New Orleans Hornets

Note: The Hornets retired Pistol Pete's number during their first game in New Orleans in honor of his basketball contributions to the area at LSU and with New Orleans' previous NBA team, the Jazz. The opening of the new ballpark brought hope to fans, but the hope has quickly faded as general manager Ed Wade has once again been the target of criticism as the team has failed to meet expectations in the '00 decade. The team found better support for their younger, scrappier players than they did last year when the team was better on the floor. A series of terrible managers and general managers was briefly interrupted by 1993's magical run. Despite the lack of success, the team's roster was reshaped, with older veterans Baron Davis and Jamal Mashburn traded to facilitate a rebuilding process. Since the 1980s, team management has been consistently criticized as being cheap and uninterested in winning. The team performed better in January and February, but the season was essentially over before it started with the horrendous start. This is mainly due to the fans' appreciation of players who give maximum effort; many of the Phils' most popular players have not necessarily been the best or most talented, but rather the scrappiest.

The team was expected to compete for a playoff spot in the tougher Western Conference, but an 0-8 start turned into a 2-29 start, which started a watch of how bad their record could get, threatening the Philadelphia 76ers' record of a 9-73 season. While some players have openly complained about a segment of fans who routinely boo their own team, it must also be said that Phillies fans are among the most loyal in the major leagues, turning out to support the team despite a multitude of losing seasons. After the season, Floyd was fired and the team hired Byron Scott to be their head coach. Phillies fans have endured a reputation for generally rowdy behavior (an old saying was "Phillies fans would boo a wedding or a funeral"), but the stereotype of them as rampant hellions is far overblown. Without the shot by Wade, the 2004-05 NBA season might have been altered with Shaq perhaps going to a different team and the Heat not being bona fide NBA title contenders. There are only fifteen times that this has happened. The Phillies have had three batters with four home runs in a game, this is more than any other team, past or present. An 85-77 win in game 7 moved the Heat on to round two, but more importantly, set the stage for the summer's acquisition of Shaquille O'Neal in a trade with the Los Angeles Lakers. A rare distinction in baseball is to have hit four home runs in one game.

The teams ended up winning all their respective home games after that, but Wade's shot was the difference even though the series went 7 games, the Heat winning 4-3. The Phillies' recent failures have contributed a resurgence in the belief of the Curse of Billy Penn. They drew the Miami Heat, but Dwyane Wade's last second shot sunk the Hornets in game 1 of the series. This collapse is widely known as one of the most notable collapses in all of sports history, only surmounted by the Boston Red Sox blowing a 14-game lead to the New York Yankees during the month of September, 1978 and by the play-off collapse of the New York Yankees to the Boston Red Sox in 2004. He was replaced by Tim Floyd, and the Hornets got off to a 17-7 start, but the team reverted to form and finished 41-41, narrowly missing out on home court advantage in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs. Manager Gene Mauch was criticized for panicking down the stretch. After the season, the team decided to move in a different direction and allowed the contract of head coach Paul Silas to expire. During this stretch, the Phillies found new ways to lose.

They qualified for the playoffs for the fourth straight year in 2002-03, but were beaten by Philadelphia again, where Iverson again shredded them, this time dropping 55 points in one game. The Cardinals won that last game, and the Phillies had lost theiur chance at the National League crown. First NBA game played in New Orleans in 23 years. It was not to be. October 30, 2002: The New Orleans Hornets open their inaugural season in New Orleans against former New Orleans NBA team the Utah Jazz; "Pistol" Pete Maravich has his number retired during halftime. Louis Cardinals had lost on the final day, the Phillies would have been included in a tie (along with the Cincinnati Reds, forcing an unprecedented 3-team playoff for first place. The Bobcats began play in November of 2004. Then they started to win again, and if the St.

