In Which We Alienate the State of Oklahoma

I have seriously lost track of Sonics legal situation, and I live in Seattle. Last I checked, we get another season of lottery-bound goodness, and maybe another, and maybe forever if Howard Schultz prevails. But the longer the team stays, the less likely Stern is to ever put another franchise here. But don't quote me on that.

Something I have not slacked on, though, is making fun of those proud OK citizens, still licking their lips over the Sonics like they didn't understand how slow our courts operate.The Oklahoman did a poll for a new name. In separate contest, it solicited jersey designs and team colors. What follows is pure, uncut fodder for my regional elitism/ anti-Bennett sentiment.

For a name, the finalists are Thunderbirds, Barons, Outlaws, and Thunder, all of which are amazing. Barons like robber barons? There's a rich irony. Outlaws when ownership is tangled up in lawsuits and lies? Fresh! Oh, and maybe I'm just slow, but "Thunder" and "Thunderbirds" seem awfully similar to me. I guess thunder is really important out there. Like how the Sonics were once called "Five-Month Long Pall of Drizzle."

We also get some choice words from one Kasey Moody, whose black and gold color scheme won that part of the contest. Get it? Black gold? Apparently, when it comes to color out there, it's either oil or college football. Crayons don't exist.

"I actually started out with red, white and silver," said Moody of his design. "But then I decided I didn't want to include any colors from OU or OSU. I thought both fan bases might like something different. And I didn't want to upset any Oklahoma State fans."

Oh, and the kicker? The paper compares Moody's winning look to the Wizards' garish gold-lame jerseys, which only work because that team is flamboyant and mildly insane. That's actually a great reality show pitch: Hand D.C.'s finest to OKC as their team, and watch the sparks of quiet resentment fly everywhere. That and wait for the city ordinance banning DeShawn Stevenson.

This post originally appeared on the Sporting Blog. For more, see The Sporting Blog Archives.