Longtime fan of the Hornets, it's time to say goodbye to the NBA and its system

Hi everybody

So, so sad. My team is gone, and so will I after 18 years of faithful support and of NBA following.
You will probably say "Come on, it's just a name, a real fan follows the team". Yes he does, wherever the team is going...
Living outside the US, of course a change of city does not affect the fan so much. Players come and go, cities come and go, stay just the name and colors. It IS the team.
Now consider one moment the fact that the name Hornets will certainly go back to the city of Charlotte. The Hornets team will be changed, it would be as if what we've lived would have never existed. The end of the real team.

The NBA system is the most stupid I have ever seen, insulting the fans: how can you dare moving a team from a city? How can you say to them "this team does not belong to you"? "It is not making enough money so let's get rid of it"?

So long the NBA, it has been 18 years of joy.
Go Hornets go, still a couple of months to live!

Muggsy

goodbye

It is sad to see the Hornets franchise come to an end, but hey, it happens.

Adios, Au Revoir, Ciao, Shalom, Paalam, Alvida, Adeus, 再见, Vale, Slan, Chao!

Like you said, they may pop up back in Charlotte. A lot of wrongs would be righted if/when that happens.

Honestly I can understand international fans deciding to find a new team or call it quits. Almost nobody remains in the organization, let alone on the court, from 5 years ago. Nothing is the same as 15 years ago. Is it really the same team at all for someone who started rooting for the Charlotte Hornets in 1994?

On the bright side, we're in a position now for endless continuity. Become a Pelicans fan now, stay a Pelicans fan forever.

Yeah, im glad you guys got a team for good

I was a Hornet fan before they came in New Orleans. And when the team moved here, it made me discover and fell in love with a city I never imagined was so rich, great, unique. I'll always love the Hornets and they'll always have a special place in my heart. They were the first team I was mad crazy about and that 2007-2008 season was completely awesome and something I will never forget.

If the name returns to Charlotte I would be very annoyed, but why would I be annoyed if I could simply return to being a Charlotte Hornets fan? Well, because I became so fond of the city of New Orleans that I know I would never be able to go back to Charlotte. Next season I will be a New Orleans Pelicans fan. And it will feel amazing, it will feel amazing because I'll never forget how I was there when it all happened, when everything began.

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Originally Posted by Muggsy

Come on, it's just a name, a real fan follows the team.

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:)

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Originally Posted by supermati

I was a Hornet fan before they came in New Orleans. And when the team moved here, it made me discover and fell in love with a city I never imagined was so rich, great, unique. I'll always love the Hornets and they'll always have a special place in my heart. They were the first team I was mad crazy about and that 2007-2008 season was completely awesome and something I will never forget.

If the name returns to Charlotte I would be very annoyed, but why would I be annoyed if I could simply return to being a Charlotte Hornets fan? Well, because I became so fond of the city of New Orleans that I know I would never be able to go back to Charlotte. Next season I will be a New Orleans Pelicans fan. And it will feel amazing, it will feel amazing because I'll never forget how I was there when it all happened, when everything began.

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This man deserves an award. Mad props bro.

Don't let the door hit you on the way out. I'm a fan of the team that plays here in NOLA and until the end of the season that is the Hornets BUT after that It's Pelican Power!!!

So let me get this right you are no longer a fan because they changed the name?

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Players come and go, cities come and go, stay just the name and colors.

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See ya. Cities may come and go to you, but to US, the ones who GO to the games, the city is more important than the name.

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Originally Posted by Joe Gerrity

Honestly I can understand international fans deciding to find a new team or call it quits. Almost nobody remains in the organization, let alone on the court, from 5 years ago. Nothing is the same as 15 years ago. Is it really the same team at all for someone who started rooting for the Charlotte Hornets in 1994?

On the bright side, we're in a position now for endless continuity. Become a Pelicans fan now, stay a Pelicans fan forever.

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If they go follow the team in Charlotte they won't be the same team as back then either. Just the name.

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Originally Posted by daybreaker

See ya. Cities may come and go to you, but to US, the ones who GO to the games, the city is more important than the name.

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I been to one Hornet game but in my opinion the name has a big importance in my opinion

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Originally Posted by Joe Gerrity

Honestly I can understand international fans deciding to find a new team or call it quits. Almost nobody remains in the organization, let alone on the court, from 5 years ago. Nothing is the same as 15 years ago. Is it really the same team at all for someone who started rooting for the Charlotte Hornets in 1994?

On the bright side, we're in a position now for endless continuity. Become a Pelicans fan now, stay a Pelicans fan forever.

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I have been a hornets fan all my life. And I am in this for the players, the coaches, and just nola basketball in general. I don't care what the name is. But wow! What a great new name we have!! Im in baby!!!! Go pels! #PelicansForLife
Sent from my RM-820_nam_att_100 using Board Express

I feel your pain dude. I always felt bad for the international fans with this name change. Give the Pelicans a chance .

