Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Jordan playing Bobcats vs Hornets debate down the middle

Michael Jordan writes a monthly "Chairman's Corner" column for the Bobcats website, and in this month's column he addressed the Bobcats vs. Hornets debate -- sorta.

In fact, what MJ said was very little at all. Read the relevant excerpt here and tell me what you think -- to me it sounds like an owner who really hasn't decided on this topic. But some believe he is cushioning the blow for the pro-Hornets faction (of which I am one -- I believe the name should change) when and if he decides to stay with things "as is" and keep them as the "Cats" as he prefers to refer to them.

From Jordan's column:

The most popular topic this month was our team’s nickname. With New Orleans announcing their decision to become the Pelicans, some of you have asked if we would consider taking the Hornets nickname.

We have been in contact with the NBA and we are conducting our own research to determine if that is the best course of action. As some of you may be aware, we have engaged a national polling group to survey both our current season ticket holders and randomly selected individuals in our local area to see how our fans and stakeholders feel about this topic.

Judging from the e-mails you’ve sent me, the opinion seems to be very mixed. Some of you have said we should change the name and some of you have said we should not. In fact, a few of you even suggested that we should change the name to something new altogether, and not use Bobcats or Hornets.

There are a lot of factors to take into account and a lot of information to sift through. This is a decision that we will not take lightly and we will not make hastily. We want to do what we believe will be in the best interests of our organization and our fans.


OK, this is Scott again -- if I'm Jordan and I'm really going to make this change, not sure I would have used the word "mixed" -- I might have implied more support for my side. But then again it's Jordan. He just turned 50, he owns the team and, as usual, he's going to do what he wants. It's just interesting reading the tea leaves on this one because it means a lot to some people.

69 comments:

Anonymous said...

Who honestly prefers the Bobcats over the Hornets? Jordan is just making excuses not to pay for the name change.

Timmy J said...

I hate the Bobcats name and the old owner. I really hope they go back to the Hornets. That team actually had some history to be proud of. The Bobcats have sucked every year they have been in existence lets just forget this horrible product that has been in our city for ten years.

As a twenty something male I'm embarrassed to say I'm a bobcats fan outside of Charlotte , everytime I have I've been ridiculed. Furthermore, I watch the games at home but I hate the snarky comments I get when I'm at a bar IN Charlotte and they don't even have the game on. This can happen as close as one mile from the stadium. If you had the Hornets name back I think those two issues would be solved. If sports bars in Midwood, Elizabeth, Dilworth, Uptown, and south end aren't showing the games than how can this product be sustainable at all??

Anonymous said...

If he had decided to keep the "cats" name, he would not have even mentioned a possible name change. He would have ignored the topic.

Granted, MJ is not responsible for letting the Hornets leave Charlotte in the first place. He is also not responsible for the "Bobcats" name.

However, he has the ability to right the wrongs of others.

I've only been to a couple of Bobcats games... but I would certainly go to more Hornets games.

Anonymous said...

Some believe he is cushioning the blow for the pro- Bobcats name fans. Why on earth would he create all this excitement around the name change to turn around and stick with the worst performing brand in the NBA in terms of merchandising?

It makes zero sense!

I can't believe this team will continue to be called Bob's Cats after this season

Anonymous said...

It looks like once again my point is proven. "The Bobcats have sucked every year they have been in existence lets just forget this horrible product that has been in our city for ten years." So do you really think a name change will change the product.....NO! If the team were winning, you would not hear much of this if at all. As far as the merchandise sales, from my understanding, that revenue is split up amongst the teams so the Bobcats/Hornets would see no difference. If you just dont like the name is one thing but if you want to do it because you think will change the product on the court which most people do, you are just fundamentally wrong.

Nick O said...

Hornets would definitely be the best course of action. I also am ridiculed throughout the us for being a Bobcats fan.

Unknown said...

We're all going to be in for a big laugh when the team is renamed the "Carolina Jordans"

Blue said...

Sounds like if we want the name changed, we gotta make a little bit more noise about it.

