Where are the REAL fans?

[TheGayKid]

I am serious here, I have seen way too many "Fans" say they have given-up on the team simply because of things not happening the way they like. Real fans don't follow a team because they win, they follow a team because they find that a particular team is one they want to support during the good times, the bad times, and everything in between. There is a large difference between criticism and whining. We don't need "Fans" who pack up, give up, or walk away simply from frustration with their team. We need REAL Fans who follow the bobcats till the end. -RANT RANT RANT, RABBLE RABBLE RABBLE, BABBLE BABBLE BABBLE-

[SWedd523]

This thread is on the Watch List. A warning to everyone to keep it civil in this thread.

[TheGayKid]

This thread is on the Watch List. A warning to everyone to keep it civil in this thread.

Good idea, I'll be on my best behaviour

http://www.bigmagpie.com/somehype/stories/staugs/Harvey%20&%20Andrew_files/PussInBoots.gif

[teej]

North Carolina and South Carolina have very few real fans. Even the Tar Heels have poor fan support when they aren't a Top 10 team. This region's sports fans suck, and it takes time to change that. I'll be a 'Cats fan as long as they're in Charlotte, regardless of what anyone else says.

[BRNC]

Good idea, I'll be on my best behaviour

http://www.bigmagpie.com/somehype/stories/staugs/Harvey%20&%20Andrew_files/PussInBoots.gif

Picture worth the price of admission...LOL...+1

[TattoodCats4life]

I'm a cats fan, don't get me wrong, but the money Jordan just saved in salary, he's going to lose in ticket and merchandise revenue.

[GOBOBCATS24]

I am optimistic about the future of this team and I will support us whether we are 82-0 or 0-82. But my heart just hurts seeing Gerald leave. I'll get over that part of it but right now it feels like someone close to me passed on.

[cls77]

At $11 million annually, Gerald Wallace is being overpaid by about $2-4 million for the remainder of his contract. And when your payroll already devotes another $11 million thru 2012/2013 to Matt Carroll and Gana Diop alone -- you have to be cost-conscious. We have Tyrus Thomas for the next 5 years and with development he can be exactly what Gerald Wallace has been for us, and he will make no more than $9 million.

Its hard to keep franchise players in salary cap leagues, especially one that lacks a franchise tag status like the NFL has. I'm grateful we were able to keep GW as long as we did.

[ND22]

I'm a Bobcats fan through and through, but it doesn't mean I can't get upset over a move they make. The moves they made today obviously show the FO is looking to the future, but that doesn't mean we still can't make the playoffs.

[Mustachio]

I'm a cats fan, don't get me wrong, but the money Jordan just saved in salary, he's going to lose in ticket and merchandise revenue.


Sorry dude, but this is just wrong. Crash was a fan favorite, but mostly for lack of other options. Without Charlotte, you've likely never heard of Gerald Wallace and that cant be said in reverse.

I am not dissing Gerald Wallace here, just saying, the team is bigger than any one player. If the Packers can thrive without Brett Favre, I think we can manage with out Crash. ONWARD AND UPWARD!

[Proudiddy]

This is civil.

First off, no one is going to question my fanhood. I support my teams no matter what, but it doesn't mean I have to waste my time watching each game with a shitty internet feed when I know they don't want to win. I've bought jerseys, hats, tickets, and suffered through it all. So NO ONE can question my fandom. I don't give a shit, what your definition is, I know what mine is. I'm a Bobcats fan now, I was before, and I always will be, but that doesn't mean I should smile and grab my ankles with every move they make. If that's how you show your fandom, more power to you, but I'm gonna speak my mind.

[TheGayKid]

This was basically a rant because of the people who specifically stated that they had given up on the team, not an objection to other people's criticism :D

[rsxnova]

What do you think would happen when you trade your franchise player. We got mini LBJ/Melo'd except it was our owners fault. Either way i see some 1$ tix in my future.

[Proudiddy]

Well mine was a generlized response to all the "you're not a fan if you do _______." Last time I checked, there wasn't a book on what makes you a fan or not, so I don't understand why some people feel they have the authority to say who is and isn't a fan.

