My column today touches on a hot topic: Should the Charlotte Bobcats change their nickname now that Michael Jordan is in as controlling owner and Bob Johnson is out?
I advocate that it should be changed. Thousands of readers do as well -- our online poll has been running about 3-to-1 in favor of a name change.
However, it sounds like there's no way the Bobcats could change their name before the 2010-11 season, which is what I would prefer. I didn't have this information until my column started making the rounds this morning, but I now have heard from a source with knowledge of the situation. The source says that if the Bobcats did want to change the name (and there's no indication as yet that they have made such a plea), they would have to apply over TWO YEARS in advance of the change, and the change would also have to be approved by the NBA's Board of Governors.
Could an exception be granted to the "two-year-waiting-period" guideline? Well, I would imagine the NBA's Board of Governors can do whatever it wants to do in such matters. But given this new information, I would think it would be extremely difficult to get anything done for the 2010-11 season, and maybe not even for a season or two after that. Remember, Jordan isn't even officially approved as owner yet, although that should happen in a few weeks.
Bottom line: Sounds like the team is stuck with the name "Bobcats" for awhile. But Michael Jordan has been known to move mountains in the NBA, and if he wants a name change to happen, I think it will happen.
(2 p.m. Tuesday UPDATE: Thanks to alert reader Steve Simonetti for posting this really interesting ESPN.com article from several years ago regarding the way the Bobcats came up with the logo in the first place. Steve has also placed the link down below in the comments section, but I thought I'd paste it here as well -- check out the hilarious, rejected Bobcat logos as well).
One side note: I'd like to have a dollar for every reader who has, tongue-in-cheek, suggested the nickname "Jordanaires" to me (as a play on Bob Johnson naming the team "Bobcats).
For those who don't know -- and I didn't -- The Jordanaires have been around more than 50 years in various incarnations as a singing group. They are most well-known for singing backup harmonies on a number of Elvis Presley songs.
We're moving!
9 years ago
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42 comments:
Great. Bob Johnson's final FU to the city. We are stuck with his oversized ego. A close second to Shinn for worst NBA owner in history.
Charlotte Bobheels has a nice ring to it! Go Heels!
Charlotte Bobheels.
Carolina (or Charlotte) Cougars. Just do it!
As I have been saying all along, ZERO CHANCE OF A NAME CHANGE!!!!! Get over it, Bob is gone.
Hey Scott,
How does a name change work for a team that moves then? Did Seattle/OKC apply for a name change two years before moving or do they make exceptions for franchises that move to a new city?
the city of seattle kept the name of the sonics when the team moved to okc so that if there able to get another team they'll be called the Seattle Supersonics and something new. Clevland did the same thing when the browns left for Baltimore and they had to become the ravens
The solution is name the team the Bees. Then get the Jazz to trade for that and then trade the Jazz name back to New Orleans, the Hornets name back to Charlotte and the Bees name to the Bee State. Simple. Charlotte should never have allowed the Hornets name to leave Charlotte.
Charlotte Heels! THIS is the Carolina way!
"Simple. Charlotte should never have allowed the Hornets name to leave Charlotte."
I believe that was the NBAs call... as the Cleveland Browns was the NFL's call.
As long as it's going to take a while, what would it take hypothetically speaking to right a number of wrongs?
Let Charlotte reclaim the Hornets name.
Let New Orleans reclaim the Jazz name.
Let Utah pick an appropriate name.
Isn't "Flight" for Air Jordan just as bad as "Bobcats" for Bob Johnson?
The coming of the Bobcats name in 2004... http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/sportsbusiness/news/story?id=1755847
Carolina or Charlotte Cougars. Or even the Charlotte Wildcats or Lynx, if you want to stick with a feline reference. But please ditch the Bobcats name and original left side facing logo. ITS HORRIBLE!
http://sports.espn.go.com/espn/sportsbusiness/news/story?id=1755847
All Jonhson's media team came up with was HORRIBLE. Not to mention they ditched the Cougar's idea too soon!
Cougars, Wildcats, Lynx... Go with one of those. Keep the colors, court, new forward facing logo, and uniforms. Add back the checkered sides, those were AWESOME!
It would be the "flight" because NC was the First in Flight, genius....not because of Air Jordans???
Flight was the prefered name from the beginning, when they were originally naming the franchise. Way before Mike was involved!
Charlotte AirHogs
It combines two of NC's favorite things: MJ and BBQ. Think of the countless puns: The arena could be the Pig Pen, cheerleaders the Swinettes, and the uniforms clould be red and white checkered, maybe with some BBQ sauce stains.
