I found this mysterious half-penny on the Panthers' practice fields in Spartanburg this week. What do you think it means?
OK, so this is weird. I have spent most of this week in Spartanburg, watching the Carolina Panthers' training camp. On Wednesday, I was walking off the fields and found this half-penny, half-buried in the grass. Seriously. It was there.
Where did it come from? What does it mean? Who takes the time to cut a penny in half, and how did they do it?
I apologize for the blurry, UFO-like quality of the image, which I set on a white tablecloth so it would show up better.
Anyway, before we get back to our regular programming (I'm writing about the Panthers cornerback situation for Friday if you wanted to know) I want your opinion on what a half-penny on the Panthers' practice field means.
Is it an omen? Lucky? Unlucky? Do you have a funny line about it? For instance, when I showed it to Steve Reed of the Gaston Gazette, he cracked: "That's all the money Jerry Richardson has left now after that spending spree."
Best theory -- preferably funny -- wins a signed copy of my 2004 book on the Panthers' Super Bowl run (a little dated, but hey, it's free).
Post your entries in the comments section below (and KEEP THEM CLEAN, PLEASE -- I KEEP HAVING TO DISABLE COMMENTS ON THIS BLOG BECAUSE A VERY SMALL MINORITY OF FOLKS CAN'T KEEP THEIR LANGUAGE OUT OF THE R AND X-RATED MODE).
Also, if you particularly like your comment and think it might win, send me an e-mail copy at sfowler@charlotteobserver.com along with your full name AND YOUR COMMENT (just as a backup).
Deadline is 6 p.m. FRIDAY, AUG.12th Eastern time. The winner only will be contacted over the weekend, and I'll also post the winner on this blog. Thanks and good luck!
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43 comments:
I think that's left over from the Fox lame duck year. Whenever he tried to put his 2 cents in Richardson said no and gave him his change back.
Other than your quest for filling up your bank at home, its an omen! The challenge is to find the other half and the holder of the complete and now famous penny will pay the Veteran that will take us back to the Superbowl! The person who chopped the penny did not keep the other half, it was chunked into the green abyss of South Carolina grass that grows because they wanted their money to grow. Thus the term, 'grass roots' and if the Panthers who play on that grass were to grow into another formidable team, then that penny divided will take root and multiply into a money making NFL Super Team. Set out to find the other half, like Hercules on a quest to find the Impossible. Therein lies our fate Scott, you hold half of our destiny. I say that you should go back to where you found it, turn toward the sun and throw it toward the sun, it will land very near the other half, then write the story where you give it to Jerry Richardson and he deposits it into his account that pays our next needed veteran. Hurry we haven't much time left, because time split in half is wasted money!
Greg Catman Good, HOF 2004
It's what should have been Jeff Davidson's salary for being the worst offensive coordinator of all time! Serioiusly, he is not even worth that much!
I think it means we will win half our games. 8-8 season. Even though mediocre has been our middle name, this time it is sign that the future is bright.
On finding the half penny, the discussion can continue are the Panthers halfway on their way to a great year, or are they heading to a year like last year. I am hopeful that they are on a comeback and the energy provided by a new staff and some freshtalent , they will succeed and have a really great year and play some "heads up" footbal.
'scott says' has reached a low point, and that's saying something
My cousin gave me a copy of the upcoming NFL schedule. I went through it highlighting the Panther games. Then, I had a thought: What if the Panthers went undefeated this season (2011)?
Of course the naysayers will say it can't be done, but what of the remaining fans and especially the players? If they believe they can win the current game they are in, execute to the best of their ability, why would they not win?
So, Scott the half penny means: If the Panthers present their better half, individually and collectively, they will have an undefeated season.
I'm more of a literal-type person, so here's my take:
Most reports from camp observers provide enough glimmer of hope to have fans thinking that we should be better than we were last year. That said, most reasonable fans would be happy to settle for an 6 or 7 win season. Well, you know the old saying, "You ain't seen the half of it..."? I think the half-penny means just that. Maybe it's an omen that when it's all said and done, we will have won 8 (or more?!) games and looked good doing it too! Let's get ready for some 2011 Panthers football!
