Party welcomes NBA back to city By MARY FOSTER AP Sports Writer October 30, 2002 NEW ORLEANS (AP) -- Twenty-three years after it was dumped by the NBA, basketball returned to New Orleans. Naturally, the city threw a party. A shindig complete with fortune tellers, face painters, dancers, bands and a standing room only crowd preceded Wednesday night's game between the Hornets and the Utah Jazz -- the team that abandoned New Orleans in 1979. ``Who would have …showed first 75 words of 446 total…

…showed last 75 words of 446 total…city in the world,'' Wooldridge said. Former Jazz players Aaron Harris, Truck Robinson and Rich Kelley, as well as Pete Maravich's widow, Jackie, attended the game. Maravich's number was retired in a halftime ceremony. ``This is a wonderful night,'' said Bill Hines, who led the effort to land the team. ``I can't tell you how many people have come up to us and thanked us for bringing the NBA back. Everyone's excited.''