Millions have been pissed away on this rebrand to make us a laughing stock FTFY.

So what’s the harm? Similar to as palm readers, astrologers and psychic mediums: they distort your reality. You think that you're getting accurate information from the person pretending to talk to your dead mother and so it's destroying your real memories of her. Similarly: "Yeah, we're doing something! Woo hoo! Power to the people!" But you're not actually doing anything. Really doing something would be standing by the NOA entrances with a petition for people to actually sign.

So what's the harm?

Bayless & Smith are jokers one the law & Order guy (Smith) and other plays the wantabee liberal role (Bayless) it's like watch a classic Crossfire.ESPN is the Fox News of sports pro big market,pro big business and poor journalism.

never lived in NOLA, never run a multi-billion dollar business that spans sports, real estate and automobiles. I’ll put my money on Benson and his upper echelon over the clowns on ESPN. That is a reasonable thought. I'd note, though, that businessmen all too often get led astray by moronic "expert consultants" on a distressingly frequent basis.

To many of us this is going to be hard to adjust

Why not name them the Pigeons then because I see them flying all over town as well. See more of them then I do pelicans. Makes about as much sense too. Fact of the matter is that when the Hornets were winning people were supporting them and coming out to the games and the hive was packed.There are plenty of people in Louisiana who made that connection to the Hornets and its been my experience just from talking to people who actually go to the games that majority of them do not like this name and would rather keep the Hornets. Jason is right....the only thing that will make this work,tho not for me, is if they start winning and fast. If they don't then it is doomed to fail and they will end up like the bobcats with a disenfranchised fan base and be the laughing stock of the league.

Fact of the matter is, even when the Hornets were winning, Louisianians didn’t feel a connection with the team. Because this hasn't been a basketball town since the decline of UNO's team back in the 1980s.

You are missing the whole point. Even though it is a mammal that is native to an area on the other side of the world, and not with Louisiana, Louisianians identify with it. Why? Because of the history behind it. I don't know why that particular troop was given the nickname, "Tigers," and not "Gators," but obviously, there was some merit to it, and it stuck. Fact of the matter is, even when the Hornets were winning, Louisianians didn't feel a connection with the team. The name and lack of history played a big part in that. Kudos to Mr. Benson for being bold, and making history himself by changing it to a name that Louisianians identify with. If you dispute the notion of the Pelican being identifiable with Louisiania, all you have to do is take a drive down the Twin Spans, or across the Causeway, and you will see that you are wrong. I agree, the next step is for the team to make history on the court. Then it will truly catch on.

a battalion from Louisiana was dubbed, “The Fighting Tigers” because of their fearless hard fighting reputation. Interesting. What instantly-coming-to-mind reputation does the Pelican have?

Actually, "Tigers" does have local significance. During the Civil War, a battalion from Louisiana was dubbed, "The Fighting Tigers" because of their fearless hard fighting reputation. And being that LSU started as a Military School, "Fighting Tigers" was a natural fit as a mascot to honor those very troops.

Louisianians, who are loyal ... LSU fans This perfectly demonstrates the complete bull sh1t that is "fans need to associate with the team name: How exactly does an animal from half way around the world tie Louisianians to LSU? At least Tulane's team mascot references something that's vital to our region.

That whole point is null and void, because those people from England, Australia, and Argentina who like "Pelicans" instead of "Hornets" will now follow us instead. We will also gain a following from people who like individual players, like Ryan Anderson, Eric Gordon, and Anthony Davis. I'm sure we will also lose our huge Nigerian fan base once Aminu leaves, but we will gain a new one somewhere else once we add that next missing piece.... International fans come and go, but the base is here in Louisiana, and the Gulf Coast, because, like it or not, they will be the most loyal, and maybe they are targeted because they generate the largest source of income for Mr. Benson.

You should care Whodat because this team need as many fans like me as it can get and it shouldn't be chasing them away like this. I am more of a real fan then you will ever be. I buy full season tickets in the lower bowl every year and go to all the games.I buy the merchandise and support the business's that are sponsors of the team. I buy their overpriced concessions and pay for parking at the games because I am a huge fan.How about you Whodat?.Hpw many games do you actually go to or are you one of those "real" fans who just watch them on tv for free when they are winning? I've been a Hornets fan ever since they came into the league and have stuck with them thru the good times and bad but this is the last straw for me.The name is important because thats who this team is,thats their identity.Their history intertwines with mine and thats what resonates with me.

We can agree to disagree and only time will tell which of us is right, or more right. Meanwhile, on to more important things; I'm just arrived back in town after 15 years living in the midwest and DC area. Where's a good place to ride around NOLA?? Brought my new forty-eight to town and my lady and I are ready to ride this weekend. Any suggestions?? Are you going to Milwaukee for the 110?

And we, real fans, should care what you think why? Go then. If you hate a freaking name that much, then goodbye!