Type: Private
On the web: http://www.nba.com/hornets

These Hornets are looking to sting their opponents on the basketball court. The New Orleans Hornets professional basketball team joined the National Basketball Association as the Charlotte Hornets in 1988 before moving from North Carolina to the Big Easy in 2002. During the 1990s the franchise was a perennial contender for the playoffs, but the team has yet to make an appearance in the NBA finals. Devastation from Hurricane Katrina in 2005 forced the Hornets to relocate its home games to Oklahoma City. (It plans on returning to the Crescent City for the 2007-2008 season.) George Shinn, who made his fortune building a network of for-profit schools, has controlled the franchise since its beginning.

Key numbers for fiscal year ending June, 2006:
Sales: $83.0M
One year growth: 6.4%

Officers:
Owner: George Shinn
Senior Director Corporate Partnerships and Merchandise: Jeff Jacobsen
VP Corporate Strategic Development: Bill Bailey