1991 SI: In Depth Story of some dude named Jerry Richardson

[Fiz]

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/vault/article/magazine/MAG1140299/1/index.htm

read this you dumb babbys

It's interesting how the years treated those Colts. Many of them did subscribe to ol' Bert's advice and became successful businessmen. Fullback Alan Ameche and defensive end Gino Marchetti became wealthy in the fast-food business. Tight end Jim Mutscheller got rich selling insurance. Defensive tackle Art Donovan, like a lot of other guys, it seemed, had his own liquor store, and he ended up owning a country club. Of them, only Hawkins seemed a better customer than businessman. To this day he remains the pet ne'er-do-well of those Colt teams, happily chronicling his own misadventures.

And Richardson? "After the '61 season, my wife and I drove through Spartanburg, and sure enough, there was Jerry Richardson flipping burgers," says Hawkins. "We laughed and laughed at him. Told him what a great season we had had, how much fun we'd had. Ordered four burgers and told him to hurry it up, too. Kept asking him how much money you could make cooking hamburgers. It was a great joke. For Christmas, he sent me 12 of them in the mail."

Hawkins's second book is due this fall. He says it's about 15 of the 30 or so failed businesses he got involved in after his playing days. "It's called And Then Came Brain Damage" he says cheerfully.

While the great Johnny U wades through bankruptcy, having suffered several business failures, Richardson gets the last laugh on his teammates 30 years later. He parlayed that first hamburger stand into the fourth-largest restaurant and food-services empire in the country. Moreover, he hopes to become an NFL owner—and, indeed, he is among the front-runners—when the league announces its two expansion teams next year. They couldn't raise him that miserable $250, huh?

[Wither]

That was interesting.

And hilarious.

[jasonluckydog]

Sounds shady. ...

[CatMan72]

What did we learn from this that we didn't already know?

[Kurb]

Good read.

[GRWatcher]

Lesson learned: JR is a businessman who does not fail. He is willing to do what it takes. We need to remember that as the Panthers travel quietly and cautiously through the next few years.

[Seltzer]

Awesome Find... Even more intersting to read almost 20 years later...

I just remember how excited I was in middle school to know we were getting a team... Definitely wasn't old enough to appreciate the business behind it...

JR has been a very successful business man, and as fans we have to hope he knows what he is doing with the current situation (Peppers, Fox, etc.)

It is important to remember how successful the Panthers have been relative to the other expansion franchises over the past 10-15 years (Panthers, Jaguars, Texans).

The Jaguars are in real danger of losing their franchise, and the Texans have yet to make the playoffs.

Meanwhile, as frustrated as we fans may be about certain issues with the team, the Panthers remain a very stable (and profitable) team for a "small market" and only a 15 year history.

The Titans, Rams, and Ravens may have had more success, but they were continuations of existing franchises...

I certainly wish only the best for Mr. Richardson, but given his health problems, I do hope he is willing to do whatever he can to help produce a winner over the next few years...

Go Panthers!!

[rico6]

God Damnit, then why tarnish your hardworking name by keeping a clown like John Fox man!?

[Ricky Spanish]

great read. Jerry is the man. if his heart goes out again, please tell him he can have mine.

[Pimpdaddy]

.... Great read, JR is a class act, extraordinaire. If you dont think so, go a couple rounds with Art 'frickin' Model. I really think things got jacked up when he was sick and didnt have a tight rein on things. i.e. Duhlomme contract, Peppers actin the fool, and subsequently, the firing of his sons... I dont agree with the tight belt on the 'display of fan support' becaus I think we could be a real 12th man at home games. All in all, hes an awesome owner and I hope he gets it done soon...

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

.... Great read, JR is a class act, extraordinaire. If you dont think so, go a couple rounds with Art 'frickin' Model. I really think things got jacked up when he was sick and didnt have a tight rein on things. i.e. Duhlomme contract, Peppers actin the fool, and subsequently, the firing of his sons... I dont agree with the tight belt on the 'display of fan support' becaus I think we could be a real 12th man at home games. All in all, hes an awesome owner and I hope he gets it done soon...

He's from a different era and that's just part of what makes him classy. Gotta take the good with the bad sometimes, ya know?

[pstall]

so he us more apt at flipping a burger instead of a coach?

[ItsNotGonnaBeAlright]

so he us more apt at flipping a burger instead of a coach?

Both do have their ups and downs.

[megadeth078]

What did we learn from this that we didn't already know?

woah, check out billy badass over here.

it's an article from 1991, dumbshit. did you expect a peppers update?