Hornets buzz in Charlotte

I knew about this a little while ago, but forgot to blog about it. The New Orleans Hornets are dropping the name "Hornets" next year. Word on the street is they are going to pick up the name "Pelicans" which New Orleans natives hold near and dear to their hearts. 

The name "Pelicans" is owned by the owner of the New Orleans Saints. The Pelican is the state bird of Louisiana and was the name of a minor league baseball team there. I think the name "Brass"(one of the names under consideration) is better...but I don't know what the mascot would look like exactly! LOL

I mean...who would fear a pelican? Most folks don't even know what a pelican looks like... But surely this is not the reason for this post. I could care less what New Orleans names any sports team. 

What I, and most, North Carolinians care about is the name "Hornets". I remember the Charlotte Hornets from my childhood with Kendall Gill, Mugsy Bogues, then Grandma-ma, and Alonzo Mourning... And the teal and purple colors that just set everything off just right! The players would come to our schools around here with the Honeybees (dancers/cheerleaders) and Hugo the hornet. Great memories!

Maaaaaaaaan. Hornets colors were the lick back in the day. Everyone loved the colors and they had the number one sports merchandise sales among all the teams for the longest. "Hornets" is synonymous with Charlotte. Though many people are now beholden to the "Bobcats" and do not wish to turn back, many more would love to have the name "Hornets" return to Charlotte.

Let me tell you, people were p'oed when George Shinn's sorry self took the team to New Orleans. Last year I talked to, then Bobcats director of communications, Michael Thompson about the move. He told me funny story after funny story about how people cussed him out due to the move. (He worked for the Hornets organization at the time.)

From ESPN:

The New Orleans Hornets are expected to become the New Orleans Pelicans, perhaps as early as the 2013-14 season, according to a Yahoo! Sports report.

Yahoo! Sports, citing numerous sources, reports the team also considered Krewe and Brass as potential nicknames.

The Hornets have planned to change their name since New Orleans Saints owner Tom Benson, who also owns the rights to the Pelicans nickname, bought the team in April.

Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan said in November he'd be interested in bringing the Hornets' name back to Charlotte.

You know what's crazy? The Charlotte Hornets were so dope, that they STILL sell Charlotte Hornets merchandise at the Super Dome in New Orleans... ain't that something?!

THROWBACK CHARLOTTE HORNETS GEAR

Vintage Charlotte Hornets Starter jacket.
I wanted this jacket so badly!!!

Another vintage jacket

I may have had this cap.
Peep the tag still on it! Straight 90s style.

Is it time to bring the Hornets name back to Charlotte?