Bobcats Owner MJ says "Thank You Charlotte"

[King Taharqa]

At Carolina we had a rule: If you made a basket, on the way back down the court you pointed to the teammate who passed you the ball. That was our way of acknowledging the contribution of the passer. That was our way of saying thank you to each other for making the basket possible.

On behalf of the entire Bobcats Sports & Entertainment family, I want to take a moment to acknowledge the city of Charlotte, our fans from across the Carolinas and our partners from around the country for helping us make this season the best in franchise history. Our players, coaches and basketball operations staff deserve credit for setting team records in virtually every category and getting us to the playoffs for the first time. By making a commitment to Coach Larry Brown's system and playing the right way, this group won more games than any Bobcats team before it, led the league in defense and earned the respect of basketball people and fans everywhere for playing hard and playing together.

None of this would have been possible without the support and contributions of the Charlotte community. Like pointing to a teammate who threw a great pass, we thank all of you for your kind words of encouragement this season, for your remarkable energy at home games and for helping us create one of the best playoff atmospheres in the league. For the first time since I've been involved with the Bobcats, you could feel a sense of pride among our fans and momentum in the city as buildings lit up orange and blue and signs wished us luck against the Magic. As an organization our only regret is that we couldn't give you more postseason games to get excited about, but we're already focused on next year and doing everything we can to make it even better than the one just completed.

Last month I wrote that owning this team is my number one priority and that I'm here to listen. This is your team too and you have a stake in what happens with it. In a short amount of time I received a lot of feedback from fans, season ticket holders, corporate partners and leaders in this community, and I want you to know that I value all of it. Some of your suggestions have already led to changes in specific areas, like our game presentation. Some have led us to consider bigger changes in the way we conduct business by focusing more on relationship-building around town and touching as many partners and fans in our community as possible. Your feedback will continue to be invaluable as we look for more ways to improve.

It's good to be home in the Carolinas. It's good to be part of something that has a chance to become really special. Thank you for all you've done, and for being there as we take the next steps together. I look forward to next season.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/05/02/1410276/thank-you-charlotte-for-the-best.html

[Jase]

class.

[PantherDude]

Don't mention it, your Airness. Too bad I can't say the same for BJ. At least I'm glad now our new owner isn't a whining racist with some ego problem & bash Charlotte for not embracing him when he didn't do that to them first. Oh well. I hope you will keep the team around Charlotte for a long time & make more good moves than terrible one, Mike! :thumbsup:

[tarheel32blue]

Wouldn't want anyone else owning this team. He WILL be successful here. Mark it down.

[charlottenian]

Thank you your airness... now can you please get us CP3?

[Hotsauce]

wow, very impressed MJ...

Lets make a big splash in the free agency this season.

Change the name of the team, include Carolina in the name.

And finally, lock down the coach

[mj4life]

can't wait till next season, and mj really is stepping up now that he is "THE MAN"

[mj4life]

wow, very impressed MJ...

Lets make a big splash in the free agency this season.

Change the name of the team, include Carolina in the name.

And finally, lock down the coach

don't look for a big splash in free agency this year, we may do some tweaking to the roster but won't do any thing major until next tradin deadline or next summer(we have 18 million in expiring contracts) the name will not change cause it's part of the contract between the city and the nba(whomever owns the team has to follow it and don't think the city will want to alter it in anyway)

[rippadonn]

don't look for a big splash in free agency this year, we may do some tweaking to the roster but won't do any thing major until next tradin deadline or next summer(we have 18 million in expiring contracts) the name will not change cause it's part of the contract between the city and the nba(whomever owns the team has to follow it and don't think the city will want to alter it in anyway)

I totally agree. I don't see a need for any big changes either. I think they need to get the guys they have healthy. I've seen Diop do some good things but him and Ajinca stepping things up would really help our team. If we had the luxury of their contributions this playoff series we may have won a game or two. I would also put Boris Diaw into that category. He was just "there" at times, 5pts 4ass 2rb. I'd start Tyrus he's kinda earned it.

The only thing we need to add is a 40% 3pt shooter. That's all they lacked. They didn't have that threat and that would also free up Jax and GW to do their thing without worrying about catching up when the other team is blazing 3's.

[KBRed]

Stay Classy Charlotte!

[King Taharqa]

Don't mention it, your Airness. Too bad I can't say the same for BJ. At least I'm glad now our new owner isn't a whining racist with some ego problem & bash Charlotte for not embracing him when he didn't do that to them first. Oh well. I hope you will keep the team around Charlotte for a long time & make more good moves than terrible one, Mike! :thumbsup:

If anyone's a worthless racist its you. I'd be scared to leave my kids around you, you might eat them. As many times as you've called young black athletes "thugs", "money hungry", and "selfish" and any other negative connotation you can think of on this board you're the last one to speak, dude. Its also very telling you cant give a successful black person a compliment without taking a backhanded shot at another one. This has nothing to do with Bob Johnson so thanks for going there doofus. Now go find some young black kids to call "thugs" and spit at and leave this topics to Bobcats FANS who care about basketball and not race and politics. You suck so much dude.

[King Taharqa]

NOW, as for our current owner Michael Jordan. Thank you for thanking us Mike, we had a great season. The Bobcats fanbase continues to grow and improve every year just like the team. There was a point in time when no one wanted or cared to talk about Bobcats basketball. Now people are talking about them somewhat passionately on the internet and out on the street round town. We had some sellouts this season and rawkus crowds. The way people came together in this community and on this forum (thanks for your contributions Zod) was special and something that the Carolinas can be proud of. But I want to see it go even further. WE AS FANS CAN DO EVEN BETTER. Just like we expect the Bobs to reach out to us and embrace us, we can do the same and embrace the team. This season was just the beginning. A very special year that we all will remember. The Mighty Bobcats of Charlotte, North Carolina.

[dimbee]

Thank you, MJ. What a class act.

That's a marked difference between Michael Jordan and Bob Johnson. MJ knows that respect is earned, not freely given. Apparently, Bob did not realize this. We, the Charlotte community, were "incestuous" according to Bob. We're teammates with MJ.

Keep that up, MJ.

[Porn Shop Clerk]

Bob Johnson is still a minority owner.

Thanks Bob!