Owner considers Hornets at home

[2poor]

Solid interview with Shinn in the T-P. Uplifting you might say.

New Orleans Hornets aren't going anywhere.

What happens if you don't reach the 14,735 average?

I'm not worried because the next year is the key. If we start slipping through the cracks, that doesn't mean I'm not going to sit down with the governor (Bobby Jindal). But he's going to be influenced by what happens. If it looks bad, he's going to be less inclined to try to cooperate with us. But he seems to be a very reasonable governor. So I'll be asking, "What can we do to make this thing work?" We're going to keep pushing and selling and do everything we can to make it happen.

How do you feel after having more than a week to reflect since the agreement was signed and having a chance to monitor the fan response so far?

I think everything was negotiated in good faith, and I think it's very fair. The 14,735 average is very reachable, particularly next year. I'm not alarmed right now. The All-Star Game is going to help. If we should go deep into the playoffs, I think they're going to come out big-time. They're going to be acquainted with this team and start buying tickets for next year. (Coach) Byron Scott is doing his part, (General Manager) Jeff Bower has done his part, and I think we are busting our butt on the other end from marketing, being in the community and doing all of the things that we have to do. I think it's going to pay off. I've been doing this a long time, and I have a good feeling.

After the agreement was reached last week, you said you probably could not afford to move your the team because it would involve having to buy out your partner, Gary Chouest, plus paying penalties.

I don't have the privilege of owning a huge business outside the Hornets to generate an enormous amount of cash where I can afford to take big hits. So basically, if I don't succeed with the Hornets, then I don't succeed. So I've got to make this business work. And I think we have good people. I think they are working hard, and I guarantee you there will be no way that anybody in this community can ever say that I didn't do what I needed to do to make it work. And we're going to make sure we do everything first-class.

There already have been some media reports speculating that you plan to leave after the 2009 season. What is your response?

I don't care what somebody writes in Chicago, Oklahoma or here. I can be like a critic or a rear-end writer from the Chicago Tribune or New York Times and look at this contract and say they're out of here. That's what they are writing. But they don't look at the will of the man behind the wheel. They don't look at the spirit in this community. They don't look at my desire to make it work.
We didn't come back to fail, it's that simple. We are committed to make it work.

read the whole thing HERE

[MKWB]

Very encouraging to hear. With so much negativity from all sides seemingly waiting, hoping for the Hornets to move, it's good to hear the reassurance from the owner.

And he touched on what I feel is the most important part of this whole equation: next year. Next year we'll be coming off a great season of going deep in the playoffs, the Hornets will finally be shown ALL TVs in the N.O. metro area, and the people will jump on board.