... The Cowboy Museum is full of stuff we can name our team...

So what you are saying is we should name an NBA franchise after an outdated piece of aviation equipment that the average fan wouldn't even know about. I got an idea, lets name they the Steerman's, we can probably get one to fly over the Ford Center... No one could see it, and they probably couldn't hear it inside the arena but maybe it will make some aviation geeks smile when they see the baseball cap...

How about we try something original instead eh?

PS The Steerman aircraft is awesome, I'm not dogging the Biplane. Oh and the Thunderbird squadron which will be in OKC at Tinker on May 24th, which is based out of Las Vegas NV... They don't even fly TBirds... They fly F-16's

Readyfor8
4/5/2008, 12:51 AM
You are off base on this point. "The center's facilities house some of the most sophisticated technical repair and manufacturing processes in the world, acquiring and maintaining the world's best aviation systems in partnership with our customers and suppliers...." (http://www.globalsecurity.org/military/facility/tinker.htm)

Despite what the "average American" might think there is a reason Tinker survived numerous base closures over the years. I don't care for the name Thunderbirds for the team either, but you (like a lot of "average Americans") should check a fact or two before spouting off.

Thank you for making my point, not once is "Thunderbird" mentioned on that page. Now if you called us the "Air Re-fuelers" then you might have something about 2% of the population would recognize us for...

BigRedJed
4/5/2008, 12:53 PM
What about the OKC Humongous Radars?

Sooner_75
4/5/2008, 01:12 PM
Early entry deadline is April 27th.

Ash
4/5/2008, 02:03 PM
The OKC Getners

Hella Sideburns
4/5/2008, 02:54 PM
Oklahoma City Severe Weather Alerts

SoonerInKCMO
4/5/2008, 04:59 PM
The OKC Doppler Viper 5000s!

badger
4/5/2008, 06:57 PM
Oklahoma City Severe Weather Alerts

indeed :mad:

PS: I still think Blake will decide to go pro, but hope as a Sooner fan that he doesn't. I've just seen too many Sooner pro-worthy players in football go pro, so I don't have hopes up that he'll stay.

Readyfor8
4/5/2008, 09:02 PM
He'll stay and next year I hope he develops an outside shot, then he will be ready.

He needs a 10 foot jumper, at least on the level of Longar's, at the next level his size won't be as dominant for sure, and everybody is an athlete. Here's to hoping he will stay for one more...

Big Red Ron
4/5/2008, 09:39 PM
FYI - I think Civicus is correct. Oklahoma has more Native Americans per capita than any other state. Oklahoma has more tribes headquartered here than any other state. NY has more people that can claim Native American heritage but it's a zoning thing. Many "Native Americans" in NY don't have an ounce of tribal blood.

Of all the names bandied about, T-Birds isn't the worst.

kevpks
4/6/2008, 11:54 PM
Of all the names bandied about, T-Birds isn't the worst.

I think the bias against T-birds is coming from everyone who has ever been to that "lake." The thunderbird, as in the mythical bird-like creature with a giant wingspan, is actually a pretty cool mascot for a basketball team.

Frozen Sooner
4/7/2008, 12:37 AM
FYI - I think Civicus is correct. Oklahoma has more Native Americans per capita than any other state. Oklahoma has more tribes headquartered here than any other state. NY has more people that can claim Native American heritage but it's a zoning thing. Many "Native Americans" in NY don't have an ounce of tribal blood.

Of all the names bandied about, T-Birds isn't the worst.


*ahem*

Point of information.

Per the 2000 census, Oklahoma is not the #1 state in per-capita Native American/Alaskan population.

Alaska has around 15% claiming single descent of NA/A and 19% claiming some NA/A descent.

Oklahoma, by comparison, has a little less than 8% claiming single descent and about 11.5% claiming some descent.

The US Census does not differentiate between American "Indian" and Alaska Native.

soonerboomer93
4/7/2008, 01:37 AM
eskimo's aren't indians

eskimo's make pie
indians own casino's

Ash
4/7/2008, 07:54 AM
Thunderbirds sounds like a D league team, or your kid's T-ball team.

Let's just go ahead and give the world another reason to scoff at OKC getting the NBA and name the team some cheezed out thing like that.