Shortly after that, Charlotte would be awarded a new NBA franchise, the Charlotte Bobcats. Up by 6 1/2 games with 12 left to play, the Phillies dropped 10 consecutive games, dropping behind. In May of 2002 the Hornets were given permission to move to New Orleans, Louisiana, where they became the New Orleans Hornets. And of course, the famous collapse in 1964 is legendary. They returned the following season by beating the Orlando Magic, but were upended by the New Jersey Nets. His explanation: "I was released by the Phillies!" If the cartoon had been done a year later, it would have said "Mets", as the Phillies were starting to improve while the Mets lost 120 games in their first year. The Hornets, with the lineup of Davis, Wesley, Mashburn, Brown and Campbell made it back to the playoffs, where they defeated the 3rd ranked Heat and made it to the second round for the third time in franchise history. In a 1962 baseball magazine, there was a cartoon showing a ballplayer arriving at a French Foreign Legion outpost.

Brown. The small size of Baker Bowl used to be blamed for their problems, but the continuation of their losing ways after moving to the normal-sized Shibe Park undercut that theory. Jones led the league in steals, but in the offseason he and Mason were shipped to the Miami Heat in exchange for small forward Jamal Mashburn and power forward P.J. From 1919 to 1947, a stretch of 29 seasons, the Phillies finished last 17 times and next to last in 7 of the seasons. The team returned to the playoffs, where they were shredded by Allen Iverson of the Philadelphia 76'ers. One hallmark of the Phillies throughout history is losing and inept management. His number was retired on February 9, and was a sad note in the franchise's history. Indeed, following their 1983 World Series loss to the Baltimore Orioles, the team neglected to post back-to-back winning seasons until finally doing so in 2003 and 2004; the 2004 team also was second in the NL East, only the third time the Phillies have finished that high since the 1994 realignment (including a joint second-place finish with the New York Mets in 1995).

The lineup of Wesley, Jones, Mason, Coleman and Campbell tore through much of the season, but on January 12, 2000 Bobby Phills was killed in a tragic automobile accident. But with that season's (1994) players' strike, most of the Phillies' fan base was greatly offended, and since then the Phillies have had little success either on the field or at the gate - the realignment of the Atlanta Braves into the National League East in 1994 having had a negative effect on both as the Braves have won the division every year since joining it, often by lopsided margins. 1999-2000 was a return to prominence, with the addition of free agent Derrick Coleman and third overall draft pick point guard Baron Davis to the mix. The team was often described as "shaggy," "unkempt" and "dirty." The previous year, noting the presence of the clean-cut Dale Murphy, Kruk himself described the team as "24 morons and one Mormon." Their character endeared them to Philadelphia, and attendance records were set the following season. The team finished tied with the Knicks for the last playoff spot, losing the tiebreaker. Losing to the Toronto Blue Jays in the World Series, giving the Canadians two consecutive World Series titles, was nonetheless disappointing. 1999 was turbulent, with Rice being traded to the Lakers for Eddie Jones and Elden Campbell, both Geiger and Divac leaving in free agency, and Bogues leaving the team for good. Beloved by the city of Philadelphia, this team with names such as Darren Daulton, John Kruk, Lenny Dykstra also known as Nails, and Curt Schilling surprised the city and the nation with their achievements.

With Wesley, Phills, Rice, Mason and Divac, the Hornets romped through the regular season, with Rice finishing sixth in scoring and earning all-NBA third team honors and the team making it all the way to the second round of the playoffs for the second time in franchise history, being stopped by Jordan and the Bulls. After Mike Schmidt retired in 1989, the Phillies had a decade of losing seasons, save for a World Series berth in 1993. The team picked up a new free-agent backcourt in point guard David Wesley and shooting guard Bobby Phills. The Phillies franchise historically had four strong winning periods:. 1997-98 was also successful. So, Phillies it was, and Phillies it remains to this day for the National Leaguers. The team also spotted the best season of their history, making it back to the playoffs. The time-honored team name in the city had been "Athletic of Philadelphia", but that name was already taken by the American Association entry and would later be adopted by the new entry in the American League.