I think people aren't a fan anymore when they officially "give up" on one team and jump on with another one... Both of those things have to happen. And that's gutless.

[CrazyCarl139]

Not many people who live in Charlotte are from Charlotte...that makes it tough to build a fan base unless you are winning. So, I don't think there's a lot of true Bobcat fans out there right now. Hell, I am more of a Magic fan then the Bobcats (because I grew up in Orlando). But, now that I have been in Charlotte for 6 years, I am definitely pulling the Bobcats to be successful. I go to games, I buy gear and I think they can win every game (except against ORL). I feel like I'm in the minority though. I enjoy supporting my home team simply because they are my home team. I like the process of supporting a team and watching them build a winner. The growing pains are fun! But like I said, I'm in the minority. Most people won't be a Bobcats fan until they make it deep in the playoffs or have a star. Then, that next season they will claim they're fans.

I teach in a Charlotte high school...guess who all my students like? The Celtics, Lakers and Heat. Last year, it was the Celtics, Lakers and Cavs. Next year, it will be the Heat and Knicks. Once in a while, I teach a true Bobcats fan. It's rare though.

[Mustachio]

Well mine was a generlized response to all the "you're not a fan if you do _______." Last time I checked, there wasn't a book on what makes you a fan or not, so I don't understand why some people feel they have the authority to say who is and isn't a fan.

I think people aren't a fan anymore when they officially "give up" on one team and jump on with another one... Both of those things have to happen. And that's gutless.

I am by no means questioning your fan hood. I totally get the sentimental connection between Charlotte and Crash. That part sucks.

But please give me your thoughts on how this trade hurts us as a basketball team? Not emotionally as a Crash fan, but how does it hurt us on the court?

[BobCatsFanInTx]

I'm a cats fan, don't get me wrong, but the money Jordan just saved in salary, he's going to lose in ticket and merchandise revenue.Tattood, in order for this team to have any real chance they needed a long term approach to become a true contender for any period of time. If the Bobcats are thinking along those lines than I am with them. The money Jordan saves in salary and loses in revenue will all be worked out to the good soon. By 2013-2014 the Bobcats could be the OKC of the East. All one has to hope for is that the team does a good job dealing and drafting where they become a lot like OKC is at this time. With some shrewed moves the Bobcats can become young and deadly for many years. I am not worried about losing now because that is to be expected. I don't think MJ is worried about it either. He knew something needed to be done.

On a side note:

Gerald Wallace was a great person as well as a great player but something was just missing this season. I think he has said all the right things and even believed them when it comes to being a Bobcat but he deserved a shot at being with a team he could elevate and help in the playoffs. Not as a 7th or 8th seed but a bit higher where he could enjoy some playoff success. The Blazers are starting to come around and I think the chemistry is such that he will fit right in. A man of his caliber will be a great teammate and he will be a defensive presence that team needs.

I am excited about our future and I am looking forward to Crash being better than ever in Portland. I don't think he is washed up or he has seen his better days. I think he needed a change to bring him out of his funk. He loved being a Bobcat but the changes and the being no more than mediocre after all his time as a Bobcat may have taken some life from him. I am sure he knew the team as constructed was not going to improve a whole lot through trades. He is the casualty but in the end both he and the Bobcats will be fine.

[ammofan]

Im very upset about Gerald but Im 100% behind the team. I cannot wait for tomorrow night's game....thats for sure

[The Prodigy]

Im still a fan for now. As long as we follow through with the plan to rebuild, I will stick with MJ and the Cats. If we get halfway though rebuilding or something and then start trading for old players and give up on the plan, Im not sure I can deal with a team that isnt trying to improve.

[Dcarnys]

I don't think I could ever hate this team. Honestly I can understand why people are pissed, I'm not happy about the trade ether. But if this is truly for the future I can live with it as long as MJ pulls through.

[spectre]

I can say whatever the hell I want...watching a whole month of losses with guys like Tamar Slay on crappy internet feeds gives me that right.

