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Should the Toronto Raptors Be Considered Birds of Prey or Are They Still Only Velociraptors?

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2025 1:44 pm
by RoxSteady
IMHO: the birds of prey would be a better interpretation. Just like the Mighty Ducks changing their names to the Ducks as well as the Devil Rays changing their name to the Rays were positive moves. The former felt like some 90's comic book concept floating in the middle of the traditions of their respective sports and stuck out like sore thumbs. However, velociraptors are cool, so I'm open to other ideas. And I get that, as NY fan, it's not really my place to weigh in.

Anyway, Happy New Season, everyone. Pretty jazzed to watched the Knicks play basketball this week.

Re: Are the Toronto Raptors Now Considered Birds of Prey or Are They Still Only Velociraptors?

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2025 1:47 pm
by Zeno
The logo says it all.

Re: Are the Toronto Raptors Now Considered Birds of Prey or Are They Still Only Velociraptors?

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2025 1:47 pm
by UcanUwill
Wait, what are we talking about?

Re: Are the Toronto Raptors Now Considered Birds of Prey or Are They Still Only Velociraptors?

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2025 1:51 pm
by RoxSteady
Zeno wrote:The logo says it all.

Hmm... maybe a better title is "Should the Toronto Raptors..." but I can probably guess the response. :). It's OK, I'll be the minority.

UcanUwill wrote:Wait, what are we talking about?

Raptors, bro. The word can refer to birds or dinosaurs. Which would you name your bball team after?

Re: Should the Toronto Raptors Be Considered Birds of Prey or Are They Still Only Velociraptors?

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2025 2:01 pm
by Infinite Llamas
It’s kind of funny how messed up things have gotten with team names due to moves over the year.

Utah known for its wonderful Jazz scene
Los Angeles is famous for its Lakes
Memphis renowned for Grizzly Bears

Re: Should the Toronto Raptors Be Considered Birds of Prey or Are They Still Only Velociraptors?

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2025 2:05 pm
by Sofia
Life, uh, finds a way

Spoiler:
Image

Re: Should the Toronto Raptors Be Considered Birds of Prey or Are They Still Only Velociraptors?

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2025 2:08 pm
by RoxSteady
Infinite Llamas wrote:It’s kind of funny how messed up things have gotten with team names due to moves over the year.

Utah known for its wonderful Jazz scene
Los Angeles is famous for its Lakes
Memphis renowned for Grizzly Bears

100%. Or as Trey Parker and Matt Stone said, "the New Orleans Jazz moved to Salt Lake City, where they don't allow music."



Interestingly, the Utahraptor was an actual dinosaur.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Utahraptor

Re: Should the Toronto Raptors Be Considered Birds of Prey or Are They Still Only Velociraptors?

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2025 2:24 pm
by chilluminati
The Raptors? They should rename. They have a worse negative wingspan than Desmond Bane.

Re: Are the Toronto Raptors Now Considered Birds of Prey or Are They Still Only Velociraptors?

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2025 2:36 pm
by UcanUwill
RoxSteady wrote:
Zeno wrote:The logo says it all.

Hmm... maybe a better title is "Should the Toronto Raptors..." but I can probably guess the response. :). It's OK, I'll be the minority.

UcanUwill wrote:Wait, what are we talking about?

Raptors, bro. The word can refer to birds or dinosaurs. Which would you name your bball team after?


Are there birds called Raptors? I mean I know Raptors are bird ancestors, but they are dinosaurs as I understand it. When I think of "Raptors'' I think of this :

Image

Re: Should the Toronto Raptors Be Considered Birds of Prey or Are They Still Only Velociraptors?

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2025 2:39 pm
by UcanUwill
chilluminati wrote:The Raptors? They should rename. They have a worse negative wingspan than Desmond Bane.


Toronto Pterodactyls

Re: Should the Toronto Raptors Be Considered Birds of Prey or Are They Still Only Velociraptors?