Rice was also the allstar game MVP, setting several scoring records. Reach was the man to give the Phillies their name. The new-look Hornets were apparently even better, however, with Divac and Geiger providing the best center combo in the league, Mason averaging a double-double and all-NBA third team honors, Bogues back at the point, and Rice having the finest season of his career, finishing third in the league in scoring and earning all-NBA second team honors. Their initial owners were John Rodgers along with Al Reach, the sporting goods magnate and the first ever professional baseball player according to many definitions. The offseason was again marked by vast changes, as Anderson declined to resign with the team, Johnson was shipped to New York for power forward Anthony Mason, and lottery draft pick guard Kobe Bryant was traded to the Lakers for center Vlade Divac. The name has absolutely nothing to do with horses, even if contemporary sportswriters sometimes called them "Fillies" just to be funny. Geiger and Johnson tied for the team lead in rebounds, while Johnson and Rice provided balanced but high-powered scoring, with all-star guard Kenny Anderson running the point for the injured Muggsy Bogues. However, the team was not relocated - the Worcesters were expelled from the league, and the new Phillies were given their spot.

In the offseason the team dealt Mourning to the Miami Heat for guard Glen Rice and center Matt Geiger. Named for a verbal shorthand of their city of residence ("Philly"), the Phillies replaced the Worcester, Massachusetts Brown Stockings in the National League. The next few years were marked by injuries to Johnson and Mourning, though they did get back to the playoffs in 1994-95, only to be beaten by Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls. Founded in 1883, the National League's Philadelphia Phillies are the longest standing, one-name, one-location team in all professional American sports. However, they lacked the experience and depth to defeat the New York Knicks. They play in the Eastern Division of the National League. It was good enough for fifth in the Eastern Conference and a playoff spot, where they upset the Boston Celtics with Mournings famous series-winning shot. The Philadelphia Phillies are a Major League Baseball team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

The Hornets now had twin 20-10 threats in Johnson and Mourning, who with Gill formed perhaps the league's top young trio. Gulf Coast League Phillies. In 1992-93, the team won the second pick in the draft, using it to draft center Alonzo Mourning from Georgetown. Clearwater Threshers
Lakewood BlueClaws
Batavia Muckdogs. Kendall Gill led the club in scoring, with over 20 points per game. Reading Phillies. Johnson had an impact season, finishing among league leaders in points and rebounds, and winning NBA rookie of the year. Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Red Barons.

For the 1991-92 season, the Hornets drafted power forward Larry Johnson from UNLV with the number one overall pick. National League
. For the 1990-91 season, the team picked up guard Kendall Gill in the NBA draft, and got slightly better, but still managed to win the NBA Draft lottery and the rights to the number one overall pick. Pitching saves: José Mesa, 45 (2002). The team also had sharpshooting rookie Rex Chapman, who was also an instant scoring threat. Pitching shutouts: Pete Alexander, 16 (1916). Tripucka was Charlotte's top scorer for the franchise's first two seasons. Pitching ERA: Pete Alexander, 1.22 (1915).

The team was led by guard Kelly Tripucka, who provided instant points. Pitching strikeouts: Curt Schilling, 319 (1997). 1988: The franchise plays its first game as the Charlotte Hornets. Pitching wins: Kid Gleason, 38 (1890). Oct. Strikeouts: Jim Thome, 182 (2003). The current head coach is Byron Scott. Walks: Lenny Dykstra, 129 (1993).

The New Orleans Hornets are a National Basketball Association team based in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA. OPS: Chuck Klein, 1.123 (1930). David West. On-base percentage: Billy Hamilton, .523 (1894). Jackson Vroman. Total bases: Chuck Klein, 445 (1930). Smith. Extra-base hits: Chuck Klein, 107 (1930).

J.R. Slugging average: Chuck Klein, .687 (1930). Lee Nailon. Hitting streak: Chuck Klein, 26 games (1930-twice). Bostjan Nachbar. Stolen bases: Billy Hamilton, 111 (1891). Jamaal Magloire. Triples: Sam Thompson, 27 (1894).

George Lynch. Doubles: Chuck Klein, 59 (1930). Maciej Lampe. Singles: Richie Ashburn, 181, (1951). Casey Jacobsen. Hits: Lefty O'Doul, 254 (1929). Dan Dickau. Runs: Billy Hamilton, 192 (1894).

Speedy Claxton. RBI: Chuck Klein, 170 (1930). Brown. Home runs: Mike Schmidt, 48 (1980). P.J. Batting average: Ed Delahanty, .410 (1899). Chris Andersen. Harry Kalas (2002).

13 Bobby Phills. By Saam (1990). 7 Pete Maravich. Ford Frick (2):