Really dismayed by Johnson's comments today . . . .

[jiff65]

I've been a season ticket holder from the Bobcat's inception. I was stunned at what was in today's Observer - the "owner" throwing the city, and therefore the fans, under the bus. He has no sense of accountability. The 1st year atmosphere at the old arena was not suited to this city. Then there was the C-SET failure that required Stern's intervention and was not resolved until 2 weeks ago. Then there was the doubling of ticket prices between the move from the old arena to the new. The "owner" sits in front of me at the games he elects to attend, stays til halftime (maybe), and never claps or seems into the game. Why did he buy this team? Then he has the nerve to say Jordan doesn't promote the team because he would expect to be paid extra? If I told my firm that, I'd be out the door the next day - and not voluntarily. Stern better intervene now - because I'm a loyal fan and I'm pissed off. This guy's modus operandi is to blame somebody else - rather than look in the mirror and see the real problem.

[jiff65]

Oh, and I meant to say one more thing. I'm an Obama supporter and his comments about Obama are alienating. People ask me all the time, because I am a lawyer with political views, "why don't you write some Op-Ed stuff for the Observer?" I don't do it because I'm in front of judges of various political persuasions and I don't want my personal views coloring what a judge might think of what I say in court - and thereby hurt my clients as a result. Johnson doesn't seem to give a you know what about his team's fan base and how his statements affect enthusiasm for the team. If I were a member of the Bobcats team or organization, I'd be wanting some answers from the ownership.

[ohara831]

He's locked into a long term deal, so he isn't going anywhere. We need someone to step up and buy the team from this do do bird. We need a logical owner who knows what the hell he's doing with the team. He must be a smart business person to have made his fortune, but I am baffled at the way he is handling this matter.

[spectre]

Maybe I missed something...what did he say that was "throwing the city and therefore the fans" under the bus? All I got was that he wants local business to help generate interest in the team and buy some boxes?

Personally I've never understood why anyone would care if Johnson is at the game, if he's cheering hard enough or whether he lives in Charlotte or not. He paid to keep my favorite player here for 6 years, he signed off on spending big money on Swish (my next favorite player) and he offered Mek a 12 million per deal. THAT'S the things I care about in regards to Bob Johnson.

My entertainment actually plays on the court; it's not some rich guy in the stands.

[amour217]

It's obvious this team is run by incompetents and I'm sick of it. I'm gonna win the lotto and buy the team, re-name them the Charlotte Berzerkers, then unveil the new mascot:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/amour217/Berzerker.jpg

[MattD]

It's obvious this team is run by incompetents and I'm sick of it. I'm gonna win the lotto and buy the team, re-name them the Charlotte Berzerkers, then unveil the new mascot:

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a166/amour217/Berzerker.jpg


unfortunately you will need a lot more then just the powerball. good thought though

[ohara831]

Maybe I missed something...what did he say that was "throwing the city and therefore the fans" under the bus? All I got was that he wants local business to help generate interest in the team and buy some boxes?

Personally I've never understood why anyone would care if Johnson is at the game, if he's cheering hard enough or whether he lives in Charlotte or not. He paid to keep my favorite player here for 6 years, he signed off on spending big money on Swish (my next favorite player) and he offered Mek a 12 million per deal. THAT'S the things I care about in regards to Bob Johnson.

My entertainment actually plays on the court; it's not some rich guy in the stands.

__________________________________________________ ______

We are in tough economic times. Prople dont have the extra money to spend on watching a team which is, unfortunately, the 8th worst team in the NBA. In tough times, people will gravitate towards a winner. It makes them feel good. It gives them something to to cheer for when they are down in other areas of their life. The 8th worst record and 7th worst attendance seems to be right in line.

Bob Johnson, people dont know. MJ, people know him. MJ is the one who needs to be more of a public presence, not Bob. If you want attendance to increase, then the team wins needs to increase; it is simple math. Put a better product on the Court, and people will come watch - in good times and bad.

This may seem like a crass view, and even cold hearted. But it is true. People like to be associated with winners. Unless you have a decades old tradition of losing like the Cubs fans or, until recently, the Red Sox fans, people want to see their team win. The Bobcats are not a part of Carolina history yet, they have not become engrained into our fiber. This comes with time, and will eventually happen, but the team has to start winning first. That takes your celebrity owners (MJ) getting into the public eye more at games and in Charlotte marketing his team, it takes good team decisions in drafts and trades, and it takes good Coaching. If you win, people will come.

**It does not require a billionaire to go public with whinning about how local businesses are not buying up tickets or attending games. Keep that whinning quiet and out of the public press. Billionaires dont have a right to bitch about money in tough economic times! Leave that to the single mom working 2 jobs to put food on the table for her kids. Leave that to the husband and dad who is busting his ass for his family, but does not have the money to spend $100 at a basketball game right now. They have that right - not billionaires. Billionaires can be mad, and they can get upset, and can even get angry over money matters - but just keep it to yourself! No one cares to hear you whine while you reside in your $5,000,000.00 estate. You forgot what "hard times" is all about.

PS: This is not meant to be a post to inspire class warfare. I've done well, and hope to continue to do so. I am not in the Bob Johnson sphere, and never will be. But this is not a rant at the very wealthy, rather just at Bob Johnson's comments.