Comments on: Evolution of NBA Team Logos

Evolution of NBA Team Logos

swift — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:52:56 -0800

Evolution of NBA Team Logos

By: eoden

eoden — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:55:53 -0800

And the Bulls logo hasn't been altered once. Hm.

By: Etrigan

Etrigan — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:56:56 -0800

"Bulls, mofo. You know us. Horns, check. Red and black, check. Any questions? Didn't think so."

By: The Card Cheat

The Card Cheat — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:57:17 -0800

I wonder how many meetings it took before they decided to pull the trigger on that radical Bobcats overhaul.

By: everichon

everichon — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:57:35 -0800

Not a roundball fan but holy shit, Denver Nuggets 1981-1993, that...is a logo.

By: hal9k

hal9k — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:58:02 -0800

You can practically smell the invoice from that Charlotte Bobcat redesign. (Likewise Lakers)

By: NoMich

NoMich — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:58:18 -0800

Present day sports logos makes me really hate Illustrator. The original Milwaukee Bucks logo is awesome.

By: everichon

everichon — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:59:00 -0800

Yeah that Bucks one made me feel old.

By: hellojed

hellojed — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:59:25 -0800

The old Bucks logo is adorable.

By: Ironmouth

Ironmouth — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 11:59:56 -0800

"Bulls, mofo. You know us. Horns, check. Red and black, check. Any questions? Didn't think so." Oh, and those 6 titles.

By: hal9k

hal9k — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:01:06 -0800

This later Miami Heat logo really conveys that "steamer down the bowl" look and feel.

By: Thorzdad

Thorzdad — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:01:30 -0800

I am seriously amazed that the Bulls' logo has never changed. Chicago's such a huge design hub, I would have thought they would have experimented a few times. It's also kind of funny to see how many teams went through that slick-corporate-logo phase, where all the logos looked like they came from the same designer. And, come to think of it, I think most of the did come from some sports-logo-design specialty shop.

By: Curious Artificer

Curious Artificer — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:02:18 -0800

Is that a pooping leprechaun? Tell me that wasn't a pooping leprechaun.

By: zsazsa

zsazsa — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:02:46 -0800

Too bad this list doesn't include the awesome "The City" logo for the Warriors from when they were in San Francisco (complete with cable car on the back of the jersey).

By: k5.user

k5.user — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:03:32 -0800

Wait a sec. They deny the Washington DC team was ever called the Bullets ? Or, since the name changed (but not the city) the old logos aren't included ?

By: joe lisboa

joe lisboa — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:06:06 -0800

Do not mess with classic greatness.

By: porpoise

porpoise — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:07:40 -0800

Wow, the '80s. I'm really surprised that the Bulls logo was conceived in 1966. Not surprised that it hasn't been altered - they hit the proverbial bullseye with that design. It'd be neat to see all the logos arranged in a timeline by year instead of static columns.

By: hal9k

hal9k — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:07:47 -0800

Now look at the bottom of the page and ask yourself: "Self, when did AirTran morph into PepsiCo?"

By: theodolite

theodolite — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:15:04 -0800

Theodore Drake designed the Bulls logo and the Notre Dame leprechaun. He was paid $50 for each. Talk about stiffed.

By: nushustu

nushustu — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:15:35 -0800

joe lisboa: yes. Also, this has 1975-era local PBS affiliate written all over it.

By: COBRA!

COBRA! — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:15:43 -0800

The original Timberwolves "smiling husky" was so, so great; and the current "snarling pig-like thing" is so, so bad.

By: shinynewnick

shinynewnick — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:17:50 -0800

Love it. Looking through these immediately takes me back to 12 years old watching basketball continuously and collecting basketball cards.

By: Zophi

Zophi — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:18:25 -0800

I hadn't realized so many years had gone by since I'd paid attention to basketball. It's kind of awesome that I can pinpoint 2002 as the year I stopped collecting cards and watching it.

By: COBRA!

COBRA! — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:18:26 -0800

Not a roundball fan but holy shit, Denver Nuggets 1981-1993, that...is a logo. posted by everichon ...for an early Activision game.

By: FelliniBlank

FelliniBlank — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:19:42 -0800

I'm diggin' the Philly Throwback flavor.

