NBA Board of Governors unanimously approves Hornet move back to Charlotte

CHARLOTTE -- The "buzz" is back in the Queen City.

On Friday morning, the NBA Board of Governors unanimously approved an application by the Charlotte franchise that will allow the Bobcats to revert back to the Hornets moniker for the 2014-15 season.

The original Hornets franchise played in Charlotte from 1988 until the team moved to New Orleans in 2002. Those original hornets teams featured players like Larry Johnson, Alonzo Mourning, and fellow Wake Forest star Muggsy Bogues.


“The passion and enthusiasm around this name change by fans in this market has been unmatched,” Michael Jordan, chairman of Bobcats Sports & Entertainment, told Bloomberg News. “With the young team we are developing on the court, the direction of our business and the return of the Hornets name, we are extremely excited about our future. The buzz is back.”

The organization held a party Thursday night at the Charlotte EpiCenter to announce the name change, and Rex Chapman, Kendall Gill, and Bogues were there to help celebrate.

One question remains...where's Hugo the Hornet?


We'll keep you posted.

The New Orleans Pelicans?

Pelican

Really? The Pelicans? That's the best you can do?

It appears reports in December that the New Orleans Hornets were considering changing their name to the "Pelicans" are true.

The team has scheduled a Thursday morning press conference that most believe will be an announcement of just such a name change.

Read the Yahoo.com story RIGHT HERE

Yes, Louisiana folks, we are well aware that the Pelican, in all its glory is your state bird. But just let it be known the Pelican doesn't exactly sound, well, intimidating.

But then again, the performance of the current Hornets isn't exactly intimidating either.

New team owner Tom Benson (yes, he owns the Saints too), already has the rights to the name so it's a perfect fit...

Right?

Sure, New Orleans folks were stuck with the Hornets name after the team moved from Charlotte back in 2002. And yes, they have a VERY legitimate argument for changing THAT name.

But be inspired guys. Try something original. Something that stands up and gets your attention and looks cool.

Sorry we just don't see the image of a Pelican as either.

Snide David Stern chides Jim Rome on Radio

Uh...a professional sports commissioner should know better than to get into a silly argument/debate with a talk radio host.

Especially when that host is trying to take the high road and ask a question that quite a few people want to know the answer to.

This afternoon on Jim Rome's radio show, NBA commissioner David Stern was Romie's guest. And Rome asked him...very respectfully...about the recent NBA Draft lottery.

Rome wanted to know more about how the New Orleans Hornets, a team currently owned by the league until a sale to Tom Benson is complete, managed to get the #1 draft pick in this years draft, despite not having the league's worst record.

He wanted to know what conspiracy theorists and even NBA journalists wanted to know...was it fixed? But to Rome's credit, he qualified it before asking.

Stern's response "Have you stopped beating your wife?"

Really?

Come on David Stern, you are better than that.

Yeah, it's a question that was very hypothetical, but you were not attacked. You were not provoked. You were given every opportunity to give a rational, well-thought response.

Yet you didn't.

Listen to the whole exchange:

DEVELOPING: Benson To Buy Hornets

Which gives the car dealership magnate a virtual monopoly on Big Easy sports... and some of the real estate near the arenas he has franchises...

The HQ thinks that is interesting- considering what he wanted to do with the Saints during the whole Katrina mess...

The agreed-to price is said to be US$338-million, 10-percent above perceived value and is expected to be announced in New York City later today.

Deals with local shipping magnate Gary Chouest and California swimwear designer Raj Bhathal fell through (the HQ admits we haven't seen Bhathal since the days he owned the Orlando Thunder of the World League), so Benson now stepped in.

The team NBA recently struck a deal with the state locking in the team to the New Orleans Arena until 2024 with some sweet concessions- mainly $40-million in capital improvements.

Now, if they could only do something about King Cake Baby...
((HT: WWL-TV))

Jason Smith with the Hip Check of Blake Griffin (UPDATED)

Whomever said basketball isn't a contact sport is absolutely insane.

Heck, every once in a while, you see hits...or fouls that would make hockey players blush.

This is one of those. Last night, New Orleans Hornet forward Jason Smith was bound and determined to not let Blake Griffin of the LA Clippers do what he does best on the fastbreak...dunk the ball.

The result is...well...shall we say less than popular and probably would...and should cost Smith some money.



1615 UPDATE: Smith has been given a 2-game suspension for his hip check...and most of the Internet and TV Universe is aghast....

Yes, Will Ferrell introduced the Chicago Bulls last night

He was there, supposedly, to introduce the Chicago Bulls. And the game was promoted as 80's night.

Last nights Chicago Bulls at New Orleans Hornets game featured a "Guest" P.A announcer....comedian Will Ferrell.

Ferrell known for some great comedy movies and some "duds"...stepped out to center court and let the crowd in New Orleans know who was playing.

In the case of the Hornets, it was kind of needed.

Anyway, here's your video: (thanks CSN Chicago)

CP3 to Lakers in mega-trade--UPDATED

Chris Paul

((ht: yahoosports.com))

**UPDATED**9:10 p.m--

Again per YahooSports--The NBA/David Stern has apparently blocked the trade after several NBA owners complained to the league office. Details are still sketchy on this, but we suspect a reason will come soon.
---------------------------------------------------------------

Earlier story--

According to Adrian Wojnarowski of Yahoo Sports, the Los Angeles Lakers have pulled off what is without a doubt the highlight of the buildup to this years NBA Season.

The trade: All-Star Chris Paul will go from the New Orleans Hornets to the Lakers for Pau Gasol and Lamar Odom/Kardashian. Supposedly Gasol will then be dealt to the Houston Rockets for a package of players.

There is some debate among the numerous experts on the details and finality of this trade, but we suspect that it is mostly a process of massaging a few egos.

Unfortunately this does nothing to quell the general belief the NBA is about to become a league of the 3 to 4 teams with at least 2 or 3 "Mega-Stars" and then a bunch of other teams. And though the league says they tried hard in this past labor agreement to stop that from happening, it doesn't appear that it will. So get used to the Lakers vs. The Heat vs. The Knicks who are amassing Mega-Stars.

Oh...and the Lakers may not be done. There is a lot of buzz on the Internets that the Lakers are trying very hard to make a Andruw Bynum/Dwight Howard trade. And yes, that will be even worse.