Do you want a team name change?

[Scottley Crue]

I think Jordan understands the situation pretty well, actually. The vast majority of potential customers don't even know who Bob Johnson is. Rebranding would be a significant undertaking with no tangible benefit unless we actually win.

This^^

If there was an overwhelming outcry to change the name, I'd be cool with it as long as it still the Charlotte __________. I just don't think that momentum is there either, and really, I just don't understand how just a name alone can hold one back from being a fan. I'd imagine if the name was changed, then another reason to not be a fan would pop up. It's the product...for the final parts of last season, I was in an arena full of people screaming "Let's go 'Cats!". Now it's not as good and this comes up. I mean really, if we had the Bulls' roster here in Bobcat uniforms, I highly doubt anyone would say, "Yeah, that team is really good and Derrick Rose is a great player, but I just can't get into it because they're call the Bobcats."

[SWedd523]

I really think thats the only way we could top the hornets name.. Flight with Jump-man logo.. To the people who say it sounds like a wnba name.. how? exactly, whats so feminine about the name "flight?" how many female pilots do you guys know?

Pretty easily. What is a flight? Can you see, grab, or touch a flight? No.

Look at the WNBA team names, they're all inanimate objects--Sky, Shock, Storm, etc. Flight fits right in with those things. NBA teams have actual THINGS--Hornets, Bulls, Raptors, etc.


I also laugh at the people who say they hate the Bobcats because Bob J named the team after himself, then turn around and say we should be an extension of Jordan Brand. How is that any different? We're still going to be a "joke franchise" because we can't even have fan support unless MJ names the team after himself.



The fact that there's even an argument about the name when it's nowhere near the worst in the NBA is just another example of how petty and asinine Bobcats fans are. I think we should be happy to just have a team after the way the Hornets left, so maybe we should embrace the team and stop acting like crybabies because "their name sucks"

[WrxErik]

Pretty easily. What is a flight? Can you see, grab, or touch a flight? No.

Jazz, Thunder, Magic, Heat, and there are a few other teams that fit into the category. Also yes you can see a flight. Technically by definition you can see, grab, and touch a flight. Not trying to be a smart ass but I think you get my point.

[mr coffee]

This^^

If there was an overwhelming outcry to change the name, I'd be cool with it as long as it still the Charlotte __________. I just don't think that momentum is there either, and really, I just don't understand how just a name alone can hold one back from being a fan. I'd imagine if the name was changed, then another reason to not be a fan would pop up. It's the product...for the final parts of last season, I was in an arena full of people screaming "Let's go 'Cats!". Now it's not as good and this comes up. I mean really, if we had the Bulls' roster here in Bobcat uniforms, I highly doubt anyone would say, "Yeah, that team is really good and Derrick Rose is a great player, but I just can't get into it because they're call the Bobcats."

I probably would be more into the team if they were good, but I can tell you that the name would still bother me. It's not just because Johnson turned out to be a poor owner - it literally bothered me since the day it was announced. It really took away some enthusiasm that I had about getting a team back.

For those who don't get why the name is annoying, here's the best analogies I can think of. It's as if the team was named after a political figure from a party you don't agree with. (I don't know Bob Johnson's politics, that's not what I'm talking about here, just an example of a name that makes it hard to pull for a team). Or for another example, if you were in a relationship with someone who had their ex's name tattooed on them. They say they don't care anymore and you believe them, but that damn tattoo just keeps bothering you. Well, that's what this stupid name is like. I can't stand that some rich jerkoff named it after himself.

You can say it shouldn't matter and maybe that's theoretically right - it's just a name, I get it - but the fact that people are still talking about it says it's an issue. I doubt fans of other teams are still talking about their team names. For a team that still struggles to win fans, you'd think they'd do everything possible to win them over.

[stun704]

Pretty easily. What is a flight? Can you see, grab, or touch a flight? No.

Look at the WNBA team names, they're all inanimate objects--Sky, Shock, Storm, etc. Flight fits right in with those things. NBA teams have actual THINGS--Hornets, Bulls, Raptors, etc.

