Bob Johnson

Felton for Pres · Post #1 » by **Felton for Pres** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 1:36 pm

I was listening to WFNZ this morning (local CLT sports radio) and they replayed a clip with Cuban and Bob on CNBC from this week. I searched youtube and cnbc and didn't find it, but it was downright depressing. A few notes:
1. he referred to May as "Scott"
2. he talked about the basketball "field" repeatedly
3. he compared owning a basketball team to owning beach front property and that its a great investment if anyone is interested (i agree with guys on the morning show, sounded like a plea for someone to give him a bid, any bid)
4. he deferred to Cuban because his team is better (hey bob, they are both 0-0 right now!!)
5. he said he gave MJ a blank check and he "managed to exceed it" (too many comments to make there)

I have tried to stay out of any Bob bashing because...well...I just don't think its productive. I wish he would shut his yap, that's about all I usually say. However, while this isn't as bad as the plea for sponsors last April (possibly the dumbest business move I've ever seen, next to Wachovia buying Golden West), this illustrates how unconnected he really is. Having him on with Cuban was just a perfect comparison of a passionate owner and a dispassionate owner.

I hope someone takes him up on his offer of "beach front property". The fact that comparisons to Bush are running thru my head right now should pretty much sum things up. (please no one make any, I come here to escape the world, not debate)

August Us Seazr · Post #2 » by **August Us Seazr** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 3:06 pm

FfP, I saw some of that interview from my hospital bed yesterday morning before I got sprung for home. And I agree that for someone who is interested in owning a basketball team, he seems to have the billionaire part down pat. Not so much the sports owner.

But we could do so much worse. We could have either Jerry Jones of the Cowboys-meddlesome guy that one is, or Al Davis in Oakland- meddlesome and absolutely SENILE! Or any owner of a New York pro franchise, whose sole purpose in life is to buy titles, while mostly failing to.

In Bob Johnson's defense, his only failings so far seem to be those of not knowing how to, not failings of not caring. He seems much more pleasant a man than his predecessor, Mr. Shinn (I REALLY shouldn't go there!) Of coaches and front office people, we now cannot afford learning on the job. I can live with BJ's learning how to be a great owner.

ohara · Post #3 » by **ohara** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 3:06 pm

Great post! You know what I would love, except Charlotte would scre it up, is to do what the Greeb Bay Packers did. The community of Green Bay owns them. I'd love to see the city own them as that would give a huge incentive for the city to do everything possible to support the team. Fans show up because they are part owners, and they have a vested interest. But like I said, I dont trust the local political machine in any way to do this correctly. They would foul it all up.

As for Bob Johnson, he must be a smart businessman to have made all his money. But he just fails to show me any business savy at all in the way he has made such stupid comments publicly. It is just mind blowing. And God knows if a new owner was involved, we would HAVE to improve, just like we will will a real Coach now in place.

Post #4 » by **fatlever** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 4:11 pm

first off... august, i hope everything is OK.

seeing al davis last week makes me realize bob has a long way to go to be the worst owner in sports, but he surely has a long way to go to be considered among the best. on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being al davis and 10 being the best owner, i'd rate bob about a 4, slightly ahead of nba owners like shinn, dolan, the hawks bunch and sterling.

amcoolio · Post #5 » by **amcoolio** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 5:13 pm

I hear the Belkin group is just as bad. Looks like we were doomed with either ownership group. At least MJ is willing to spend, and has pulling power. I doubt LB would come here if MJ wasn't here. Its so refreshing to see a real coach on our bench. Its almost unreal.

Felton for Pres · Post #6 » by **Felton for Pres** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 5:50 pm

Found the link:
http://www.cnbc.com/id/15840232?video=888818727&play=1 (kinda long though, 6mins)

This really makes me like Cuban. They talk about seat prices and Bob completely deflects the issue.

ohara · Post #7 » by **ohara** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 7:59 pm

I would love to have an owner like Mark Cuban. Guy just wants to win and will spend $ to make it happen. And he doesn't screw over the fans. He wants to make them like him for the fact he will spend him $ to make their team a winner. I'd bet the Dallas Mav fans would vote Cuban Governor of Texas if he would take the pay cut.

Post #8 » by **fatlever** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 10:03 pm

bob johnson did his best palin impression with that question about ticket prices.... just avoid the question and continue w/ talking points.

in summary
question: do you think the recession will hurt nba ticket sales?

bob's response: i gave mj a blank check and we hired larry brown. how can you go wrong with larry and mj, who are both carolina guys.

cuban's response: i recently created $2 tickets. i would hate to ever hear a fan tell me they cant afford to go to a mavs game.

ohara · Post #9 » by **ohara** » Wed Oct 15, 2008 10:31 pm

Maybe Jerry Jones will buy Dallas from Cuban and play with them like the Cowboys. And Cuban can then buy the Bobcats and make us happy! Oh, for a pipe dream to come true!

chrbal · Post #10 » by **chrbal** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:16 am

Mark Cuban Loves Basketball. You either need an owner like him or a GM like Joe Dumars, Poppovich, or whoever.

To me, Bob Johnson only sees the Bobcats as an investment. Thats kind of a problem for Bobcats fans.

1-5, especially 5, really kind of say how much he really cares. More over anything else, I would like to know how MJ managed to exceed it. Should he have hung onto Vincent in some way ("Popcorn, Peanuts")? Was he secretly livid about trading Wright for Richardson?

I honestly don't get it.

