Oh shit is it too late to change my mind on Thunder??

Criss Angel was once in our shoes. He needed a name for his new show that reflected how hip, edgy and major-league he was. That name was "Mindfreak", and it was a homerun. And because Criss Angel has both a Jesus complex and a penchant for mascara/crying, he can simultaneously appeal to OKC's conservative Christian core and their disaffected emo children. He's a marketing savant. In the 90's Toronto was wise enough to latch itself to the Jurassic Park hysteria, so perhaps OKC should do the same with today's cultural phenomenon: Mindfreak.

This name could work because 1) like Wind, Energy and Thunder it is singular, and 2) it comes ready with it's own theme music. Plus it is instantly the most intimidating name in the NBA, or for that matter, all of sports. Introducing your Oklahoma City MINDFREAK! Are you ready?

OMGROTFLMFAOPWN3D

Because OKC is known for its thunder.

Whenever I tell people I'm from OKC, I always get the same question: "So, Oklahoma City, huh? Oklahoma? Hmmm. Neat. That's uh, that's great. So...how's the uh, how's the weather this time of year?" Exactly. People are just entranced by our world famous cloud patterns and shit. So it's a perfect fit for a name. And unfortunately, "Professional Basketball Club" was already taken.

Choosing a name based on theme music.

Since the PBC announced our relocation from Seattle to OKC, Oklahomans have been dying to know what the team's theme music will be. For weeks, rumors have been swirling over which song will most likely be played during intros, timeouts, halftime and even post-game and also that time right before and after a commercial break. That is a very important time. The blogosphere has been abuzz with speculation, and recent news the team would be rebranded the "Thunder" launched Oklahoma into a fever pitch:

"AC/DC's "Thunderstruck"? Garth Brooks with "Thunder Rolls"? It's easy to picture the loud pre-game theatrical possibilities at the Ford Center this fall if a report from KOCO's Mark Rodgers is correct."-Adam Knapp, About.com

"Garth Brooks' "The Thunder Rolls” as pre-game music, or better yet, as a victory chorus, like "New York, New York” at Yankee Stadium."-Berry Tramel, The Oklahoman

"1) Thunder — There is one reason and one reason only this name is at the top of my list - AC/DC. I’m no AC/DC fan and am not familiar with much of their work. But can you imagine [Thunderstruck] being played each night before the Oklahoma City Thunder starting lineup is introduced?"-Darnell Mayberry, The Oklahoman

"AC/DC's hit song "Thunderstruck” could boom over the Ford Center's PA system just before the team's starting lineup is introduced and immediately after the final buzzer of a home win."Darnell Mayberry (again), The Oklahoman

"Then I realized that by naming their team the "Thunder", Clay Bennett was going for an all-out barrage of AC/DC at home basketball games. ("Thunderstruck", obv.) Which I totally back."Will Brinson, NBA Fanhouse

"This makes a little more sense, especilly because reports are suggesting that AC/DC will be played during the home games. Thunderstruck will most definitely be used as an intro."Binary Gangster of the BinaryGangster.com

This is to say nothing of the wildfire of speculation currently raging across message boards from coast to coast. A sampling:

Jason251213: "Will they play AC/DC "Thunderstruck" when team comes out?"

ADogBTown: "Yes, you know they are going to play the crap out of ACDC's 'Thunderstruck.'" Indeed.

OKC will be playing the shit out of Thunderstruck from now until forever, but luckily that guitar riff will never get old.... Huh. I guess I was actually thinking of 'Hells Bells'. This one's good too though.

SHUT UP, HIPPIES.

Maybe if these dunces had spent their tuition on corporate luxury suites they wouldn't have forced us out of town. Send these flower children to 'Nam before they turn KeyArena into a growhouse. Someone tell #34 to cut his fucking sideburns.

Kevin Durant is a Thunder.

The marketing geniuses that came up with YardDawgz have done it again. Behold the Thunder, OKC's very own NBA merchandising operation. Favorite son Berry Tramel was quick to expound on the virtually limitless marketing opportunities available. ThunderWear anyone?

David Stern had two criteria for selecting the name:

1) Is it inoffensive enough to inspire league-wide indifference?
and 2)Is it something that currently exists in every city in the United States, Europe and Asia, easing the transition for the team's next relocation? Yes on both counts. Yet the PBC was able to successfully lobby for a third criterion: Can we incorporate Garth Brooks and/or AC/DC into the intros? You better believe it. Stay tuned for our logo which will most likely be some sort of menacing cloud, possibly with a Lakitu emerging from the top.

Journalism 101

Here in Oklahoma City, we're blessed to have the finest journalists in America and therefore, the world. Berry Tramel is among the Gaylord Tribune's finest. In his latest video blog, he opines on the evils of the intertubes and the malicious, nay, criminal nature of anyone and everyone who posts on a message board. Thankfully someone heeded O'Reilly's call to arms against the Nazi Klansmen of the Daily Kos and their ilk. Pulitzer this man.