The Hornets are back

[KYSportsWriter]

The Hornets unveiled new logos tonight, and I must say I dig it.

http://news.sportslogos.net/2013/12/21/revived-charlotte-hornets-unveil-logos-wordmark/

This just may get me to be an NBA fan again.

 

[Mystery Meat II]

I was telling my cousin down that way that I'm kind of torn. It seems cool enough ... but maybe too cool. As in cold and somewhat austere. I don't think you can do a near-copy of the original logo, but it's lacking its warmth and likability. I do like the Hugo update -- in my world, that'd be the primary mark and the current one would become a secondary mark.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Until it starts functioning like a professional franchise, bringing back the Hornets' colors and logo won't save it.

 

[Mystery Meat II]

Until it starts functioning like a professional franchise, bringing back the Hornets' colors and logo won't save it.

I don't think anyone's saying that. But the franchise desperately needed a PR win and they got one here by bringing back a beloved nickname and colors as quickly as it could. Nobody thinks Zo, LJ and Muggsy are going to saunter through the doors of the Charlotte Coliseum. But they've been wanting the Hornets back in whatever fashion from the day Shinn took it all away from them. This gives them a reason to feel a little bit of enthusiasm about their basketball franchise, and maybe symbolically bury the ragamuffin, never-embraced Bobcats and all that it entails. You can say that's no big deal in the grand scheme, and sure, they could go back to winning 10 games a season and the Hornets will be playing in front of houseflies, but this is one of the few things they didn't screw up.

Imagine if Jordan held a presser a few weeks after New Orleans announced its intention to become the Pelicans, and he says something like "the Hornets are a treasured part of our past, but we need to focus on the future with the Bobcats". Because I wouldn't have put it past him or anyone else in management to do it. And it would have taken a giant dump right in the heart of Uptown.

I'll go so far as to say that this will easily be the most well-received rebranding of a major sports franchise in at least the past 30 years.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

So does this mean they get back the original Hornets' history, or does New Orleans keep that?

 

[linotype]

On the court, Sam is 100 percent right. That franchise has a long, long way to go.

But this unveiling did what it was supposed to do -- hokey or not, it rekindled that attachment and reminded me of what it felt like to root for them when the franchise was born and I was a seventh grader hundreds of miles from Charlotte who inexplicably started rooting for them.

EDIT: What Meat said, word for word.

 

[Sam Mills 51]

Until it starts functioning like a professional franchise, bringing back the Hornets' colors and logo won't save it.

I don't think anyone's saying that. But the franchise desperately needed a PR win and they got one here by bringing back a beloved nickname and colors as quickly as it could. Nobody thinks Zo, LJ and Muggsy are going to saunter through the doors of the Charlotte Coliseum. But they've been wanting the Hornets back in whatever fashion from the day Shinn took it all away from them. This gives them a reason to feel a little bit of enthusiasm about their basketball franchise, and maybe symbolically bury the ragamuffin, never-embraced Bobcats and all that it entails. You can say that's no big deal in the grand scheme, and sure, they could go back to winning 10 games a season and the Hornets will be playing in front of houseflies, but this is one of the few things they didn't screw up.

Imagine if Jordan held a presser a few weeks after New Orleans announced its intention to become the Pelicans, and he says something like "the Hornets are a treasured part of our past, but we need to focus on the future with the Bobcats". Because I wouldn't have put it past him or anyone else in management to do it. And it would have taken a giant dump right in the heart of Uptown.

I'll go so far as to say that this will easily be the most well-received rebranding of a major sports franchise in at least the past 30 years.

This can't hurt. Don't get me wrong.

But the only two things Michael Jordan has done correctly was go get the Hornets' old moniker and colors back after Tom Benson wanted to name New Orleans' team the Pelicans … and bring back PR and marketing after Bob Johnson foolishly banished it not long after getting the Bobcats. The second move was a no-brainer. Didn't take brilliance to do so, but at least Jordan did it.

