Potential logo and name.

[Proudiddy]

I know your not a "casual" fan Proudiddy, and your right this is your team. I would only suggest though, you should enjoy your team like the rest of us and stop worrying about other people supporting it. It will come, and we dont need to do something stupid and outlandish to get that support. Changing the identity of a new playoff team that isnt changing cities is does more harm than good.

If you click the OP's link Proudiddy you will see that the naming process is an extensive ordeal. The team, the NBA, and the fans all got involved and it was not decided on a whim. The "Bob Johnson named the team after himself to stick it to the fans" myth is unfortunate and I dont blame you for believing it all these years. If you tell a lie enough times people will eventually believe it. But it is not true.

I get the "keep the name" argument. Like I said, it wouldn't bother me, I just prefer the name change.

And I don't think BJ named it after himself to stick it to the fans necessarily... I just think he thought there wouldn't be anything wrong with doing so, b/c it was his team and he paid for it. If I was able to do the same thing, I can't say that I wouldn't. My reasons aren't so much b/c of BJ himself, I just never cared for the name/logo/color combo.

I like the colors, unis and secondary logo we adopted a lot better than the originals, I just think we can do more... I know it's expensive and a long process, I just think it's beneficial to our team in the long run marketability wise.

I know, as you suggested, if we keep winning, everything else will take care of itself. But, I just have a feeling from hearing some people talking and reading comments on the observer that some fans just won't support the Bobcats period b/c of the name. I don't want to cater to them, but it's a business and we have to maximize profitability... And I think it would be cool to see what new names/logos would be suggested. I wish we would've cut a deal like Seattle did with the Sonics and made them leave the Hornets logos colors.

[PantherBrew]

I get the "keep the name" argument. Like I said, it wouldn't bother me, I just prefer the name change.

And I don't think BJ named it after himself to stick it to the fans necessarily... I just think he thought there wouldn't be anything wrong with doing so, b/c it was his team and he paid for it. If I was able to do the same thing, I can't say that I wouldn't. My reasons aren't so much b/c of BJ himself, I just never cared for the name/logo/color combo.

I like the colors, unis and secondary logo we adopted a lot better than the originals, I just think we can do more... I know it's expensive and a long process, I just think it's beneficial to our team in the long run marketability wise.

I know, as you suggested, if we keep winning, everything else will take care of itself. But, I just have a feeling from hearing some people talking and reading comments on the observer that some fans just won't support the Bobcats period b/c of the name. I don't want to cater to them, but it's a business and we have to maximize profitability... And I think it would be cool to see what new names/logos would be suggested. I wish we would've cut a deal like Seattle did with the Sonics and made them leave the Hornets logos colors.

From now on Proudiddy is my official bobcats related spokesman.

[King Taharqa]

So if they were in 12th place you might not oppose it?

When the Panthers went 1-15 in 2001 I didnt ask for a name change. Did you?

[PantherBrew]

When the Panthers went 1-15 in 2001 I didnt ask for a name change. Did you?

Thats a straw man argument if I have ever saw one.

[PantherBrew]

When the Panthers went 1-15 in 2001 I didnt ask for a name change. Did you?

If they were 1-15 and called the JerryCurls, I would want to change the name.

On second thought. JerryCurls sounds kinda sweet.

[Proudiddy]

Bullets made a smooth transition to the Wizards, and they had some deep history with hall of fame players... And did so while they were just building up a playoff contender again with Webber and Howard IIRC. Didn't hurt them much.

[King Taharqa]

But, I just have a feeling from hearing some people talking and reading comments on the observer that some fans just won't support the Bobcats period b/c of the name.

Who cares those are the same people who said the NBA sucks and is nothing but thugs and gangbangers 3-4 years ago. I know because they used to post the same crap over here til we ran em off. Why do we need their support? My money is as green as theirs. If they cant accept us, tough poo. Its not like its some knowledgeable NBA fanbase. The only place people care about erasing our identity is at the Observer. I live in Charlotte and talk Bobcats every day all day and never ever ever ever ever in my life has someone ever come up to me and said the Bobcats should change their name or if we do we'll win a title. We're already a playoff team getting national love without their support. I wish I cared if they rooted for us or not, but I really dont. Bobcats Nation is fine without em.

