Charlotte's NBA expansion team will be called the "Bobcats,''

[SweetD]

Boy that is a crapy NAME
http://espn.go.com/nba/news/2003/0609/1565712.html

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- 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, mascot and logos.


Chris Weiller, a spokesman for the new NBA team, would not confirm or deny that Johnson has picked Bobcats as the name.


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.

 

[Chaplin]

Do they even have bobcats in North Carolina?

 

[thirty-two]

I think that was the name of my t-ball team back in the day.

Oh well, hopefully they'll learn to like it...

 

[Joe Mama]

They might as well have been named The Little Sissies. That name belongs in the WNBA. I'll bet they wear pastel colors.

Joe Mama

 

[Dback Jon]

At first I liked Bobcats the best of the three choices. Now I agree it sounds little league. I would have rather had the Flight.

 

[Dback Jon]

Originally posted by Chaplin
Do they even have bobcats in North Carolina?

Yes, they do.

http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/plaza/abf90/bobcat.htm

 

[thirty-two]

Originally posted by Joe Mama
They might as well have been named The Little Sissies. That name belongs in the WNBA. I'll bet they wear pastel colors.

Joe Mama

I wish people would give the WNBA a little more credit than that.

 

[elindholm]

They might as well have been named The Little Sissies.

Hey, come on. You do know what "knickerbockers" are, don't you?

 

[slinslin]

I watched ''Discovery Channel'' a couple of days ago and they had a special about New Orleans and besides Jazz they also mentioned Vodoo as something that is originally from New Orleans.

I think New Orleans should give Charlotte the Hornets back and rename their own franchise.

New Orleans Vodoo sounds decent.

 

[DaFlogger]

How about "The New Orleans Nutria's"...

Nearly hairless like the tail of the common lab rat and the crop and levee damage accounts for the nutria's classification as "vermin" in Louisiana.

Just a thought.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Originally posted by thirty two
I wish people would give the WNBA a little more credit than that.

When the women start playing the same game, by the same rules, as the men, maybe they'll get more respect.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Originally posted by slinslin
Vodoo

Voodoo.

I like the sound of that for N.O.

And it should be the Charlotte Hornets, that always had a nice ring to it.

 

[Krangodnzr]

Originally posted by Dback Jon
Yes, they do.

http://dspace.dial.pipex.com/town/plaza/abf90/bobcat.htm

I was just about to jump in and say that they (NC) did (have bobcats).

 

[thirty-two]

Originally posted by Brian in Mesa
When the women start playing the same game, by the same rules, as the men, maybe they'll get more respect.

I don't think that's why the WNBA doesn't get respect. The WNBA plays by the same core rules the NBA plays on. The WNBA just uses an ugly ball color, shoots 3's from a shorter distance and lines up on the free throw line differently. The lack of respect comes from the lack of dunking, the slow pace, and sadly, the amount of lesbians in the stands. But it's still basketball.

Anyway, I won't get into this too much cuz it's a sore spot with me, and I'm sure none of you want to hear it anyway, heh. Just wanted to release a little frustration...

-kate

 

[elindholm]

Top women players are better than at least 95% of the men out there (even if they use a "men's ball"), and a lot of guys find that threatening. So that's why you'll get a lot of cheap shots about how it's not real basketball. I don't watch the WNBA because the overall athletic level is too low to be interesting, but I certainly would acknowledge that the players are very skilled.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

WNBA: They use a smaller ball, they shoot a closer 3, they play 2 20 minute halves (just like NCAA), etc yet they act like they play the same game.

If they want the respect, they should adopt the same rules as the men, otherwise it will always be an inferior league.

Just like teeing off from a closer tee in golf, playing fewer sets in tennis, not checking in hockey...need I go on.

Changing the rules just puts up a white flag which says "We aren't equal." Yet the athletes then run their mouths like they are..."We Got Next." etc. UGH

 

[thirty-two]

Originally posted by Brian in Mesa
WNBA: They use a smaller ball, they shoot a closer 3, they play 2 20 minute halves (just like NCAA), etc yet they act like they play the same game.

If they want the respect, they should adopt the same rules as the men, otherwise it will always be an inferior league.

Just like teeing off from a closer tee in golf, playing fewer sets in tennis, not checking in hockey...need I go on.

Changing the rules just puts up a white flag which says "We aren't equal." Yet the athletes then run their mouths like they are..."We Got Next." etc. UGH

Basically you are saying that NCAA men's basketball is not basketball because they have 2 20 minute halves, too. International players have a funky free throw line, but that's not like the NBA so I guess tha'ts not basketball either. I coached my grade school's boys 6th grader basketball team and they played 4 6 minute quarters - I guess that's not basketball either, cuz it's not NBA standards.

