New Orleans Pelicans -- new nickname lacks the sting of Hornets

<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on"><img alt="The Pelicans" src="http://www.trbimg.com/img-5101ce27/turbine/la-sp-sn-new-orleans-pelicans-nickname-2013012-001/600" /><br /><span style="background-color: #f2f2f2; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px;">The logo of the New Orleans Pelicans, who will come into existence next NBA season. </span><span class="credit" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px;">(<span class="photographer">Hornets.com</span>)</span><br /><span class="credit" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px;"><br /></span><span class="credit" style="background-color: #f2f2f2; font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', Times, serif; font-size: 12px;"><span class="toolSet" style="background-color: white; display: inline-block; font-size: 14px; margin-bottom: 14px; margin-right: -50px; margin-top: 6px; width: 335px;"></span></span><br /><div class="byline" style="color: #292727; float: left; font-size: 13px; margin: 0px 0px 12px; padding: 0px;"><span class="byline" style="display: block;">By Dan Loumena From: <a href="http://www.latimes.com/">http://www.latimes.com</a></span><div class="date" style="color: #930000; font-size: 11px; font-style: italic; margin-top: 3px; padding: 0px;"><span class="dateString" style="display: inline;">January 24, 2013</span><span class="dateTimeSeparator" style="border-left-color: rgb(0, 0, 0); border-left-style: solid; border-left-width: 1px; color: white; display: inline; font-size: 10px; letter-spacing: -1px; margin-left: 6px;">, </span><span class="timeString" style="display: inline; text-transform: lowercase;">4:44 p.m.</span></div></div><div class="clear" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; padding: 0px;"></div><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"></span><div id="story-body-text" style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px; line-height: 1.43; margin: 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;"><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">The New Orleans Pelicans will come into existence next <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/sports/basketball/national-basketball-association-15008001.topic" id="15008001" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;" title="National Basketball Association">NBA</a> season when the Hornets nickname is retired.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">The franchise decided to go with something more Louisiana, and since the pelican is the state bird, it appears on the flag and the state's nickname is "the Pelican State," it seems appropriate.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">But it does lack some credibility. Pelicans are not your typical bird, and they also aren't your typical bird of prey, which usually flashes from the sky to pounce upon its victims. Eagles, hawks, falcons and osprey (seahawks) are almost regal.</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;">Not to say pelicans can't be majestic, flying over water and scooping up meals of fish, <span class="st">crustaceans, tadpoles and turtles or diving directly on top of them, stashing the food in the pouch of their oversized bill.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;"><span class="st">Pelicans are also smart -- they'll hunt in groups, trapping their prey. Pelicans are adaptive -- they're found on every <a class="taxInlineTagLink" href="http://www.latimes.com/topic/intl/antarctica-PLGEOREG0000013.topic" id="PLGEOREG0000013" style="color: #666666; text-decoration: none;" title="Antarctica">continent</a> but Antarctica.</span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-top: 10px; padding: 0px;"><span class="st">But pelicans don't seem like they should be a pro franchise's mascot or nickname. A college team? Maybe. Something like the Mad Pelicans? Angry birds could work, but not the New Orleans Pelicans.</span></div></div></div>

NBA New Orleans Pelicans New Orleans Pelicans -- new nickname lacks the sting of Hornets

The logo of the New Orleans Pelicans, who will come into existence next NBA season. (Hornets.com)By Dan Loumena From: http://www.latimes.comJanuary 24, 2013, 4:44 p.m.The New Orleans Pelicans will come into existence next NBA season when the Hornets …

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