BobsBuddy · Post #11 » by **BobsBuddy** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:28 am

Lets look at the posiyive things Bob Johnson has done for Charlotte:
First He invested his money to buy the team and keep it here in Charlotte
Second He went out invested his money again and traded a first round pick for a high caliber player Richardson. absorbing his contact cost Bob big bucks..
Third He worked out multiyear deals on Okafor,Wallace,Carroll and now options on Dudley and Morrison. He agreed to absorb Mohomeds Salary as a bacvkup.
Fourth--He brought the greastest player of all time as a partner and surrounded him with basketball 's best management team option available both scouting and marketing and conditioning.
Fifth--he brought in one of the best nba/college coachs of all time Larry Brown and his coaching staff.
Thats all Bob has done in the last 4 years so shut your pie hole and cut him some slack.. :oops:

fluffernutter · Post #12 » by **fluffernutter** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:53 am

BobsBuddy wrote::meditate: Lets look at the posiyive things Bob Johnson has done for Charlotte:
First He invested his money to buy the team and keep it here in Charlotte
Second He went out invested his money again and traded a first round pick for a high caliber player Richardson. absorbing his contact cost Bob big bucks..
Third He worked out multiyear deals on Okafor,Wallace,Carroll and now options on Dudley and Morrison. He agreed to absorb Mohomeds Salary as a bacvkup.
Fourth--He brought the greastest player of all time as a partner and surrounded him with basketball 's best management team option available both scouting and marketing and conditioning.
Fifth--he brought in one of the best nba/college coachs of all time Larry Brown and his coaching staff.
Thats all Bob has done in the last 4 years so shut your pie hole and cut him some slack..

Ok. Hole shut.

Felton for Pres · Post #13 » by **Felton for Pres** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 12:56 am

Is that sarcasm? I would've said yes except for the pie hole comment. If you are serious, please say so before I waste my time refuting all but #5 and part of #2.

August Us Seazr · Post #14 » by **August Us Seazr** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 3:19 pm

fatlever wrote:first off... august, i hope everything is OK.

seeing al davis last week makes me realize bob has a long way to go to be the worst owner in sports, but he surely has a long way to go to be considered among the best. on a scale of 1 to 10 with 1 being al davis and 10 being the best owner, i'd rate bob about a 4, slightly ahead of nba owners like shinn, dolan, the hawks bunch and sterling.

Fats, I had a heart stent (my third) inserted on Monday. Docs said it was a 75% blockage. I'm doing fine now, but I REALLY need to get back on the straight and narrow on my eating (never say d*et)! I'll have to go back in in about a month to get my pacemaker battery replaced, but I'm feeling fine and get to drive and go back to work on Friday. So, everything is perfectly OK!

Now a little tangent. How about we rate the 3 franchise owners in North Carolina. We have Bob Johnson, whom we are discussing in this thread, building a team from scratch. Then there's Jerry Richardson of the Panthers, who has taken a team from scratch to Super Bowl- and played the Patriots. We also have Peter Karmanos of the Hurricanes, who brought a bad team to Raleigh from Connecticut and has been to 2 Stanley Cup finals, with one etching of the names on the Cup.

Clearly, Bob Johnson has a little work to do to achieve what Richardson and Karmanos have. Maybe he should have a little retreat with those two. Something good might rub off. I know every one of our posters here would be happy if it did!

Post #15 » by **fatlever** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 5:15 pm

ok, good to hear august. stay healthy.

its not like i think bob is just awful or anything. he's just not what i would prefer in an owner. like someone else said, he views the team as an investment and he has a serious disconnect with the local fan base. ideally i would rather have a local owner who was a passionate bobcats fans first and foremost and viewed the team as a hobby. but hey, i'd also rather have a 3,000 square foot house w/ an indoor halfcourt, even though my current little townhouse is acceptable.

i hated shinn and i hated woolridge even more. i dont hate bob; i just dont care for him.

RayFeltsFan · Post #16 » by **RayFeltsFan** » Thu Oct 16, 2008 5:30 pm

Larry Brown needs to take his spot

Post #17 » by **fatlever** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 2:53 pm

article from sorensen today

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/292/story/258619.html

To have even a chance to sell tickets, they have to contend. The Bobcats have gutted almost every facet of the operation that does not involve a bouncing ball, and that includes marketing.

In this economy, many businesses have eliminated jobs, including the one for which I work. But a source tells me the Bobcats cuts were so severe the NBA questioned Bob Johnson, the Bob in Bobcats, about them.

When I talk to personnel people and scouts from other NBA teams, they tell me Johnson is selling, or is about to sell, the Bobcats.

Felton for Pres · Post #18 » by **Felton for Pres** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 4:21 pm

Selling this team right now is a lot like trying to sell your home right now. There are probably buyers but they'll give you pennies on the dollar. Hopefully Bob is a forced seller.

ohara · Post #19 » by **ohara** » Fri Oct 17, 2008 11:15 pm

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/292/story/258619.html

Can we be so lucky? This would be better than winning the NBA lottery for the #1 pick! A new owner wouldgive me tons of hope! How about you?

CarolinaCash · Post #20 » by **CarolinaCash** » Sat Oct 18, 2008 12:37 am

see this is what I mean about this forum.....someone finally posts something that is meaningful and we can talk about. But NO........there is no discussion about Bob Johnson possibly selling the team and what it means for Charlotte. I have to look on national sites to read about it and discuss it. Pathetic....either you guys are not passionate or are just dumb....i am going with the latter. Hello People......this is something you should talk about!!!

thanks ohara.....at least you tried.