From the very first I try and give the ownership/FO the benefit of the doubt. I even argued for at first to give Sam Vincent a chance on this forum. I argued for Johnson. I rationalized for Bernie. I pulled for Jordan.

I was wrong on every damn one of them. Ronald McDonald could do a better job. The major problem now is tho Jordan has no one to answer to.

Win or lose I'll probably still be watching this damn team (even tho they force me to do it illegally), because it's MY team, and I'll probably be criticizing Jordan every step of the way.

From where I sit that is your "REAL" fan.

[TheGayKid]

I never said you couldn't criticize the team.... *Facepalm* I was just responding to those who said they had quit on the team...

http://i4.photobucket.com/albums/y129/Heavensword/picard-facepalm.jpg

[spectre]

Then you need to understand the time and effort a lot of people here have invested in this team. People have a right to be pissed off and they have the right to vent their frustrations. Nobody is going to stop being a fan...most of us were here when we won 18 freaking games for Christ's sake!

Some day hopefully you'll get that.

[TheGayKid]

Spectre, you're kind of scaring me

http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_wFWqWIH-WFU/RqpTAxEKjUI/AAAAAAAABto/q3zfsXt9W-I/s320/scared-monkey.png

[millst2]

Spectre, I am totally in agreement with all you have said. Bobcats fans in Davidson county are few and far between. In my neck of the woods we do not get time warner, so we are forced to either use feeds or subscribe to an overpriced leaguepass that is hit or miss on bobcats games. We drive over an hour to watch the team live paying 100s per ticket. I have personally bought over a thousand dollars in Game Worn Jerseys.. and now the last player that I have one of has just been traded.

The trade has it's pro's and cons. We are trading the one true consistent face of the franchise for some fillers and use to could's. All of this for a chance at lower 1st rd draft picks. We have hit a few but missed more than not. I think if jordan wants to really make these picks work he should sit back and allow Silas and Oakley make the decisions,,, keep himself and dumbass higgins out of it.

Silas has a pretty solid of drafting players. JR Reid, Kendall Gill, Larry Johnson, Alonzo, Malik Rose, Baron Davis, David West, Lebron James, Jason Kapono all of which he was head coach and had some input on.

Hell that is even if he is around when the picks get used. MJ needs to compile a staff of scouts similar to the San Antonio Spurs. It is the key to making draft picks work.

A little off point but all of this to say that I have been a fan forever and will continue to be, but jordan needs to let his ego take the backseat and make some wiser decisions. I agree with others that the ticket prices will soon be dropping and there is a bumpy road for all of us fans for the next yr or so.

[SWedd523]

If I were a STH (didn't you guys renew a couple of weeks ago?), I'd strongly consider getting my money back. Guys like Dav, Beagle, and some of the others on here that have invested thousands of dollars over the years on this team just got a big bitch slap in the face.

[IshHappens]

The real fans are still here. We're still here buying the tickets, even though the product is mediocre. We're still here watching the team on mirrored Internet feeds from India because the Bobcats have the worst TV deal in history - where fans that live 45 minutes from TWC can't see them play. We're still here after trading the face of the franchise for Dante's Inferno and some picks that we'll blow. We're still here after the abysmal Bob Johnson years. We're still here after drafting Adam Morrison. We're still here after Shinn took our first team and ran like the coward POS he is.

God knows nobody can talk shit about Charlotte fans.

[millst2]

The real fans are still here. We're still here buying the tickets, even though the product is mediocre. We're still here watching the team on mirrored Internet feeds from India because the Bobcats have the worst TV deal in history - where fans that live 45 minutes from TWC can't see them play. We're still here after trading the face of the franchise for Dante's Inferno and some picks that we'll blow. We're still here after the abysmal Bob Johnson years. We're still here after drafting Adam Morrison. We're still here after Shinn took our first team and ran like the coward POS he is.

God knows nobody can talk shit about Charlotte fans.