And while bringing back the Hornets' moniker and colors should have been an easy move, Jordan was overly concerned that it would cost too much money. Penny wise and pound foolish … more Hornets swag will move in the next two years than moved during the Bobcats' entire reign of error. This will pay for itself and put them in the black quickly.

But anyone who thinks this is solely a reason to believe Charlotte's franchise actually wants to function and give a crap about winning is kidding themselves. And, believe it or not, I hope I'm wrong.

 

[DanOregon]

I don't know who does the design work on logos - but to me they all look very similar Timberwolves, Grizzlies…this.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

On the court, Sam is 100 percent right. That franchise has a long, long way to go.

But this unveiling did what it was supposed to do -- hokey or not, it rekindled that attachment and reminded me of what it felt like to root for them when the franchise was born and I was a seventh grader hundreds of miles from Charlotte who inexplicably started rooting for them.

EDIT: What Meat said, word for word.

I was a little young to understand when the Mavericks came in the league, but I fully remember when the Hornets, Heat, T'wolves and Magic came in. It was pretty fun reading about expansion drafts and wondering if the teams were going to be any good. I kinda thought it was cool to see Kelly Tripucka, Tony Campbell and Terry Catledge kick some ass.

 

[wicked]

Hornets never should've left Charlotte in the first place.

 

[Versatile]

Why would a logo make you a fan of a league?

 

[Stoney]

Can't believe the franchise is just tossing away all that Bobcat history and tradition.

 

[ucacm]

I really like their new branding/logos. Those mid-90s Hornets teams were fun to watch, even if they sputtered in the playoffs.

 

[Baron Scicluna]

Can't believe the franchise is just tossing away all that Bobcat history and tradition.

Gerald Wallace weeps.

 

[KYSportsWriter]

Why would a logo make you a fan of a league?

Can I not be excited about anything without your contrarian views? Jesus.

 

[wicked]

Using the Lord's name in vain isn't the best way to advance the discussion.

 

[MisterCreosote]

Why would a logo make you a fan of a league?

Can I not be excited about anything without your contrarian views? Jesus.

To be fair, the quality of play is high enough now that if you weren't watching already, the enjoyment you'd get from a new logo would likely be very limited.

I think you meant you'd be excited to have a team to root for again. But, still, if you weren't watching already, you likely won't get hooked.

 

[Mark2010]

This brings up a larger issue. When a team relocates, what should become of the name, logo, colors, team records, etc.? History seems decidedly mixed on the issue.

I'm sort of the thinking, if you move, take the whole thing with you. If you want to retire the name at some point, it shall stay retired within that league. If another team comes to your former city --- either via relocation or expansion --- let them bring their own name and history or start anew.

Winnipeg should NEVER be the Jets again or Baltimore the Colts again, Houston the Oilers again, etc.

 

[Bob Cook]

Inspired by this, the Chicago Bulls announced next year they will be known as the Zephyrs, the Indiana Pacers will be the Indianapolis Katuskys, and the Detroit Pistons will move back to Fort Wayne.

 

[NDJournalist]

This brings up a larger issue. When a team relocates, what should become of the name, logo, colors, team records, etc.? History seems decidedly mixed on the issue.

I'm sort of the thinking, if you move, take the whole thing with you. If you want to retire the name at some point, it shall stay retired within that league. If another team comes to your former city --- either via relocation or expansion --- let them bring their own name and history or start anew.

Winnipeg should NEVER be the Jets again or Baltimore the Colts again, Houston the Oilers again, etc.

Why? It's just a name and the city that adopts it doesn't care. New Orleans never cared for the Hornets anyway, and I doubt they'll care much for the Pelicans.

Charlotte LOVED the Hornets. They were more popular in NC than the Hurricanes and the Panthers and arguably more popular than Duke or UNC hoops. When they went away, the state's interest in pro basketball died. The Bobcats have never really been adopted.

Bringing back the name will bring fans back. It'll remind them of the good ole days before Shinn ruined everything. Sure, it's not a fix all. That will come once Jordan gets the hang of drafting better. But it's a start.