Let's say you're Jerry Richardson or Michael Jordan pitching Charlotte to a superstar

[panthers55]

My point is why did the trio go to Miami rather than Cleveland? Cleveland was making a push for both James and Bosh and I'm sure they would have found a way to bring Wade on board if that was a prerequisite James had in staying. They were trying just as hard to keep James AND get at least Bosh as the Heat were and yet they all went to Miami instead for less money than they could have received in Cleveland. Heck, LeBron was so ready to leave that he was willing to leave his home city in the crapper where they're going to be losing something like $40 million in revenue every year now.

The Magic have the appeal of Disney, the parent company of ESPN in Orlando. They've never won a title anyway. Neither have the Jazz and they just lost Carlos Boozer to Chicago just like they lost Karl Malone to Los Angeles. And your San Antonio stat is just incorrect. 1.4 million people live in the city limits alone according to Wikipedia.

As for the NFL small-market teams, no crap that they can win. A small-market team is the current Super Bowl champ. My entire point is that it's much more difficult for them to win. It's just not impossible like it is in the NBA. Some of those NFL teams you listed are ridiculous. Are you really trying to tell me that the Panthers are a larger-market team than the Steelers or the Colts or the Packers? TV network execs can't get those teams on TV fast enough every year because of their massive fan bases across the country that they've built up throughout the many decades those teams have been around.

You are reaching now. You really think that players go to Orlando for Disney?? Have you been there? They are not a bigger market than us.

And your whole LeBron argument belies everything he said last night. He went to win a Championship, nothing else. He said so himself. He gave Cleveland years to win a championship and decided they weren't willing to do what it took.

And absolutely we are the same size TV market as Pittsburgh. bigger than Indianapolis and Green Bay. You really think I would throw out numbers without doing the research. get real. Here is the link to confirm all I said. And you again just confirmed what I said. Players go to teams that win and have a winning tradition. The fact that they have huge fan followings are a function of their success. Players go to Pittsburgh because they win not because people will see them on television or there are lots of Steeler fans in Fat Boy, Montana.

http://www.tvb.org/rcentral/markettrack/us_hh_by_dma.asp

I've noticed throughout my years on the Huddle that a favorite debate tactic people have when they try to argue against a general rule like "small market teams can't succeed in the NBA at all and have a harder time doing so in the NFL" is they'll latch on to the 1 or 2 possible exceptions and pretend like that completely negates what you're talking about. There are exceptions to every rule. 11 of the 12 teams that made the playoffs last season had elite quarterbacks but AH-HA! The Jets didn't! The Jets had crappy Mark Sanchez! That must mean it's not important for teams to have elite quarterbacks after all! Um...no it doesn't. The Jets found a way to overcome that huge obstacle by having the best defense in the league and one of the best rushing attacks.

This is elementary school level logic boys and girls. Try some reading: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Accident_(fallacy)

Truth is you got no argument and are trying to spin things every way you can to try to salvage your lame argument. Next time do some research and stop throwing out half baked theories as facts. I do agree that your logic is elementary school level. LOL

[Mr. Scot]

The Panthers seldom ever pursue big name free agents. Not the other way around.

Pretty much.

It's hardly shocking that a team with a longstanding policy of not pursuing big-name free agents hasn't signed any big-name free agents :sosp:

[cookinbrak]

It's quite simple actually. In fact, ESPN will go it for us next March.

"The Carolina Panthers announced today that they have hired Bill Cowher to replace John Fox, who was not offered a new contract."

[cbarrier90]

Let's say you're Jerry Richardson or Michael Jordan pitching Charlotte to a superstar

"You're Jerry Richardson or Michael Jordan pitching Charlotte to a superstar..."

[CatMan72]

It's funny how many guys ends up staying in Charlotte even after they have retired or moved to another team... Reggie White is a good example.

[CatMan72]

My point is why did the trio go to Miami rather than Cleveland? Cleveland was making a push for both James and Bosh and I'm sure they would have found a way to bring Wade on board if that was a prerequisite James had in staying. They were trying just as hard to keep James AND get at least Bosh as the Heat were and yet they all went to Miami instead for less money than they could have received in Cleveland. Heck, LeBron was so ready to leave that he was willing to leave his home city in the crapper where they're going to be losing something like $40 million in revenue every year now.

The Magic have the appeal of Disney, the parent company of ESPN in Orlando. They've never won a title anyway. Neither have the Jazz and they just lost Carlos Boozer to Chicago just like they lost Karl Malone to Los Angeles. And your San Antonio stat is just incorrect. 1.4 million people live in the city limits alone according to Wikipedia.