Damn Straight, Great Post

[CatNation]

The real fans are the ones that are the most angry about this. The ones who watched Gerald turn from prospect to role player to all star. Some of us here went to the expansion draft ceremony, back when I didnt even know who the hell Gerald Wallace was. Hell, I was most pumped for getting Marcus Fizer. I'm still a Bobcats fan, but the Blazers gained a new follower today as well

[dnbman]

This whole thread is bullshit. Sorry.

We don't need to be having a pissing contest about who is a real fan and who isn't.

The bottom line is that the most beloved player in our short franchise's history was traded with no palpable return. People have the right to be emotional, and those emotional responses are not necessarily devoid of reason. People have made large investments in this team, rather it be monetary or just with their time. Nobody is in a position to judge another fan.

[mrtarheel]

Just bought tickets for Fri's game, Lets Go Cats one way or the other

[ballwhore]

Charlotte was playing their best basketball of the year when Silas took over and Wallace was out. Either Jack or Wallace had to go. Jack and DJ formed the top back court tandem in the NBA for a stretch. Henderson stepped up and made Wallace expendable especially on a team that is fighting for nothing more than an 8th seed. Why abandon ship when you haven't even saw one game coming out of this trade. Hell we are basically in the same position fighting for the 8th seed with or without Wallace and may be better off with what Henderson brings. At least we have options with the picks and other contracts coming off the books.
Nazr 7 mil Wallace 8 and for what? The same eighth seed. Wallace is going to be right where he needs to be a third option at best not your star player.

[dvdbumpus]

Real fan right here!!

Just a busy real fan :-(


P.S. Just saw my signature....very sad :-(

[Scottley Crue]

If I were a STH (didn't you guys renew a couple of weeks ago?), I'd strongly consider getting my money back. Guys like Dav, Beagle, and some of the others on here that have invested thousands of dollars over the years on this team just got a big bitch slap in the face.

I can understand if people feel that way, but I don't and I'm a STH for five years running. I really like the financial flexibility it brings (be that FA signings or opening up trade possibilities) and am excited about what that future will bring with these moves. I can certainly understand not being happy about Crash being gone, but I guess I just root far more for the team than any individual player. I love what Crash did for this organization, but I'm a Bobcats fan first.

[gforce33]

no gw no cats
see you all

[SWedd523]

I can understand if people feel that way, but I don't and I'm a STH for five years running. I really like the financial flexibility it brings (be that FA signings or opening up trade possibilities) and am excited about what that future will bring with these moves. I can certainly understand not being happy about Crash being gone, but I guess I just root far more for the team than any individual player. I love what Crash did for this organization, but I'm a Bobcats fan first.
See the problem is, we still don't have financial flexibility. We traded our most valuable chip without moving a bad contract along with him. We're stuck with Diop, Hammer, Najera, and to a lesser extent Diaw, and Jack.

[Scottley Crue]

See the problem is, we still don't have financial flexibility. We traded our most valuable chip without moving a bad contract along with him. We're stuck with Diop, Hammer, Najera, and to a lesser extent Diaw, and Jack.

Well, I guess I should have said more flexibility than before. I mean, they did just clear nearly $24 million off the books for next year, if I can add correctly. Taking a long-term view, I just think this puts them in better shape to make moves than before. But that's just me. And I think it' be very hard to move Diop or Hammer. Najera could have been an add-in with his recent play and I doubt that Diaw will be valuable until he's expiring.

[SWedd523]

We actually only move Crash's deal for next year off the books. Nazr was already an expiring so he was leaving anyway. Having another $10mil off the books is fine and all, but that has to be but the first step in a total overhaul. The only way this total overhaul can be achieved is after Diop and Hammer come off the books in two years so we have to wait until then.


It's entirely possible that we'll have DJ/Hendo/Tyrus/Marcus Morris/JaJuan Johnson by then, but it's impossible to truly judge what'll happen when we get that far. All I know is that as it currently stands, these deals were NOT made to rebuild, but made to save Mike some money. Anybody who thinks this was about rebuilding is delusional.

[dnbman]

All I know is that as it currently stands, these deals were NOT made to rebuild, but made to save Mike some money. Anybody who thinks this was about rebuilding is delusional.

