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NBA Expansion team to be called the Charlotte Bobcats

Quote:

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Charlotte's NBA expansion team will be called the "Bobcats,'' a nod to the owner who spent $300 million for the franchise, The Associated Press has learned.

Bob Johnson selected Bobcats over "Flight'' and ``Dragons,'' a source familiar with the process told the AP on Monday on condition of anonymity.

The dominant color in uniforms and logos will be orange and official team apparel will be in stores Wednesday afternoon, the source said.

An official announcement is planned for Wednesday, when city leaders plan to join Johnson and NBA commissioner David Stern in a downtown street festival to unveil the name and logos.

Chris Weiller, a spokesman for the new NBA team, would not comment on the team's nickname.

In picking Bobcats, Johnson gets to see his own name used and continues the feline theme established by Charlotte's other pro team, the NFL's Panthers.

Bobcats was one of three finalists for the team name, whittled down from a list of nearly 1,200 suggestions the team received from the community. Johnson's group used several focus groups and spent nearly $100,000 researching the names and their trademark status and designing possible logos.

Team officials cut the list about 10 names, then matched them with potential colors, graphic designs and mascots.

Chicago's NVU Productions was hired to help develop the logos.

Reaction was lukewarm -- at best -- when the finalists were announced last month. But the same thing happened in 1987 when owner George Shinn was naming his Charlotte NBA team.

Originally "Spirit'' was selected, but Shinn changed it to Hornets, a name that traced its roots to the Revolutionary War.

That name -- and its lovable purple and teal mascot "Hugo the Hornet'' -- eventually caught on and then moved on with the franchise to New Orleans.

What are your thoughts/responses to this?

Personally, I like the name a lot. I do like animals, and the fact that they will have orange uniforms is actually something I like.

When they release team hats, I intend to buy one and support this up and coming team.

What do you think?

errr... I dont dig it. It's very benign. Maybe cougars or coyotes would be better if they wanted the ferocious feline kinda name. I realise that 'bobcats' is a play on the owner's name, but .. whatever.

bobcats sounds like a wnba name.. my only question is why did we get rid of the hornets only to start a new franchise 2 years later?? doesn't make sense to me.

Quote:

Originally posted by guccilvr
bobcats sounds like a wnba name.. my only question is why did we get rid of the hornets only to start a new franchise 2 years later?? doesn't make sense to me.

I'm still not sure how they think they'll sell tickets this time....

I kinda liked Flight. It's different, rather than the same old animal named mascots.

To me Flight sounds more like a WNBA team name.

Dragons could be cool, but I like Bobcats the most of the three. It will take getting used to, but I am certainly going to be a fan! :)

dont like the name that much.

but orange colors, i'm a fan

Quote:

Originally posted by The_Dude
dont like the name that much.

but orange colors, i'm a fan

I agree, the name sounds plain jane, but the orange should look sweet. Too bad for the bobcats that this year wasn't an expansion draft.

both flight and dragons are NBDL names, fyi

Quote:

Originally posted by guccilvr
my only question is why did we get rid of the hornets only to start a new franchise 2 years later?? doesn't make sense to me.

I know! They should at least give other cities a chance. There's plenty of good markets out there: PITTSBURGH, Cincinnati, St. Louis, PITTSBURGH, Kansas City, San Diego and of course PITTSBURGH (how could i forget?). I think Charlotte had a chance they fucked up so let another market have one.

bad name and bad decisions on moving the teams around like that, imo. if charlotte has already failed once, why bring a second expansion team to the same city. i would rather see them put a team back in vancouver where the fans really miss their grizzlies. hopefully canadian ball will stay on the map for a while yet.

Quote:

Originally posted by obelix
bad name and bad decisions on moving the teams around like that, imo. if charlotte has already failed once, why bring a second expansion team to the same city. i would rather see them put a team back in vancouver where the fans really miss their grizzlies. hopefully canadian ball will stay on the map for a while yet.

You can't seriously think the NBA would put another franchise in Canada. The NBA would love to see Vince Carter traded to a team in the states so they can market him even more. I would love to see Louisville get an NBA team but that won't happen. No one in Kentucky is going to pay twice as much for an NBA ticket when you can see UK play for half the price and get a much better show.

This whole thing irks me. I want a MLB team in Charlotte not another lame NBA team. We couldn't support a NBA team before and we won't do it again. Hell even our NFL team is going down hill. I think it's because it's in Charlotte though. If they put it close to raleigh or winston it wouldn't be that bad.

About another Candian team..not a chance IMO

Bobcats seems more appropriate for a collegiate team.

Meh, I miss the Hornets.

Oh and for those bitching about Charlotte getting another team. The city of Charlotte would have happily built a new arena had George Shinn not been the owner of the Hornets. It is hard to support the team when the entire town hates the owner and he doesn't care. Charlotte wants a pro team, just not one run by Shinn.

Sound like a 80's Saturday morning cartoon. :)