By: nushustu

nushustu — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:20:44 -0800

Why did the Pistons have a horse on their logo in the 90s and later? Is that supposed to show horsepower? Really?

By: Iridic

Iridic — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:21:17 -0800

The Knicks should bring back the 1946 Knickerbocker. All of their subsequent logos are just so many rounds of Extruded Basketball Product.

By: BitterOldPunk

BitterOldPunk — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:22:37 -0800

The 1981-1993 Denver Nuggets logo... words fail me. One year, OK, I understand. They were all smoking angel dust and that one just slipped by. But to use that logo for 12 years?!? It looks like Walt Disney ate a box of Legos and then puked on an embroidery hoop. Also: the 1979-1996 Utah Jazz logo was just fine and I wish they'd go back to using it.

By: Ad hominem

Ad hominem — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:22:44 -0800

The Knicks need to go back to the original logo. Like some boulevardier just tossed down his walking stick to play some hoops. Thats just how we do in New York. One minute you are rolling in your Maybach the next minute you are playing a pickup game in your $1000 gators.

By: The Card Cheat

The Card Cheat — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:22:45 -0800

1. I always wondered what a "Knick" was. 2. I guess I never looked closely enough at the Wizards logo to realize it's an actual Wizard. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA 3. What's wrong with the Denver Nuggets guy's arms? 4. The 1981 Nuggets logo predates Tetris by three years! 5. I'm surprised by how few of these I like. My favourite of the current logos might be Golden State's.

By: joe lisboa

joe lisboa — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:23:27 -0800

Why did the Pistons have a horse on their logo in the 90s and later? Is that supposed to show horsepower? Really? Yup. Sad, so sad. Glad they ditched him in the logo, but he is still a presence (dude in a horse costume) on the sidelines. They gave him a terribly saccharine name, too, which eludes me at the moment. Hopper?

By: eriko

eriko — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:23:41 -0800

Chicago's such a huge design hub, I would have thought they would have experimented a few times. Most of the main Chicago team logos have been relatively static. The Bears C logo is from 1962, it changes with the orange infill in 1974 and has stayed since. The face-of-the-bear was redrawn in 1999 without the outline, but is otherwise identical to the 1963 logo. The Cubbies, being a franchise over 100 years old, obviously had a lot of change -- but the first sign of the Cubs C is from 1908. Then, they went to what is clearly the genesis of the Chicago Bears logo in 1916. Then, well, OMG. Then we get the crossover logo -- clearly, the rest of the Cubs C is in place, but we still got a bit of da bears here. Then, finally, we text the text from the 1919 logo and stick it in the 1908 C to get the first version of the Cubbie C. Then someone decides to make the text red and, well, I'm not sure what they were thinking with the outline. In 1957 (finally), that's fixed, and we're almost there, when a real designer fixes the font weight, and says if you're going to have a blue circle, have one. So, the final design is from 1979, but that's a tweak of the 1957 logo. The Blackhawks settled on thier logo in 1964/65, but the basic design was right there from the start. The Sox? I'd rather not talk about what they went through to get to this. Lord, it's not the best logo, but given what they've gone through....

By: joe lisboa

joe lisboa — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:23:58 -0800

Hooper. Shoot me now. Better yet, shoot the horse.

By: griphus

griphus — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:24:11 -0800

id Software Presents: The Houston Rockets.

By: swift

swift — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:25:58 -0800

The original Dallas Mavericks logo features founding owner Don Carter's cowboy hat. The logo under the current owner appears to reflect that guy's haircut.

By: Ad hominem

Ad hominem — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:26:38 -0800

1. I always wondered what a "Knick" was. A Knick is a Knickerbocker, an archaic term for a New Yorker that never really caught on to begin with. See also the Knickerbocker Club.

By: Capt. Renault

Capt. Renault — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:27:09 -0800

That '78-'90 New Jersey Nets... That's not a basketball team, that's a commuter train. I'd expect it to stand for Newark-East Transportation System or something. Good Lord.

By: N-stoff

N-stoff — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:27:37 -0800

No SuperSonics, no Bullets, no Minneapolis Lakers? Syracuse Nationals? History isn't big in the NBA these days.

By: The Card Cheat

The Card Cheat — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:28:32 -0800

I love sports uniform/logo threads. Please enjoy this bad hockey logos page, which includes The Toronto Planets, which is probably the single worst logo I've ever seen.