I think it's both, even if we did just get small pieces of the puzzle. They're still assets.

But, I may be delusional.

[Proudiddy]

I am by no means questioning your fan hood. I totally get the sentimental connection between Charlotte and Crash. That part sucks.

But please give me your thoughts on how this trade hurts us as a basketball team? Not emotionally as a Crash fan, but how does it hurt us on the court?

TBH, I'm not even that mad over the sentimental aspect as I am the basketball aspect. I am a Bobcats fan first, not a player fan first. I pull for certain players on certain teams for various reasons, but my Bobcats come first. And I appreciate you not questioning that, I just wanted to clarify that I'm not some blind Crash homer fan, lol.

What makes me angry about the trade is the same things I complained about in the Crash trade thread, but I'll try to remember all my points here:

1) If the plan was to shed salary, you generally pair bad contracts with a good player and/or picks and force the other team to swallow that amount for their expiring or just eat cap room if they have that to offer. We may be the only team ever to send our franchise player out for an expiring and two mediocre picks, WITHOUT sending out a crap contract too. If Portland didn't want to give up Matthews, Batum, or anyone else, which they didn't, FINE... They could've and should've took any one of Najera, Carroll, or Diop. Instead, we take back Pryzbilla, who unless MJ convinces he should be a part of this team is bitching and whining to be bought out and "retire" before he ever puts on a uni.

We hung Gerald out there like he was just some piece of meat. He's not having the greatest year, but the dude just came off an all-star appearance last year and is the best all-around player on our team. Even the Cavs held onto Anthony Parker because they didn't like what they were being offered. We treated Crash worse than Anthony Parker, essentially, lol.

2) If we were adamant about dumping one of the bigger contracts, Diaw should've been the most pushed player. I get that maybe no one wanted to take him, but then again, we hear rumors about turning Diaw into Kaman. So essentially we would've gotten a better player for about 2 mil more. So if they would've still traded Crash and Nazr we'd still come out about the same except for 2 mil this year IIRC. Besides that, if we had to trade a guy and no one would take Diaw (which I think they would have but MJ didn't wanna take on anymore salary even for a better player), Jack should've been the guy to go. Crash's natural position is the 3, we would've bumped Hendo to start at 2 regardless. Crash is a better 2-way player than Jack and is more efficient offensively (less shots, tunrovers). Sure, Jack can get a 30-pt or 40-pt game here or there, but he's streaky and usually takes a lot of shots to do so. Jack should've been the one to get traded (and he's older) out of him and Crash.

3) If this wasn't implied already, Crash was on a relatively fair contract, it wasn't like he was making 17 mil or was only averaging 10 and 5 at 11 mil. I think he earned his pay well. So why make him the guy to move? And again, if they're gonna trade him, add a bad contract and make them take it.

4) We got back Pryzbilla, Cunningham, and some random POS in Marks along with 2 first rounders. The two first rounders from what I read are the NOH pick 2011, and Portland's 2013. Ok, it's clear that we suck at drafting. Our last late round pick? Alexis Ajinca. How'd that work out? Those picks are worthless. If you don't have a top 10 pick in the NBA draft, you're spinning your wheels IMO b/c you're taking whatever is left and all the value drops off significantly. There's a reason there is a lottery. So tell me what we REALLY got out of that? Sure, we don't know what those 2 picks will be, but look at our drafting history. And I don't buy the "fluke" arguments, we've done it so many times now that it's not randomized, it's a pattern. We can't draft.

5) The Nazr trade is ridiculously even more retarded unless they absolutely coveted DJ White, which makes no sense. Why do we need a straight 4? We already have Ty, Boris, and Najera? Najera is a banger but has shown surprising range this year, so he's more versatile than DJ White. I loved White in college, but I'm just not sure how he fits in here. So basically we traded Nazr, an expiring, for another expiring in a player we won't use in MoPete. Again, typically when you go into shed salary mode, as the Cats are tying to do, you don't TRADE EXPIRINGS for OTHER EXPIRINGS. If they would've traded the picks they got from Portland for MoPete, then that would make sense... Otherwise, we could've just kept Nazr. Now, we have two defensive centers, IF Pryzbilla even reports.

