LITTLE ROCK — This idea courting birdbrains
Goodbye, Hornets. Hello, Pelicans!
The New Orleans Hornets plan to announce they will officially change their nickname to the Pelicans and unveil their new colors and logo during a news conference today.
The new nickname, colors and logo will first be used during the 2013-2014 season. The colors will be blue, gold and red. The Hornets had been expected to change their identity since being purchased by Tom Benson on April 14.
Benson owns the rights to the nickname Pelicans. It has not been determined when Pelicans merchandise will be available.
The pelican is the state bird of Louisiana, which is known as the Pelican State. The pelican is also on license plates, the state flag, the state seal and the state painting. The bird symbolizes Louisiana’s environmental recovery from oil spills, and there was also a minor-league baseball team in New Orleans called the Pelicans in 1887-1959 and 1977 of which Benson was fond.
The team petitioned for five names: Pelicans, Mosquitos, Swamp Dogs, Bullsharks and Rougarou.
NBA Commissioner David Stern said he has no problems with the name change.
“If it works for them, it works for me,” Stern said. “I think everything sounds good. I think Lakers, have you seen any lakes in Los Angeles? There’s the same amount of lakes in L.A. as there is jazz in Utah, or grizzlies in Memphis.”
A free lunch
New York Knicks forward Amare Stoudemire bought lunch for 600 Madison Square Garden workers Monday before the Knicks’ game with the Brooklyn Nets.
Wrote Reggie Hayes of The News-Sentinel of Fort Wayne, Ind.: “If he doesn’t watch it, he’s going to spoil the image of the self-centered superstar athlete for everyone.”
Add lunch
The NFL reinstated New Orleans Saints Coach Sean Payton two weeks early from his yearlong suspension.
Wrote Janice Hough of leftcoastsportsbabe.com: “Guess Roger Goodell still has hopes of being able to go into restaurants and bars during the next two weeks in New Orleans.” Weighty matters
Delmon Young has some incentive to lay off the desserts and not make too many trips to the (dinner) plate.
He can earn $600,000 based on his weight this season.
Young’s $750,000, one-year contract with the Philadelphia Phillies allows him to earn an additional $2.75 million in bonuses.
The deal for the MVP of the American League Championship Series, announced Tuesday, calls for him to get on a scale on six occasions to be chosen by the team. He’ll receive $100,000 each time he makes weight, according to details obtained by The Associated Press. The first three times he must be 230 pounds or less, and the second three he must weigh 235 pounds or less.
Young also can earn a $250,000 bonus for being on the active roster for one day, and $100,000 each for 40, 80, 120 and 160 days.
Quote of the day
“We cannot have the NCAA bringing forward an allegation that’s predicted on information that was collected by processes none of us could stand for.” NCAA President Mark Emmert on the investigation of the University of Miami athletic program
Sports, Pages 20 on 01/24/2013