There has been a lot of back and forth about Ric Flair giving the San Francisco 49ers a motivational speech Saturday night in Wisconsin. In the speech, Flair told the team his "heart' was with the 49ers, predicted they would beat Green Bay and also that the 49ers would come to Charlotte and beat Carolina.
So my question is: Who cares?
Flair is a washed-up, 64-year-old former star of a very fake "sport" who doesn't even live in Charlotte anymore.
He can give a speech to anyone he wants to, but he is not the Panthers' No.1 celebrity fan and has not been for a long time. Not even close. I give you two alternatives -- both of whom are in their athletic prime, don't get in trouble with the law and love the Panthers.
No.1 is Stephen Curry, who grew up in Charlotte, went to Davidson, still has a home in the Queen City and is an NBA star for Golden State.
No.2 is John Isner, the best American tennis player out there. He grew up in Greensboro, is friends with Steve Smith and is such a huge Panther fan that he will watch them in the middle of the night overseas on his laptop and can discuss their depth at offensive line in remarkable detail.
Those are the sorts of fans the Panthers need to be proud of, along with the 73,000 who will fill Bank of America Stadium Sunday.
Flair? He's yesterday's news -- Ric, 1976 called, and it wants its "Woooo" back. Panther fans don't need Flair, and he obviously doesn't need them, although he tried in a backhanded way to make nice with the team in a brief interview with my buddy, Observer sports columnist Tom Sorensen. The way Flair claimed his heart was also with the Panthers was an insult to any Panther fan's intelligence who saw his motivational speech.
As wide receiver Steve Smith aptly put it Monday, Flair has burned his "Golden Gate bridge" with the Panthers. Or as one wrestling fan wrote me, brimming with rage about Flair's speech: This wrestler has turned "trader."
He meant "traitor," but I liked the double meaning. Flair traded in the Panthers for the 49ers. And what Panther fans should be saying right now are two words:
Good riddance.
We're moving!
9 years ago
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46 comments:
Ric who?
It's going to be a crazy physical game come Sunday. Emotions will be high. A lot is going to be on the Carolina offense if 'we' are to win this one. In my opinion, the Defense will hold their end up, IMO.
A win on Sunday, and you'll probably hear me all the way from Harper's Ferry in Charlotte.
Ric, the mooch of the wine bar. Always begging for free wine, and always disturbing the patrons. GOOD RIDDANCE!!!
What is this, Super bowl week with stupid distractions?
The Cats have work to do on Sunday....from here on out, it's all business!
Say what you want, The Nature Boy posed a fact. If the Panthers, do not play worth anything, the season is done. And they will be washed up. Whoooooooooooooo!!! Flair fan for life
Yeah,he may be in a " fake " sport,but Ric Flair could take out Scott with ease!
Scott, this is one of your best articles ever.
The positive energy that's running through the city is contagious. Folks are walking through the streets, proud to be a part of this historical event and proud to be a Charlottean.
We don't need any former athletes who are begging to be relevant to try and steal the lime light by casting any negativity. Flair, go and wrestle Hogan. I'm sure someone will be interested in watching.
Flair is the most famous athlete to ever come out of Charlotte! Period! World Wide famous! Everyone wishes they could be the Nature Boy! No offense to scurry or Isner, but they aren't nearly as world wide known as Nature Boy! Fowler, you're just jealous! Everybody is jealous! To quote the Nature Boy, "Space Mountain may be the oldest ride in the park, but its still got the longest line!!! Whooooooo!
Stop the hatin on Charlotte's most famous celebrity ever, and it ain't close! Whoooooo! Fowler you need to be slapped like Natche slapped Gordon Solely and Tony Schovani! Whooooooooooo!
Don't forget the purtiest fan..Brookyln Decker!
How can anyone say that was a motivational speech? He's proud to be there, honored to be there (about 5 times), and he gave them a bit about Brett Michaels saying "Let's do it!"... Sheesh, I think I would be able to run thru single ply tissue paper after that one! I assure you, that "speech" had nothing to do with the 49ers beating the Packers.
Ric Flair is not exactly the kind of "athlete" (LOL), let alone "celebrity" I would want associated with Charlotte anyway. I have to question the intelligence of anybody that gets excited about this clown and his ilk. But then, pro wrestling has never been known for its intelligent fan base. Why is this even a story? This guy needs to grow up and act like a man instead of a drunk frat boy. Loser.
....we gave this bum a free pass for too long....
what has he brought to Charlotte??
.....countless borish behavior .....drugs....not paying bills....harassment....their is nothing but death and destruction around this flake!!
You say "who cares", and yet it was your "newspaper" that carried the story about Flair. If no one cares why run the article you hypocrite.
Ric has suffered too many figure-four headlocks...he thought he was talking to the Charlotte 49ers.
Scott, I love the passion in this article. One of your best yet! Really reflects on the feelings of all Panthers fans. Please keep writing articles like these, i love them! Next time write about Adam Schein's incessant hate on the Panthers or Dave Dameshek's blatant bias against us.
People sure do spend a lot of time whining and stating 'who cares' about Ric Flair. My plan is working perfectly!
The greatest franchise that ever existed in Charlotte was not the Panthers, Hornets, or Bobcats. It was Jim Crockett's National Wrestling Alliance and Flair was its biggest star. Like it or not, he is Charlotte's biggest celebrity. The guy may be over the hill, but don't beat him up while he is down. He needs every paycheck he can get. You can find him 2 years ago doing promotional videos for the Titans. The guy is a legend and more importantly an old man. Take it easy on The Nature Boy.
