The New Orleans Hornets to change name to Pelicans in 2013-14

[thechom80]

Bawkaawwwwwwk!!!

I admit, I don't know what a Pelican sounds like.

[topdog]

Just for reference a local media outlet did a poll. 80+% of the people hate the name.

Oh, ha ha! Well, thanks for that info, but again I am a bit dubious as to whether that really is the name and David Stern at least is playing coy:

"Everyone seems to know about this thing other than me,” Stern added with a smile. "My guess is that there’s going to be some sort of formal application in the next couple of months and we’ll see where it goes from there. … There are lots of things that have to be filed. In fact, I do know that the Hornets filed to protect five names, trademark protection. They have to apply to us, they have to pay certain fees, there’s a timing schedule, but I think the Hornets may have a friend in the league office that may help expedite the process when they decide on a name. I don’t remember his name, but I’m pretty sure it’ll happen faster than those big old meanies at the NBA say it’ll happen."

-Hoopsworld

[topdog]

Some of our current teams have wierd names...

Dodgers? Named after trolley dodgers in NYC. Never knew that
Royals? Named after a color An awesome color! Why not?
Twins? Because of the twin cities As a Minnesotan, I think this is very smart/creative
Knicks? Pants Also a term for "New Yorkers"
76ers? A year A year... yes. The year of independence - 1776
Steelers? Steel workers
Padres? Catholic priests First non-native residents of Cali. Still odd though
White and Red Sox? Socks! It's easy to tell which team is which
Cubs? A baby animal Any relationship with Chicago Bears name?
Bills? Some guys name Badass Old West hero who had the moniker "Buffalo" - again, pretty creative
Expos? Exposition World's Fair was a big deal
Trail blazers? They're proud of Louis and Clark
Jazz? Why not reggae? Relocated
Magic? Disney
Packers? Same as Steelers. Maybe to be a "working man's" team
Clippers? A boat They're near water
Lakers? Lakes in Minnesota Can't change the name of a winner I guess
Pistons? Car parts Motor city. Awesome logo in the '90s
Nuggets? Gold A team as good as
Nets? A nylon net! It is basketball... and also lame
Penguins? Penguins are good on ice
Why not Pelicans?

Point being - if a team is going to have a weird name, there should at least be a good reason for it. Pelicans bears that sentiment if it is indeed the name.

[SINCESTARBURY25]

You forgot how Canada has a lot of Dinosaurs.

[Puck017]

You forgot how Canada has a lot of Dinosaurs.

While they are all extinct Canada is know to have 37 different species of dinosaurs including the atrociraptor and utahraptor. But most these fossils were found in Alberta and not Ontario. Montana and Wyoming are also known to have a large number of dinosaur fossils. A velociraptor, the one commonly known as a raptor have never been found in Canada though. Technically a raptor is just a bird of prey so Toronto could easily switch their mascot to a bird if they wanted to drop the dinosaur.

[torocan]

Some of our current teams have wierd names...

Dodgers? Named after trolley dodgers in NYC.

Trolley Dodgers was Slang for someone who lives in Brooklyn at the turn of the century.

Knicks? Pants

Short for Knickerbockers. Also a term for New Yorkers (dutch)

Jazz? Why not reggae?

The Team was originally the New Orleans Jazz before it was relocated in 1976.

Magic?

Name came from a contest between the team and a local newspaper.

Packers?

Named after the India Packing Company. They were the original sponsor of the Packers, and gave them the money on condition the team take their name.

Clippers? A boat

Originally the Buffalo Braves. When they moved to San Diego, a contest was held for a new name. A Clipper is a specific type of large sailing ship which the owners felt would fit with San Diego's history as a port.

Nets? A nylon net!

Was also picked because it also rhymed with 2 other NY Area team names, the Jet and the Mets.

Penguins? Why not Pelicans?

Pittsburgh chose the name the Penguins because their home arena, the Pittsburgh Civic Arena was locally nicknamed "the igloo". They felt it would be an appropriate fit (even though Penguins live near the South Pole, and igloo's are constructed by people living near the North Pole).

As for Pelicans... still a goofy name in my books.

[torocan]

You forgot how Canada has a lot of Dinosaurs.

The Name came as a result of a local contest. At the time of naming, it was also shortly after the release of Jurassic Park so the public had dinosaurs on the brain.

Contests rarely result in really good team names if you ask me.