Tom Talks

Mike Minter is now a Campbell Fighting Camel

   I know there are coaches with more experience than Mike Minter, who was twice a college assistant and once a high school head coach.

    But the reaction to the news, first reported here, that Campbell will introduce Minter as its new head football coach Tuesday was applauded by everybody who has spent time with the man. As a Panther safety from 1997-2006 his popularity superseded his numbers. People liked him, liked being around him -- teammates, fans, even the media.

     Another player was nicknamed Media Mike. But it was just a name for the other guy. Minter earned it by being accessible when he played well and when he played poorly, when his team won and when his team lost. Accountability always is appreciated and remembered.

     Campbell is in Buies Creek, which is near Lillington, which is near Angier, which is near Coats, which is kind of near Erwin, if you're keeping score at home. The Fighting Camels went 1-10 this season, losing their final nine games.

      What Minter will sell there -- effort and accountability -- his players will buy.

      The hire was gutsy and good. Some people just understand, and Minter is one of them.

      Congratulations to the school and to the new coach.

Mike Minter new football coach at Campbell

   Mike Minter, the former Carolina Panther safety, will be the new football coach at Campbell, the Observer has learned.

    A news conference will be held on campus in Buies Creek Tuesday to announce his hiring.

    Minter, 38, is the special teams coach at Liberty.  He previously was assistant head coach football coach at Johnson C. Smith and head coach at First Assembly Christian in Concord.

     Minter played for the Panthers from 1997-2006.

     Campbell will be the Charlotte 49ers' first opponent next season.

Cutting Medlock was a panic move by the Carolina Panthers

    Despite losing eight of 10 games, I hadn't seen panic from the Panthers this season -- until Tuesday, when they cut kicker Justin Medlock. Yes, Medlock had missed his last three field goals, one of which was blocked.

     But good kickers go through slumps, if two misses and a block constitute a slump. The good ones come back. And Medlock, I believe, will be a good one.

      Firing coaches and cutting players won't save the season. The season can't be saved.

     Remember, Medlock converted five of five field goals against Chicago, where the wind comes  whipping at unpredictable angles off the lake.

      Had Medlock converted a 40-yard second-quarter field goal against Tampa Bay, would three points have been enough to avoid overtime,and thus preserve a Carolina victory?

        If you believe that, you haven't watched the 2012 Panthers.

 

 

 

Breaking news: Panthers still not moving to Los Angeles

    In a developing news story, the Carolina Panthers are still not moving to Los Angeles.

    When I think of Maryland, I think of Lefty and Gary Williams, Dixon and Blake, Albert King and Len Bias and Buck Williams. In other words, I think of the Terps when they were interesting. Been awhile. All time favorite Maryland moment was in Chapel Hill when Lefty, the legendary basketball coach, had just lost a last-second game to North Carolina. A few of us were waiting outside the locker room. Lefty looked at the Maryland mascot and said, "Get that damn turtle outta here."

    Anybody who thinks the Terps were greedy to move to the Big Ten doesn't keep up with the ACC.

     I don't plan to check email or get on Twitter Thursday. But I wonder if on Thanksgiving people still send angry email and Tweets about the Panthers. Or does anger take a day off?

     Looking forward to the Bobcats tonight. Ought to be a festive crowd at Time Warner Cable Arena.

     I don't know how many Turkey Trots races have been held near Southpark, but I've missed only one since its inception in the 1980s. Great event; lets you eat without guilt the rest of the day. And even mean people, most of them, anyway, are in a good mood on Thanksgiving morning. I was out of town when I missed my only race two years ago. But I'm going to skip it this year even though I'll be in Charlotte. Running no longer has allure. I've bet I've run 200 races. Don't know if I'll ever run another. I salute those of you who run. I'd come out and cheer you, but if I'm that close to the festivities, I'll want to run.

    Whatever you do Thanksgiving, enjoy it.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Our top story: Charlotte has a big league team with a winning record.

   The Charlotte Bobcats are 4-3. While I'm not aware of anybody printing T-shirts that say CITY OF CHAMPIONS, we ought to pause to appreciate the feat.

    The last time a Charlotte major league team had a winning record this late in the season was 2009-10. After starting 3-2, the Bobcats lost seven straight. They finally surpassed .500 in January, beating Sacramento behind Stephen Jackson and Gerald Wallace to go 20-19.

     The last time the Panthers had a winning record at any point during the season was 2008. Although they finished 2009 with a record of 8-8, they had to win their final three games to do it.

      I've witnessed no spontaneous outbreaks of passion and glee since Charlotte's thrilling last-second victory at Minnesota Wednesday night.

     And, yes, the Timberwolves weren't at full-strength, missing their two best players and three of their top four.

      But the Bobcats won. That's what matters, that and the excitement and hope they provided.

