Two readers submitted articles about the rebrand to Pelicans. Enjoy.
Ethan:
My whole life I have always been a huge fan of every team of my home state of Louisiana. The truth is, no matter the situation New Orleans is judged negatively. I remember the day Katrina hit New Orleans. Everyone said it was the second great flood sent by God to cleanse the world of the evils in New Orleans, like he did once with Noah and the ark. I remember the years where our proud football fans in Louisiana were constantly insulted by the team America called “The Ain’ts”. I remember when were insulted my NBA fans, players, and coaches saying we couldn’t handle having the NBA All star game in New Orleans.
Constantly we are insulted for being from the city by people who literally know nothing about New Orleans. Why would the situation with “The Pelicans” be any different? Look at the national media. Ever since the idea of this name came out they made us a joke. No matter the significance of the name to our city, they don’t care; they just care about the amount of retweets they get for trying to be funny. If you even listen to a second of ESPN speaking of their reasons for hating the name you realize they have no true opinions, no evidence, nothing that would hold up in a true argument. I’m serious, just go watch any video. And after thinking everything through, how could I expect any different?
The name will be hated on until we give them a reason not to hate it. The people of New Orleans have always overcome any obstacle and that is why this city has some of the most compassionate, caring, and strong people in the world. You don’t here “the Ain’ts” being thrown around anymore do you? WE can overcome all obstacles.
Although it’s not as serious as Katrina, The troubles with the name change recently are just another obstacle to come together as a team and as a city. If we support this team no matter what, good things will come. We have seen it before with the Saints, and we are looking at the same situation here!
LET’S GO PELS!
harleyrider105:
It should come as no surprise to anyone who has seen my posts before that I am not a fan of the rebrand from the New Orleans Hornets to the Pelicans. I thought I would share some of the reason why.
The pelicans themselves – I’ve heard them described as an awesome, noble, intelligent, and fearsome bird. They are not. The pelican is nothing more than a dirty, mindless, cannibalistic killing machine that will eat anything and everything it can, including other birds and small animals. There is nothing noble, proud or awesome about it. They haven’t evolved in over 30 million years and have been on the extinction list several times.
People in New Orleans identify with pelicans – I’ve heard this but no one has been able to explain it to me other than it’s the state bird. So I ask people around the city about how they identify the pelican with themselves and the city and if they mean anything to them which usually get the response of a blank stare, shrug of the shoulders, and the comment of they don’t and it’s on the state flag. Nobody identifies with the bird any more than they identify with any other bird or animal around here.
Pelicans are indigenous to the region – Yeah ok they are, but they are also indigenous to the majority of coastlines all over the world. If you can find them everywhere that doesn’t exactly scream New Orleans now does it?
They survived the oil spill and Katrina just like New Orleans – I am happy that they did, but do we really want to have a symbol to keep reminding us of two of the worst disasters in US History? Especially one that is suppose to help promote tourism and the city’s image for years to come?
The national media thinks the name and the people here are a joke but who cares what they think? – Well, we all should. What the national media says about us as a whole reflects the image that people all over the country and world view us in which is just bad for the city and region. They already think that we are a dirty mindless backwards city whose citizens are killing each other off so what do we do? We give them perfect symbol that cements that view as truth, the Pelican, a dirty mindless backward killing machine to represent our city. On second thought, maybe it is a perfect fit.
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19 responses to “Readers Discuss the Rebrand”
Harley, what are you doing writing an article? Your comments are already stupid enough. A worthless rebuttle. Go to Charlotte already, and don’t let the door hit you on your way out
Ahh Who Dat..I would expect nothing else from you but a worthless reply.I have just as much right to write an article as anyone on here.If you can’t at least come up with some constructive criticism of mine and other people opinions who do not share your views please do not bother commenting. Just an FYI,calling people names and belittling their opinions does not constitute constructive criticism.At best it is just childish and immature.
Hypocrite much Harley? You belittled the city you claim to rep. You made several IGNORANT points. We are becoming the pelicans. Your 8 little online signatures aren’t going to change it. You are butthurt. Plain and simple. You grew up on this logo like I did but you can’t let it go because you care more about colors and logos than the organization itself.
You are such a hypocrite. The majority of people love the new name. Go look at the poll on this website. You go on H/R and won’t leave people alone about it. Its annoying. Its childish and immature.