[PantherBrew]

Who cares those are the same people who said the NBA sucks and is nothing but thugs and gangbangers 3-4 years ago. I know because they used to post the same crap over here til we ran em off. Why do we need their support? My money is as green as theirs. If they cant accept us, tough poo. Its not like its some knowledgeable NBA fanbase. The only place people care about erasing our identity is at the Observer. I live in Charlotte and talk Bobcats every day all day and never ever ever ever ever in my life has someone ever come up to me and said the Bobcats should change their name or if we do we'll win a title. We're already a playoff team getting national love without their support. I wish I cared if they rooted for us or not, but I really dont. Bobcats Nation is fine without em.

That's funny cause when I live in Charlotte too and talk basketball with people they all tell me what a terrible name the "bobcats". :skep:

[King Taharqa]

Thats a straw man argument if I have ever saw one.

How so, you had 10,000 people in the stands of the final home game of the season, a blackout or two that year as well. The team was mainly known for and associated with murderer Rae Carruth that year. A "name change" would've been more appropriate in that situation than this one.

The "name change" issue serves its purpose. Its just a passive aggressive way to downplay the Bobs success and try to go behind decisions our front office made years ago. If we werent winning, it wouldnt be pushed by our newspaper. They'd just outright diss us like they used to.

[Proudiddy]

Who cares those are the same people who said the NBA sucks and is nothing but thugs and gangbangers 3-4 years ago. I know because they used to post the same crap over here til we ran em off. Why do we need their support? My money is as green as theirs. If they cant accept us, tough poo. Its not like its some knowledgeable NBA fanbase. The only place people care about erasing our identity is at the Observer. I live in Charlotte and talk Bobcats every day all day and never ever ever ever ever in my life has someone ever come up to me and said the Bobcats should change their name or if we do we'll win a title. We're already a playoff team getting national love without their support. I wish I cared if they rooted for us or not, but I really dont. Bobcats Nation is fine without em.

Well, that's why I said for the business aspect. Not just for the racist yuppies who wouldn't support us otherwise, but for global marketability. I believe you though... It's hard for me to judge, b/c still being in Chapel Hill for school, pretty much all there is are racist yuppies that could care less about pro basketball...

I remember going to watch us play the Wizards when they came to the Dean Dome against the Wizards like 2 years ago in the preseason...I dapped up Arenas and Jamison going into the tunnel, lol. But, anyway, there was only like 100 people there, it was pathetic. And I think the name has a lot to do with it.

[PantherBrew]

How so, you had 10,000 people in the stands of the final home game of the season, a blackout or two that year as well. The team was mainly known for and associated with murderer Rae Carruth that year. A "name change" would've been more appropriate in that situation than this one.

The "name change" issue serves its purpose. Its just a passive aggressive way to downplay the Bobs success and try to go behind decisions our front office made years ago. If we werent winning, it wouldnt be pushed by our newspaper. They'd just outright diss us like they used to.

Its a straw man, because I wasn't advocating a name change based on success, I am advocating a name change for personal preferences and brand management.

You made the point of not changing the name partly because they were a playoff team.

Had it not been for 9/11 and Iraq War it would have been called the Charlotte Flight.

Truth or not, just like in politics. Perceptions count, and no matter what you or anyone tells people. The majority of people in Charlotte are not going to believe that Bob Johnson didn't partly name the team after himself.

[mj4life]

That's funny cause when I live in Charlotte too and talk basketball with people they all tell me what a terrible name the "bobcats". :skep:

and these same people will change their tune once MJ shows up at a couple of local rotary club lunchens and makes them feel important

[King Taharqa]

Truth or not, just like in politics. Perceptions count, and no matter what you or anyone tells people. The majority of people in Charlotte are not going to believe that Bob Johnson didn't partly name the team after himself.

Just like some people perceive we're gonna change our name when anyone who knows this organization and understands how much harm it would do knows it aint gonna happen. But its a neat way for the Observer to get hits to their website from casual NBA fans.

[PantherBrew]

I honestly would like to see if the NC pro teams had similar color schemes, like Pittsburgh. Panther's colors would look great on an NBA team, but I guess it would be too close to the Magic.