A couple weeks ago the basketball franchise in New Orleans announced that it would be abandoning the “Hornets” nickname that it brought with it from Charlotte and adopting a new moniker, the Pelicans.
Regardless of what critics say, “Pelicans” will be one of the great names in all of professional sports.
But it looks like “Pelicans” wasn’t the only name that owner Tom Benson, general manager Dell Demps, and the rest of the Hornets/Pelicans organization considered.
According to Bloomberg Business Week, the NBA recently filed for five trademarks on behalf of the New Orleans franchise:
- New Orleans Pelicans
- New Orleans Bullsharks
- New Orleans Swamp Dogs
- New Orleans Rougarou
- New Orleans Mosquitoes
The Rougarou is a legendary werewolf-like creature in Cajun folklore, and would be a fantastic name for a New Orleans sports team. (I’m looking at you, New Orleans Zephyrs.)
“Mosquitoes” would have hurt the NBA brand in any country that has suffered a malaria epidemic. So it’s probably best that they didn’t go in that direction.
“Bullsharks” and “Swamp Dogs” are just silly.
About Josh Tinley