If things should be equal for it to be considered basketball, maybe someday the league minimum for a WNBA player can rise above the $25,000+ they receive now, compared to the 250,000 or whatever it is now for the NBA.

You are using NBA rules/measurements/time to define what is basketball or not. I understand what you are saying about women should play off the same tees, and play more sets (if they are competing with men), but the fact is, it's Women's NBA and it's still basketball.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Originally posted by thirty two
Basically you are saying that NCAA men's basketball is not basketball because they have 2 20 minute halves, too. International players have a funky free throw line, but that's not like the NBA so I guess tha'ts not basketball either. I coached my grade school's boys 6th grader basketball team and they played 4 6 minute quarters - I guess that's not basketball either, cuz it's not NBA standards.

If things should be equal for it to be considered basketball, maybe someday the league minimum for a WNBA player can rise above the $25,000+ they receive now, compared to the 250,000 or whatever it is now for the NBA.

You are using NBA rules/measurements/time to define what is basketball or not. I understand what you are saying about women should play off the same tees, and play more sets, but the fact is, it's Women's NBA and it's still basketball.

Basketball is basketball, but if you do not play by the same rules there will be a lack of respect for the lesser league.

Comparing the times and structure of the game from 6th grade to college to the pros is ridiculous, the game progresses from youth sports to high school to college to international ball to the NBA.

Your comparison is flawed too. NCAA Men and Women play 2 20 minute halves...for the men, their pro league changes the length of the game and the women's league does not. So, in effect, the WNBA becomes nothing more than a glorified college game.

You're headed in the right direction: If the players want equal respect and equal pay, they should play by the same rules. They'll never get equal pay though,unless things change A LOT - they do not draw the same TV audience, or arena crowds, as the men's game.

Where would the money come from?

Would the NBA have to prop it up even more?

Would the women ever play an 82 game season and have legitimate playoff series? (not like the best-of-3 they have now, what a joke)

Finally, the WNBA gets plenty of respect, as long as you do not try and put it up there with the NBA.

It is "a league of their own" you could say.

 

[Brian in Mesa]

Look at it this way: Bobcats is only 3 letters from...Bobchebats.

 

[thirty-two]

Originally posted by Brian in Mesa
Basketball is basketball, but if you do not play by the same rules there will be a lack of respect for the lesser league.

Comparing the times and structure of the game from 6th grade to college to the pros is ridiculous, the game progresses from youth sports to high school to college to international ball to the NBA.

Your comparison is flawed too. NCAA Men and Women play 2 20 minute halves...for the men, their pro league changes the length of the game and the women's league does not. So, in effect, the WNBA becomes nothing more than a glorified college game.

You're headed in the right direction: If the players want equal respect and equal pay, they should play by the same rules. They'll never get equal pay though,unless things change A LOT - they do not draw the same TV audience, or arena crowds, as the men's game.

Where would the money come from?

Would the NBA have to prop it up even more?

Would the women ever play an 82 game season and have legitimate playoff series? (not like the best-of-3 they have now, what a joke)

Finally, the WNBA gets plenty of respect, as long as you do not try and put it up there with the NBA.

It is "a league of their own" you could say.

Great points all around, really. And I agree with them to an extent. In my opinion, I just find it unfair that a league (WNBA) should be considered inferior, simply because it's not up to the "standards" of the mass (NBA). That's it, really.

And OUCH, you think the WNBA is a glorified college game? Heh, low blow

 

[green machine]

Originally posted by thirty two
Great points all around, really. And I agree with them to an extent. In my opinion, I just find it unfair that a league (WNBA) should be considered inferior, simply because it's not up to the "standards" of the mass (NBA). That's it, really.

And OUCH, you think the WNBA is a glorified college game? Heh, low blow

I find it inferior because from what I've seen the overall play is terribly lousy and boring. I'm sure there are some good players, but the league, as a whole, is not much to watch.

On the same note, anybody see that Gatorade commercial with a bunch of athletes from different leagues? The one where they have Lisa Leslie dunking the ball saying "be my own woman" or something like that. The only dunk in hisory and they act like it's a regular occurence.

adam

 

[thirty-two]

Originally posted by green machine
On the same note, anybody see that Gatorade commercial with a bunch of athletes from different leagues?

I saw it, thought it was cool.

So anyway, this bobcat name really sucks. I liked Flight better.

 

[SweetD]

Ok WBA is Ok but I think if instead of allowing all ungly Lesboos go to the game they fill the stands with HOT Chicks and Beer troffs. Then I may go to another game. But what if PHX kept McDyess??