in honor of Louisiana hoops great Pete Maravich, except that a) it sounds like "Pistons", and b) the violence thing (cf. Washington Bullets --> Wizards).

New Orleans Mailmen? Or, continuing with the Utah theme, New Orleans Tabernacle Choir?

Or riffing off the football team down the street, New Orleans Sinners.

And if Benson has the dough to do this, why in hell didn't he step up before they had to sell off CP3??!!

But I don't think any of the sportswriters could learn to spell it. Or say it.

"lagniappe" would be N'Awlins for OT.

"Privateers" belongs to the University of New Orleans.

edit: On the other hand, "Buccaneers" was the name of their ABA team, which had a 3-2 lead in the finals one year before choking Game 6 away at home and then failing in Game 7 at wherever.

if they were ever to get one. I hate the name "Zephyrs" even thought they came from Denver. Our AAA team was called the "Bears" long before it was changed to "Zephyrs".

U. of Florida might squawk, but there are plenty of college/pro precedents (UCLA/Boston Bruins, Memphis/Detroit Tigers, etc.) And how cool would a gator dunking with his tail look as the logo?

With a Mardi Gras logo?

Will there be a bounty program?

Shouldn't you be watching a game right now?

SCORE!

Glad I didn't.

That kinda sucked.

for a hockey team. Srsly. People I met in bars down there were pushing this. Despite its semitropical location, it is the kind of working-class city where hockey thrives.

Alternatively, the Blues (hopefully licking their wounds from a first-round choke job to the Sharks ) could locate their AHL affiliate there and call it...

...wait for it...

...the New Orleans Jazz.

It was fun until the old folks told us to sit down. They've got some work to do on hockey appreciation down there, yet.