I grew up a Hornets fan, was very sad when they left, and embraced the Bobcats once they got here, but if MJ does't do the right thing and restore Charlotte's basketball history (including the legacies of Dell Curry, Muggsy Bogues and Bobby Phills), I'm done with his team. MJ should have just said no if he doesn't want to do it, and not string people along since he bought the team in 2010.

The name change to Hornets would be a home run in the local community with ALL Charlotteans who understand its history and its meaning.

Marcus said...

The Bobcats name sucks! The old owner/owners threatened us with the team. Who can forget the time minority owner "Nelly" said he would help take the team to a city that would support them. Great way to endear the fans, even more laughable he said he move them to St. Louis.

CHARLOTTEHORNETS said...

This is Jordan making sure this franchise continues on the path of messing up EASY CHOICES. I think any SANE person would not argue for BOB JOHNSON'S KittyCats to stay the name for Charlotte's NBA team. I say move the team if you want to keep that name Jordan because I promise Carolina as a whole will never support this team win or lose under the disrespectful nickname of BOBcats. I for one will just turn the NBA off again or root for another team close to this area if they keep that name. Stop being the bad front office decision maker you have been and make the right choice here for your own pockets, the franchise's future, and Carolina in general.

Anonymous said...

Michael Jordan does not have the intellectual intelligence to write such a column. Just listen to him talk and anyone would know he does not have command of the English language to write such a column. Come on....who is he kidding??????

Season Ticket Holder said...

I'm going to be furious if they do not change the name.

This will be the last nail in the Bobcats coffin for me. I've been a Season Ticket Holder for a long time and I have been patient through the rebuild and I have renewed my tickets for next season but, if they don't change the name now that it is available. I'm done!

Anonymous said...

As a Charlottean living in Greece and who follows the Bobcats with a passion, I can truthfully say that no one recognizes the Bobcats internationally but the Hornets are still thought of as Charlotte. The other day, I even saw a man wearing a Charlotte Hornets hat; never seen a Bobcats hat over here. International brand recognition is with the Charlotte Hornets. Make the change!

Anonymous said...

Where is a Keep the Cats grassroot effort?? If the current name is so popular. We show our support of the cats by consistently being DEAD LAST in merchandise sales. Change the name back to Hornets

HornetsNO said...

As a Bobcats fan and supporter, I will again say not no, but HELL NO. The Hornets? No way. I was here the entire time that team played off Tyvola, but it seems lots have forgotten. It was EMPTY the last two years. Courtside tickets for playoff games were sold for less than face value. The name and team moved on long ago. It is time for Michael to stand up and tell these children to grow up and move on. We have a great team, the Bobcats.

John Morgan said...

Jordan's comments are the verbal equivalent of the 'due diligence' we've been hearing so much about over the last month or so. The odds of the powers that be announcing a rebrand during the regular season (while another team plays under the 'Hornets' banner) were always slim. Mike is doing exactly what he should do: play things close to the vest, project an air of measured prudence, then make the announcement when the timing is perfect.

A swift 'NO' would end all discussion. It would have ended it in 2010 when the Charlotte Hornets 2.0 Movement began in earnest. It would have ended it last year, when things really got fired up. But Mike won't say no...

...because we're taking back our Hornets.

Unknown said...

Call them THE CHARLOTTE WHO..Short for who cares as NOBODY is watching these games. Go on the street uptown and ask ant ten random people the starting line-up..or any five players on the current roster. A marque player is the answer...the next Kobe or LaBron. Someone the fans will get excited to see play that is not wearing a visitor's uniform.

Anonymous said...

I am truly a Bobcats Season Ticket Holder for the last 5 years. They Sent out Renewal packets last week. Then called me this week to see when I would submit my form for renewal. I told my ticket agent that I will not renew unless I know for a fact the Hornets Name would be back. In the nicest way possible he told me that it was unlikely I would know that by the time the renewal packet is due (before I loose my current seat which I am fond of). So as of today I am not sure what I will do. Do I go ahead and reup one more year and see if the name changes happens, or just cut my losses and stick to my guns?

Anonymous said...

"He who passes judjement on their fellow mans intellect, only expose their own intellectual insecurities"

Annonymous 2013

Anonymous said...