Considering his troubles, Ric would probably emcee a pep rally for acorns if the gig paid.
I don't get all the hate. Flair is just chasing relevance (or a paycheck) like everyone else. He was offered a chance and maybe some coin to relive the good old days and he took it.
The guy's personal life and finances are a train wreck. I used to like him, now I just feel sorry for him.
That's just the Nature Boy doing what he does....being the heel.
I think I saw Flair in an A/C commercial or something. He is washed up and a joke.
All business for CAR this weekend. Go get 'em boys.
One thing for sure, the 49ers called him, he didn't call them. I agree with alot of what you're saying. However, if Ric Flair walks down the street and either of the other 2, I bet money, people would draw to Ric first. yes, he's had/has his issues, but he's a very recognized celebrity. Just because you don't think he is, doesn't mean everyone else doesn't. I could care less, but to compare him to Curry or the other tennis star, give me a break. 49ers called Flair, not Curry or some tennis star.
Scott, you ask "Who cares?" and then proceed to write an article about it. To answer your question, it seems like you care more than anyone else as you took time to write an article about Ric Flair for your job.
Because obviously Ric Flair's comments will have a major impact on the game.
Scott, do yourself a favor: Next time you want to write an article all about no one caring about something because it doesn't matter, realize while you're writing the article that by writing it, you are disproving your own point.
Have a nice day.
Charlotte is still Ric Flair country. Wooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo!!!
There was a time when I was a huge Ric Flair fan. But then I turned 13. And that was close to the time when it became obvious to anyone paying attention that wrestling was fake, and just a few years later, the head guys in wrestling had to admit it in court. At that point, Ric Flair and everyone else in his fake sport became irrelevant. Notice how irrelevant wrestling is now?
Forget the fake athletes. Let's concentrate on the real athletes - Cam, Smitty, Kracken, Luke and the rest.
GO PANTHERS!!!!!!!!!!!
I wouldn't let this sideshow and distract us from the task at hand, hopefully the players aren't. Someone in the Panther's organization didn't bow to his majesty evidently... and thus the sideshow.
Guys, let this story line play out. It's all a set up... Nature boy is going to strut into the 49'ers locker room again this Sunday around 12:45 smiling and shaking hands. Then he's going to smack Kaepernick over the head with a steel chair. Whoooooooo!!!!Go Panthers!
Ice up, Ric.
Scott, interesting column. Next time, just stop at the part where you say "who cares"?
The Nature Boy takes it in the keester.
Carolina is going down in flames this weekend. Oh well, you will always have the Bobcats! Talk about a loser town...until we decide to move them to Raleigh!!!
Bwahahahaha!
Love,
Pat
No professional wrestler ever created a better persona than Ric "Nature Boy" Flair.
He was the very best in the business.
Hats off to the Nature Boy.
Space Mountain Baby!! Its all you expected
Third is J Metro. He is a 6 Time Billboard Charting Musician and Grammy Nominated artist who was born on Camp LeJune in North Carolina.
Don't know him... google him
So I guess the two claps and "WOOOOOOOOOOO" will no longer be done in the locker room? Just ask'n.
It's "wooooo".
I bet there will be quite a few sarcastic wooooos being yelled on the walk out of the stadium if the panthers win Sunday
NATURE BOY RIC FLAIR RULEZ .......
GO 49ERS .........
I hope he didn't get paid for that pathetic speech. No preparation at all or poorly executed.
i understand ric flair, there are a lot cowboy, kins, 49ers etc fan s, that were with them before the panthers start. maybe would home fan s, if we were superbowl winners
Funny this whole Ric Flair thing just surfaced last week out of nowhere,Rivera to be the man you`ve got to beat the man...Coaches and Panther players lets put this Ric Flair thing to rest by taking care of business this week at home and beating the 49ers. And to top it off Rivera coaching staff and Team, Lets keep winning and reach our goal of super bowl champs so we are known WORLD WIDE as SUPER BOWL CHAMPIONS....The Biggest thing to come out of Carolina`s....NOT RIC FLAIR...THAT MY FRIEND WOULD NIP IT IN THE BUDD!!!!!!GO GET IT..KEEP POUNDING
I don't know why the 49er's would want him, either. If he Flair turned on Carolina, he'll turn on them, too. Flair has turned on EVERYBODY who's ever befriended or trusted him. The Panthers are better off without him.
If I had one of Flair's robes, like Steve Smith does, I can tell you where I'd hang it :)
Loved this article. Scott you nailed the truth and reality with "Who needs Ric Flair anyway?
Who cares about Ric Flair? If you above the age of 40/50 maybe you care but I could care less about a wrestler. How about REAL sports star? Thank Scott for mentioning Steph Curry, I want my sports star good on and off the court/field, thanks please.
Enough on Naatch, what I wanted to comment on was the Comments. 44 must be a record for an article about the Panthers. I honestly remember Nature Boy back in the day, he drove a white Cadillac, used to come into my dad's garage which was on 7th street down from Park Center carrying Haystack Calhoun and Jimmy Snuka. Go Panthers.
lol Gotta love how some of these pro football hacks are taking pot shots at wrestling fans, as if football fans were ever noted for their 'intelligence' when they're are not getting piss drunk and riotting over who's team is better. At least wrestling fans keep to themselves.
Who cares anyway, bottom line pro ffotball is just a sport that caters to overweight americans and wrestling is a world wide phenomenon.
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