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Originally Posted by Muggsy

Hi everybody

So, so sad. My team is gone, and so will I after 18 years of faithful support and of NBA following.
You will probably say "Come on, it's just a name, a real fan follows the team". Yes he does, wherever the team is going...
Living outside the US, of course a change of city does not affect the fan so much. Players come and go, cities come and go, stay just the name and colors. It IS the team.
Now consider one moment the fact that the name Hornets will certainly go back to the city of Charlotte. The Hornets team will be changed, it would be as if what we've lived would have never existed. The end of the real team.

The NBA system is the most stupid I have ever seen, insulting the fans: how can you dare moving a team from a city? How can you say to them "this team does not belong to you"? "It is not making enough money so let's get rid of it"?

So long the NBA, it has been 18 years of joy.
Go Hornets go, still a couple of months to live!

Muggsy

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City allegiance > team allegiance. See ya.

Anyone who wants out. Goodbye.you obviously weren't in this for the long haul anyway. You were here for a logo. For colors. Those things don't win championships. Players do. Coaches do. We as fans are part of helping them in that effort. I am a New Orleans basketball fan, regardless of name. But we have an incredibly cool new name and logo to go with our future championship winners. So to anyone who wants out, you're welcome to. But don't expect the door to be unlocked when this team is in the finals. #PelicanPride #GoPels
Sent from my RM-820_nam_att_100 using Board Express

Geesh some of you are coming off as jerks. If a person is hurt by a team changing the name it means they weren't real fans? WTF kind of logic is that?

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Originally Posted by Muggsy

Hi everybody

So, so sad. My team is gone, and so will I after 18 years of faithful support and of NBA following.
You will probably say "Come on, it's just a name, a real fan follows the team". Yes he does, wherever the team is going...
Living outside the US, of course a change of city does not affect the fan so much. Players come and go, cities come and go, stay just the name and colors. It IS the team.
Now consider one moment the fact that the name Hornets will certainly go back to the city of Charlotte. The Hornets team will be changed, it would be as if what we've lived would have never existed. The end of the real team.

The NBA system is the most stupid I have ever seen, insulting the fans: how can you dare moving a team from a city? How can you say to them "this team does not belong to you"? "It is not making enough money so let's get rid of it"?

So long the NBA, it has been 18 years of joy.
Go Hornets go, still a couple of months to live!

Muggsy

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You just lost the one constant in the team you've been rooting on for so long. I know you're already getting a bunch of bone-headed responses, but I get where you're coming from. Not gonna blindly hate you just because "NAWLINS IS NUYMBER 1"

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Originally Posted by NolaHornets23

You just lost the one constant in the team you've been rooting on for so long. I know you're already getting a bunch of bone-headed responses, but I get where you're coming from. Not gonna blindly hate you just because "NAWLINS IS NUYMBER 1"

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+1 . For a lot of people this is the end of an era, likely a somewhat meaningful part of their lives for a long time.

This guy is just saying his goodbye to the NBA after 17 years of rooting for the Hornets. No need to insult him or his fandom.

It sounds like he cared quite a bit for the team. Hell, he's been on this site for 5+ years alone.

Muggsy,

I ask you and all our fellow international fans to give the Pelicans a chance. I understand where you are coming from but as supermati said how often can you say that you were there when something began. Imagine 10-20 years from now hopefullly with a couple championship banners hanging up, you can say that you were there at the beginning. Again we all appreciate the perspective that you international fans bring and hope that this new beginning can help you convince some more fans to come with us on this journey.

Why would anyone care about international fans? Their opinion is not relevant.

http://www.google.com/url?source=img...7Omb-DOkY1Nkqg

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Originally Posted by Joe Gerrity

Honestly I can understand international fans deciding to find a new team or call it quits. Almost nobody remains in the organization, let alone on the court, from 5 years ago. Nothing is the same as 15 years ago. Is it really the same team at all for someone who started rooting for the Charlotte Hornets in 1994?

On the bright side, we're in a position now for endless continuity. Become a Pelicans fan now, stay a Pelicans fan forever.

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I was a living in Charlotte in 1988 when the Hornets started playing, I was only 7 years old at the time. The Hornets have been and always will be my team.... but by team I mean THIS franchise, no matter what they are called. I'm all in for the Pels, although I concede that when and if the "Charlotte Hornets" come back it makes it a little odd for me. But even then, I can say 100% I would go for the Pelicans against the Charlotte Hornets. It's the stick-to-itiveness that makes a fan a fan, through ups and down, through different players, cities, owners and now franchise names. New Orleans Pelicans (formerly knows as the Charlotte/New Orleans/NO-OKC Hornets) fan for life!!

