"Bobcats" seams like a high school name. "Flight" sounds WNBAish. "Dragons" weak CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) -- Charlotte's new NBA mascot could be a tribute to the team's owner: "Bobcats" is one of three finalists for the name of Bob Johnson's expansion franchise. Other finalists announced Tuesday by the team are "Dragons" and "Flight." A winner is to be announced next month after feedback from the public. However, Johnson, who paid $300 million for the expansion team, will make the final decision. "The names represent three distinct directions we could take as we move into the final stage of development," team spokesman Chris Weiller said. "Bobcats" would be a nod to Johnson and would continue the feline theme established by Charlotte's other pro team, the NFL Panthers. "Flight" would link to North Carolina's status as "First in Flight," a legend also found on the state's license plates. This year marks the centennial of Wilbur and Orville Wright's first airplane flight on North Carolina's Outer Banks. "Dragons" has no obvious local link. The team is to begin play in 2004-05, taking the place of the Hornets, who moved to New Orleans last year. The team will play one season at the Charlotte Coliseum, then move into an arena being built in downtown Charlotte. The three finalists for the team name were whittled down from a list of nearly 1,200 suggestions the team received from the community. Johnson's group used several focus groups and spent nearly $100,000 researching the names and their trademark status and designing possible logos, Weiller said. Team officials cut the list to 10 to 12 names, then matched names with potential colors, graphic designs and mascots. Johnson has hired Chicago's NVU Productions to help develop the logos. Black is believed to be a frontrunner to be the team's primary color. It is not unprecedented for pro sports teams to be named in tribute to their owner. The NFL's Cleveland Browns were named for owner Paul Brown.
Those are the worst names. Bobcats? Dragons? I guess Flight sounds alright and has some decent significance. I can't complain though, I can't think of anything any better.
I heard that "Spiders" was being considered...Yeah, I could see the headlines after the first blowout loss..."Spiders squashed by Lakers!" What happened to Carolina Cougars? That would have been a nice name...
They should go with Bobcats. There are no felines in the NBA. Baseball has the Tigers, Football has the Bengals and Panthers.
How about the Charlotte "Missiles" do to the war in Iraq, Naw i'm just playing around folks. But the name Missiles sounds pretty good for a team name. You all agree?
FA, I agree with your assessment of the names. Can't be worse than Texans though. Hornets was a great name; too bad they took it with them.
J.V., I'm with you on the Texans, I think the name should have been the toros, very Texan along with some spainish flavor, and you could keep the same Longhorns, oops, I mean bull horns on the helmet. The NBA would never allow missiles, too violent. That's why the Wizards aren't the Bullets anymore.
The toros....I like that a lot. Sounds really good. Oh well. First team that has nothing to do with oil or space in houston.
Charlotte... try Civil Warriors!!! No? Charlotte Successionists! Ooops, Charlotte slaves!!! Catchy! ... OK, I sound drunk. Maybe I am. Sorry, my bad.
I think I found their logo if they get Kemp in the expansion draft. Maybe they could get Oliver Miller out of retirement too.
I'm not so sure about the name "Bobcats" now. People will start calling them the Charlotte "Bobs" and be forever reminded of these two guys:
