Jordan says Charlotte Hornets "sounds good"

[Munch4455]

- We as fans will be forever grateful for Bob Johnson bringing basketball back to the Charlotte, because to be honest; the Charlotte Hornets would have never happened without Bob Johnson committing to the Queen City and bringing basketball back...

Come at me!

The NBA was going to give us a franchise one way or the other, if it wasn't Bob Johnson, then it would have been Larry Bird's group or one of the other groups that was pursuing a Charlotte expansion team.

http://sportsillustr...e_expansion_ap/

http://sportsillustr...otte_owners_ap/

I think selecting him as the owner was more about having the first Black Majority owner in a major pro sport rather than some great business plan(which clearly he didn't have). Larry Birds group had much more NBA and professional sports experience, they were quite clearly a better choice to run a franchise. ML Carr(Ex-NBA player, community relations), Larry Bird(Ex-NBA player, President of Basketball operations), and Jan Volk(Ex-NBA GM,business operations) would have been the 3 primary guys who would run the organization. Bruce Levenson was also a part of the group, had formerly been a minority owner of the Wizards and was involved in getting the new Wizards arena built. I don't know what Bob Johnson promised the expansion committee when he talked about how the team was going to be run, but clearly we saw how it all turned out.

[CarolinaPanthers8789]

The NBA was going to give us a franchise one way or the other, if it wasn't Bob Johnson, then it would have been Larry Bird's group or one of the other groups that was pursuing a Charlotte expansion team.

http://sportsillustr...e_expansion_ap/

http://sportsillustr...otte_owners_ap/

I think selecting him as the owner was more about having the first Black Majority owner in a major pro sport rather than some great business plan(which clearly he didn't have). Larry Birds group had much more NBA and professional sports experience, they were quite clearly a better choice to run a franchise. ML Carr(community relations), Larry Bird(President of Basketball operations), and Jan Volk(business operations) would have been the 3 primary guys who would run the organization. Bruce Levenson was also a part of the group, had formerly been a minority owner of the Wizards and was involved in getting the new Wizards arena built. I don't know what Bob Johnson promised the expansion committee when he talked about how the team was going to be run, but clearly we saw how it all turned out.

Very true, I forgot about Bird's interest; he almost had a deal in place to bring a team to Charlotte if I'm not mistaken.

[Munch4455]

Very true, I forgot about Bird's interest; he almost had a deal in place to bring a team to Charlotte if I'm not mistaken.

Most people were very very surprised when the Belkin group didn't get the team.

[panthersphan]

Charlotte, North Carolina. The city and state where a name change is the ultimate goal of sports fans. Winning is down the list.

This guy is an imbecile.

[PhillyB]

i've never been to a bobcats game.

if they rebrand as the hornets i'll go buy a seat.

and there are a lot of me.

[kman72]

To be honest, the name shouldn't matter... if you are a fan of the team then you are a fan.

With that said would I prefer Hornets? yes its what I grew up knowing (only 23 yrs old) but do I feel that it will change the public view of the team? yes the casual fan will be a fan again all off-season and some will make it to the regular season. Some might even go to a few games, but it will end. The new name doesn't just make people fans... when the team wins again, then there will be fans. Sad but that is how sports go, when a team struggles the "fans" just hop on another teams bandwagon. But the day Charlotte basketball comes around you will see the support. Being honest again, they are the people that make me hate sports...

[Zod]

Its more than the name. Its the team identity.

Downplay or belittle it as much as you like, but team identity does play a role in winning and losing mentally for the players.

The Bobcats have been a total and complete failure, top to bottom. You don't think the players realize that?

Wiping the slate clean and replacing with an identity this community took pride in may indeed contribute to a turn around.

[PantherBrew]

Just think of Seattle when they get another pro team, how depressing would it be for them to name that team the "Seattle Bulldogs". Or some other generic team name.

Seattle needs Super Sonics,

Charlotte needs their hornets.

I really I could find the sound clip of the old Charlotte Hornets PA announcer introducing the team saying, "Here Come Your Hornets!" Used to give me goosebumps.

[King Taharqa]

The Bobcats have been a total and complete failure, top to bottom. You don't think the players realize that?

Wiping the slate clean and replacing with an identity this community took pride in may indeed contribute to a turn around.

The same could be said for the Panthers, they are several winning seasons below .500. Theyve had players whove been murdered, and have murdered. The steroid scandal, half empty stadiums, lifeless tailgates. The owner wont even guarantee the team stays in NC unless you give him more money. LMAO. The mere fact the state dont want to raise taxes for its pro football team shows everyone just how much the Panthers mean to the state as a whole. When JR passes and the new owner relocates the Panthers, Bobcats are all you're gonna have left Zod. LOL

As for bringing together the community, bologna. Itll hype some casual NBA fans up for half a season, but itll do nothing to enhance the franchise, hence NO shedding itself of the moniker and colors.

All this is moot because we will remain the Bobcats in 2014 and celebrate 10 years in the Queen City as well as continue to highlight local blacks and minorities contributions to our community. George Shinn wouldve never sold his team to MJ. Thank you Bob.

[Zod]

The same could be said for the Panthers,

Have the Bobcats been in the NBA Finals? East Champ series?

Until then you have no point, just a lot of typing.

[MadHatter]

Where is the thread that was started about somebody saying that the name change was certain not to happen? I want to go back and read through that.

It was the thread started by Zod saying that his inside sources basically confirmed that it was not going to happen.

I chalk that statement up there with Zod's other famous one.....that Terell McClain would be an all-Pro DT.

[MadHatter]

The same could be said for the Panthers, they are several winning seasons below .500. Theyve had players whove been murdered, and have murdered. The steroid scandal, half empty stadiums, lifeless tailgates. The owner wont even guarantee the team stays in NC unless you give him more money. LMAO. The mere fact the state dont want to raise taxes for its pro football team shows everyone just how much the Panthers mean to the state as a whole. When JR passes and the new owner relocates the Panthers, Bobcats are all you're gonna have left Zod. LOL

As for bringing together the community, bologna. Itll hype some casual NBA fans up for half a season, but itll do nothing to enhance the franchise, hence NO shedding itself of the moniker and colors.

All this is moot because we will remain the Bobcats in 2014 and celebrate 10 years in the Queen City as well as continue to highlight local blacks and minorities contributions to our community. George Shinn wouldve never sold his team to MJ. Thank you Bob.

This was the ONLY reason that I gave two shits about the name change......just to watch KT implode.

[Jase]

i've never been to a bobcats game.

if they rebrand as the hornets i'll go buy a seat.

and there are a lot of me.

Ditto.

That first game as the hornets will/would be the hottest ticket in town.

[Zaximus]

Of course winning cures all. But if you could change a name to what the fans want AND win, why wouldn't you? Strictly business speaking, Hornets gear will sell more than Bobcats, especially with nostalgia factored in. Changing the name has been a direct request from the fans, so moving forward with that "should" draw the community in more, and maybe it'll feel more like their team. Will this work completely? Who knows. But they have to do SOMETHING. The current path of the Bobcats just isn't working out. I think Cho will have us competing at least for playoffs spots soon, but how long will fans wait? Hornets will add a bit of excitement while we work on getting the team up to par. I have heard from a lot of people that they just don't feel like he Bobcats are active in the community. I know this isn't completely true, but that is what they THINK. Who can deny a name change isn't a direct connection with the community? Also, like usual, KT is the only one bringing race into a discussion.