Endless possibilities for the Wings
NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen Women’s Basketball Worldwide) – What’s in a name? Well, quite a bit if you are associated with Dallas Wings – whose existence seems to have spurned a new industry in ‘Wings puns'.
NEWCASTLE (Paul Nilsen Women’s Basketball Worldwide) – What’s in a name? Well, quite a bit if you are associated with Dallas Wings – the new WNBA team (well, Tulsa Shock franchise) whose existence seems to have spurned a new industry in ‘Wings puns'.
WNBA fans are having a great time on social media dreaming up wing-related headlines, jokes, jibes and having general fun. Indeed the Wings moniker [and Pegasus-like logo] seems to have been universally slaughtered and yet all of this has such a familiar feel to it, because it’s something that most basketball observers have lived through before.
.@DWingsHoops we love the name change, but we’d like to recommend a small change to the logo. #GetWild #DallasWings pic.twitter.com/kpOtBX05sc
— WildWingCafe Pooler (@WWCPooler) November 2, 2015
History has not seen many team name names universally embraced or pinned to a cool wall - instead they are usually held up to be shot at. Then in time, people get used to it. Although because of the endless possibilities the Wings offers, it might take a little longer than usual in this particular case.
Of course the jovial side of the move papers over some of the interesting nuts and bolts. The Wings will play their home games at College Park Center, a state-of-the-art 7,000-seat arena on The University of Texas at Arlington campus.
That will be quite a feeling for Texan Odyssey Sims, who will play a starring role. Off the court, another Texas native in Chris Christian, an award winning songwriter/record producer has been a driving force in bringing women’s professional basketball back to the Dallas-Forth Worth Metroplex, and will serve as Vice Chairman and Managing partner for the franchise.
Big Stars, Bright Lights, Great Fun! #dallaswingsbasketball
Posted by Dallas Wings Basketball on Friday, 6 November 2015
He was quick to underlined the importance of Sims’ presence, although of course in reality, the team will be led by WNBA All-Star Skylar Diggins. Not only on the floor [when recovered from her injury] but also commercially. Young, dynamic and exciting is the theme – although just having women’s professional basketball returning to the DFW Metroplex after three decades should be enough to really drive things forward.
Or will it?
The decision to switch from Tulsa to the DFW Metroplex has re-ignited the debate as to whether it is better for the franchise to be one of the biggest tickets in town in a less dense sporting landscape such as Tulsa - or swimming as a moderate sized fish in a much deeper and rich sporting pool in North Texas?
Time will tell, but the influence and passion of several minority owners determined to see the franchise take off has also been palpable and having Diggins declare just how pumped she is for the task next year is priceless due to her stratospheric appeal.
You don't even understand how excited I am to put this jersey on next spring. My motivation. pic.twitter.com/JR3rzNrLhP
— Skylar Diggins (@SkyDigg4) November 3, 2015
The flip-side of the Wings lifting up and flying away from Tulsa to touch down in Texas is that the franchise leaves loyal and hardcore fans behind – people who now feel absolutely crushed. My heart really does go out to them. To suddenly not be able to watch your team when you have poured your heart and soul into following them is a bitter, bitter pill to have to forcibly swallow.
I’m a non-American who still wrestles with the concept of a franchise system (even if understand the business theory). I am firmly used to the ‘you are born, live and die’ the fan of a given [local] team and it’s tough to watch supporters suffer. Especially because they have come out to back the women’s game and for that, I salute those in Tulsa.
I will certainly be watching to see how Dallas fare next year with a keen eye and I am sure it will feed into this seemingly perpetual health check of the WNBA, which at various junctures has ranged from having rumours it is about to have the plug pulled on it, to it being the next big thing and the subject of more investment [the answer probably being somewhere between the two, which is stable].
And, with Wings taking flight and writing [an endless number of] headlines, the resignation of WNBA President Laurel Richie has arguably been overshadowed as NBA Deputy Commissioner Mark Tatum now picking up the reins on an interim basis.
Watch this space!
Paul Nilsen
FIBA
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