By: xbonesgt

xbonesgt — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:28:43 -0800

I never realized until just now that the Hawks logo from 1972-1995 was a hawk's head. It's shaped like a weird Pac-Man eating a power pill!

By: Eideteker

Eideteker — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:29:40 -0800

Man, I've never even heard of half of these teams? Where are the Hornets? Did they somehow turn into Bobcats? That is no spell I ever heard of, polymorph bees to cats. Get on that, D&D/M:TG people.

By: The Card Cheat

The Card Cheat — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:29:54 -0800

Oops: Toronto Planets.

By: Rock Steady

Rock Steady — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:30:38 -0800

I guess I never looked closely enough at the Wizards logo to realize it's an actual Wizard. As a kid, I though for years that the Hawks 1972-1995 logo was some weird kind of Pac Man thing. Mind was fully blown when the lightbulb went off on that one. The Celtics are really using this alternate logo more than Lucky these days. I really like it.

By: hydrophonic

hydrophonic — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:30:45 -0800

There's a surprising return to sanity with Detroit, Golden State, Memphis, and Philadelphia. Even Minnesota's calmed down. What happened? Did x-treme sports peel away that demographic?

By: Think_Long

Think_Long — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:31:39 -0800

Denver Nuggets: Fuck yes.

By: gordie

gordie — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:32:45 -0800

I like to think that the 1968 Buck and the 1976 Nugget would be good buddies.

By: Rock Steady

Rock Steady — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:33:20 -0800

Ha! Wocka wocka wocka, xbonesgt.

By: griphus

griphus — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:34:34 -0800

Get on that, D&D/M:TG people. Done and done. Although it would only make one of the bees into a cat. Also, if the bee is willing you can just use the regular Polymorph spell. (In M:TG the same thing applies to the Polymorph card. However, you can turn a group of bees into a single bobcat if the group of bees is a single creature.)

By: Kabanos

Kabanos — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:37:48 -0800

That little dude from the 71/72 Houston Rockets logo now works for Little Caesars.

By: Pruitt-Igoe

Pruitt-Igoe — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:38:57 -0800

Both old Denver Nuggets were better than the current one. It looks like a macro-brew beer label. Was the original LA Lakers logo really purple on pea green? Hard to read.

By: The Card Cheat

The Card Cheat — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:39:49 -0800

I will note without further comment that the Spurs chose that second logo the same year Miami Vice went off the air.

By: askmehow

askmehow — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:44:03 -0800

The Washington Wizards are a terrible basketball organization in every respect, all the way through logo design.

By: The Card Cheat

The Card Cheat — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:47:31 -0800

"They look like my daughter got a hold of some crayons." - Charles Barkley

By: Justinian

Justinian — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 12:54:08 -0800

4. The 1981 Nuggets logo predates Tetris by three years! That's because it isn't reminiscent of Tetris, it is reminiscent of Breakout.

By: Challahtronix

Challahtronix — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:05:36 -0800

Wait a sec. They deny the Washington DC team was ever called the Bullets ? .... The Washington Wizards are a terrible basketball organization in every respect, all the way through logo design. The Bullets "helping hands" logo was so much better than the current Wizards one in that 1970s "yay Uncle Sam!" ABA style; Not that the Wizard is awful, but just bland and unmemorable- and virtually no one notices that his beard turns his shirt into a "W", which is the only neat part of the design. I think they realized this just this past year, which is why they returned to the red, white, and blue color scheme of the old Bullets (which looks terrible with the Wizards logo) and introduced an "alternate" logo as an homage. in almost every case ABA logo > NBA logo.

By: dirtdirt

dirtdirt — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:08:17 -0800

Is it true that only two teams from 1946 are still operating in their original towns under their original names? Celtics and Knicks?

By: AzraelBrown

AzraelBrown — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:10:52 -0800

Here's how I imagine the Clippers change went: After eight years of research and focus groups, fourteen million dollars and after firing three different design groups, the lights were dimmed in the board room. Fifteen men in expensive suits sat around the conference table, while three graphic designers stood next to the overhead screen, sweating through their shirts. One turns on the Powerpoint, and they announce: "We have turned the basketball around, and fixed the wonky lines at the bottom that didn't connect to anything." Cheers of "HUZZAH!" erupt from the board of directors, and cigars are passed out.

