Charlotte Media Has Bob In Crosshairs

If you are a faithful reader of the Charlotte Observer you know that lately, at least for Bob Johnson, the newspaper has lived up to its nickname – The Charlotte Disturber. As the Charlotte Bobcats conclude their fourth NBA season – a losing one – the nooses are being tied and the search for sturdy oak has begun. Yes. Racial overtones intended.

The crescendo began Tuesday April 15^th when The Observer published an article with the headline "Johnson: Charlotte's businesses fail team". Problem number one is that this is not a direct quote or, at least, not one printed within the article and appears to be a summation of Bob's comments. Bob is simply trying to drum up sales of luxury suites at the arena. The lack of luxury suites at the old coliseum was the reason our previous NBA team left. The result of such a headline - queue the hounds...we are going to have ourselves a hanging.

 

Another problem quickly eyed by any media literate human being is the timing and placement chosen for this article. Directly left of this front page article on Bob's perceived gripes with area business is another article entitled "Wachovia's list of troubles suggests hurdles remain". The Disturber's strategy here is: let readers see front page and above the fold a billionaire complain about area businesses failing him while area businesses are dealing with recession and a mortgage crisis. The nerve of Bob to expect so much from such a small town.

 

The placement issue does not stop there. Mr. Johnson was giving the entire page seven. Page seven features the remainder of the front page article coupled with another entitled "Johnson sites race in Obama's Surge". A short while ago a Clinton adviser, Geraldine Ferraro, openly suggested that had Obama not been black he would not have received the response that he has so far. Critics were outraged and she was forced to separate herself from the Clinton campaign. Bob validates her comments in this article. Observer intent - read this as "see, Blacks can't event trust him".

 

I am not a prophet, not a fortune teller, and can not read palms but I can say I saw this coming as far back as 2003 when Bob was awarder the NBA franchise. Remember, Bob was awarded the franchise over a group of competing investors that included great white hope Larry Bird. At that point I said to myself, "Billionaire black man beats out good ‘ole boys for an NBA team? Bob better watch out".

 

Charlotte fans are fickle at best. Witness the Carolina Panthers' last few seasons. Now compare that with the Carolina Hurricane's NHL franchise in Raleigh. See any differences? We are spanning the spectrum here. Bobcats - black owner and black team and prime for hanging. Panthers - black team but white owner thus a longer rope for now. Hurricanes - white team and owner and unconditional support.

 

Day Two of the Charlotte Observer's effort to rally the mob...again above the fold on the front page, "Contract Binds Bobcats To City" with language contained within suggesting that the two are "stuck" with each other for years to come. To be read as "get upset because he ain't going nowhere nor is his stinking team".

 

Tom Sorenson even writes his own opinion piece "Let's start fresh: Johnson needs to sell Bobcats". Imagine that. Local sports writer has more business savvy than billionaire Bob. Hold your horses Tom. No need to make outlandish statements for the sake of readership even though you have built a career on just that.

 

Sure Bob Johnson has made some decisions that, in hindsight, do not appear to be good ones. At the same time he did not get to where he is in life by making more poor decisions than good ones. The Bobcat's have had four seasons. Bob has acknowledged that winning is probably the biggest variable in filling seats at the arena. Give them a shot at succeeding before trying to gather resentment that will drive fans further away.

 

I remember when Hornets owner George Shinn was forced out of town for trying to earn a dime. He was always outcast because he had that new money the old regime hates so much. He finished last in his class at Myers Park and here he is with the biggest house on the block? He moved to Florida for tax purposes and was ridiculed in the Charlotte media. Eventually the team left Charlotte and everyone was happy because the team seemed to be failing in New Orleans. Now that they are one of the NBA's best teams Charlotte media has been unable to utter George's good name.

 

So when the Bobcat's start winning what should we expect?