To me personally, it isn't about the product on the court. When the Hornet's came, it brought out the teal color, and those Alexander Jullian uniforms were the bomb. Hugo was the best mascot in the league, appealing to the young and old. I want the name and colors back, and bring the hive alive!
I'm not sure if changing the name also gets us our history back...I'm thinking that stays with the franchise in New Orleans. But we were lucky in the lottery back when we were able to get Larry Johnson and Alonzo Mourning....maybe the name change can change our luck on lottery night as well this time around.

Anonymous said...

I either want the Hornets or another name entirely.

Can we just get this Bobcats era behind us? There is nothing memorable about it that I would tell my children, except all the bad memories.

we need a new name that we can actually rally around to go with this "new era" we're creating player-wise

Anonymous said...

To those who keep saying "it wont change the product on the court."

omg no one actually thinks changing the name will directly change our win column.

We just want a name we can actually support! Like a nickname that applies to our city. It's not like we have a ton of tradition with "Bobcats", unless you mean a tradition of losing and lack of fan support.

I'd much rather support a bad Hornets team than bad Bobcats team. But here's to hoping we can change our name to go along with changing our product on the court.

Anonymous said...

How can you not change to Hornets. Anything else is an insult.

Anonymous said...

"Michael Jordan does not have the intellectual intelligence to write such a column. Just listen to him talk and anyone would know he does not have command of the English language to write such a column. Come on....who is he kidding??????"........you ever heard of a publicist?

Anonymous said...

He is changing it to Hornets. Probably the easiest decision he will ever make.

MIKe said...

I am a proud Bobcat fan. I like the name. If you dont like the name and you really want to have a voice and matter in the discussion BUY SEASON TICKETS AND PARTICIPATE IN THE SURVEY. They are not going to listen to people posting online claiming they will buy tickets. Put your money where your mouth is and make it happen.

As a native Charlottean, I really enjoyed the Charlotte Hornets but people are looking at the history incorrectly. We werent very good as the Hornets either. Yes we made the playoffs a couple times but the only playoff series we won was in 1992 and then we only made it to the 2nd round. Muggsy was overrated. LJ was really good for us, then he got hurt and we let him go. The best player we had was Alonzo and we were too cheap to pay the man. We traded Kobe Bryant for an old center from eastern Europe who smoked during halftime. Way to glamorize a team with 0 Hall of Famers. This town is contempt with losing. Dont forget about the Derrick Coleman days. Those were great.

The Hornets left mainly bc the City didnt care about them enough to build them a new arena, why do you care so much now?

I miss Bob Johnson, at least he would write the big checks to bring people to us. Yea he treated the city bad but the current ownership group comes off as cheap to a season ticket holder. My children have been raised as Bobcats fans, why are your memories more important than ours?

Anonymous said...

As a Bobcats fan who has endured the pain of the past, I'd feel a little cheated if I never got the chance to see the BOBCATS team I've invested so much time into following succeed.

That said, I'll follow the team regardless, and really don't understand why the name of the team matters so much to some...

Fraser said...

I think more than anything this team needs an identity. They need something the city of Charlotte and get behind and root for. Believe it or not most people are not idiots, and do realize changing the name will not result in a better team. It will result in a since of community and a connection with the team. When you walk into a bobcats game I'd say only 1 out of 4 people is wearing anything Bobcats related and who can blame them? Charlotte fans were proud to wear the Hornets colors and proud to support their team. Is anybody really proud to call the Bobcats their team? This city and this state love the game of basketball and are dying for a reason to support the game and their team again.

George Hanson said...

"monthly column"...? Uuuuh, this is only the third column in over a year, nothing monthly about it.

Folks he just told you he's not switching the name. Bob Dylan didn't need a weatherman to know which way the wind blew, nor do we need a "national polling company" (talk about a waste of money) to assess changing the name to Hornets. There is just no way the feedback is "mixed", change the name to Hornets already! As usual, he just doesn't want to spend the money.

I get a kick out of this quote from December -- "My expectation is for us to get better each and every day. I’m not looking for a certain number of wins; I’m looking for improvement...".

