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Sonics Are Renamed Oklahoma City Thunder

Posted Sep 3, 08 8:06 PM CDT in Sports 

(AP) – Thunder can be heard from miles away, an early warning that a storm is about to arrive. So, perhaps it's only fitting that a full 6 weeks after the name first surfaced, Oklahoma City's NBA officials announced today that the team formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics would be known as the Oklahoma City Thunder. "It's hard to keep a secret," noted team chairman Clay Bennett.  

Even the logo and colors leaked out over the weekend. Bennett said the light blue color coincides with the state flag to represent the inclusion of all Oklahomans, the yellow refers to the sun and the reddish-orange color to the sunset. With the University of Oklahoma featuring crimson as its primary color, and Oklahoma State using orange, Bennett said it was "not too red and not too orange."

Source Associated Press

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Clay Bennett, chairman of the new Oklahoma City NBA franchise, unveils the team name, Thunder, and colors, in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008.   (AP Photo)
A banner with the name, logo and colors of Oklahoma City's NBA franchise is displayed in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008. The Oklahoma City Thunder recently moved from Seattle.   (AP Photo)
Damien Wilkins, left, applauds as the name, logo and colors of Oklahoma City's NBA franchise are unveiled in Oklahoma City, Wednesday, Sept. 3, 2008.   (AP Photo)
Seattle SuperSonics fans chant "save our Sonics" as they participate in a rally for the NBA basketball team outside the Federal Courthouse where the case was being tried on Monday June 16, 2008.   (AP Photo/Kevin P. Casey)
Seattle SuperSonics' Kevin Durant, right, gets a pass off between Dallas Mavericks' Devean George, left, and Devin Harris in the second half of an NBA basketball game Jan. 11, 2008, in Seattle.   (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson)
Seattle SuperSonics center Johan Petro, center, grabs a rebound between Phoenix Suns guard Raja Bell, right, and forward Brian Skinner, rear, during a Jan. 3, 2008 game in Phoenix.   (AP Photo/Paul Connors)
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