New Orleans Hornets Changing Their Name To The Pelicans

Something that has long irked fans of the New Orleans Hornets surprisingly has not been their on-court performance the past couple of seasons. It was the name of the team fans have cheered for since the franchise's move to Louisiana in 2002.

Now, new Hornets owner and current Saints owner Tom Benson has fixed that.

If you feel you have heard this name in use already, you're not dreaming - you have.

The New Orleans Pelicans were previously a minor league baseball team from 1887 to 1959, then the franchise was sold and moved to Little Rock, Arkansas in late 1959.

The name and team came back to New Orleans in 1977, when the "new" Pelicans played their games in the Superdome. That team starred Cardinals great Tony LaRussa. However, that stint lasted for only one season before owners decided to move the franchise to Springfield, Illinois and became the Springfield Redbirds.

Since that last usage of the Pelicans name, Saints owner Tom Benson has owned the rights to the name, and have now put the name to good use years later.

Last night, reports indicated that Tom Benson intends to change the name of the New Orleans Hornets to the New Orleans Pelicans.

A team spokesman stated yesterday that, "This is an ongoing process and still being discussed. The eventual decision will be made by the NBA.”

This would give current Charlotte Bobcats owner Michael Jordan an open opportunity to change the name of his team to the Charlotte Hornets, the original name of the team before they moved to Charlotte.

Other names that are still in consideration are the New Orleans Krewe and the New Orleans Bass.

Will you still be a fan if the Hornets change their name to the Pelicans, or anything else?

[via Fox Sports]