By: pointystick

pointystick — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:11:23 -0800

The Card Cheat, if you love logo threads, are you familiar with the late lamented Macon Whoopee?

By: Rock Steady

Rock Steady — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:12:43 -0800

Is it true that only two teams from 1946 are still operating in their original towns under their original names? Celtics and Knicks? Yup. There are only 6 original BAA teams left, and most of them have moved around.

By: Gary

Gary — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:14:02 -0800

Please enjoy this bad hockey logos page, which includes The Toronto Planets, which is probably the single worst logo I've ever seen. A lot of those are Roller Hockey International logos. It's not hard finding bad logos for an early 90s league trying hard to get noticed. Buffalo Wings, anyone?

By: davebush

davebush — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:14:23 -0800

I don't think I could properly explain why, but I find that original 77/78 New Jersey Nets logo charming. It looks like something you might see painted on a pizzeria window.

By: Eideteker

Eideteker — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:15:56 -0800

Wait, wtf? OKCupid has a team?

By: Ad hominem

Ad hominem — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:17:42 -0800

Best logo from a fictional league, the Zephyr Sea Bay Narwhalers.

By: Sys Rq

Sys Rq — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:18:27 -0800

Wait a sec. They deny the Washington DC team was ever called the Bullets ? Or, since the name changed (but not the city) the old logos aren't included ? The second one. A whole bunch of those teams started elsewhere, and none of their old logos are there, which is lame. They don't even have a Hornets logo that is hornet-coloured! Come on!

By: oneswellfoop

oneswellfoop — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:21:01 -0800

I don't know why the infographic insisted on pointing out every minor change in color pallette. Everybody KNOWS the Lakers logo hasn't changed since 1976 (and the L.A. Clippers logo basically copies the Lakers - that recent change was just to make it look slightly less ripped-off). It certainly would've been better if it didn't only include logos for the current home city/team name. Not everybody remembers the Lakers started out in Minneapolis (and the logo almost made it look like a team name was the Mpls).

By: Danf

Danf — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:21:46 -0800

I love that the basketball team in LA (the one that relocated from Minnesota) is still called the Lakers. It fits with the LA (Trolley) Dodgers, and if and when LA gets another NFL team, it would be fitting if the Texans moved there and didn't change their name.

By: Sys Rq

Sys Rq — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:24:23 -0800

Buffalo Wings, anyone? Man, the Toronto Raptors logo really needs some Land of the Lost-style rock typography.

By: ChuraChura

ChuraChura — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:28:18 -0800

I wonder why Utah didn't change the name when the Jazz moved up from New Orleans. There's something perplexing about the Utah Jazz...

By: exogenous

exogenous — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:29:21 -0800

Next to the retina-grabbing style of the 1981-1993 Denver Nuggets logo, it's easy to miss the coke-addled Miner Forty-Niner with disco tube socks featured in their prior logo.

By: eoden

eoden — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:31:19 -0800

Denver Nuggets 1981-1993, that...is a logo. No, that is a game of Breakout.

By: Copronymus

Copronymus — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:31:25 -0800

If minor league hockey logos are on the table, then the Lubbock Cotton Kings need to be in the discussion. I never thought a cotton ball could menace until I saw that logo.

By: eoden

eoden — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:34:39 -0800

(goddammit)

By: peep

peep — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:34:54 -0800

I have a shitload of Skybox cards with that Denver logo. LOVE.

By: eoden

eoden — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:36:32 -0800

I wonder why Utah didn't change the name when the Jazz moved up from New Orleans. There's something perplexing about the Utah Jazz... "...where they don't allow music."

By: Ad hominem

Ad hominem — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:39:29 -0800

Since we are delcing into the minor leagues. I nominate the Batavia Muckdogs for some sort of award for the most insane name and logo, a rabid dog wallowing in muck. And the Brooklyn Cyclones for the best minor league logo.

