Huge story on Page D6 of today's New York Times Sport Section - I looked for the article posted online but couldn't find it, so I'll just type it out here. (Its credited to Bloomberg News, so maybe someone can find an electronic copy on their news wire)
JAZZ NAME MIGHT BE IN PLAY
If the N.B.A.'s Hornets move to New Orleans from Charlotte, one of the team's co-owners would "love nothing more" than to reacquire the Jazz nickname.
"There's no better description for the team down there than the Jazz," the Hornets' co-owner Ray Wooldridge said in a telephone interview.
Obtaining the Jazz nickname, however, would require an agreement between the Hornets and the Utah Jazz owner, Larry Miller, who did not return phone calls.
The Jazz moved to Salt Lake City from New Orleans in 1979, thought the team's nickname didn't change.
It is common for teams to keep their nicknames, even though they no longer have a geographical tie. For example, the Lakers kept their nickname after moving from Minneapolis. The Memphis team, which moved from Vancouver, is still the Grizzlies.
N.B.A. Commissioner David Stern visited New Orleans on Wednesday with a seven-member committee of owners that will recommend to the league's board of governors whether the proposed move should be allowed. The Hornets need a majority of the N.B.A.'s 29 teams to approve their request. Owners probably will vote during their next regularly scheduled meeting April 8 or 9. (Bloomberg News)