6) You typically shed salary in plans for a big free agent class. Paul and Howard are in the '12 class I believe, but honestly, would they sign here? Paul already reportedly said he wants to go to NY with Melo and Amare. So there goes that one. Magic will prolly be able to still offer Howard as much money as we will. Additionally, there's been talk of using a franchise tag in the new CBA, so that wouldn't work in our favor either. Regardless, would Howard pick us over all the other teams that could offer him money and a shorter journey to the finals? NO. We've heard repeatedly now that big players don't want to come here. It's become the cool thing. Rudy FUCKING Fernandez threatened to sit out if traded here. But this trend goes back as far as Eddie Jones with the Hornets and when they drafted Kobe as well.

So, why clear cap space when our standing among the league is so poor that most FAs don't want to come here. Most front offices have the impression that our FO is run by idiots (they are right) and otherwise they don't want to deal with us period unless we're getting jerked. Until we fix our standing among the league and FAs there's no point in clearing cap space. We had cap space a couple years ago, then we didn't trading for bums like Diop and signing Carroll to a huge contract... And now we're trying to get more again, yet no one wants to come here. No direction. Just like Okafor. We were fine at 5, traded him for Tyson. then trade Tyson for Carroll and Najera when we could've just used him and let his deal expire at the end of the year. Again. No direction whatsoever. The first team in history to take on more future salary when clearing cap space. MJ and his chronies are dopes, and I was the biggest MJ fan as a player and off the court but he's showing to be a horrible basketball executive.




I can say whatever the hell I want...watching a whole month of losses with guys like Tamar Slay on crappy internet feeds gives me that right.

From the very first I try and give the ownership/FO the benefit of the doubt. I even argued for at first to give Sam Vincent a chance on this forum. I argued for Johnson. I rationalized for Bernie. I pulled for Jordan.

I was wrong on every damn one of them. Ronald McDonald could do a better job. The major problem now is tho Jordan has no one to answer to.

Win or lose I'll probably still be watching this damn team (even tho they force me to do it illegally), because it's MY team, and I'll probably be criticizing Jordan every step of the way.

From where I sit that is your "REAL" fan.

Thank you.


Then you need to understand the time and effort a lot of people here have invested in this team. People have a right to be pissed off and they have the right to vent their frustrations. Nobody is going to stop being a fan...most of us were here when we won 18 freaking games for Christ's sake!

Some day hopefully you'll get that.

Thank you again.


The real fans are still here. We're still here buying the tickets, even though the product is mediocre. We're still here watching the team on mirrored Internet feeds from India because the Bobcats have the worst TV deal in history - where fans that live 45 minutes from TWC can't see them play. We're still here after trading the face of the franchise for Dante's Inferno and some picks that we'll blow. We're still here after the abysmal Bob Johnson years. We're still here after drafting Adam Morrison. We're still here after Shinn took our first team and ran like the coward POS he is.

God knows nobody can talk shit about Charlotte fans.

Thank you.


The real fans are the ones that are the most angry about this. The ones who watched Gerald turn from prospect to role player to all star. Some of us here went to the expansion draft ceremony, back when I didnt even know who the hell Gerald Wallace was. Hell, I was most pumped for getting Marcus Fizer. I'm still a Bobcats fan, but the Blazers gained a new follower today as well

Exactly.

[SWedd523]

That was one... massive... wall... of... text!



However, I agree with the majority of it and especially with #1. So many people supporting this thread are failing to realize that we did NOT do what you're supposed to do in regards to trading Crash. Just like we didn't do the right thing with Tyson and didn't do the right thing with Nazr.

You pair your best player with bad contracts. It doesn't have to be Diop if they don't take him. Make it Hammer or Najera and it's fine. But now we've SERIOUSLY hamstrung ourselves and can't even talk about our "future" for at least two more years.