HUH? MJ, this isn't little league soccer where score isn't kept!

Those letters are lame, lots of talk, zero action.

Anonymous said...

Doesn't help him to play it any other way until they decide.

Anonymous said...

The city of Charlotte should purchase the Hornet name, so, when Jordan moves the team in a few years, the name will stay!

Anonymous said...

If you change the name, I will grant you the number one pick in the draft.

...David Stern

Anonymous said...

Jordan will change the name and it will be another good move since he bought the team. Hiring Cho, opening up cap space, securing draft picks, drafting Kemba. Keep it going....

Anonymous said...

Switch the name to Hornets and then switch the Hounds to the Bobcats. Anything is better than Hounds. That is just lame.

Jeff R. said...

I like the Hornets and I don't mind the Cats. But if you want to move into the 21st Century and also pull from our heritage, the name should be FLIGHT. Charlotte Flight taps into our rich heritage at Kitty Hawk, our ever expanding international airport, and reminds us of Michael's greatness when he defied gravity as a player. My vote is for Charlotte Flight.

Anonymous said...

It has to be HORNETS!!

Anonymous said...

I don't know whether or not they would gain fans by changing the name to "Hornets", but I am sure they would lose some fans if they didn't!

Anonymous said...

At the end of the day, there is more hatred for the current name, and more love for the Hornets. I actually don't care, but think the decision should be easy for this team. The people who like the Cats name will come regardless, the Hornet people will stop all together.

Anonymous said...

Flight? Seriously? That is ridiculous. The Hornets is there for the taking. The name should have never been allowed to leave. Now it is miraculously available. You don't pass on that.

Anonymous said...

As someone that was born here and raised here, I cannot understand why Jordan would keep the Bobcats name. I grew up loving two teams, the Hornets and the Bulls. I am sure you understand why I loved both. Each for different reasons. I am a participant in The BeeLieve motion going around. I am sure Jordan polled his season ticket holders, I am not one, and received mixed reviews about the name change. The problem is he already has those people's money. He needs to fill the rest of the arena and in order to do this, he needs to bring the Hornets back. People boycott the Bobcats because of the previous owner. Jordan needs a fresh start to unveil a new team and to do this he needs the name changed. Everyone knows he will make his 3-4 million back in merchandise sales within the first few months. I think it is a win win situation. If we could only convince the higher ups and Jordan.

RobNClt said...

I have a great idea, those us who would like to change the name should offer to put money toward changing it. I know in a city this size those of us who truly want the name change can come up with enough money from out pockets to do it.

What do you guys say?

Patrick said...

Hornets

Anonymous said...

Its a matter of civic pride. I do respect and even share in some of the nostalgia for the Hornets name. Let me point out however, they never won a championship, left town under suspect circumstances and were discarded by their new host city. Jordan should not expend precious resources trying to breathe life into a brand with limited national appeal. I concede the name of the team could be more aligned with Charlotte history but who wants to watch the "Resolves" or "Declarations" play the Pelicans?

Brett Treacy said...

I think he should change the name to the "Charlotte Air". N.C. is first in flight. U.S. Airways has it's biggest hub at charlotte douglas international airport. And Jordan is "Air Jordan." The logo will be the Air Jordan logo.

I dunno if Nike owns the right to Air Jordan but maybe they can be a sponsor and we can change the arena to "US Airways Arena"

Everyone will buy merchandise!

Genius.

Anonymous said...

Thinking of becoming a season ticket holder......

Lets face it, people like to support winners. It does not matter if their names are the bobcats or hornets. What matters the most are they winning. Yes, the hornets brand is more iconic but is a name change going to make the team win. There need to be more community involvement by the team to get support behind this team. I am looking for a reason to support the home tea.

Regards,

KP

Anonymous said...

Does it matter if we change the name that's not gonna help us win games. People only wear the Charlotte Hornets stuff because of the colors. It's been a long time and the Charlotte Hornets name should be retired. We need to establish something new for the city.

Marquise Stockman said...