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Originally Posted by Joe Gerrity

Honestly I can understand international fans deciding to find a new team or call it quits. Almost nobody remains in the organization, let alone on the court, from 5 years ago. Nothing is the same as 15 years ago. Is it really the same team at all for someone who started rooting for the Charlotte Hornets in 1994?

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Good point. Is anybody familiar with Theseus' paradox (or the ship of Theseus)? The situation we have here is similar, although almost irrelevant for local fans. Not my case, obviously.

The only thing that remained the same since the season I started following the team (West's rookie year) will soon be gone. Is this the same team I supported for almost 10 years? I don't know, but I don't care either, I will always be a Hornets fan, and in the future, a Pelicans fan.

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Originally Posted by NolaHornets23

You just lost the one constant in the team you've been rooting on for so long. I know you're already getting a bunch of bone-headed responses, but I get where you're coming from. Not gonna blindly hate you just because "NAWLINS IS NUYMBER 1"

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This. Alot of New Orleanians are being really blunt, but i respect all international fans. It would be awesome for u guys to stay.

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Originally Posted by Silverfoxx

This. Alot of New Orleanians are being really blunt, but i respect all international fans. It would be awesome for u guys to stay.

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I'm having a hard time understanding all these defensive responses. It's beyond being "blunt", I'd call it being simple-minded and selfish.

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Originally Posted by Smirk

Why would anyone care about international fans? Their opinion is not relevant.

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Hey some of us are awesome and make yearly trips to New Orleans :hihi: though I am a bit different as New Orleans has always been my favourite non New Zealand city, so I followed the team from the city

I'm with you OP except I'm not giving up on the NBA. Last Saturday night at the B***c***s game we had an event called "Swarm Time Warner Cable Arena" where 700+ people showed up wearing Purple and Teal and chanting Charlotte Hornets. It was one of the best NBA moments I've had since the fine people of New Orleans were awarded our team. I haven't been as into the Hornets this season since the Pelicans news leaked. Today the Bobcats organization sent out an electronic poll to their season ticket holders and will then poll the general public and the Hive will once again be alive. It will be tough jumping off the bandwagon right when it's starting to look up but the New Orleans Pelicans have no significance to me. The name means nothing to me.

It's just like you guys when you were first trying to get your rebrand. Despite playing in your city since 2002 the name Hornets meant nothing to you. Now you have your Pelicans and hopefully soon I'll have my Hornets back. I have no ill will towards the Pelicans or towards any fan on this board but my NBA fandom will live and die by the Charlotte Hornets! We Bee lieve! It's time to bring Hugo home. Where he belongs.

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Originally Posted by Banjoman

I'm with you OP except I'm not giving up on the NBA. Last Saturday night at the B***c***s game we had an event called "Swarm Time Warner Cable Arena" where 700+ people showed up wearing Purple and Teal and chanting Charlotte Hornets. It was one of the best NBA moments I've had since the fine people of New Orleans were awarded our team. I haven't been as into the Hornets this season since the Pelicans news leaked. Today the Bobcats organization sent out an electronic poll to their season ticket holders and will then poll the general public and the Hive will once again be alive. It will be tough jumping off the bandwagon right when it's starting to look up but the New Orleans Pelicans have no significance to me. The name means nothing to me.

It's just like you guys when you were first trying to get your rebrand. Despite playing in your city since 2002 the name Hornets meant nothing to you. Now you have your Pelicans and hopefully soon I'll have my Hornets back. I have no ill will towards the Pelicans or towards any fan on this board but my NBA fandom will live and die by the Charlotte Hornets! We Bee lieve! It's time to bring Hugo home. Where he belongs.

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Yeah I could understand this, I have thought about this though. But I decided to stick with the same franchise I have supported since the beginning.... the franchise to me means more than the name and the city. They decided to move, so I will support the team that is in New Orleans, if I switched to the Bobcats, it would be really awkward

I think i'd adopt the Charlotte Hornets as a legit second team if they get the name back. As a kid I cheered for the Hornets before they ever came to our city, and I'd certainly love to see them return where they belong.

Whoever made the Hitler video must not live in New Orleans. Pelicans are all over the lakefront and Bayou St. John right now. Probably in the hundreds. That said the Hitler video never gets old. One day I'll get around to actually watch the original.

To any fans we lose, I wish you guys the best in life, I hope you find happiness

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Originally Posted by Hornetnojersey

Geesh some of you are coming off as jerks. If a person is hurt by a team changing the name it means they weren't real fans? WTF kind of logic is that?

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If you stop cheering for a team simply because the name changes, then yes you're not a real fan. That's exactly what it means. Does that really need explaining?