As for the NFL small-market teams, no crap that they can win. A small-market team is the current Super Bowl champ. My entire point is that it's much more difficult for them to win. It's just not impossible like it is in the NBA. Some of those NFL teams you listed are ridiculous. Are you really trying to tell me that the Panthers are a larger-market team than the Steelers or the Colts or the Packers? TV network execs can't get those teams on TV fast enough every year because of their massive fan bases across the country that they've built up throughout the many decades those teams have been around.

Bosh ended up in Miami because Wade was staying and LeBron went to Miami because Bosh and Wade were there. Miami was more attractive to all three of these guys because the roster is a blank slate, they can hand-pick the players they put around them.

Stephen Jackson hasn't been begging to get out of Charlotte, he's gone so far as to say he loves Charlotte. Who wouldn't want to come and play for Michael Jordan? Most of the guys in the NBA now grew up watching and idolizing Jordan. LeBron changed his number from 23 to 6 because he idolizes Jordan and doesn't think anyone should wear 23.

As far as the Panthers, Jerry Richardson has an excellent reputation among the players around the NFL. Jon Beason (a Miami guy) said the Panthers were one of the teams he hoped would draft him because they treat people right. The city, nightlife, etc is all great but these guys will come play for you if they think you can help them win championships and get to the HOF. The Panthers have been to the SB and have demonstrated a willingness to spend money to build a championship team.

I promise you, if the Bobcats had the cap space we would have been a serious contender to land James and a few other guys simply because of MJ and Larry Brown.

[Zod]

Charlotte is in a good position comparatively speaking. Not as ideal a location as Miami, LA, NYC, San Diego or even Tampa. But has more to offer than places like green bay, minnesota, seattle, philthy, etc as far as quality of life. You can gold pretty much year round here as far as climate is concerned.

[thefuzz]

Get a top tier QB.

These guys want to win, and a "franchise" QB will help them do so.

Also, if money is no issue, we have about 50% of the league beat already.

St. Louis

Detroit

Buffalo

Nashville

Oakland

Seattle

Kansas City

Jax

etc....

Teams that would be easy for me to say yes to over Charlotte:

NE

SD

Dallas

Houston

But not too many more.

[rayzor]

if i'm looking at making a boatload of money then i'm also going to be looking at tax friendly states...mainly those with little or no income tax. any florida team would be a huge draw for me. teams up north would be something i stay away from. the cold and miserable weather wouldn't help them out either.

[X-Clown]

Anyone who can successfully tie their shoes and wipe their ass knows that the key to a successful sports franchise is the ownership/front office. Sam Mills Fan still hasn't figured out the rabbit ear and how to get the toilet paper off the roll yet apparently.

[MHS831]

2 words: Cable cars.

[Sam Mills Fan]

Anyone who can successfully tie their shoes and wipe their ass knows that the key to a successful sports franchise is the ownership/front office. Sam Mills Fan still hasn't figured out the rabbit ear and how to get the toilet paper off the roll yet apparently.

The past 30 NBA champions starting with 2010:

Los Angeles

Los Angeles

Boston

San Antonio

Miami

San Antonio

Detroit

San Antonio

Los Angeles

Los Angeles

Los Angeles

San Antonio

Chicago

Chicago

Chicago

Houston

Houston

Chicago

Chicago

Chicago

Detroit

Detroit

Los Angeles

Los Angeles

Boston

Los Angeles

Boston

Philadelphia

Los Angeles

Boston

Los Angeles

Every year since 1980 and only huge market teams have won. Are you saying that's pure coincidence and that the best front office teams are always located in the just 6 cities (Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Detroit, San Antonio) that have combined to win 28 of the past 30 NBA championships...all of which are huge market teams?

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

The past 30 NBA champions starting with 2010:

Los Angeles

Los Angeles

Boston

San Antonio

Miami

San Antonio

Detroit

San Antonio

Los Angeles

Los Angeles

Los Angeles

San Antonio

Chicago

Chicago

Chicago

Houston

Houston

Chicago

Chicago

Chicago

Detroit

Detroit

Los Angeles

Los Angeles

Boston

Los Angeles

Boston

Philadelphia

Los Angeles

Boston

Los Angeles

Every year since 1980 and only huge market teams have won. Are you saying that's pure coincidence and that the best front office teams are always located in the just 6 cities (Los Angeles, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Detroit, San Antonio) that have combined to win 28 of the past 30 NBA championships...all of which are huge market teams?

Congrats, you just found out the NBA is rigged which is why the same team has one 16 championships.

[Davidson Deac II]

Charlotte (or the suburbs really) are a great place to live if you want a raise a family. If you're an in-your-prime young superstar in his mid-to-late 20s? Why in the world would you want to live in Charlotte?

Why would one want to live in Miami or New York? I have enjoyed visiting both, but wouldn't want to live there no matter how much money I make. Each individual is different. Lebron craves the spotlight, but if someone wanted a more laid back town, Charlotte might be exactly what they want.