Why are we one of the worst run franchises in all of sports?

[Alex]

The title says it all. Discuss.

I will contribute with my point a little later.

[amour217]

It all started when the NBA chose our current ownership group. This team was doomed before we played a single game.

Now it's up to the players to get together and make up for the foolishness of our Front office

[M.Peezie]

After reading that article in the O about the layoffs, it leaves me scratching my head. They actually thought about getting rid of the radio broadcasts!?!? That is a great way to limit your marketing reach...heck who says he won't get rid of TV broadcasts. Bob Johnson should not be allowed to own this team.

With all that said...I really love the NBA and want it here in Charlotte, its the ownership that is keeping the naysayers and those on the fence from really supporting this team with boneheaded move after move. When will the league jump in and save this team from oblivion??

[ziggy]

The layoffs definitely trouble me, And this is coming from someone who has been laid off before.
This whole concept of laying off people with the intentions of doing "more with less" is a crock. You don't do "more with less" you do "LESS WITH LESS"
... OK, OK, I'm off of my soapbox.

If there are any Bobcats employees who were laid off, I would love to hear your take on the situation.

[MattD]

I think it is a pretty bold statement to say we are one of the worst run sports franchises in sports. On a business sense, there really is nothing like putting an NBA team into Charlotte. Overall, the market is snooty and expects winners... if they dont, the market doesnt care. Not an easy way to start up a several hundred million dollar business.

Thats not to say their havent been stupid moves, but sometimes in order to get on track, a company has to get lean and mean... sorry ziggy, but I think, like the bobcats seem to be thinking, they will sell in charlotte when they get respect from winning. They have to start up the love, and then have it last through the bad.

I think the biggest problem was having an owner who seems to have bought into the nba to make money... in a market like charlotte, that wasnt wise. We needed an owner who just wanted to win, followed by making money (everyone WANTS to make money, its about priorities). If that were the case, I think Charlotte could get more into the bobcats...

[Alex]

I think it is a pretty bold statement to say we are one of the worst run sports franchises in sports. On a business sense, there really is nothing like putting an NBA team into Charlotte. Overall, the market is snooty and expects winners... if they dont, the market doesnt care. Not an easy way to start up a several hundred million dollar business.

Thats not to say their havent been stupid moves, but sometimes in order to get on track, a company has to get lean and mean... sorry ziggy, but I think, like the bobcats seem to be thinking, they will sell in charlotte when they get respect from winning. They have to start up the love, and then have it last through the bad.

I think the biggest problem was having an owner who seems to have bought into the nba to make money... in a market like charlotte, that wasnt wise. We needed an owner who just wanted to win, followed by making money (everyone WANTS to make money, its about priorities). If that were the case, I think Charlotte could get more into the bobcats...

EXACTLY!

It has been obvious to me for quite some time now that Bob Johnson could care less if the team is successful or not. How can you go on record publicly and say, after 30 win seasons, that you were satisfied with everything :confused::confused::confused:

In my opinion, the only good thing that this ownership group has brought to us fans is the amazing arena downtown. Everything else has been an absolute disaster from the choosing of the nickname/logo/colors to the tv deal to the constant firing of employees and why not even the bringing in of MJ who is W-O-R-T-H-L-E-S-S.

The reason why I support this team is because I'm a huge basketball fan, I love the NBA especially, and I was heartbroken when the Hornets left and when I heard that Charlotte was getting a team again I was on board right from the start.

I will never stop being a die-heart Bobcats fan but I'm nowhere near being a satisfied Bobcats fan, in fact I'm quite pissed off at what has happened since we started.

[TheBeagle]

I'm with Matty on this one. I'm not knowledgeable enough about other franchises in all of sports to speak of how poorly we are run in relation to said other franchises. Charlotte, like most of the south is hot and cold with their pro sports. If they're winning, they can't get a buzz going quick enough; if they're losing, you'd think the team doesn't exist. Plus, generally speaking, the local/southern fans are lemmings; they're followers of trends, and usually 10 years behind the trends. Being a student of southern culture, there's lots of facts to back this claim up (read some John Shelton Reed). If Bob keeps his mouth shut about the economics of running the Bobcats in the Observer or wherever, and the Cats can contend into April for a playoff spot, I look for record attendence this year (it's know saying much, I know, but it's a start).

