Renaming the Sonics proves to be task

When the Sonics move to Oklahoma, they'll be in a new city and they'll need a new name. The naming remains incomplete, but the process has begun.

Tuesday, April 29th 2008, 7:02 pm

By: News 9


By Gan Matthews, NEWS 9

When the Sonics move to Oklahoma, they'll be in a new city and they'll need a new name.

The naming remains incomplete, but the process has begun.

What's really in a name? Plenty, if we're talking about the NBA franchise that will be playing at the Ford Center in the future. The immediate issue before the City Council Tuesday was whether to call the team the Oklahoma or the Oklahoma City, whatever.

Eleven days ago, NBA Commissioner David Stern said he'd leave that decision up to local politics. But he made his preference clear.

"I would guess that the current group would be under significant incentive and pressure to make it an Oklahoma franchise, and that would be a good thing," Stern said.

But Tuesday, morning the City Council unanimously, and with no discussion, voted to require the team to use "Oklahoma City" in its name.

Old Oklahoma City franchise names go to retire at the Oklahoma Sports Museum in Guthrie. There you'll find an old basketball franchise, the Oklahoma City Cavalry.

In baseball, of course, you remember the 89ers; before that the Oklahoma City Indians.

NEWS 9's Ed Murray has a hilarious take on former Oklahoma City sports team names. To view his interview, click here.

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