JOHNNY 360

Seattle Supersonics is now officially the new NBA basketball team of Oklahoma City. NBA and Clay Bennett will rename sonics to Oklahoma City Marshalls. But here are some names that ‘hopefully’ they should used instead of the Marshalls.

Oklahoma City Aviators
Oklahoma City Bandits
Oklahoma City Barons
Oklahoma City Thundercats

Oklahoma City Aviators. A Ball Don’t Lie reader “Sky P” suggestion, this name really rolls off the tongue. I like it. It not only pays homage to the state’s aviation history, but head coach P.J. Carlesimo would look spectacular struttin’ up and down the sidelines in some aviator shades and a bomber jacket.

Oklahoma City Bandits. Because the Oklahoma City Trail of Tears Destination That Became the Former Indian Territory That Was Later Stolen Under the General Allotment Act would be difficult to squeeze on a jersey. (Credit: C. Flashy)

Oklahoma City Barons. What is a Baron? Good question. Trusty Wikipedia says a Baron is a specific title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Frankish baro meaning “freeman, warrior”; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning “nobleman.” Um, OK. But what does Rex Banner think of the slick mock jerseys?

Oklahoma City Thundercats. As the dying planet of Thundera (Sonics) meets its end, the fleet (team) is attacked by the Mutants of Plun-Darr (Bennett, the Mutants of Stern-Darr), who destroy all crafts (hope) save for the flagship (franchise) containing the young Lord of the Thundercats, Lion-O (Durant), his protectors (Green, Westbrook), and the source of the Thundercats’ power, the mystical Eye of Thundera (Shawn Kemp’s libido?). Although the Mutants damage the flagship (Seattle, franchise), they are driven back by the power of the Eye (money) to the safety of the world of “Third Earth” (Oklahoma).