Just like the Magic,Jazz,Thunder and to a certain extent Heat right? and i reiterate the point, how is "flight" in anyway feminine? just because the wnba uses inanimate objects doesn't mean that they hold a trademark on those type of names.. Besides who the FUCK follows the wnba anyway? not the average fan.. the average fan wouldn't think of "flight" and think of "wnba" I never even heard of those team names until now (don't follow the wnba at all).. and have no interest to... At-least the Flight is relevant to the area and the owner..its on the damn liscence plate for petes sake.. but of course the wnba had first dibs on the name before the wright brothers flew the first planes sustainable for flight in kitty hawk nc

I also laugh at the people who say they hate the Bobcats because Bob J named the team after himself, then turn around and say we should be an extension of Jordan Brand. How is that any different? We're still going to be a "joke franchise" because we can't even have fan support unless MJ names the team after himself.

Except Bob Johnson is a worthless prick and has accomplished nothing worthwhile except exploiting the black community with BET really BJ is comparable to MJ's Jordan Brand, which is probably the most recognizable sports brand in all of sports, let alone basketball, I dare you to name me a serious baller who doesn't own or at one point in time owned a pair of jordans? Having the Jordan Brand logo as our teams primary logo, will increase the interest and reconiziability of our franchise from jumpstreet.

Just imagine how many bandwagon fans we'll have across the nation when we actually become relevant which will = $$$$$$$.. building your franchise upon an already highly successful brand can lead to nothing bout prosperity, sorry that you can't see that.. Oh yeah lets also not forget MJ is the GOAT.. he should have the league logo branded after him, let alone a team.

The fact that there's even an argument about the name when it's nowhere near the worst in the NBA is just another example of how petty and asinine Bobcats fans are. I think we should be happy to just have a team after the way the Hornets left, so maybe we should embrace the team and stop acting like crybabies because "their name sucks"

But our name does suck a bobcat must be the least intimidating wild cat,[tiger, jaguar, cougar would be a much better name] I fully embrace the team regardless, but it'll be easier to market the team while we are rebuilding if we have a better name

[teej]

This all gets down to the problem with Charlotte sports.

All the over-25's (basically anyone who was beyond college age when this team started) hate the name, hate the arena, hate Bobby J, hate the NBA, because they all remember Shinn and each individual transgression. They don't have the emotional attachment to the team that most modern sports fans do (i.e. a 20 year old growing up in the Bronx who's had Jeter his whole life, he'll forever be a Yankee fan; a 50 year old who grew up watching Magic and the Lakers will always follow them, etc). There are a few exceptions to the hate, but almost all of them are either on this board or are attached because of their children.

Charlotte is a bandwagon town because there is no tradition. For anyone over the age of 22, there was a point in your life where the Carolinas had ZERO pro sports teams. The oldest pro team in the state is the Panthers, and I (vaguely) remember them being founded. I'm still in high school. Until the under 25's I mentioned are the 30-40 year olds with disposable income, the city will remain bandwagon-y. If you look at the colleges, you see that even when the teams are losing, the fans still show up. Why, you ask? Because the Carolinas have great sports fans, but only for the team(s) they grew up watching. UNC football sells out (or is very close to sold out) and is extremely rowdy, even when Bunting was coach. Why? Because those fans are supportive of the team win or lose. There are a lot of teens and 20-somethings who are the same way with the Bobcats. They don't care about the name, about how much MJ spends on the payroll, about anything other than cheering for the team. It's no coincedence that those 6-7 fans that dress up with facepaint and Bobcats gear head to toe and beyond and yell the whole game are all under 25 (or at least all under 30).

For those of you over 25, the name is probably going to be an issue. Just like Bob was an issue, the arena was an issue, and whatever else besides winning is going to be an issue. Disagreeing with decisions is cool, but until you get past petty shit like a name from a previous owner or an arena that no one currently part of the team had anything to do with, you're not truly part of the fanbase. Sorry.

