They can't take back the Utah Jazz's NBA nickname, so instead they're borrowing a Jazz franchise icon and claiming him as one of their own.

That's right, the New Orleans Hornets are retiring Pete Maravich's old No. 7 ? even though the late, great Pistol Pete never did play a game for the Hornets, and the Jazz already retired his number way back in 1985.
     
The Hornets, who moved this year from Charlotte to New Orleans, plan to raise Maravich's 7 to the rafters of New Orleans Arena on Wednesday night when they open the NBA regular season and begin their Big Easy run against the Jazz, who relocated themselves from New Orleans to Salt Lake City in 1979.
     
"I would find it curious," Jazz spokesman Dave Allred said when told of the Hornets' plans to honor Maravich, who once scored 68 points for the Jazz in a 1977 game against the New York Knicks and scored 28 in their first-ever regular-season win in Utah.
     
"I also recognize what they're trying to do is get fans to come and follow the Hornets," Allred added. "But it is kind of curious."
     
Hmmmm . . .