Monday, December 26, 2011

It was a great turnout of celebrity support tonight for the Charlotte Bobcats' season-opening win at home against the Milwaukee Bucks. Among the big names in attendance at Time Warner Cable Arena in Uptown were New York Yankees star Derek Jeter and Carolina Panthers star rookie quarterback Cam Newton.

Stars align: Cam Newton sits next to Bobcats owner Michael Jordan at Monday's game. 
[photo via @McBeastie_]

I'm sure the Bobcats front office hopes that Cam will come out to home games all season. But I'm sure they--as well as plenty of Charlotteans--hope he doesn't make the same fashion faux pas again. Mr. Yes We Cam wore a Charlotte Hornets snapback hat to the game. I'm sure he did it more as a fashion statement and probably wanted to pay homage to Charlotte's sports history, but someone in his circle should bring him up to speed quickly about how the Hornets' legacy is still a touchy subject in Charlotte.

Even nine years after the Hornets relocated to New Orleans following then-owner George Shinn's ugly split with the city of Charlotte, and seven years after the Bobcats team was born thanks to the NBA granting the city a new franchise quickly, many locals still decry the lost of Charlotte's original NBA team. This includes some who were okay with the Hornets leaving, but wanted the name to stay so that the future franchise would've been called Charlotte Hornets again, similar to what happened with the Cleveland Browns in the NFL in the 1990s. Personally, I've always felt that the Bobcats--name and presence--have represented a fresh start that should be embraced, and it's good to see newcomers like Cam showing their support. Just don't wear anymore Hornets gear, buddy.


9 comments :

  1. You know what? Bring the team name back. Charlotte Hornets for life.

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  2. Hmmm, I don't agree. I think many are hoping that the Bobcats can once again become the Hornets and get back their name. The name Hornets has history behind it and Charlotte should have fought to keep it as well as the colors and uniform which were created by a N.C. native (Alexander Julian). The Bobcats seem to be named for the then-owner, Bob Johnson when there were many more chances to go with a name that had historic value such as "Charlotte Flight", etc. Now that Bob Johnson is no longer the owner, we are still stuck with his name (and those awful Clemson-like colors). Many sports fans in Charlotte prefer a name that has more meaning. So no, Cam was definitely a fashion "Do".

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  3. Wow, people actually care about this stuff? The game on the court should be the thing that matters. The Bobcats are 1-0, be happy about it. The Heat come in tomorrow night on the second night of a back-to-back, hopefully they'll be tired and the Bobcats can steal a win.

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  4. I miss the Hornets and can't watch them play in the NO because they were ours first. I remember the media coverage of what the name should be, the assembling of the first team and all that. I don't think it was a fashion faux pas. I really love seeing Charlotte Hornets' gear. They were ours first and will always be in our heart. I am not a fan of the Bobcats name or the colors.

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  5. Maybe Cam knows something that the rest of us does not. There has always been speculation that Charlotte may get its name back since the league took over the New Orleans franchise.

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  6. Bring the name back! Yes it matters a lot...this is my favorite sports memory growing up! Hornets Games!

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  7. I think it was cool to wear the hat. Because the Hornets name should be brought back to Charlotte! The nba owns new Orleans now so it should have been done this year. Send Jazz name back to new Orleans and bobcat to Utah!

    Good move Cam, even if you probably Don't realize how much we want the hornets name back in Charlotte!

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  8. I miss the Hornets too (damn you Shinn), but at least Cam showed up to support the Cats. Cut him some slack, he's from Georgia. Probably a Hawks fan.

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  9. Bobcats were named for Bob Johnson. How lame and uncreative. The name should be brought back to Charlotte.

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