OKLAHOMA CITY — Six weeks after the name first surfaced, team officials officially announced Wednesday that the team formerly known as the Seattle SuperSonics would be known as the Oklahoma City Thunder.

The announcement had long been anticipated, but everyone knew what was coming.

The local ABC affiliate reported in mid-July that Thunder had been chosen as the nickname. Then the NBA Web site listed NBA.com/thunder as a link to the Oklahoma City team’s page. Then the Orlando Magic’s site listed games against the Oklahoma City Thunder.

Team members Desmond Mason and Damien Wilkins and six area children unveiled a large blue banner with the logo in the middle, and splashes of yellow at the top and reddish-orange at the bottom.

Bennett said the light blue color coincides with the state flag to represent the inclusion of all Oklahomans, the yellow refers to the sun and the reddish-orange color to the sunset. With the University of Oklahoma featuring crimson as its primary color, and Oklahoma State using orange, Bennett said it was “not too red and not too orange.”

Thunder is a fitting moniker for the Oklahoma City franchise, not only as a reference to powerful storms in the area known as Tornado Alley. The Oklahoma City-based 45th Infantry Division carries Thunderbirds as its nickname, and that’s a reference to the state’s American Indian heritage.

GOLF

Former golfer Bolt dies

CHEROKEE VILLAGE, Ark. — Tommy Bolt, the 1958 U.S. Open champion who had one of golf’s sweetest swings and most explosive tempers, has died. He was 92. His wife, Mary Lou Bolt, said he died Saturday after “his liver shut down.”

Bolt won 15 times on the PGA Tour, with his lone major at Southern Hills in the 1958 by four shots over Gary Player. He was inducted into the World Golf Hall of Fame in 2002, which he called the highlight of his career.

But it was temper that gained him the most notoriety. Bolt was called “Terrible Tommy” and “Thunder,” and he was often fined and suspended by the PGA Tour for slamming clubs and using abusive language. He set up a special fund from his earnings to pay the fines.

PRO FOOTBALL

Moore has broken leg

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — After Carolina Panthers backup quarterback Matt Moore injured his left leg in the final preseason game last week, he had two X-rays and an MRI that revealed no broken bones.

Cleared to practice Wednesday, the former Oregon State University standout attempted to push off on his leg and felt something pop. X-rays revealed a broken fibula, and Moore is out indefinitely.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

LSUpostpones game

BATON ROUGE, La. — LSU postponed its football game against Troy to Nov. 15 after Hurricane Gustav damaged Tiger Stadium and battered Louisiana’s capital city far worse than anticipated.

The university made the decision Wednesday after having a full day to get a handle on damage to the stadium and the community, much of which is expected to be without power into next week.

SOCCER

D.C. United wins Cup

WASHINGTON — Fred led D.C. United to the U.S. Open Cup title and a berth in the CONCACAF Champions League, scoring in the 50th minute to help the Major League Soccer team beat the Charleston Battery 2-1 on Wednesday.

United also won the championship in the team’s inaugural 1996 season.

Charleston, a team from the second-tier United Soccer League’s First Division, was the first non-MLS team to play in the Cup final since 1999.

Since the formation of MLS in 1996, only three teams outside the top league have played in a U.S. Open Cup final. Only one won the title — the USL’s Rochester Rhinos beat the Colorado Rapids in 1999.