By: oneswellfoop

oneswellfoop — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:39:55 -0800

Danf, every team to relocate in L.A. or vicinity has kept its old name, and actually, the L.A.kers seemed more appropriate than most. But considering our history with new teams with original names: The Angels, perfect for L.A.until they decided they didn't want to play in Dodger Stadium, moved to Orange County and had a perpetual identity crisis ever since; The Kings, because local sports mogul Jack Kent Cooke had delusions of royalty; The (Mighty) Ducks, literally a Disney movie spin-off. Then there were the L.A. Chargers, who after one year decided they were too cool for L.A. and moved to ... San Diego? And eoden, Utah does allow some music, but the Osmonds sure ain't Jazzy.

By: eoden

eoden — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:40:32 -0800

oneswellfoop, 'twas a movie quote.

By: oneswellfoop

oneswellfoop — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:42:04 -0800

Too bad the New Orleans football team didn't move to Utah... they could've been the Latter Day Saints. (eoden, I know, I was pulling your leg... doesn't one seem longer than the other?)

By: gompa

gompa — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:42:47 -0800

That '78-'90 New Jersey Nets... That's not a basketball team, that's a commuter train. I'd expect it to stand for Newark-East Transportation System or something. Good Lord. Came in here to say pretty much exactly this. Just looking at the thing, you can almost smell the stale coffee and hear the tinny PA announcements: "New Jersey NETS express train to Montclair now boarding at Platform 3 . . . all passengers on the NETS train for Montclair, proceed to Platform 3 . . ." I see a tromping line of guys in bad plaid '70s suits, a Herb Tarlek marching army boarding a train under that logo. Unrelated query: Which is the more anachronistic nickname - Utah Jazz or Memphis Grizzlies? I mean, there might actually be a single Jazz club in Salt Lake or something, but there's no way no how you're gonna find a grizzly bear in Memphis.

By: eoden

eoden — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:43:49 -0800

(eoden, I know, I was pulling your leg... doesn't one seem longer than the other?) That explains the limp.

By: eoden

eoden — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:44:56 -0800

there might actually be a single Jazz club in Salt Lake or something Underground jazz is always the best. Although when the cops show up, it's rough. "OPEN THE DOOR! WE KNOW YOU'RE BEING INTERESTING IN THERE!"

By: smackfu

smackfu — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:46:34 -0800

Best logo from a fictional league, the Zephyr Sea Bay Narwhalers. Reminds me of this non-fictional one. (Google: Did you mean: thrashers. Nope.)

By: The Card Cheat

The Card Cheat — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:46:34 -0800

OMG I just noticed that the old Rockets logo had a face! I have to start paying closer attention to this stuff.

By: pianomover

pianomover — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:46:47 -0800

Your Lansing Lugnuts.

By: wemayfreeze

wemayfreeze — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 13:59:53 -0800

The main image of the new Warriors logo is nice (and I guess that's supposed to be the new, in-production Bay Bridge? Neat.), but goddamn it if that ain't Copperplate Gothic. TERRIBLE. Just looking at it makes me all stabby. GR.

By: February28

February28 — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:02:29 -0800

1981-1993 Denver Nuggets Double Rainbow All The Way

By: AJaffe

AJaffe — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:04:09 -0800

Gompa, the Memphis Southmen of the mid-70s World Football League were also known as the Grizzlies (their helmet logo featured a grizzly bear). I have no idea why...

By: Gary

Gary — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:11:01 -0800

If only Vancouver could have gone with their first choice of names. Memphis Mounties has nice alliteration.

By: Mister_A

Mister_A — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:21:20 -0800

Don't overlook the magic of the NHL's California Seals/Golden Seals.

By: reenum

reenum — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:45:19 -0800

The Nuggets logo from the 1980's was butt ugly, but it had an odd appeal to it. Same with the rainbow Astros logo.

By: hijinx

hijinx — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:50:45 -0800

This is begging to be placed on a timeline and corrected with teams' prior locations/names. Fascinating stuff, and I totally and non-ironically like the Denver Nuggets Atari logo.

By: davebush

davebush — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:53:34 -0800

Don't overlook the magic of the NHL's California Seals/Golden Seals. I was fortunate enough to experience those incredible uniforms (with white skates!) first hand. Seals VS Leafs, early 70's.

By: Hoopo

Hoopo — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 14:54:48 -0800

Man, the Toronto Raptors logo really needs some Land of the Lost-style rock typography Back when the naming contest was on, my friend suggested the Towers. I still think that's the best name I've heard for that team. "Raptors" always seemed like such a short-sighted attempt to cash in on the Jurassic Park franchise.

