Thank you Bob Johnson!

[King Taharqa]

3. There exists NO shortage of black people that would do a better job than Bob Johnson has done. His race has as much to do with his performance as his hair color. He has done a poor job by any standards.

Bullshit. Bob Johnson is the richest black man in America. He's arguably one of the most successful. There are very few african americans with the capital and dollars to acquire a sports franchise outright, as shown by the fact that Bob is the first. Bob is conservative by nature, he's self made, he's never been on trial for a crime (unlike Shinn). The lack of respect he's been shown despite fighting hard to establish the Bobcats as an organization that is about winning and bringing people together is a clear message to any african american that aspires to own a business in this area. There are very few black owned business here for a reason, there are very few african americans with influence & power in the corporate sector downtown for a reason. By your own admission Vagrant, you admitted the fact Bob chose to employ so many black people in his business and played rap music at his arena alienated you and made you second guess whether he was capable of leading. Now you're telling us, you dont notice he's black. LOL. We dont live in a "colorblind" society, we live in a "colorful" one that people are frightened to death about. Until people are honest about their fears and insecurities when it comes to upwardly mobile african americans in positions of authority or leadership things wont change.

[King Taharqa]

For those that have trouble spotting the Bobcats Tea Party Movement members. Here are some of their most familiar catchphrases and sayings....

"We would've been better off had Larry Bird been awarded the team"

"Bob Johnson is the worst owner in pro sports"

"The Bobcats only hire black people"

"The "people" of Charlotte didnt want an arena uptown, and Bob built it anyway"

"He only cares about the $$$. He's here to rob us all and doesnt care about the fans or how well the team does"

"He doesnt come to the games, he doesnt care"

"

These are all the same regurgitated vague ass quotes we see on the blogs and in the comment section of the Charlotte Observer. Dont be fooled by these remarks and understand theres a greater agenda at play here. One that aims to make sure black people stay out of the owners box and in the blue collar workforce (as workers or athletes) where they are more desired.

[Porn Shop Clerk]

Sounds about right.

[KBRed]

One that aims to make sure black people stay out of the owners box and in the blue collar workforce (as workers or athletes) where they are more desired.

Sounds about right.

Taharqa, are you going to take that from the "honky"?

[Vagrant]

Bullpoo. Bob Johnson is the richest black man in America. He's arguably one of the most successful. There are very few african americans with the capital and dollars to acquire a sports franchise outright, as shown by the fact that Bob is the first. Bob is conservative by nature, he's self made, he's never been on trial for a crime (unlike Shinn). The lack of respect he's been shown despite fighting hard to establish the Bobcats as an organization that is about winning and bringing people together is a clear message to any african american that aspires to own a business in this area. There are very few black owned business here for a reason, there are very few african americans with influence & power in the corporate sector downtown for a reason. By your own admission Vagrant, you admitted the fact Bob chose to employ so many black people in his business and played rap music at his arena alienated you and made you second guess whether he was capable of leading. Now you're telling us, you dont notice he's black. LOL. We dont live in a "colorblind" society, we live in a "colorful" one that people are frightened to death about. Until people are honest about their fears and insecurities when it comes to upwardly mobile african americans in positions of authority or leadership things wont change.

I didn't intend for my statement to be interpreted as saying that there were a ton of qualified people that Bob Johnson jumped over in terms of black Americans, but rather that a person like Michael Jordan could have done a better job as an owner in my opinion because he's a basketball guy and not so much a money guy. I think Bob Johnson went into this idea with two goals in mind. First of all, to make money. That may be sad for idealistic fans, but the NBA is a business first and foremost and I had no problem with that being a big time goal of his. Secondly, I feel it was to advance his race. Again, if that was what he wanted to do that was fine by me. My only issue was that the team was expected to be a community team as opposed to a black community team. I shouldn't be expected to subsidize a venture that is designed for the advancement of black people. The NAACP has never asked me for a dime. They have never asked for me to pay attendance to anything, because it's understood that the NAACP is for the advancement of a certain set of folks that I do not belong with. My problem was not so much that Bob Johnson made his product exclusive to the people he wanted involved, but that is was a poor business practice to either intentionally or unintentionally make people feel excluded from your product. He has more money than i'll ever see, and that does not threaten me, so he can do what he wants to do. Just like George Shinn before him. I may not agree with what he's doing and my wallet will do the talking. Not that it ultimately means a whole lot, but it means something to me.

Nothing would have made me happier than to see Bob Johnson come into town, make all the racist curmudgeons uncomfortable, and to lead his team to success on and off the court by marketing the team properly but it didn't happen that way, in my opinion. I will admit that there were probably people that didn't come out because they were intimidated by a black person in power, but that was not me. I have had several black bosses in my lifetime. Some were good, some were bad, but none were good or bad because they were black. They were good or bad because they were good or bad bosses. Just the same as it has been with white bosses that I have had.

