Pelicans Name Is Right For New Orleans

There have been some odd things in professional sports with team names over the years, but usually the team picks something that is about their area. The New Orleans Hornets decided on a name change to better represent New Orleans and will change their name to the Pelicans for next season. While that may be the strangest and potentially laugh-inducing team name at the start, I can see why this is happening.

The Hornets have nothing to do with New Orleans. That should be the team name in Charlotte, and they should have left it there when the team moved and became the Pelicans all along. Louisiana is the Pelican State, so the name makes sense, but it is going to be hard to stomach at first. How many jokes about Pelicans can be used by announcers and media outlets? That will be the first piece of information to watch for when next season starts in the National Basketball Association.

I have to admit while it sounds completely silly, it does fit New Orleans. There will be people who want the Jazz name back but that obviously isn’t going to happen so Pelicans will have to do. Hopefully, these new Pelicans can make their city proud and become a serious playoff contender in the next few years. Who knows, maybe fans will see a Pelicans-Washington Wizards NBA Finals matchup one day? I don’t see that ever happening but things change so fast in sports these days that anything is truly possible including changing your name to the Pelicans.

Andy Schmidt is a columnist/writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @ASchmidtSports, like his Facebook page or add him to your network on Google.