Tulsa Celtics: Junior Hurricanes (Tulsa University style)

Tulsa Celtics: Junior Hurricanes (Tulsa University style)
I received this comment from an anonymous poster:

Hello, I would like to give you some information, I am a fan of the The original Tulsa Jr. Hurricanes. Somehow the team you are speaking about are imposters,they have taken that name without permission.The real junior hurricanes started by a coach by the name of Samy Mack over 10 years ago.By the way Bama Pie used to sponsor this team until Paula Chapman took her son off the team.Hopoefully the imposters will realize they should change their name since they are using Tulsa Jr. Hurricanes without permission


Here was my response:

Dear Anonymous Fan of the "original" Tulsa Jr. Hurricane (Coach Sam Mack's Original Hurricane team); I appreciate your concern and understand why you feel the way you do about the use of the "Jr. Hurricane" moniker.

First, I know Coach Mack as I formerly covered Sports for the Tulsa World, and watched and wrote game stories for over 10 years. Besides Mark Price, Wayman Tisdale, Kevin Pritchard and hundreds of other great athletes AND basketball players, I watched Sam play 5 or 6 times during his High School Career.

My oldest son Josh, now 21, played for Coach Mack during some summer games and while he attended East Central High School. He does a great job with the fortunate young men who get his coaching input.

With regards to team names; we didn't seek permission from the Boston Celtics before adopting their name, nor do we pay royalties of any sort to them.

I doubt that the Jr. Hurricanes did with Tulsa University or Miami University, both who could rightfully claim the HURRICANE name.

Youth Basketball should be ALL ABOUT THE KIDS. I've had parents ask me about their son playing on this team or that team during tournaments, leagues or practicing. I tell them it is 100% up to them. If we are not practicing or playing, I prefer my players to be playing. Whether it is in the street, the Y, or on another organized team is irrelevant.

The way to improve is to play. Experience makes you better. At least it gives you the input to improve; you have to recognize your weaknesses and develop them so opposing teams can't exploit YOUR weakness to help take down your team.

Also, every Coach is different. The things they expect; how they practice, and how they teach. Experience in this area is important also. When your son or daughter goes through the four high school years, the Coach MAY be the same person throughout. More likely is the possibility of having at least ONE new Coach. Adapting to different styles is part of being a TEAM player. I know players in High School and College who had new coaches EVERY year they played. Talk about starting over every year.

I know this is quite lengthy response to your Jr. Hurricane imposter post, but I feel there may be more important issues to worry about in the world than the legality of using a nickname.

If it is truly important, there are probably steps you could pursue.

Thanks for your comment!
Bruce Morton