Turner Calls Nhl Team Thrashers

Skip the public input. Ted Turner wants to name his new Atlanta hockey team the Thrashers, after the little state bird known for its beautiful song.

Harvey Schiller, president of Turner Sports, had said this week that he planned to come up with several names to show to Turner and to ask the public for suggestions, as part of its strategy of making the team an “America’s team” in the mode of the Atlanta Braves. “It’s a tiny brown bird, but by the time it gets on a hockey jersey it’s going to look pretty mean,” Schiller said.

Defenseman Vladimir Konstantinov of the Detroit Red Wings and team masseur Sergei Mnatsakanov showed subtle signs of improvement while they remained in comas from injuries suffered in a limousine wreck June 13 near Detroit. Mnatsakanov also was recovering from surgery to stabilize his spine.