I actually think the franchise has had a progressive off-season with the coach situation, the PG situation, the Mek re-signing, the TV deal. Like Bonnell said in the article and in a blog or two; on the court success is what Bob and Co. and banking on, and ultimately, that's all that matters to us fans, right?

[spectre]

Is it that he wants to make money or is it that he doesn't want to lose 10-20 million per year?

If it's the latter then who would?

[TheBeagle]

Is it that he wants to make money or is it that he doesn't want to lose 10-20 million per year?

If it's the latter then who would?
He's a businessman: it's both.

[GoBobs]

I think Jordan cares more about winning then making money and I am happy to have him associated with our team. Our personal moves have been mostly good and you have to praise the stragiety of going after players who are good people on the court and in the community. Have a little more patience things will work themselves out.

[WAM9]

I think Jordan cares more about winning then making money and I am happy to have him associated with our team. Our personal moves have been mostly good and you have to praise the stragiety of going after players who are good people on the court and in the community. Have a little more patience things will work themselves out.

I agree 100%. Jordan gets a bad rap because of the Kwame draft but people aren't really being honest about that situation. Most all GM's had Kwame rated as the #1 player in the draft. Now, it must be somewhat cool to hammer Jordan because if you actually looked at his record, you would see that he has made more good decisions than bad. Speaking of Washington, I wonder why he doesn't get the credit for getting them out of salary cap hell and setting the table for their playoff team for years to come...

Either way, I am extremely happy to have Jordan as part of the team. Just wait, when the Bobcats start winning, the bandwagon will fill and people will be wanting to put a statue of him at Trade and Tryon.

[amour217]

Here's a good example:

Just now I got off the phone with a ticket rep at the Arena. All I wanted to know was when single-game tickets go on sale...that's it. I work a block from the arena and I like to walk over and get tickets. He wants me to come down for a tour and this big ordeal, which I know is to sell me season tickets. I already told him I wasn't interested. He wouldn't tell me an on-sale date! All it takes is 2 seconds to tell me the on-sale date, but no I had to spend 15 minutes on the phone telling the guy no, no, no, no...I almost hung up on him.

[catsfan]

no,not if you compare some of the NHL franchises,such as the preads

how can you buy a team,then commit bankruptcy,and have the feds after you

[TheBeagle]

Here's a good example:

Just now I got off the phone with a ticket rep at the Arena. All I wanted to know was when single-game tickets go on sale...that's it. I work a block from the arena and I like to walk over and get tickets. He wants me to come down for a tour and this big ordeal, which I know is to sell me season tickets. I already told him I wasn't interested. He wouldn't tell me an on-sale date! All it takes is 2 seconds to tell me the on-sale date, but no I had to spend 15 minutes on the phone telling the guy no, no, no, no...I almost hung up on him. They're close to going on sale to general public. I got an email late last week telling me they're available for us ST types to buy before the genpub. Still, frustration noted. Maybe give Michael Thompson an email; he's a straight-shooter.

[Ghost Kat]

We are no where near the worse franchise ever. How many times did the Rams play in LA?
When was the last time the Bucks,Washington,Sacramento,New Jersey or some other showed any propect of winning the title and being more then first round KO's.
The Miami Dolphins post Dan Marino........
Bulls post Jordan, But that "might" change this year....finally...But their management still sucks.
The Clippers have to have the worse FO ever, they consistently are the worse team which means high drafts pick every year and yrs later... they still suck.
All Atlanta sports period.....But Matt Ryan is proving to the the Great White Hope

[amour217]

They're close to going on sale to general public. I got an email late last week telling me they're available for us ST types to buy before the genpub. Still, frustration noted. Maybe give Michael Thompson an email; he's a straight-shooter.

That's what I did, he gave me the date right away. Thank God for Michael Thompson :)