P.S. Don't take that the wrong way, I love all you guys, but a true 100% die-hard would still root for the team if it was 3-79 and was named the Rainbow Unicorns, with RuPaul as the mascot and Ellen Degeneres and Rosie O'Donnell doing the cheerleading...

[ziggy]

This all gets down to the problem with Charlotte sports.

All the over-25's (basically anyone who was beyond college age when this team started) hate the name, hate the arena, hate Bobby J, hate the NBA, because they all remember Shinn and each individual transgression. They don't have the emotional attachment to the team that most modern sports fans do (i.e. a 20 year old growing up in the Bronx who's had Jeter his whole life, he'll forever be a Yankee fan; a 50 year old who grew up watching Magic and the Lakers will always follow them, etc). There are a few exceptions to the hate, but almost all of them are either on this board or are attached because of their children.

Charlotte is a bandwagon town because there is no tradition. For anyone over the age of 22, there was a point in your life where the Carolinas had ZERO pro sports teams. The oldest pro team in the state is the Panthers, and I (vaguely) remember them being founded. I'm still in high school. Until the under 25's I mentioned are the 30-40 year olds with disposable income, the city will remain bandwagon-y. If you look at the colleges, you see that even when the teams are losing, the fans still show up. Why, you ask? Because the Carolinas have great sports fans, but only for the team(s) they grew up watching. UNC football sells out (or is very close to sold out) and is extremely rowdy, even when Bunting was coach. Why? Because those fans are supportive of the team win or lose. There are a lot of teens and 20-somethings who are the same way with the Bobcats. They don't care about the name, about how much MJ spends on the payroll, about anything other than cheering for the team. It's no coincedence that those 6-7 fans that dress up with facepaint and Bobcats gear head to toe and beyond and yell the whole game are all under 25 (or at least all under 30).

For those of you over 25, the name is probably going to be an issue. Just like Bob was an issue, the arena was an issue, and whatever else besides winning is going to be an issue. Disagreeing with decisions is cool, but until you get past petty shit like a name from a previous owner or an arena that no one currently part of the team had anything to do with, you're not truly part of the fanbase. Sorry.

P.S. Don't take that the wrong way, I love all you guys, but a true 100% die-hard would still root for the team if it was 3-79 and was named the Rainbow Unicorns, with RuPaul as the mascot and Ellen Degeneres and Rosie O'Donnell doing the cheerleading...

And I present to you the new graphic for the RanbowUnicornPlanet T-Shirt

[SWedd523]

WRX and stun, those teams you listed are exactly why the Bobcats name DOESNT suck. All of those teams have terrible names yet nobody complains about it because the those teams are good and the fans aren't a bunch of fickle crybabies.

I remember when the Sonics moved and the name was changed to they Thunder. EVERYBODY hated it and made fun of them because its a terrible WNBA name. Now they have Durant, Westbrook, Harden, Ibaka, and company and guess what? People have shut up about the name.


Name team after one owner = bad
Name team after another = good


Doesn't make sense. Besides, Stern would NEVER let Jordan brand the team with Jumpman stuff.

[teej]

Zig, I about threw up.

Unrelated, but there's a waiter in the Frontcourt Club who would love to be part of that picture. I'll never forget, first ever NBA game, he tells my dad "Everything's free but the drinks and me!"

[BlockParty]

This all gets down to the problem with Charlotte sports.

All the over-25's (basically anyone who was beyond college age when this team started) hate the name, hate the arena, hate Bobby J, hate the NBA, because they all remember Shinn and each individual transgression. ...

I must be an exception. I'm 40, I grew up a Jordan fan, but can't stand the Bulls now, mainly because I'm a Bobcats fan. I hate what George Shinn did to this community, he had a choice between MJ and George Wool-overYourFace-ridge and made a poor choice. But the result took the NBA away from Charlotte when my kids were 8 and 5 (those are years I can't replace).

The name change is (in most intances) driven by the bandwagon fans that can't let go of a certain memory.

I'm a Cats fan, I always will be. On the football side, I grew up a Redskins fan because my dad and his dad were Skins fans. I suppose it helped embrace the Panthers because they have not quite sucked as bad as the Skins over the last 15 years.