Quite a number of my most revered people in history have been black men, but that does not mean that I should attend a game in an environment that seems designed to be unwelcoming for people of my color just as it would be if you, KT, were having to pay to attend an event where it was exceedingly obvious that they were appealing to the Mexican demographic. It just makes no sense to have to subsidize an ideology that does not involve you.

[Guest CatofWar]

So this is what a bob johnson suck fest looks like. Pretty ghey. I have no issues with the man or the team, but I don't feel the need to deep throat him either.

For those that have trouble spotting the Bobcats Tea Party Movement members. Here are some of their most familiar catchphrases and sayings....

"We would've been better off had Larry Bird been awarded the team"

"Bob Johnson is the worst owner in pro sports"

"The Bobcats only hire black people"

"The "people" of Charlotte didnt want an arena uptown, and Bob built it anyway"

"He only cares about the $$$. He's here to rob us all and doesnt care about the fans or how well the team does"

"He doesnt come to the games, he doesnt care"

fu ck you KT.

And for the record, I will be taking back the word porch monkey.

[King Taharqa]

So this is what a bob johnson suck fest looks like. Pretty ghey. I have no issues with the man or the team, but I don't feel the need to deep throat him either.

And thats why you felt the need to post. Welcome to Bobcat Country.

[Guest CatofWar]

And thats why you felt the need to post. Welcome to Bobcat Country.

Been a citizen of bobcat country since the inception. I get that you are overly hyped about Bob being the first black ________ and ________. I have no knocks on the guy what so ever, but damn dude. And why go out of your way to paint the Tea Party movement as racists? What in the mother fuc does that have to do with the bobcats or bob johnson?

[King Taharqa]

Been a citizen of bobcat country since the inception. I get that you are overly hyped about Bob being the first black ________ and ________. I have no knocks on the guy what so ever, but damn dude. And why go out of your way to paint the Tea Party movement as racists? What in the mother fuc does that have to do with the bobcats or bob johnson?

Its not a matter of me being overly hyped, its a matter of Charlotte being overly scared to get over the past, and embrace an owner who's gone out of his way to try to make this baby work simply because he isnt who we want to "idol worship" and "deify". You say you have no problem with Bob, but in your own words describe this as a "Bob Johnson suckfest"

As for the Tea Party Movement, nowhere in my post did I use the word "racist", guilt much? They do a bang up job on their own of letting people know what they represent. If you want to discuss their politics and perception with me further, PM me. Lets leave this thread towards praising our owners hard work & grit and all the prosperity he has brung us.

[Porn Shop Clerk]

I support the Tea Parties, and didn't find any offense in the labeling in this situation.

[King Taharqa]

Today's Charlotte Observer ran an article discussing the upcoming CIAA Tournament and its impact here in Charlotte. Without Time Warner Cable Arena and our owner's willingness to lobby for events, Charlotte would've had no chance to win bids for tournaments like this. Thank you Bob!

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/college_hoops/story/1238919.html?pageNum=1&&mi_pluck_action=page_nav#Comments_Container

The CIAA has historically been the athletics home for a group of black colleges and universities in Virginia, North Carolina and Maryland. The annual tournament, known as much for its extensive slate of parties and social activities as its basketball, came to Charlotte in 2006 after a six-year run in Raleigh.

Officials say last year's tournament and the attendant social activities drew more than 176,000 people, with an economic impact on Charlotte of $38.2 million. Anthony Lindsey, a Johnson C. Smith University alumnus who heads the CIAA's local organizing committee, said over the past four years, the tournament has had an economic impact of $112 million in the Queen City.

"Obviously we'd be very excited to have it back in Charlotte," he said. "We'll be doing what we can to make sure it stays here. Charlotte's the best place for it."

Hopes are high for this year's tournament, running Feb. 23-27.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/college_hoops/story/1238919.html?pageNum=1&&mi_pluck_action=page_nav#Comments_Container

[King Taharqa]

Stern: Expect Bobcats sale within 60 days

DALLAS — NBA commissioner David Stern expects the Charlotte Bobcats to be sold within 60 days. He's just not ready to say if Michael Jordan will be the buyer.

At his news conference Saturday on the eve of the All-Star game, Stern said if Jordan was the buyer "that would be a good thing." Jordan is currently a minority investor in the Bobcats but majority owner Bob Johnson has given Jordan control of the basketball operations.

Johnson is the first black majority owner of a major professional sports team, but has lost tens of millions and is looking to sell.

Jordan has first refusal on any sale, but it's unclear if the Hall of Famer has an ownership group in place.

Former Houston Rockets executive George Postolos has also inquired about the Bobcats.

http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5jbBJroObBqbaxfJKyLQQdl_zrNAAD9DRLO781

Looks like the sale should be going thru any day now. Stern wants Mike involved and wants him in this market, but point blank Im not sure if Mike has the capital to buy this team. If it goes to Postolos, Im expecting Larry Brown to resign at the end of the season.

[The Link]

Why must we hate? Why can we not appreciate. I'm grateful that NC has a basketball team again, regardless of the owner and his intentions.