All this talk of the team polling to see if they should change the name is unnecessary. Its just a waste of money if they are really doing polling. Anyone with common sense would know that changing the name back to the Hornets would bring in more money to the team. The team would have a better chance of marketing its product if they became the Hornets again. I live in NYC and I see more hornets gear being worn than Bobcats. I'm talking about Charlotte Hornets gear not the New Orleans Hornets at that. Nobody wears the Bobcats gear except probably in Charlotte for the games. MJ knows marketing since he pretty much markets his brand and himself so I'm sure he knows this change would be alot more profitable than it would be if he keeps the name as the Bobcats. I hope someone in the teams marketing department is informing him of this. If not then they should be fired cause they aren't help this team make money.

Anonymous said...

Unfortunately this franchise from day one has been about finance and money. Realisically MJ just can't compete with the Billionaire owners in the league which means anything that affects the bottom line will NOT HAPPEN. For this reason the "Charlotte Bobjohnsoncats" will not be changing their name. You Watch!!!!

RedAndBlack said...

I have supported the Bobcats through thick and thin. I have made memories at Bobcats games. The reason I've made memories is the great arena, and experiencing a playoff game for the first time in 7 years. The BOBCATS name and branding have nothing to do with that, the Hornets branding would bring the team to the forefront of my sports fandom. I'm sure that someone who is only a Bobcats fan would quickly become a Hornets fan, but MANY, MANY exHornets fans are merely Observers of the team, watching the team from a far with little emotion towards the team or the NBA. MJ knows how to work a crowd... Just like a WWE face he is hiding his announcement in a few words. In order to save face, he must bring back the Bugs.

Anonymous said...

Maybe the city will buy the name with taxes on groceries!

Anonymous said...

All of you that say the Hornets name has history here need to make sure you understand that the history of the old Hornets team does not come back with the name. So many of you do not know that and you are basing your opinion on wanting all of the history and nostalgia back from the “old days” (14 years’ worth, which not much history at all) but you aren’t going to get it with changing the name to the Hornets. You can’t hang any of the old players jerseys from the rafters and you don’t have the wins, playoffs or anything else. The teams history would still start with Emeka Okafor as the 2nd pick overall in the 2004 draft in. In the history it will still show that Bob Johnson owned the team, they will have played one year in the old coliseum and so far 8 years in the Uptown Arena. If they are going back for history’s sake let’s change the name back to the Cougars or better yet make new history and just keep the name of the Bobcats. Besides, if the Bobcats were winning no one would be saying anything about this, if they change the name and the team still isn’t winning then what do we build a new arena and start all over with that too? Oh and FYI there are actually Bobcats in the Carolina’s who the team was actually named after similarly to your beloved Panthers…

Anonymous said...

I believe the name HORNETS should be brought back. It was a symbol of great pride for the city as well as the fans. The mascot was loved by all and they had a really cool player introduction scene with the hive at the top of the arena. I loved going to the games but I have not been since the Boobcats (oops Bobcats) have been here in the city. Not to mention that the old HORNET merchandise still to this day outsells the bobcats logo stuff. That should tell MJ all he needs to know. Hope he makes the right decision so I can be a NBA fan again in Charlotte.

Anonymous said...

I find the comments about money being a factor hilarious in his decision! Jordan spent 14 million on Gordon just to get another 1st round pick for the team. Pay attention people.

With that said. Go Hornets!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Unknown said...

"Anonymous said...
It looks like once again my point is proven. "The Bobcats have sucked every year they have been in existence lets just forget this horrible product that has been in our city for ten years." So do you really think a name change will change the product.....NO! If the team were winning, you would not hear much of this if at all. As far as the merchandise sales, from my understanding, that revenue is split up amongst the teams so the Bobcats/Hornets would see no difference. If you just dont like the name is one thing but if you want to do it because you think will change the product on the court which most people do, you are just fundamentally wrong."

Which means...Let's also go ahead and shut down Madison Ave because Marketing, Advertising and Shaping the Message mean nothing.

Anonymous said...

Absolutely no one is dumb enough to think changing the name will change the product. You can still advocate for a name change even though you understand it won't change performance.

Actually the real morons are the people that bring this up like Fritz Smith. The closest a guy like this comes to Madison Ave is a monopoly board.