I got on HR one time to post this and was promptly shut down and basically told to go away. They deleted my post 3 times before burying it the back of a 40 page rebrand thread where they shut the thread down in less than 24 hrs after I posted it and I haven’t been back on there since and have no plans to be. I have no need to associate myself with people who think its a good idea to use censorship on different opinions than theirs.whether you want to believe it or not Whodat this website nor HR represents the majority of Hornets fans,most of which have not heard of either site.
In what way in that article did I belittle the city? If you feel my points are so off base then refute them if you can instead of calling me names. In this whole process I have never once attacked anyone personally or told anyone that their opinions were not valid or stupid, yet I am constantly under attack because of mine. What about my stance bothers you all so?..Are you actually afraid something might come of it? Again if you can not respond with out calling me names or telling me I am stupid or ignorant, please don’t bother responding.
Who are these people you’ve asked Harley? The 8 people that signed your petition?
These are people all over town and the Gulf Coat. I’ve sat in restaurants,bars and where ever I am working asking complete strangers what it means to them.That online petition is not the only petition I have going. I also have handwritten signatures that I get everywhere I go. You guys may want to think I’m all alone in my thinking here but I can assure you I am not.I have other people assisting me with this as well.
689 votes out of over 100 on this site like it and love it. 259 dislike or hate it. The people that truly care about this team will support them, regardless of name. Harley, I’m not here to fight you or call you ignorant. But you started this whole storm of stupidity regarding the name change. Just admit to me and everyone else that the real reason for all of this is your inability to let the hornets name go. It means nothing to new Orleans. Lakers means something to LA. Lakers means 16 championships. Having the pelicans name is a combination of two things. It is here to represent the city, and get rid of a name that doesn’t belong here. Charlotte was different from Minneapolis. We have a name that will mean something to our city in a few years. It means something to me and many other fans now.
The point of the Lakers reference by the way is to show that like hornets, the name itself doesn’t mean anything to the city. But now it is interwoven. Minneapolis was different. They chose a cheesy name and at the time didnt really care about basketball
The Hornets belong here bas much as I do..hell this city was founded on accepting different cultures and ideas and making it’s own. Pelicans do not represent this city any more than any other animal in this region does.This site nor hornets Report does not accurately represent the number of hornets fans in the city and region and your numbers are skewed because of that.. I have more to say but I am headed to the game and will be back afterwards.
So pelicans don’t represent it more than hornets? Haha ok
No WhoDat in my opinion and many others in the area the pelican does not represent the city or region any more than hornets do..and they mean about the same to people as well. Thats part of the whole crux of the argument.Nothing about pelicans says anything at all about our city and other than being on the state flag it has no other appeal or qualifications to represent our city. Thats just my and many others opinion but please enlighten me though as to what the pelican personally means to you and why it so important and relative to New Orleans as oppose to anywhere else in the world it is found??
The rise from the ashes. The ability to give. Symbolic of what Nola has gone through. Maybe that means nothing to you. But it means alot to me, the city of new Orleans, and the majority of hornets fans
Rise from the ashes? The ability to give?..I think you confusing the pelican with the mythical phoenix who was able to do that but thats certainly not the pelican. I’ll grant you its a survivor but then so are all the other species who made it thru the disasters as well. Do you have any original thoughts as to what the pelican means to you instead of these press bites from someone else’s article? If I remember correctly you do not even live in New Orleans, so how would you have insight as to what it means to the city? Have you ever even been here?
The fact that the Pelican is the state bird should be enough to fit the “ties to the area” criteria.
Just wondering Harley, what does the Hornets name mean to you?
And honestly I want my mascot to be described as a “cannibalistic killing machine.” How do you describe the Hornet? A brave and diligent working insect that stands for strength and unity? Seriously, you can’t attack the rebranded animal when the previous one is… More or less a bee.
I can understand the history factor behind it and what not, but this rebrand represents the new era of basketball in New Orleans. The stars are aligning for us, and this is ushering in the new phase. A phase of winning that everyone should accept.
I don’t identify with the Pelican itself on a personal level, but I understand the significance of what’s happening in this organization, and I’m accepting it. Was I a fan of it at first? Not really, but I’ve come to embrace it. If you cannot accept that it’s a shame, because you’re missing out.
And, after all, it’s just a name. The Pelicans start winning games and see how much it matters. Go Pels.
Perfect point. Didnt even think about how I’ve stepped on hornets before. Don’t think I’ve ever stepped on a pelican.
It’s all good. There are a lot stupider names around the NBA that are accepted because of their longevity and/or winning. All will be well when they get rid of Eric Gordon, grow up, and start winning.
http://www.facebook.com/EricGordonIsAPunk
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