Back by popular demand: Logo observations

This has been bothering me for a few years now.

On the left is the team logo of the Minnesota Timberwolves. It debuted during the 1996-1997 NBA season.

Historical note for basketball nerds: That was the season the Wolves made the playoffs for the first time ever. Led by the promising young trio of point guard Stephon Marbury and forwards Kevin Garnett and Tom Gugliotta (Googs!), no less.

On the right is the team logo of the Memphis Grizzlies. It debuted during the 2004-2005 NBA season.

Historical note for basketball nerds: That was the season the Great Hubie Brown stepped down from coaching for the last time just a handful of games in, ending his 33-year career in the L. Mike "The Czar" Fratello took over.

I still remember reading the report about the Grizz's new logo on their website when it was first unveiled. The descriptions of its symbolism were hilariously over-the-top and long-winded (let's hear it for hyphenation!):

The new Grizzlies logo represents strength, power and courage. Character, tenacity and fearlessness. The Grizzly symbolizes Memphis basketball at its grittiest, at its toughest, at its best. It symbolizes Grizzlies players and the fierce passion they bring to the court every night. It symbolizes incredible leadership and their commitment to winning and class. It symbolizes the maturity of an organization that will settle for nothing less than the ultimate – success.

This kind of talk was even more laughable in light of the fact that the logo was such a blatant rip-off.

The striking similarities between the Minnesota Timberwolf and the Memphis Grizzly have never been discussed, as far as I know, and that's legitimately baffling to me. There's the darkened right side of the face; the lighter left side; the fierce, yellow eyes; and the menacing expression.

Just look at the pictures. It's not exactly subtle.

Crazy stuff, people. Crazy. Stuff.