Current Season Ticket Holder said...

All of the comments against changing the name are just dumb.

1. It won't help us win. Really? All of the people that want the name changed thought that everyone would lay down and give us victories when they saw Hornets on the uniforms.

2. I have bought Bobcats Merchandise. Really? Your wearing an Emeka Okafor Jersey from 9 seasons ago that is2 sizes too small and the team has changed jersey's twice since then. ( You need to buy a new jersey, no matter what the name is)

3. The people that want the name change should pay for it. I would gladly assemble a group of investors that would pay the $3M Dollars as long as we also got to keep the incremental merchandise revenue that will result from the switch. We aren't asking MJ to do this just because we want it. We think that it creates more revenue for the team.

4. The History of the Hornets left when the team did. 1st off the History of the Hornets in Charlotte goes back over 200 years and this was not George Shinn's name that he gave Charlotte. The Hornets are Charlotte's name that we gave Shinn. Now it's available and we want it back. Secondly, All those great moments happened in Charlotte, those attendance banners were the results of Charlotte fans attending games and they belong to the fans of Charlotte.

@ Fritz Smith- you correct that Merchandise Revenue is split evenly but, would you rather split $30 Million evenly or $60 Million evenly? The Hornets brand would grow the total revenue pie.

@ Anonymous 8:34 AM. How naive are you to believe that the team was named the Bobcats because of the Huge Bobcat population in North Carolina? Give me a break. You don't think the name "Bobcats" were given the name because they were "Bob's Cat's"?

Anonymous said...

This team is horrible and the Bobcats name is now linked to the worst records ever. So with that being said let's assume you are an utter fool if you don't give up the name.
Now the Hornets name has tons of Buzz (literally) and folks are eneergized again by it.
I don't understand why this is even a decision or discussion. And yes season ticket holder last 5 years and sooooo ready to drop this name.

Anonymous said...

It's a no brainer to switch to Hornets.

The only arguments I hear from Bobcats name supporters are revenue sharing, the Hornets left along time ago, and people should support the team no matter what the name is.

1) Yes the NBA has a revenue sharing model. Only merchandise sold at the team store goes directly to the team everything else is split. I don't know the numbers but I would guess that Charlotte Hornets gear would out sell Charlotte Bobcats 10x or more worldwide. It would be easy to assume that the other 29 owners would be for the change for this reason alone. The team store would probably do 1.5x more business, bringing in some additional revenue to the team.

2) The Hornets did leave in 2002. The city led the NBA in attendance for almost a decade. Yes there were empty arenas at the end, but Shinn already had his bags packed and the team half way out the door. Nobody wants to support a franchise where the owner was holding fans hostage (... take note Jerry Richardson). Charlotte never lost love for the Hornets, the city lost love for George Shinn. Bringing the name back will bring so much goodwill and will help right a Shinn's wrong especially in the eyes of many Hornets fans. Anyone who doesn't believe the change will attract many old fans back really has their head in the sand.

3)Die-hard basketball fans will support the team no matter the name. I go to several Bobcats games a year and am invested in the team as bad as they are (...even stayed up to watch them get blown out by the Clippers last night). The team doesn't need the support of NBA fans, they cheer for the players and will come to the game even if the team is call the Flamingos. The team needs the support of the fringe fan. Again the Hornets name has a sense of nostalgia and goodwill that will attract more of those fans. It's safe to say that a name change would attract 2000 to 3000 extra fans to the first few games. The team is improving and game day at the arena is fun. If the team can retain 800 extra fans a game, who spend $50/each, the change will be paid for in less than 2 seasons. This does not even include additional revenue from increased corporate partners and sponsorship which will result from a Hornets affiliation. This is where the real $$ are and an increase in these could pay for the change alone even before the season starts.

Anonymous said...

Charlotte Flight. 'Nuf said.

Anonymous said...

I have been a season ticket holder since day one and I prefer that the team remains the Bobcats. I loved the Hornets when they were here but they stiffed us and left for New Orleans. Why bring back the name? Bobcats is a great nickname - let's keep it. If teams changed nicknames just because they were bad, every team in the league would have changed their name several times!