By: Grimgrin

Grimgrin — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:24:27 -0800

If none of you have heard the hot licks of Hiram Ulysses Hinckley and the High Altitude Brass y'all are missing out.

By: Navelgazer

Navelgazer — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:28:13 -0800

What's weird to me is that the period when I first got into basketball as a kid is also the period where every team logo stayed the same for a while. It's like when the Jordan era hit and people started paying real attention to the sport, everyone in power just started holding their breath for fear of any change bringing the whole thing crashing down, and then when Jordan retired they were all like, "cool, let's change EVERYTHING!" The Rockets redesign was a disaster that they've never recovered from, like they jumped on the Late Nineties EXTREME train and rode that fucker straight to hell. And half the other teams were on board as well. Anyway, hopefully someone can answer this one for me: Is there some significance to the... thing... in the Portland Trailblazers' logo that I'm not getting? It just seems like it's simultaneously completely random and yet the entire identity of the team.

By: MCMikeNamara

MCMikeNamara — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:29:47 -0800

Wait, wtf? OKCupid has a team? See, I've done the exact same thing in reverse. I kept wandering why so many people on AskMe were asking about dating in Oklahoma City.

By: bietz

bietz — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 15:52:30 -0800

The 90s were awful for logos. Everything became so EXTREME. I think the same thing happened in the NFL as well.

By: The Card Cheat

The Card Cheat — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:07:27 -0800

Los Angeles Extreme! The Extreme were no Orlando Rage, though.

By: mudpuppie

mudpuppie — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:13:48 -0800

Why does the Golden State Warriors' logo feature the Tampa Bay Sunshine Skyway bridge?

By: Gary

Gary — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:20:42 -0800

I think the same thing happened in the NFL as well. Browsing the NFL logos, they seem to have avoided the problems of the 90s. In fact, they seem to have kept things pretty conservative for the last half-century or so. Although, it's funny to find out the Cleveland Browns had a Rice Krispies elf for so many years given their almost complete lack of branding now.

By: dixiecupdrinking

dixiecupdrinking — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:28:12 -0800

That '78-'90 New Jersey Nets... That's not a basketball team, that's a commuter train. It's funny, I had a similar reaction, except I thought a lot of the 70s and 80s logos look like airlines. Though frankly, I think Pan-Am's logo is actually just a basketball.

By: dixiecupdrinking

dixiecupdrinking — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:31:02 -0800

How much of these changes can be attributed to technology for embossing colors on hats and stuff? My little league team was the Diamondbacks the year they debuted and I couldn't believe how many goddamn colors were on our hats. Of course, I was used to this, basically.

By: quite unimportant

quite unimportant — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 16:54:16 -0800

Since we are delcing into the minor leagues. I nominate the Batavia Muckdogs for some sort of award for the most insane name and logo What a seriously random place for a callout to my hometown, but I'll explain: Genesee County, NY contains what has been called the "Elba Mucklands", or simply "The Muck" to the locals. It was formed in the early 20th century when they drained a whole lot of swampland to create more fertile farmland. Apparently, The Muck has extraordinarily high levels of organic materials and it's been said it's some of the most fertile soil in the country. Mostly farmland, the county takes a lot of pride in their agriculture, The Muck being a very productive example. So when it came time to name or rename the new ball club, the locals voted to be called the Muckdogs. Now you know.

By: MikeMc

MikeMc — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:18:11 -0800

The Rockets current logo looks like it belongs on the side of a can of energy drink.

By: Slothrop

Slothrop — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 17:27:00 -0800

To answer Eideteker's question from way up thread - the Hornets were originally in Charlotte and then they moved to New Orleans, because the city really grew to hate the owner, George Shinn (with some good reasons). When they moved, the NBA promised that Charlotte would get the next expansion franchise because the Hornets at their peak led the league in attendance. The new expansion team, the Bobcats, started in... 2005? The interest in the NBA hasn't quite recovered, although Jordan seems to slowly be bringing fans back.

