The NBA's New Orleans....What?

Bird is the word in New Orleans and Peter Griffin has nothing to do about it.

When I first heard about the potential name change of the New Orleans Hornets to the Pelicans, I thought it was a complete joke formulated by a gag Twitter account that spread a little too quickly.  But as time progressed, this definite myth has become an absolute reality and sometime this afternoon Owner Tom Benson will formally announce the name change. Effective next season, the new team colors are reported to be blue, gold, and red, and yes, their mascot really will be a pelican.  Below are a couple leaked images of the possible new logo:

For a city with such culture, I don't feel like a flappy chinned bird known for eating anything thrown on the side of the beach is worthy to be one of New Orleans' professional sports team's mascot.  Even though I will commend Benson and friends on their creativity, there really is no intimidating way to depict a pelican and I think it may be the worst sports nickname ever (yes, worst than the UC Santa Cruz Banana Slugs and the Sugar Land Skeeters).  I would of really expected them to jazz it up (pun intended) and pick something a little more fitting like "The Cajun" or maybe even recycle "The Saints" because its THAT good. Can you really imagine the stadium announcer doing the pregame introductions and NOT sounding like a complete idiot? Because I can't.

Despite my despise for the new choice, I do agree that the Hornet mantra absolutely had to go.  This franchise is nothing like it used to be; a dominant force being led by gritty stars like Larry Johnson, Glen Rice, Muggsy Bogues and Alonzo Morning that probably would have went to the Finals if it wasn't for the then dominance of MJ's Bulls and Patrick Ewing's Knicks.  After trading Chris Paul for a group of young role players as well as a blooming star in Eric Gordon, after having two lottery picks this past draft (#1 Anthony Davis and #10 Austin Rivers) and after leaving their long-time home Charlotte behind, it is obvious this team is in a definite rebuilding phase and needed a new identity.

New Orleans State Flag

As I know the majority of the sports world will be laughing as the "Dirty Birds" (something I will call them instead of the...seriously?....Pelicans?) unveil their new identity, I decided to actually look into this name choice and find out why it ultimately came down to this.  To my surprise, the pelican is actually New Orleans' state bird and is also featured on the state flag.  It is obvious Benson wanted to name the team something that would of meant something to the New Orleans' fanbase, which we know is one of the greatest in the US after witnessing them band together behind the Saints as they won Super Bowl XLIV following Hurricane Katrina.  For that reason, I do commend the nickname and applaud Benson and friends for trying to do something with meaning instead of choosing from the list of generic names seen in every college and high school across the country.

So far this season the Hornets are 14-28, tied for last in the Western Conference, and a definite lock to be in the NBA Draft Lottery next season.  If the team adds the right pieces in next years draft and does something worth while in free agency, then it is a definite possibility that the Pelicans could make a run for the playoffs in 2014.  With a roster stock-piled with youth and potential (Davis - 19 years old, Rivers - 20, Gordon - 24, Al-Farouq Aminu - 22, Robin Lobez - 24, Ryan Anderson - 24), the only place for NOLA to go is up, and maybe, just maybe, it will be due to the wings of a Pelican.