New Orleans Hornets to become Pelicans

Sgt. Tibs posted Tue, 2012-12-04 21:35

Anthony Davis is stunned by the news he's a Pelican

In an interesting piece of sports news today, the New Orleans Hornets announced they are undergoing a nickname change, deciding that Pelicans is the way to go, as early as 2013-14. Because nothing screams intimidating quite like Pelicans.

Says Yahoo! Sports:

The Hornets planned to change their nickname since Tom Benson, owner of the New Orleans Saints, purchased the team on April 14. Benson also owns the rights to the nickname Pelicans.

The Hornets also considered the nicknames Krewe (groups of costumed paraders in the annual Mardi Gras carnival in New Orleans) and Brass.

Louisiana is the Pelican State. The brown pelican is the state bird and appears on the state flag and seal, and official state painting. Moreover, the Pelicans played minor league baseball in New Orleans in all but nine seasons from 1887-1959 and in 1977.

So there's a state relevance involved. That makes it better. But Pelicans?! Thoughts on the new nickname?

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