By: egypturnash

egypturnash — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:13:14 -0800

Oh man the 1971/72 Houston Rockets logo is the most awesome thing. It's a little UPA-looking dude with a jetpack! And the Wizards logo is a totally sweet piece of work. Crescent moon/basketball with this ultra dynamic wizard leaping in front of it with a ball. Then in 2011 they totally ruin it by rescaling the wizard to be smaller and changing the colors to completely unsubtle red and blue instead of the nice sophisticated brown/blue/black, what the fuck happened, did they lose a lot of money and not be able to afford 3-color printing on their merch any more or something?

By: Sys Rq

Sys Rq — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 18:29:12 -0800

Although, it's funny to find out the Cleveland Browns had a Rice Krispies elf for so many years given their almost complete lack of branding now. He's a Brownie, dammit!

By: Stonestock Relentless

Stonestock Relentless — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:01:38 -0800

The second oldest Nuggets logo seems like a pretty polarizing logo, i just want to put my vote in the "best goddamned motherfucking logo ever" camp.

By: redsparkler

redsparkler — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:21:17 -0800

Re: The Trailblazer's logo: "Harry Glickman's cousin, Frank Glickman, of Boston, Massachusetts, designed the original logo, consisting of a straight up and down pinwheel with black on the top and red on the bottom. Its meaning is simple: a modern graphic interpretation of the game of basketball, five players from one side playing against five players from another. "

By: hangashore

hangashore — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 19:26:38 -0800

Should Milwaukee ever join the NHL, I do hope they have the good sense to reuse their AHL logo.

By: Hoopo

Hoopo — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:00:09 -0800

I was so hoping that logo would be a beer. Speaking of crappy NHL logos, I gotta give a nod to my hometown's team--of which I am still a devoted fan despite having moved and them being horrible now--the Ottawa Senators. I mean, it looks alright I guess but that's not a fuckin Senator, it's a centurion. Whatever, at least we didn't make an epic grammar error like Toronto.

By: Navelgazer

Navelgazer — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:08:55 -0800

Do not look at this jersey.

By: mreleganza

mreleganza — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:12:21 -0800

"The second oldest Nuggets logo seems like a pretty polarizing logo, i just want to put my vote in the "best goddamned motherfucking logo ever" camp." Me too, including their uniforms at the time, as wonderfully gaudy as they were. Lifesavers, anyone? Count me also in the number of people who, as a child, had that, "That's not Pac-Man! WHOAAAAAA." moment wrt the Hawks. I could've sworn the Bulls deep-sixed the blood on the horns a few years ago, but apparently I'm insane. We've been linking Chris Creamer's logo site a lot, and I suspect that the guy responsible for this piece nicked them from there without attribution. If so, not cool. Chris Creamer's site is the bomb.

By: mreleganza

mreleganza — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:13:46 -0800

Do not look at this jersey. Oh...my...dear...sweet....GOD!!!!!!

By: swift

swift — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:21:23 -0800

We've been linking Chris Creamer's logo site a lot, and I suspect that the guy responsible for this piece nicked them from there without attribution. Yeah, the logo site is awesome, and I wish I'd seen it before linking to some random Orlando Magic article. But I'm glad to be educated.

By: BitterOldPunk

BitterOldPunk — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 21:35:30 -0800

I went to a minor league baseball game tonight. My hometown team is the Birmingham Barons, who have a classic if rather staid logo befitting their storied and illustrious history (Rickwood Field, oldest ballpark in the world, past players include Willie Mays and Reggie Jackson and Frank Thomas, links to the historic Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro League and the great pitcher Satchel Paige, etc, etc). The team we played tonight? The Montgomery Biscuits. I wish I could swallow my local pride long enough to buy a jersey from this fierce intra-state rival, because a dark blue jersey with the word "BISCUITS" in bright yellow emblazoned across it? Awesome.

By: me3dia

me3dia — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 22:35:16 -0800

past players include Willie Mays and Reggie Jackson and Frank Thomas, links to the historic Birmingham Black Barons of the Negro League and the great pitcher Satchel Paige, etc, etc). You left out Michael Jordan. Oh wait, that was probably on purpose.

By: Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell

Conrad Cornelius o'Donald o'Dell — Tue, 16 Aug 2011 23:33:12 -0800

hangashore: "Should Milwaukee ever join the NHL, I do hope they have the good sense to reuse their AHL logo." Sweet lord. That pirate skeleton admiral is using his own leg as a hockey stick — and can fairly assume it's his own leg because in place of that leg, he appears to have a peg-leg. That is a truly remarkable choice of equipment, particularly since you'd think, on account of his rank, he could order one of his sailors to cough up a leg.

