Just My Type

Sonic Doom

THE NBA brass gave the SuperSonics the O.K. to move to Oklahoma City for next year—but told them to leave the nickname in Seattle (like they should have done when the Jazz left New Orleans). I asked my radio listeners to suggest some new nicknames for Kevin Durant's team, and they rallied. Here are my favorites:
1. The Oklahoma City Slickers
2. The Durantulas
3. The SoonerSonics
4. The Okla-Homas
5. The Okie-Dokies
6. The O.C. Umenyioras
7. The Now-You- Seattle, Now-You-Don'ts

Rays of Heaven

ABOUT A month ago it felt like the Rays needed to make a big move before the July 31 trade deadline, maybe pick up a frontline starter, if they wanted to bring it home against the Yankees and the Red Sox. Now I think it's the exact opposite. The Rays have the second-lowest payroll in baseball, and they entered July with the American League's best record. They just swept the Sox. Wouldn't it be the best tribute to Tampa Bay's young roster—and a continued defiance of conventional baseball wisdom—to not change a thing?

THE FINE PRINT: Rafael Nadal, you've just won Wimbledon. Now please return all those sleeveless T-shirts to Scott Baio.

Go to DANPATRICK.COM for more on the All-Star Game and the State Farm Home Run Derby on Dan's radio show, 9 a.m. to noon ET Mon.-Fri.