About Utah: 'Jazz' name belongs back in New Orleans

The team formerly known as the Jazz would conceivably get enough money to go out and buy a free agent and, as the Tribune's Steve Luhm mentioned in a recent column that was also favorable to shedding the Jazz name, Utah would instantly have an entirely new merchandise line to market and sell.

As for a new name, the franchise could hold a name-the-team contest that would generate even more interest.

I always thought a good name would be the Utah Black Diamonds — a reference to the ski and snowboard runs that rate Most Difficult labels. But as the ever-politically correct Doug Robinson was quick to point out, there may be a risk of that generating unintended racist overtones.

So how about Utah Diamonds?

Or Utah Canyons? Or Utah Gold?

Something indigenous to Utah.

And send the Jazz back to New Orleans, where it belongs.

Lee Benson's About Utah column runs Monday and Friday. Email: lbenson@desnews.com