I am currently a Wofford student and I have been looking for that half penny for a couple months now. It must have fallen out of my pocket when I was playing intramural softball last Spring.
And it also represents what I would pay for your book, a half penny
That's what is left of the penny Mr. Richardson pinched last year.
It's the "It was what it was" penny, John Fox's lucky coin.
I always look for mysterious meanings in odd objects. So, the Carolina Panthers will be playing in London, England (home of the original half-penny or hapenny), next season.
It means a lawnmower was working properly.
Its an App State thing....mountain folklore. Armanti placed it there when he played for ASU against Wofford having a feeling he would see that field again some day. So he broke the penny in two with a simple click of his fingers and placed one half on the field. He kept the other half of the penny for when he made it to the pros.
Seriously?! They actually pay you to write this dribble?
To "Anonymous" 4:15 PM
"Dribble" is what you do with a basketball. I believe the word you are seeking is "drivel".
And I believe 2smart has the correct answer - sharp lawnmower blades.
It means that a Wofford college kid cut a penny in half and it ended up in the grass.
Does it have anything to do with a breakdown of our CB's? or maybe a detailed summary of why there is a pox on this team when it comes to finding quality WR's?
Didnt think so
Go sell shoes at Rack Room or something Scott -- sheesh
it means that were 1 1/2 cent of an opinion on the Panthers yet waitin for season opener twitter / ceasertamg
Is that really the best picture that a newspaper could get of the "mysterious" penny?
I don't normally like the negative comments but I just can't imagine a journalist in a major market getting away with posting something like this. Can't we keep our standards a little higher than this?
It is my allowance. And I would like it back please.
It no longer is what it was.
It is what it is !!!
I knew Rivera was looking for a nickelback, but this just makes no cents.
It's like a biscut; There's two sides to everyone!
The other half of the penny is in the pocket of some ill-informed national sports journalist that dared to accuse Mr. Richardson of being a penny pincher...to which Mr. Richardson replied, "I'll show you how to pinch a penny, chump." The half that you found flew across the practice field and became lodged in the ground.
It's Cecil Newton's attempt at destroying evidence.
It means even Lincoln can't stand to watch this team.
The half-penny explains Chris Gamble's drop in production last year. He was practicing for his post-pro career as a CutCo. salesman.
An half cents worth of money got us an half sense worth of offense. It was what it was. Let's move on.
Jerry is giving refunds to the PSL owners for last season. Look around and you should find 65,000 more
To "Anonymous" 4:34 PM
Anonymous wrote:
"'Dribble' is what you do with a basketball. I believe the word you are seeking is 'drivel'."
No, I mean "Dribble" - as in the siliva dripping from an infants mouth.
"Drivel" would be an improvment.
A bored trainer took the penny out of his pocket and cut it half with the scissors used to cut tape . I have seen them do it hundreds of times. Shows how much sports jouralisim you really have done.
That is what the whole Panthers team tripped over last year leaving training camp and heading to the regular season. Now that you have picked it up, this seasong will be much better.
Scott, Being in the turfgrass industry I'm willing to bet that a grounds mower got ahold of it and cut it just like that. I've seen many like that in my days working on golf courses and athletic fields.
I think it means you're over-compensated. You got paid for this story? Really?
It is the change you can count on ...and just as worthless.
Find the other half...."One penny to rule them all."
With high hope for the future, no prediction is ventured- Abraham Lincoln
With high hope for the future, all my free agency signings are ventured- Jerry Richardson
The other half of the coin is Richardson's Face and Scott Fowler is starring in the new movie National Treasure 3.. The Mysterious Lost Coin
I think it indicates we are going to acquire fifty percent each of our games. 8-8 season. Though average has become our midst title, this time around it can be indicator that this future will be brilliant.
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