When an NBA team moves to Tampa (not if, I say when) I think it should be called the Tampa Bay Hurricanes, and I agree they should play in the same building as the Storm and the Lightning. I liked the suggestion “Thunder”, but since this post, the NBA has already added a new expansion team by that name, so that’s out of the question now.

Tampa Bay Hurricanes: I can already see the marketing for this team – billboards off I-275 heading into downtown with the image of a giant swirling hurricane (or the swirling red “hurricane logo” that is used on weather maps) with the headline “Hurricane Season Is Here… Are You Ready? Get Your Hurricane Survival Kit Now – Season Tickets Available Now”… those familiar red-and-black-box warning flags that appear on our beaches for hurricane warnings would fly all around the Forum, flapping in the air conditioning as peels of thunder rumble throughout the building during play…. the uniform could even implement the warning flag colors and design into the uniform design itself, with the team and player names written in a eye-catching windswept font…

I don’t think the team would be as successful if it were based in St Pete at Tropicana, only because the Rays suffer attendance because of those bridge commutes. Speaking of them, I think the Rays should relocate to a nice field in Clearwater or Oldsmar in my opinion – halfway between Tampa and St Pete. The commute wouldn’t necessarily have to be long and over water for fans to get to the games.

SO like I said, I’m partial to the “Tampa Bay Thunder” but I would prefer it for the Baseball team…

So, I propose: The Satan Rays. No more pussyfooting around, make that alliance with the dark forces explicit! (Hey, a deal with Lucifer is about what it’ll take to get that squad into the winning column…)

As for the hoops team, I can’t go with Thunder, precisely because the existing teams’ names argue against it. Imagine this scene from a hypothetical household in Pinellas County:

Wife: Honey, I thought you said you’d gotten tickets for Lightning!
Husband: No, I clearly said “Thunder”! Totally different word, totally different sport!
Wife: Why would I say I wanted to go see a basketball game, don’t you know I hate basketball?!
Husband: You never listen to me!!
Wife: YOU JERK!
Husband: YOU SHREW!!

And divorce rates all over the Bay area would skyrocket, all because the franchise names are just too similar in concept, and thus confusing. You don’t really want that to happen, do you? Huh?

I’m one who wants a franchise named the Thunder. I mean, come on! We got a Storm brewing, and where there is Lightning — soon after comes Thunder.

I wouldn’t be against ressurecting the name “Mutiny” either…. Though lets save that for TB’s re-entry into MLS if that ever happens.

WIth basketball being such an urban game, the name should also reflect that… I thought of Ybor first and foremost when I thought of a basketball team for one reason or another… Probably because of the Spanish heritage and the cigars…. I think I’d go with something inspired by that (the Guavas doesn’t work, and I think the league would be againt calling the team the Blunts).

Conquistidors is too long but it’s another name I’ve liked for the region.