[Ghost Kat]

I was Bobcats fan way before Bob Marley was rocking a fade, Before honest Abe signed that paper to free slaves. Before neanderthals were drawing on the walls of caves, I was a fan.


I was in the garden of Eden smoking tree's getting lifted, giving it to Eve before she was Adam's mistress..... With a bobcats hoodie on.

I'm a real fan....

[BRNC]

I was Bobcats fan way before Bob Marley was rocking a fade, Before honest Abe signed that paper to free slaves. Before neanderthals were drawing on the walls of caves, I was a fan.


I was in the garden of Eden smoking tree's getting lifted, giving it to Eve before she was Adam's mistress..... With a bobcats hoodie on.

I'm a real fan....

I'm chocking Kat....ROFLMAO...+1 dude...

[Dcarnys]

I was Bobcats fan way before Bob Marley was rocking a fade, Before honest Abe signed that paper to free slaves. Before neanderthals were drawing on the walls of caves, I was a fan.


I was in the garden of Eden smoking tree's getting lifted, giving it to Eve before she was Adam's mistress..... With a bobcats hoodie on.

I'm a real fan....

Thats awesome bro

+1

[Proudiddy]

That was one... massive... wall... of... text!



However, I agree with the majority of it and especially with #1. So many people supporting this thread are failing to realize that we did NOT do what you're supposed to do in regards to trading Crash. Just like we didn't do the right thing with Tyson and didn't do the right thing with Nazr.

You pair your best player with bad contracts. It doesn't have to be Diop if they don't take him. Make it Hammer or Najera and it's fine. But now we've SERIOUSLY hamstrung ourselves and can't even talk about our "future" for at least two more years.

Thank you SWedd, that was a more concise way of saying what I was trying to express. Obviously, I'm a wordy person and get carried away about the things I'm passionate about, lol. But, you're exactly right... And with each successive deal we're cementing the fact that this FO is a laughing stock around the league, they know they can pretty much take whatever they want and run.

Everyone said with the Oak trade, "Don't worry, it'll equal out, be optimistic!" Then Tyson for More salary: "Don't worry, it'll equal out! We're gonna get a franchise player - Melo or CP3! MJ's a genius, he's gonna pull off what Cubes couldn't." WRONG. WRONG. And Wrong again. This FO is a joke and everyone of these trades show how directionless it is. It's hard to be optimistic when you take all this into account.

[BlockParty]

I'm about as optomistic as Bobcats fans come. We really don't lose much in Defense with our starting unit with today's events. Jack is mediocre at best at guarding SG's, Hendo has become a force (no pun intended) on defense, so him starting at SG and Jack guarding SF's is probably equal to what GW/Jack offered as a tandem.

Nazr has never been great at defense, but he will be sorely missed in the locker room.

My biggest question is...who's our leader? Jack has to go 15 games straight w/out a technical to warrent that title. DJ has shown a glimpse (but has disappeared at times...GW did too this season).

I think I saw on Cranston's tweet, Silas was unsure if the new players would be available for tomorrow night's game. WTF, we just waived Sherron, Dom, UPS and traded Nazr and GW. Ttime and Gana are out, which makes for a very short bench.

The upcoming road trip is critical to be at least .500 (tough task outside of the game against the Lakers...as you all know, we OWN them).

[BRNC]

(tough task outside of the game against the Lakers...as you all know, we OWN them).

I read an analyst (one of the chats I was on) talking about our owning the Lakers...right after we beat them again...went something like (paraphrase) "I don't know what they're doing in Charlotte...but they could play four shrubs and a toaster and still beat the Lakers"...

Crash has pretty much always been that constant for us...this (next Lakers game) will be a real test...

[TheBeagle]

I like the Bobcats. Succinct is the new black.

[Boomer]

North Carolina and South Carolina have very few real fans. Even the Tar Heels have poor fan support when they aren't a Top 10 team. This region's sports fans suck, and it takes time to change that. I'll be a 'Cats fan as long as they're in Charlotte, regardless of what anyone else says.

Surely you forget about NC State fans?