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2025 4:01 pm
by bisme37
Ya know, now that I think of it, it's weird that the team is named Raptors but the mascot is clearly not a raptor. All dinosaurs are not the same, Toronto basketball team!

Re: Should the Toronto Raptors Be Considered Birds of Prey or Are They Still Only Velociraptors?

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2025 6:41 pm
by Infinite Llamas
bisme37 wrote:Ya know, now that I think of it, it's weird that the team is named Raptors but the mascot is clearly not a raptor. All dinosaurs are not the same, Toronto basketball team!


I believe they did a poll for the team name and Raptors were picked because Jurassic Park was big at the time but I might be misremembering it.

Re: Should the Toronto Raptors Be Considered Birds of Prey or Are They Still Only Velociraptors?

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2025 7:12 pm
by zimpy27
It really should be the Utah Raptors

IYKYK

Re: Are the Toronto Raptors Now Considered Birds of Prey or Are They Still Only Velociraptors?

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2025 7:14 pm
by FOB
UcanUwill wrote:
RoxSteady wrote:
Zeno wrote:The logo says it all.

Hmm... maybe a better title is "Should the Toronto Raptors..." but I can probably guess the response. :). It's OK, I'll be the minority.

UcanUwill wrote:Wait, what are we talking about?

Raptors, bro. The word can refer to birds or dinosaurs. Which would you name your bball team after?


Are there birds called Raptors? I mean I know Raptors are bird ancestors, but they are dinosaurs as I understand it. When I think of "Raptors'' I think of this :

Image


"Raptor" is synonymous for "bird of prey", so eagles, falcons, hawks, etc. are all "raptors".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_of_prey

Re: Are the Toronto Raptors Now Considered Birds of Prey or Are They Still Only Velociraptors?

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2025 7:21 pm
by bisme37
FOB wrote:
UcanUwill wrote:
RoxSteady wrote:Hmm... maybe a better title is "Should the Toronto Raptors..." but I can probably guess the response. :). It's OK, I'll be the minority.


Raptors, bro. The word can refer to birds or dinosaurs. Which would you name your bball team after?


Are there birds called Raptors? I mean I know Raptors are bird ancestors, but they are dinosaurs as I understand it. When I think of "Raptors'' I think of this :

Image


"Raptor" is synonymous for "bird of prey", so eagles, falcons, hawks, etc. are all "raptors".

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bird_of_prey


So basically NOT this thing:

Image

Re: Should the Toronto Raptors Be Considered Birds of Prey or Are They Still Only Velociraptors?

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2025 7:22 pm
by JDR720
Toronto Redbirds.

Then they can have a rivalry with the Toronto Bluejays as the best colored bird.

Re: Should the Toronto Raptors Be Considered Birds of Prey or Are They Still Only Velociraptors?

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2025 7:41 pm
by kwajo
I dunno, the current Instagram logo for the team could go either way I guess:

Image
Image

https://www.instagram.com/raptors/

Re: Should the Toronto Raptors Be Considered Birds of Prey or Are They Still Only Velociraptors?

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2025 7:47 pm
by manlisten
I think it would be great if the Raptors followed the tradition of several storied franchises now that they've established more of a franchise history. It's been said that Jerry Sloan is the inspiration for the Chicago Bulls logo. From my eyes, the Pelicans logo was meant to resemble Anthony Davis. The Clippers logo was once a blatant ripoff of the Lakers. And of course Jerry West is the legendary stencil for the NBA logo.

Why can't a redesign of the Raptors logo be created in the image of Gradey Dick? Might be premature speculation, but if he continues his upward trajectory he could come out to be an iconic figure in the legacy of Toronto basketballs.

Re: Should the Toronto Raptors Be Considered Birds of Prey or Are They Still Only Velociraptors?

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2025 8:28 pm
by LuDux1

Re: Should the Toronto Raptors Be Considered Birds of Prey or Are They Still Only Velociraptors?

Posted: Sun Sep 28, 2025 8:30 pm
by jowglenn
Definitely dinosaur only. They were riding the Jurassic Park wave in the 90s and they are stuck with it.