And no, I don't care about the ties to the state or history or whatever, I want a kick *** nickname.

sooneron
4/7/2008, 09:12 AM
How bout the buzzards? Then , they can be called the buzz.

sooneron
4/7/2008, 09:15 AM
OKC ... Storm Shelters
... Wall Clouds
... Super cells
... Largest land area city, evars!
... Windmills
... No matter what our name is, more than 50% of SF.com will bitch about its

Civicus_Sooner
4/7/2008, 09:15 AM
*ahem*

Point of information.

Per the 2000 census, Oklahoma is not the #1 state in per-capita Native American/Alaskan population.

Alaska has around 15% claiming single descent of NA/A and 19% claiming some NA/A descent.

Oklahoma, by comparison, has a little less than 8% claiming single descent and about 11.5% claiming some descent.

The US Census does not differentiate between American "Indian" and Alaska Native.Well, there is obviously a difference between Alaskan Natives and Amernican Indians. Besides the lower 48 is really all that matters to us non fridgid types.

;-)

BRR is obviously a little bit more informed on these things than I.

Ash
4/7/2008, 12:47 PM
How bout the buzzards? Then , they can be called the buzz.

or the zards

tralfazSooner
4/7/2008, 11:59 PM
The NBA and NCAA are trying to make a 2 year time frame. Too bad it won't involve Blake. He and Willie will put us in at least the sweet 16 next year. Did you see WW in the MacDonalds all-star? Can't wait......

SoonerTerry
4/8/2008, 07:50 AM
OKC ... Storm Shelters
... Wall Clouds
... Super cells
... Largest land area city, evars!
... Windmills
... No matter what our name is, more than 50% of SF.com will bitch about its

50% is pretty conservative

KingBarry
4/8/2008, 10:36 AM
Two points of fact -- The name "Thunderbirds" in regards to OK's military heritage has NOTHING to do with airplanes, and everything to do with infantry.

Second, I lived through the Washington Bullets name change to "Wizards," which is widely derided (at least in this city) as the worst in all professional sports. The "Nationals" -- now that's a great name for a team in this city. The "Wizards"?

So, I'll be happy with whatever the OKC team is named

That said, are they doing marketing surveys, focus groups and the like to choose a name, or do they just have a few OKC fatcats sitting in a backroom kicking things around?

Frankly, there should be one and only one criteria to pick a name: what will induce the most public interest in the team and logo sales.

Ash
4/8/2008, 10:42 AM
The OKC Fatcats.

SleestakSooner
4/8/2008, 11:39 AM
How about the OKC Turkey Vultures? I am sure the Seattle fan base would approve ;)

http://www.swva.net/fred1st/vulture.jpg

NormanPride
4/8/2008, 01:52 PM
The OKC BetterFansThanSeattleAndNewOrleansCombined

Ash
4/8/2008, 04:24 PM
The OKC Natties.

bri
4/9/2008, 08:23 PM
Still waiting....should be announced any time now.....he's going pro.....



...heh.

tommieharris91
4/9/2008, 08:32 PM
I will ... start a new thread ... about ... the news ... .

Ash
4/9/2008, 08:57 PM
The OKC Griffins.


wait, what the...?

Big Red Ron
4/9/2008, 10:39 PM
That said, are they doing marketing surveys, focus groups and the like to choose a name, or do they just have a few OKC fatcats sitting in a backroom kicking things around?
Definitely market research is being done.

kevpks
4/10/2008, 05:54 AM
Thank you for making my point, not once is "Thunderbird" mentioned on that page. Now if you called us the "Air Re-fuelers" then you might have something about 2% of the population would recognize us for...

Your point seemed to me to be more about Oklahoma's military heritage and how "famous" our Air Force base is than the Thunderbird name.

RacerX
4/10/2008, 06:29 AM
The Stormchasers

TopDawg
4/10/2008, 08:30 AM
Oklahoma Scissor-Tailed Flycatchers

That'll look good on a hat.

the_ouskull
5/6/2008, 01:26 PM
The OKC Natties.

IN!

Sin,
http://beercansrus.com/mcart/images/naturallightpatch8.jpg

Civicus_Sooner
5/7/2008, 01:47 PM
I think the lightning has a nice ring to it.