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

[TxAggie713]

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.

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!!

[Emilio]

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?

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.

[Silverfoxx]

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"

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

[ohnosono]

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

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.

[RyanM]

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

Hey some of us are awesome and make yearly trips to New Orleans 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

[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.

[Vinny6420]

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.

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

[Stealth Matrix]

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.

[Bayou Pelican]

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.

[Vinny6420]

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

[Spaniard]

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?

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?

[LJ_Grandmama]

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.

[Silverfoxx]

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

[hornetstime247]

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.

[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?

[Silverfoxx]

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

[Banjoman]

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?

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.

[Stealth Matrix]

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.

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

[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?

[Lurkaholic]

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

Indeed, it is a wonderful movie.

[FlyGirl]

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?

The league said no black.

[Vinny6420]

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?

We look nothing like Washington

[Eman5805]

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.

[Teal Lantern]

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

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.

[Teal Lantern]

City allegiance > team allegiance. See ya.

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