I just realized: I have no idea where the name "Panthers" came from

[Jangler]

Maybe put some armor on the Panther, he could be like Battle-Cat.

[DaveThePanther2008]

I have heard the Panther is the ONLY BREED in the Cat Family.

THAT KILLS FOR PLEASURE..........

[Jangler]

Unless it has a 20 point lead, then it lets up....

[uncfan888]

if bobcats were a bad name for charlottes pro basketball team, panthers are a bad name for charlottes pro football team. both are cats of prey, woohoo how original. that hasnt been done over 1,000 times. but at least wild bobcats exist in north carolina. the closest wild cougar exists in like fuging nevada or some poo cause human beings (the real alpha, apex predator) kicked those pussies out long ago.

People hated the bobcats cuz Robert Johnson named the team after himself. Not to mention the fact that the hornets meant so much to this city. 

[Moorgan]

I have heard the Panther is the ONLY BREED in the Cat Family.

THAT KILLS FOR PLEASURE..........

The most ferocious feline on the planet is...

https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Most_Extreme

The House Cat.

[CoastalCat]

The Carolina BBQ 

Rebels?

[JawnyBlaze]

This has been discussed many times over the years but there's a long existing urban legend about the existence of black panthers in NC. Never been totally proven or disproven as far as I know, but panthers do have a historical tie to the Carolinas. And a Viking or patriot vs a panther? Maybe. A "packer" or "steeler"? lol not likely.

[The Huddler]

if bobcats were a bad name for charlottes pro basketball team, panthers are a bad name for charlottes pro football team. both are cats of prey, woohoo how original. that hasnt been done over 1,000 times. but at least wild bobcats exist in north carolina. the closest wild cougar exists in like fuging nevada or some poo cause human beings (the real alpha, apex predator) kicked those pussies out long ago.

lol gtfo i love the name

[DaveThePanther2008]

if bobcats were a bad name for charlottes pro basketball team, panthers are a bad name for charlottes pro football team. both are cats of prey, woohoo how original. that hasnt been done over 1,000 times. but at least wild bobcats exist in north carolina. the closest wild cougar exists in like fuging nevada or some poo cause human beings (the real alpha, apex predator) kicked those pussies out long ago.

Thought the Bob Cats were named after the egotistical Robert (Bobcat) Johnson the original owner.  It had nothing to do with the cat.... Or so I was told.

[sharkkiller]

There are still panthers in the carolinas, just not as many. I grew up in Northern South Carolina, and have personally seen both panther tracks and actual panthers. They call them Pumas though, but it is the same thing.

[cbarrier90]

I ask the question because I've been trying to think of what a possible MLS or MLB Charlotte team would be named.

With a baseball and soccer franchise already here, I suppose those two names and color schemes would be moved along with the change in divisions, even though Charlotte Independence is the worst team name ever conceived and an awful attempt to capitalize on the whole "civic pride over a name" idea the Hornets brought back.

There is a Major League Lacrosse franchise owned by the same group named the Hounds, the state dog. Not perfect, but unique and miles ahead of "Independence."

Before the Independence, there was the Charlotte Eagles, who still exist but in a lower division. Before the Eagles, there was the Charlotte Gold (Reed Gold Mine reference) which was a renaming of the Carolina Lightnin' soccer team in the 80s that played in Memorial and whose success, though brief, inspired Shinn to try NBA expansion.

The Hornets name was used for both a World Football League franchise in the 70s and before that a baseball team (unrelated to the Knights) from 1940-1971.

The Knights began as the Orioles but only because Baltimore was the affiliate.

Then you have the Charlotte 49ers, which fits the "gold rush" theme, but (UNCC folks correct me if I'm wrong here) is in homage to the year (1949) the present iteration of the university began.

There seems to be an affinity for tying nicknames to the Revolutionary War given the role the city of Charlotte played in it, but with Hornets (coolest nickname in pro sports IMO) already taken, that leaves few options. You can always go the royal route since the city is named for a queen (Kings, Royals, Knights, Monarchs) but KC has the Royals in MLB.

There's the gold rush theme, but with 49ers already taken, seems the only other option would be Miners.

Other themes that haven't been used: First in Flight. Flight was rumored to be the Bobcats name before Bob Johnson stepped in and named it after himself. Options here could be Jets, Pilots (original Mariners name.) Also, the state bird is a Cardinal, but St. Louis already has that name, and Memphis has Redbirds.

[CatMan72]

Charlotte Independence is named for the "Meck Dec" (Google that poo) which predates the US declaration of independence.

[cbarrier90]

Charlotte Independence is named for the "Meck Dec" (Google that poo) which predates the US declaration of independence.

That's great, but "Independence" is four syllables and an adjective. Royals, Kings, etc were all sitting right there if they wanted (Royals in particular would fit the color scheme perfectly.) Heck, Charlotte United or Charlotte FC would have been much better options than Independence. It just seemed like they tried way too hard to get a name that connected and overthought it.

[MechaZain]

How old was Mark Richardson in 1989? Like mid-20s? Trying to picture it: Some random family dinner, new college grad Mark Richardson threw out the name "Panthers" and Jerry liked it and it's just been like that ever since.

 

I ask the question because I've been trying to think of what a possible MLS or MLB Charlotte team would be named.

What's Mark Richardson been doing since Jerry fired him? Anyone know?

Carolina Blue Sox