Oregon Trail Blazers? Lawmaker urges team to change name
Why should Portland hog all the glory?
A new resolution proposed in the state legislature calls on the Portland Trail Blazers to adopt a new, more inclusive title: the Oregon Trail Blazers.
"Blazermania affects Oregonians from all walks of life and from every area of the state, regardless of the city they call home," writes state Rep. E. Werner Reschke, R-Klamath Falls, in House Concurrent Resolution 15.
"We recognize the importance of the team to the entire State of Oregon and its place in the hearts of Oregonians across the state."
It should be noted that only the team owners and the National Basketball Association can approve a new team name, but the nonbinding resolution would "urge" the switch if it is passed into law.
The Portland Trail Blazers earned their nom de hoops back in 1970, following a contest that allowed fans to vote for their favorite name, with the final selection made by a judging panel.
"People throughout the state follow the Trail Blazers team, not just those in the Portland area," Rep. Reschke said in a statement. "Changing the name to the Oregon Trail Blazers allows more Oregonians to embrace the team as their own."
The proposed resolution was first spotted on Twitter by Gordon Friedman.
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