The Official "Raptors vs Huskies" thread: Vote Now

[carlosey]

\i say keep raptors and give us a fresh take. Only other change i would accept would be huskies or somethign that embraces Toronto as a metropolitan city

[pharring]

Raptors. Stop trying to change the **** team's name. All it does is make people outside of Toronto think we're another new expansion team, at least the few that know we exist. That's the last thing we need, to be thought of as an expansion team again.

Not sure we have ever shaken that label.

[LLJ]

Raptors. Stop trying to change the **** team's name. All it does is make people outside of Toronto think we're another new expansion team, at least the few that know we exist. That's the last thing we need, to be thought of as an expansion team again.

Not sure we have ever shaken that label.

Hahaha. I knew someone would say that. I guess I can't really disagree. Still don't think it's a good idea though.

[Snoop_Dogg_LA]

They need to stop with all this. Changing the logo and colors is one thing, but changing the name is going too far. I also don't like the idea of branding the team with a bunch of Canadian stuff. I get they want to get more of Canada watching and spending money on merchandise, but winning cures that. I rather be a winner without all of that maple leafs and all that Canadian stuff so we can sell our merchandise all over north america. They say that want to win a championship so then they should focus on that instead of changing the name and setting us back as a franchise. I understand we haven't done much as a franchise, but you poll the players in the NBA and you'll be surprised the amount of players that wouldn't mind playing for the Raptors compared to when we started as a franchise so build on that and win some games and we will be Canada's team.

[pharring]

I think some of the best sports team names come from things that are associated with the relevant city, but are not objects within the city.

Packers, Steelers and Knicks come to mind.

Lakers made sense in Minneapolis, as did Jazz in New Orleans. Both teams changed cities but kept their names. Now their existing names are so synonymous with their cities that you cannot imagine them being anything else.

I'm struggling to think of something similar in Toronto.

The two most popular nicknames for Toronto are Hogtown and Big Smoke. Neither of those lends itself to a good team name (unless you like pig snouts).

"Towers", as in CN Tower, isn't really unique to Toronto. Lots of towers in north american cities.

Toronto has a unique history of battles. Something associated with old wars could work.

[LLJ]

There's also the fact that nobody in Canada gives a damn about Toronto outside of Toronto. Maybe some fans here and there around Canada will cheer for Toronto, but whenever people talk about this "Canada's team" thing, I always ask this: if Toronto didn't have a hockey team, would we cheer for Ottawa or Calgary or Montreal or Vancouver? **** NO. And it works the other way around too.

Trying to make the Raptors Canada's just shows how clueless MLSE continues to be. Someone needs to give TL a memo that Canadians aren't that patriotic outside of the Olympics either. For the most part, people in Canada only support the city they're living in.

[pharring]

Raptors. Stop trying to change the **** team's name. All it does is make people outside of Toronto think we're another new expansion team, at least the few that know we exist. That's the last thing we need, to be thought of as an expansion team again.

Not sure we have ever shaken that label.

Hahaha. I knew someone would say that. I guess I can't really disagree. Still don't think it's a good idea though.

We need to bring a franchise back to Vancouver... or get one in Montreal or Halifax. A newer Canadian team would mean Toronto is the established Canadian team, which I think would get the "expansion" stink off of us.

[wtfbosh]

Huskies is right up there with Igloo Builders, Snowmen, Maple Syrup Suckers, Polar Bear Jockeys and whatever other typical Canadian name you can think of.

I'll stick with Raptors for some originality.

There's already a UConn Huskies too. If the team performs well, the casual fans will come and watch the games - it has nothing to do with the name. I'm not a fan of the Maple Leafs colours or how the uniforms looked.

[Hendrix]

The Toronto Basketball Club

For some reason I like this, haha. Simple. Different.

I like the Raptors. I don't understand what is wrong, or cartoonish at all about it. It's a bad ass dinosaur, a fighter jet, a truck. Our mascot is awesome. It originated from a movie, but who cares? That was like 20 years ago. The 'Lakers' name has some stupid roots as well, but now it is the most globally recognized basketball brand in the world, that they would never dream of changing.

Plus I think Huskies sucks, as it reinforces the whole 'cold' aspect that we don't really want to reinforce with our brand. It has been used a million times. It is close to Minnesota's. To me , it is change for the sake of change, and just he best of a bunch of mediocre options.

[hankscorpioLA]

IMHO these are the current NBA teams with a "better" team name than Raptors:

Celtics
Rockets
Knicks (history)
Bulls
Pistons
Hawks
Hornets
Mavericks
Rockets
Trail Blazers
Warriors
Lakers (history)
Kings

These are the ones with a "worse" name - and you will notice my distaste for names that do not end in "s"

Nets
76ers
Cavaliers
Pacers
Bucks
Heat
Magic
Wizards
Grizzlies
Pelicans
Spurs
Nuggets
Timberwolves
Thunder
Jazz (unless in New Orleans)
Clippers
Suns

Since we currently have a name that I consider to be better than most teams in the NBA, I say we stick with it.


btw...are you all familiar with the history of the Toronto Huskies?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toronto_Huskies

They played one season in which they went 22-38 (.367) and did not qualify for the playoffs.

The franchise was disbanded after one season.

IMHO if there is one franchise in Toronto that can definitively say it was a bigger failure than the Toronto Raptors have been, its the Toronto Huskies.

[Turbo_Zone]

I love the Raptors.

I think a refresh of the brand is all they need. Like taking a shower, you're still you, but better.

Huskies isn't bad, it's just that the more I envision announcer's saying "Toronto Huskies" the less I like it in my head.

Seems unnatural and forced to me.

If I were in charge I'd stick with the Raptors and play the redemption angle.

We'll all have to see what TL thinks!

[Los Manos]

IMHO if there is one franchise in Toronto that can definitively say it was a bigger failure than the Toronto Raptors have been, its the Toronto Huskies.

now that's what you call a redemption angle.

[whysoserious]

The Toronto Basketball Club

For some reason I like this, haha. Simple. Different.

I like the Raptors. I don't understand what is wrong, or cartoonish at all about it. It's a bad ass dinosaur, a fighter jet, a truck. Our mascot is awesome. It originated from a movie, but who cares? That was like 20 years ago. The 'Lakers' name has some stupid roots as well, but now it is the most globally recognized basketball brand in the world, that they would never dream of changing.

Plus I think Huskies sucks, as it reinforces the whole 'cold' aspect that we don't really want to reinforce with our brand. It has been used a million times. It is close to Minnesota's. To me , it is change for the sake of change, and just he best of a bunch of mediocre options.

Bryan Colangelo Supports Toronto BC for sure.

[bballsparkin]

The Toronto Raps or the Toronto Husks? Raps it is.

[West Rouge]

The Raptors is a great name. Never had a problem with it.

Who doesn't love shouting "lets go Raptors" during our playoff games every year....

[Rhythm043]

Hopefully there isnt too many people that think like you otherwise we will have the "weakest" team name in all of basketball.

A Husky could totally take a Pellican.

LOL i guess.

[Mediocrity]

I would definitely be in favor of changing the name to the Huskies. Raptors just seems pretty childish to me. This is way OT, but how can you set avatars? I can't get any to work.

[Rapsalot]

Pick whatever you want as long as these threads stop,

[postup]

Raptors.

I actually like the assonance of "Toronto Raptors" and it is unique. Too many Huskies.

Most of the younger kids don't even get the Jurassic Park connection anyway and that's OK.

[pbj]

No love for my Rapskies I guess.. You guys don't know what you're missing!