By: KingEdRa

KingEdRa — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 01:26:26 -0800

The 81-93 Nuggets logo was so awesome in its 70's NASA futurism sort of way.. It was like "This is what the home team will wear in 20 years when we play basketball on THE MOON!"

By: mreleganza

mreleganza — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 02:11:54 -0800

Chris Creamer confirms via twitter that the work on the Magic (official site, no less) site is his, and he's not thrilled about it.

By: clearly

clearly — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 05:04:47 -0800

The 1927-1928 Detroit Tigers logo is a classic. It looks like it belongs under a few alphabet refrigerator magnets.

By: Rock Steady

Rock Steady — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 05:46:09 -0800

We've been linking Chris Creamer's logo site a lot, and I suspect that the guy responsible for this piece nicked them from there without attribution. If so, not cool. Chris Creamer's site is the bomb. Chris Creamer's sportslogos.net is my TV Tropes. I have spent hours there tracing through one obscure league after another.

By: Reasonably Everything Happens

Reasonably Everything Happens — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 06:35:16 -0800

the 90's were so purple

By: smackfu

smackfu — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 06:58:51 -0800

Chris Creamer confirms via twitter that the work on the Magic (official site, no less) site is his, and he's not thrilled about it. I don't think getting in a fight with the NBA over who has the right to use NBA logos on their site is wise.

By: theichibun

theichibun — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 09:32:02 -0800

At some point since this was posted the author has gone back and done logos for teams since birth and not just since arriving in current city.

By: Gary

Gary — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 13:30:38 -0800

Hooper. Shoot me now. I guess no one wanted to make a Piston Man costume? I'm more familiar with hockey where logos were simple and sharp until the 80s (blame the WHA I guess?). So seeing the very literal 49er or Steeler are pretty funny given how iconic those teams' current logos are. The Red Sox had this logo for ten years?

By: Sys Rq

Sys Rq — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:14:30 -0800

the 90's were so purple And, dear lord, the teal! Just about every new team in every pro league in every sport from 1990 through 1999 had teal in their logo. Teal.

By: Sys Rq

Sys Rq — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:25:23 -0800

(Oh, hey, he put in the pre-relocation logos!)

By: Rock Steady

Rock Steady — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 14:28:03 -0800

A lot of those are Roller Hockey International logos. It's not hard finding bad logos for an early 90s league trying hard to get noticed. Buffalo Wings, anyone? I actually remember watching RHI games on ESPN 2 late night back in the 90s. If anything, the uniforms were worse than the logos. Long pants!

By: kurumi

kurumi — Wed, 17 Aug 2011 16:38:54 -0800

What jumps out is how literal the NBA logos are. Only three out of 32 team logos in the NFL feature an artifact from the game (ball, field, or helmet). Five out of 30 NHL teams have a stick or puck in their logo. Ten out of 30 MLB logos feature a bat, ball or diamond. But 20 out of 30 NBA team logos -- 67 percent -- include all or part of a basketball. It's like those infomercials where "Call now!" is accompanied by video of a hand picking up a phone.

By: hydrophonic

hydrophonic — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 10:52:53 -0800

Chris Creamer's sportslogos.net is my TV Tropes. I don't follow sports much since giving up on the Cubs in 1985, but the logos are fascinating. How many minor league teams reference fruits and vegetables? Quite a few: 1 2 3 4 5. The Stompers are no more, but imagine them going up against the Jammers. The Queens Kings needs to be revived in a transgender league. If you're into fantasy and science fiction, perhaps you'd have a soft spot for The Unicorns of The 51s. This, however, is horrendous.

By: Rock Steady

Rock Steady — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:02:29 -0800

This, however, is horrendous. Their caps are kind of fantastic, though.

By: hydrophonic

hydrophonic — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 11:08:25 -0800

True, but they remind me of a pissed of Daffy Duck.

By: Rock Steady

Rock Steady — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 12:06:14 -0800

True, but they remind me of a pissed of Daffy Duck. Like I said, fantastic! Who doesn't like pissed off, spluttering Daffy?