      The major league sports landscape has been as bleak as Thursday's weather.

      Any break ought to be appreciated.

 

 

 

 

Carolina Panther QB Cam Newton live like you've never seen him

  The Cam Newton Foundation gave $150,000 to Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools Tuesday -- Bradley Middle School, Thomasboro Academy and Randolph Middle School received $50,000 apiece. Newton met with students from each in Randolph's 400-seat gym.

    When Newton, who plays quarterback for the Carolina Panthers, was introduced, students reacted the way you'd think they would. Along with cheering and yelling, a few jumped up and engulfed him. Then a few more did. While public relations representatives worried, Newton moved into the crowd, slapping hands, at ease, smiling.

    I've been around Newton at training camp, at practice, in the locker room and at Auburn. I've never seen him like this.The afternoon wasn't about quarterback rating, won-loss record or a towel on his head.

    This was about his foundation and the kids.

     It was as if the microphone was an extension of Newton's right hand. He worked the room, moving back and forth, laughing, exhorting, challenging, praising.

      He asked for ovations for the middle school football teams and for the National Junior Honor Society. When he deemed applause for the honor society insufficient, he demanded more.

     He asked kids what they wanted to be when they grew up. A vet, one said, a doctor, said another, a football coach, said a third. To get any of those jobs, an education is necessary, Newton told them.

      Without an education, he told middle-schoolers, your opportunities will be limited. With an education, they'll be limitless.

      Newton was scheduled to answer questions and speak for five to 10 minutes. He talked for 30.

      After he finished he told me: 'It's not something I was forced to do. I wanted to do that."

      You could tell.

 

 

 

 

 

Punches are up, but NASCAR's ratings won't be

    Everybody watched the pit road MMA festivities between the crews of Jeff Gordon and Clint Boyer. That doesn't mean they're going to watch Sunday's race.

     There's nothing wrong with NASCAR. Ratings and attendance are down but not dramatically. Popularity isn't going to suddenly spike or fall.

     Years ago NASCAR's Sprint Cup became one of the majors, up there with the NFL, almost, and with baseball and basketball. The sport was fresh and featured clean-cut stars who did not belong to a union. Work stoppages weren't going to intrude.

    Reality did. Racing faded about to where it should be. It does not attract the audiences football, basketball and baseball do, and is not about to.

     We cling to images. Some fans consider the NHL one of the big four sports. It hasn't been for decades and, after the most recent work stoppage, won't be again.

      I get criticized when I write things such as this about hockey, or racing. But television ratings, the most accurate barometer of interest in a sport, don't lie.

      Besides, if I like a sport, I don't care if others do. Thus, boxing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Non-breaking news: Carolina Panthers are not moving to Los Angeles

     Los Angeles undoubtedly would like the Carolina Panthers (or any other NFL team) to head west. Factions have courted the Panthers, specifically owner Jerry Richardson. Why wouldn't LA lobby Richardson? He's connected.

      But in non-breaking news, Richardson grew up in N.C., went to college in S.C., began his business empire in S.C. and lives in Charlotte.

       In other old non-breaking news, the Panthers aren't leaving Charlotte.

 

They're your Carolina Panther tickets. Do with them what you will.

   The PSL holder Scott Fowler wrote about in the Observer Friday morning undoubtedly will be criticized. The man goes so far as to sell his tickets to fans of the team the Panthers play.

    It's so simple. Fans aren't required to take a loyality oath before they buy their tickets, so they shouldn't be required to take one before they sell them.

     The tickets belong to the fan. If he can get a better deal selling them to, say, Denver fans than to Carolina fans, that's his right.

      I suspect most of the criticism comes from fans who watch games on TV, not that there's anything wrong with that.

       I saw Panther jerseys at FedExField in Maryland last week.

       The game went on as scheduled.

The Panthers are not moving to L.A.

    Saw the story in the Charlotte Business Journal in which Charlotte Chamber president Bob Morgan talked about the possibility of the Carolina Panthers leaving Charlotte for Los Angeles.

     "That reality scares the hell out of me," Morgan said.

     Some people get out of bed in the morning looking for a reason to be scared.

      The Panthers are owned by Jerry Richardson, who was born in N.C., attended college in S.C., began his restaurant business in S.C., and lives in Charlotte. The team is his legacy, and his legacy is not in California.

       Richardson is 76 and underwent a heart transplant. The story says Richardson has not announced a plan for a successor, and he hasn't.

        I talked to him a few years ago about his succession plan.

        "Do you know who will take the team over when you finish?" I asked.

        "Yes," he said.

        "Who?" I asked.

        "Yes," he said.

         The NFL is by far the most popular entity in U.S. sports, and I understand the concern about Charlotte and the Carolinas no longer being part of it.

         But scared?

          The only place the Panthers are going is Philadelphia. That's where they play their next road game.