Anonymous said...

Eh. This is just a Jedi mind trick. Jordan planted a seed to see how passionate people are about this name by saying the comments are mixed. He knows that more people will prefer Hornets. I'm actually just anxious for the whole thing to be decided one way or the other. Tired of hearing it debated.

JD said...

It's been covered before, but the name change has nothing to do with the product on the court. Everyone realizes that. So, take that argument out of the equation and look at the rest of the picture.

For those of you who are ambivalent about a name change, pay attention to all the Hornets supporters who say they will increase their interest because of the Hornets name. You can count me in that group. I watch the Bobcats on TV when I can and have been to a handful of games in their history. I would say I'm a Bobcats fan, but obviously not a diehard fan like I am for the Panthers and used to be for the Hornets.

Changing to the Hornets name would instantly increase my interest whether the team got any better or not. Read that again: I would become a bigger fan EVEN IF the team was still bad.

It's about pride. Nobody has any pride in the Bobcats name because it doesn't mean anything to us. It doesn't mean anything to or about Charlotte. It's just a name - and a bad one at that.

The Hornets name is deeply rooted in Charlotte history. It's a name we're proud of, and it's a name we've proven we will support. Throw out the final years when Shinn and Wooldridge were searching to move the team. When the Hornets franchise was loyal to this city and its fans, we were fiercely loyal to it. And, we've always been loyal to the Hornets name, even if Shinn ruined our feelings about the previous team/franchise.

Bring back the buzz!

Anonymous said...

One name even weaker than Bobcats...Flight. Bobcats name is just plain embarrassing. Changing back to Hornets is a no brainer, shouldn't even be a discussion.

Anonymous said...

How many of you so'called fans are really going to start going to the games when they change the name??None of you, This is a dumb topic.

Anonymous said...

How about the 45ers ?

Unknown said...

If the name is whats important, then you're not a true fan, and we dont need you. Its not a game of names. If we were a winning team, youd love the Bobcats. Were not, and changing the name wont make us. Grow up, get over it, we are the Bobcats now. Shinn crapped out on us, why want that back. Where were all you Hornets supporters when the Hive was EMOTY in the last years? Were you all fans of the New Orleans Hornets? If not, Why? You are only a fan when its in town? Franchise fans are franchise fans. That of which you are not. You are all wanna bee fans. If you want the Hornets, save your money and buy a franchise. Stop trying to take away a name some of us dont mind the same way George Shinn did. Do you understand that? You would be taking away something from others to get what you want. How is that fair? If you like basketball like you claim, you wouldnt care if the name was the Charlotte Orange Cones. Its Basketball. Last game I went to, I saw this wanna be thug dressed in all Hornets gear. Looked like he stepped out of 93'. Horrible fashion then, horrible fashion now. Its Purple and Teal. What matches Prurple and teal on a daily basis? We may as well bring back the 12" rims on Civics.

Anonymous said...

What's MJ's email address?? I have some things to say to him! For one thing, it's too bad he wasn't here in NC while the Hornets were here, maybe then he'd understand how much we all loved and supported them. For another, using $$ as an excuse is ridiculous. You gotta spend $$ to make $$, and I can't imagine he's making too much off the team right now with the lack of support the city is showing. But imagine how much he'll make when everyone starts buying brand new Hornets gear and actually showing up for the games!!

Anonymous said...

mj needs to change this name the hornets mean something to north carolina its part of our history i mean if mj cant even get a name change right then what good is he

Anonymous said...

ALL the National Polls + Local polls in the NC/SC region have been overwhelmingly in favor of changing the name to the CHARLOTTE HORNETS. Jordan saying the results of their due diligence,polling being mixed is nothing but a wash. Jordan is just to tight on his money to put a competitive team on the court or to change the name to the Charlotte Hornets. If Jordan will not give the fans a competitive team + plus the nickname HORNETS, then he just needs to sell the team. There is no excuse for this franchise being the joke that it is. BRING BACK THE BUZZ!!!!!! BRING BACK THE HORNETS!!!!!! Or just sell the team to someone who will.