I'm also in the same boat. 20+ years of being a fan of the Hornets and you hear that your team will no longer be the Hornets is a hard one to hear. I'm hoping Charlotte wants to, and is allowed to, get the name back because I think it would be a big loss to the NBA to lose the Hornets brand. If that happens I will just be a fan of both teams, how can I not be a fan of this team right now with the future looking so bright.

Hopefully this is not the end of the Hornets era, but if it is, at least I have half a season left of being a Hornets fan.

Alot of Facebook and Twitter rants are going on from people from NOLA. They hate the name and logo... I say its 70%

First of all let me say that I'm going stay a New Orleans fan and will learn to love Pelicans but let me just say that people like Smirk and others make it very hard.. I just have to remember that all not New Orleans natives are arrogant and ignorant as him.

I am not here to teach. But people follow good games, good players, or even good coach and GM , or owner, certainly the name is the last to follow. Didn't you follow the hornets because of Chris Paul?

N.O. have normally cool people. Its just some people operate different.

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Originally Posted by jacklvyn

I am not here to teach. But people follow good games, good players, or even good coach and GM , or owner, certainly the name is the last to follow. Didn't you follow the hornets because of Chris Paul?

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Certainly not. I followed the Hornets because they were mine. From the time I was 3 years old and they played their first season to the end of the 2002 playoffs when they moved they were a magical entity for me and other Charloteans. I followed them to New Orleans reluctantly at first and then dove in all the way their second season here. But what I was really following was hugo, the purple and teal, the pin stripes, and the awesome logo. It helped having a competitive team yes, but I was a Hornets fan before I knew any of the players on the team. Taking away the name, colors, and logo takes away the identity that this team has in my eyes. I can not continue as a New Orleans Pelican fan because that is not my team. I can only hope that Charlotte is able to get the name change back to Hornets rushed so I can pull for my Hornets next season.

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Originally Posted by Teal Street

Whoever made the Hitler video must not live in New Orleans. Pelicans are all over the lakefront and Bayou St. John right now. Probably in the hundreds. That said the Hitler video never gets old. One day I'll get around to actually watch the original.

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You should. I found it to be a very good movie.

I'm in the same boat man . I live in Australia and started following the Hornets in about 95 on the strength of the Hornets name not to mention the colours were awesome too. They could have moved to Senegal and as long as they were the Hornets I'd still support them.

Now we are the weak *** Pelicans with the same colours as Washington.

Obviously Benson loves the saints and has compared us with them in the press conference, so why couldn't we be black and gold like them which is infinitely better than ****ty Wizards colours?

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Originally Posted by Stealth Matrix

You should. I found it to be a very good movie.

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Indeed, it is a wonderful movie.

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Originally Posted by Perth_Hornet

I'm in the same boat man . I live in Australia and started following the Hornets in about 95 on the strength of the Hornets name not to mention the colours were awesome too. They could have moved to Senegal and as long as they were the Hornets I'd still support them.

Now we are the weak *** Pelicans with the same colours as Washington.

Obviously Benson loves the saints and has compared us with them in the press conference, so why couldn't we be black and gold like them which is infinitely better than ****ty Wizards colours?

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The league said no black.

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Originally Posted by Perth_Hornet

I'm in the same boat man . I live in Australia and started following the Hornets in about 95 on the strength of the Hornets name not to mention the colours were awesome too. They could have moved to Senegal and as long as they were the Hornets I'd still support them.

Now we are the weak *** Pelicans with the same colours as Washington.

Obviously Benson loves the saints and has compared us with them in the press conference, so why couldn't we be black and gold like them which is infinitely better than ****ty Wizards colours?

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We look nothing like Washington

A pity. But do whatever you wanna, man.

But its our team now. Benson's if you wanna get purely technical. He has the right to change the name into whatever the other 29 teams accept. And I support the move, even if I'm not really crazy about the name. But whatever.

I'll embrace and adapt to it anyway.

Now, I wanna see the uniforms and court, man.

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Originally Posted by Muggsy

Hi everybody

So, so sad. My team is gone, and so will I after 18 years of faithful support and of NBA following.
You will probably say "Come on, it's just a name, a real fan follows the team". Yes he does, wherever the team is going...
Living outside the US, of course a change of city does not affect the fan so much. Players come and go, cities come and go, stay just the name and colors. It IS the team.

Muggsy

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Yeah, I was afraid of this. It's sad to see so many long-time brethren wounded like this. Even though I'm sticking with the team, I can't blame you at all. I know exactly what the Hornets' mean to you and why you feel like you are getting kicked to the curb by Benson.

Sorry, bro. I wish you well. :(

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Originally Posted by ULsaint

City allegiance > team allegiance. See ya.

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People move all the time, often for reasons beyond their control like family and career. But your team's history becomes a personal experience that you can take with you to every corner of the earth. Team > geography