[dav7z]

Im just tired of sporting out of date jerseys , DAMN, Last year i was sporting #20. This year im sporting #3. I think ill just sport my boxers next season . Its no DAMN way MJ cuts them....................

[BobCatsFanInTx]

Spectre, I am totally in agreement with all you have said. Bobcats fans in Davidson county are few and far between. In my neck of the woods we do not get time warner, so we are forced to either use feeds or subscribe to an overpriced leaguepass that is hit or miss on bobcats games. We drive over an hour to watch the team live paying 100s per ticket. I have personally bought over a thousand dollars in Game Worn Jerseys.. and now the last player that I have one of has just been traded.

The trade has it's pro's and cons. We are trading the one true consistent face of the franchise for some fillers and use to could's. All of this for a chance at lower 1st rd draft picks. We have hit a few but missed more than not. I think if jordan wants to really make these picks work he should sit back and allow Silas and Oakley make the decisions,,, keep himself and dumbass higgins out of it.

Silas has a pretty solid of drafting players. JR Reid, Kendall Gill, Larry Johnson, Alonzo, Malik Rose, Baron Davis, David West, Lebron James, Jason Kapono all of which he was head coach and had some input on.

Hell that is even if he is around when the picks get used. MJ needs to compile a staff of scouts similar to the San Antonio Spurs. It is the key to making draft picks work.

A little off point but all of this to say that I have been a fan forever and will continue to be, but jordan needs to let his ego take the backseat and make some wiser decisions. I agree with others that the ticket prices will soon be dropping and there is a bumpy road for all of us fans for the next yr or so.I have said for a long time that in the best interest of MJ's finances and the overall future of the team that rebuilding now is necessary. Will the next two years for sure be tough to swallow? You bet. I feel that the overall plan will work to the good of our team. I am excited about finally seeing some picks get a chance for some burn. The young guys will play with heart and they know that their play will soon equal major bank if it is good enough. There is definitely ways to rebuild that would have been better for the Bobcats but I will take this none the less.

I hope MJ's ego will not get in the way of drafting and he will let the expert talent evaluators take over. I was concerned when I heard that MJ was taking over because of ego being an issue. If MJ has the right people making serious basketball related decisions then he can take credit when the Bobcats finally win the title and hoist up the trophy.

[millst2]

Im just tired of sporting out of date jerseys , DAMN, Last year i was sporting #20. This year im sporting #3. I think ill just sport my boxers next season . Its no DAMN way MJ cuts them....................

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA I feel Your Pain.. I have a Game Worn Green Week Wallace Jersey, a Game Worn Green Week Bell Jersey, Signed Authentic May and a Signed Authentic Felton Jersey. And a ton of T-s with outdated Logos. I am just going to have my own made that simply state Bobcats. But then again with my luck they will change the Name of the team once I do that.

[TheGayKid]

Please lock this thread... I just caused alot of problems and anger and I'm sorry

[GrangerDanger]

I agree with people saying there shouldn't be a: "You have to do this, or you have to do that" to be a true fan of whatever team you support. I understand this is a Bobcats forums but let's be honest, going from 44 wins and a playoff berth to a current 28 win and a troubled playoff push is a huge disappointment to any true fan. But guess what, they're still on these forums, supporting their team, criticizing what needs to be, showing emotion towards a former all-star who was traded. Those are real fans.

Look at me. Die hard Pacers fan. 4 year playoff and winning seasons drought. After my favorite player of all-time retired, we went from normal playoff status and (50) win seasons to (35) wins, to two consecutive (36) wins seasons, to (32) wins. And were only 1 win shy of last year's record and we'll be lucky to get more than what seems to be an average of a 36 win season AGAIN. Yet, I'm still buying gear, buying tickets to games (Been to 8 so far, going to see number 9 against the Kings Friday, WEWT!)

I don't have to prove anything, I know I'm a fan and that's all it takes for people to be real fans. And Just for the record, I was totally rooting for you guys to put Orlando out last year in the playoffs.

[Dcarnys]

That is probably the one thing I've heard about the Bobcats since the trade thats made complete sense. Thank you GrangerDanger!!