new orleans jazz sort of makes sense, but I don't know what Utah would be... maybe the Utah Cannibals! The fighting Donner party!
Well, you know Oregon does have a rich pioneer history. And I'm sure there were plenty of people who, when the name was announced went "Portland Trail Blazers!?!" Obviously they didn't do it on an internet message board.
Move the hornets back to Char, Jazz back to NO, and name the Utah franchise something significant to the state!
That's interesting about Houston. I guess I always assumed - as the author suggests - that the "Rockets" were a connection to the home base of NASA.
Although the Donner party crossed south of the Great Salt Lake, the cannibalism happened in California. Actually, I think when they moved to Utah, they should have adopted the nickname of the other New Orleans professional team and become the Utah Saints - in reference to the Latter Day Saints who founded the city. The Utah Bees (or better yet, the Killer Bees, with John Belushi as their mascott) would have also been more appropriate than the Jazz (the beehive is the symbol of the state of Utah and appears on their state flag). Even the Lakers (at least they have a lake) would have made sense for the Utah team. So many choices, and they decided to stay with Jazz... I also think Golden State should steal the Nuggets name from Denver. Golden State Nuggets makes perfect sense. The name Golden State referes to the California gold rush, and what better name to pair with it than Nuggets? It would also tie in nicely with the San Francisco 49ers, who are named in honor of the 1849 California Gold Rush. The Lakers should have been forced to give the name back to Minnesota. Of course, by then it had been tainted and they probably didn't want it back. That team in LA could then become the Crips or the Analrapists. Thunder is a stupid nickname, but what do you expect from that hick owner? And Memphis keeping the Grizzlies is just plain lazy and shows you what a cheap ass owner they have. We'll if we have a team name contest, we'll have to give away a prize, and worse yet, we'll have to change all of our office stationary. Forget it. Lets just keep a name that makes ABSOLUTELY no sense. It's much easier - and cheaper. Hey, here's a couple suggestions... How about the Memphis Cheapskates? Or maybe the Memphis Penny Pinchers? Or maybe the Memphis Minor Leaguers - since they are basically a farm team for the Lakers. BNM
I still think OKC should have gone for a name that reflected the new ownership - "Wildcatters", "Robber Barons", "Trail of Tears", or (my favorite) "Dry Holes".