..and we'll win a title when pigs fly.
This is a pretty poor suggestion Scott. Come on man, like Charlotte really needs another nickname for an NBA team??? If a name change DID occur, that would be the THIRD nickname in Charlotte in the past DECADE! How insecure is Charlotte if we can't make up our minds and stick with a name?
Also, "ajack" wrote that we should consider the Kings. Ajack: watch the NBA more. Sacramento beat us to that quite a long time ago.
Scott, please stop hating on your hometown NBA team and start supporting them. You write so many negative columns about the Bobcats that it's really incredible that you're still assigned to them with the Observer.
Does anyone not realize that Ohio University is just one of many schools that claim "Bobcats" as their nickname?
It's not the nickname that people like yourself Scott dislike. It's Bob Johnson and his association. My recommendation is GET OVER IT and just support your local team for goodness sake.
watch a deal out of New Orleans to get the Jazz name back and the Hornets come back home to Charlotte....
As my buddy Ronny says go get the Hornets name back from New Orleans! I am sure they would not mind.. heck maybe they can get the Jazz name back from Utah... then they Utah can change their name to the Utah Mormons!
What about the Charlotte Air? We were the first in flight, charlotte is an aviation hub and finally Air Jordan.
Problem Solved!
http://cdn2.sbnation.com/imported_assets/389635/4395744677_66b6874cfa_o_medium.jpg
If there are bobcats in the Charlotte region I have never seen one. We need a name that has some type of relation to Charlotte or to N.C. history, like the relationship the name "hornets" had with mecklenburg county. The bobcats name showed the lack of dedication that Johnson had when it came to this team and this city.
A quote from the espn article..
"Ultimately, the amount of people that want to wear the Bobcats logo in the next couple of years will be directly correlated to the team's success on the court."
Just start winning games and the name will be fine.
I like the Charlotte Killer B's
Bobcats can't even get into playoffs and we are worried about a name change. Believe you me that is not what is keep Charlotte out of playoffs.
Here's the problem: Bobcats is a bad name. It's a small predator. Worse, the team colors blow. When we got the team, I went out to get a hat. This was before they had played a single game, so it had nothing to do with performance, but the colors were hideous and so was the logo. I never bought that hat. Whoever did the ID for this team had no taste.
How about Carolina Blue? Yeah..you heard it here first...pass it around!
charlotte 4 horsemen. flair as the mascot
I like Carolina Blue! It appeals to UNC and Duke fans and is sort of a state motto as in Carloina blue sky. Problem is, what do you use for a logo?
if NBA was smart, they would make an exception and fastline this, to save this franchise and jumpstart the NBA in CLT again
what about Bulldogs or something Dog themed instead of Cat themed. People love Dogs.
Or something NASCAR connected, with the Checkered part of Jerseys being permanent
The Bobkitties (oh, I mean Bobcats) definitely need to be renamed AND get rid of their ugly orange team colors.
I'd be happy if they just got rid of the P.A. guy. Very obnoxious.
Tar Cats
Bruce Bowen just called the Bobcats the "Charlotte Hornets" on ESPN and didnt even catch himself on it. It's time. Change the name.
How about the Carolina Cougars. Change the colors to Carolina Blue and Duke Blue
Charlotte Flights (That was the name that received the most votes, but Bob Johnson decide to name it Bobcats)
What if New Orleans is sold to Seattle, they still have the rights to the name and colors of the Sonics, therefore it would go back to the Seattle Supersonics and we can go from Charlotte Bobcats to...... THE CHARLOTTE HORNETS!!! Get our old colors back too, I would worship Jordan if he did this..
CHARLOTTE BOB JOHNSONS
We need to workout a deal with the Jazz and the Hornets to get the Hornets name back during the lockout... BTW, I am a season ticket holder, and anyone that has enough interests to post a comment about this matter has a right to their opinion... Of course that comment came from "anonymous"... Some (most) of the people supporting the NBA team in Charlotte want the old name and colors back, w/o the old owners... Mike Jordan owning the Charlotte Hornets who play in a downtown arena is a dream for the most of us who have been fans since the first artist rendering of Hugo!
Michael Jordan announced that Larry Brown had stepped down as the Bobcats Head Coach; that same day, veteran coach Paul Silas was hired as their new Head Coach, I think that since this moment the team started to feel not conformable! but every one know that Michael Jordan is a legend!22dd
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