The Finch Formerly Known As Gold

24 November 2006

And McDonald's can buy Denver

The Seattle SuperSonics of Bellevue? Art Thiel of the Post-Intelligencer figures the next step is this:

Since pro sports increasingly is of, by and for corporations, with increasingly less geographic connection to the original city, why not be intellectually honest about the enterprise?

Microsoft Sonics. Amazon Sonics. Boeing Sonics.

Works for pro teams in Japan, China and throughout Asia. Works for teams in Europe. Works for teams in Central and South America.

If naming rights can be sold to publicly funded sports buildings, what's the big deal about the team name itself?

Unless the Seattle Sonics of Bellevue really sings to you, at a public price tag of $200 million-plus.

Amazon and Boeing I could believe, just maybe, but if Microsoft had an NBA team:

  • New version of the National Anthem, complete with DRM and DMCA protection.

  • Upgrading your season tickets would cost more than having bought season tickets in the better location in the first place.

  • Four words: Blue Scoreboard of Death.

  • After two years, the valve on the ball would mysteriously no longer accept the inflation needle.

  • The team jet would crash on every other road trip and no one would say a word.

Still, if we're going to hang a corporate name on the Sonics, the perfect one is — dare I say it? — in Oklahoma City.

Posted at 2:42 PM to Net Proceeds


Just to be fair, you need to include the Nintendo Sonics!

Posted by: meno at 6:44 PM on 24 November 2006

Now that might actually work. (Let's hope Art Thiel, up in Seattle, reads this.)

Posted by: CGHill at 7:57 PM on 24 November 2006

I'd root for a team with Sonic the Hedgehog as its logo.

Posted by: Mister Snitch! at 10:45 AM on 25 November 2006

I like it. And if they'll buy Hugo the Hornet down here, surely they'll take to Sonic the Hedgehog.

Posted by: CGHill at 11:05 AM on 25 November 2006