New Orleans Hornets To Change Nickname To ... The Pelicans

The New Orleans Hornets could be the Pelicans as soon as 2013-14. (sportscity.com)

The New Orleans Hornets came under new ownership in April - New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson - and since then, there has been a possibility of the team changing its nickname.

According to a Yahoo! Sports report, the Hornets name could be replaced on the jerseys and logo as early as the 2013-14 season. The replacement nickname? The New Orleans Pelicans. This beat out the other possible nickname finalists the Brass and the Krewe (costumed parade members during Mardi Gras). Remember, New Orleans' NBA team was the Jazz before the team moved to Utah.

The Pelican doesn't seem overly intimidating, especially compared to a Hornet, unless you remember it was a Pelican that stole the board in the hit movie "Jumanji." You're welcome for that reference.

It makes sense for a New Orleans basketball team to have that nickname. It is the state bird, and Louisiana is the Pelican State. Also, the Pelican is equivalent to a 6-foot human in size, with a huge, 10-foot wingspan, and can fly, so the basketball metaphor is there.

The success of this new nickname will depend on the logo and how it is marketed, and it will be accepted with time. But whatever the organization decides to do, let's just hope the Pelican is wearing 70s-style Chuck Taylors and a headband or some other partially wacky design.


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