Picking up the newspaper and seeing stories about tonight's Bobcats-Lakers game on the front page of the sports section as well as inside reminded me of old times.
Back in the late 1980s and early 1990s, the Charlotte Hornets were the biggest story in town. When a big-name team came to Charlotte, scalpers rejoiced, fans showed up long before the doors opened and all the good seats at the sports bar were quickly claimed.
Going to Charlotte Coliseum was a thrill because you felt as if you were part of something. You saw almost everybody you knew and the next morning would replay the game at the office or over lunch or wherever people gathered.
Charlotte has changed, of course. We gave up on the Hornets not long after they gave up on us. We added the NFL and some sophistication. We no longer were mesmerized because we saw a genuine NBA player in our town.
Big-time sports are new only once. We can't go back, and there's no reason to.
But it's fun to see the city excited about the NBA again, to hear fans talking, and to anticipate the game at Time Warner Cable Arena tonight.
This is the biggest game of the season. It will be interesting to watch the Bobcats, and Charlotte, respond.
Go Cats!
Posted by: Newsinz | March 31, 2009 at 10:36 AM
yes go cats, go far far away
Posted by: Chris | March 31, 2009 at 10:50 AM
Can't wait for the game tonight. Have my tickets in hand... Let's go 'Cats!!!!!
Posted by: PantherDave | March 31, 2009 at 11:02 AM
Go Chris, go far far way...hater
Posted by: Willz | March 31, 2009 at 12:29 PM
How many times have we seen articles like this? We get it....the Hornets were popular.
Posted by: sascol | March 31, 2009 at 12:57 PM
Sorensen and Ric Flair holding hands cheering for the Hornets. Those were the days.
Posted by: Bill | March 31, 2009 at 03:41 PM
Yeah seriously sascol's right. Why not embrace the present instead of rehashing the past. It's like people are spinning in circles here! Codpiece!
Posted by: Bort Svenson | March 31, 2009 at 09:44 PM
Because, Bort. This team has been so terribly mismanaged from top to bottom since day one that it makes you sad to remember how great the Hornets days were.
Posted by: MAProcton | March 31, 2009 at 10:13 PM
Well people its our kidz and the younger ones we need to help, Man going to a b-ball game when i was 8years to 16 yrs was some of my best memories, and all u fans with kids that are still mad about the taxes, think about it it would of went somewhere else if not to the arena. SO stop keeping ur kids and family and friends from loving our BOBCATS!!!!!!!!!!!!!Grow up and stop crying of spilled milk there here to stay j get over it
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