Bobcats and top marketing exec part ways

[BigSlam]

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/292/story/167294.html

“We really wanted to look at our organization and be able to operate as efficiently as possible,”

Is this another way of saying we are cheap so we are getting people to do as many jobs as possible?

Either way, we need better marketing. We are hardly a blip on the NBA radar even though we have some serious talent on the team.

[Felton for Pres]

Can they have a creepier picture of Whitfield on that page? I'm not really convinced that Whitfield is doing a great job with his current responsibilities. Since exposure is one of our biggest problems, shouldn't the Chief Marketing Exec only have marketing as his mandate?

[e4Nf6]

In addition, he said, Bobcats General Manager Rod Higgins will now report to Whitfield, whose office will oversee basketball operations in addition to business operations.

Whitfield's supervision of basketball operations doesn't change either Higgins' role or that of Michael Jordan, the Bobcats managing member of basketball operations.

I thought MJ was the "VP of Basketball operations," but Whitfield is also now in charge of "Basketball operations"

Who is in charge of our team?!?

Am I wrong to assume MJ has almost no input on anything and certainly nothing day-to-day. Is that why he was throwing back shooters on draft-night instead of having any involvement with the team. They should just give him a more realistic title like "VP of Pina Colodas" or "VP of living off past achievements"

[Bassman]

Wow, I didn't know MJ was downing the booze that evening. No wonder he give McMay such a pass.

Really, I have no idea what these people do.

You would think the Bobcats would be doing everything in their power to get publicity and chatter going about this team. Other than on their website (which is OK but weak with a lot of timely material) there is NOTHING out there. I know the Observer allows Bonnell to take a month-long vacation prior to the start of the season, but they still have some junior editor there who might put some good material in the paper if it was handed to them and didn;t require much work (I did work at the Observer years ago and it hasn't changed much. The reporters whine if they have to do more than a story or two per week....it's run like a little socialist government....very much a glass palace as they believe they are SO POWERFUL).

[chrbal]

A franchise that is horribly marketed fires its "top marketing exec". Thats not really news. Its something that should happen. Like how they finally added some strength and conditioning coaches with a decent resume after years of avoidable injuries popping everywhere.

[spectre_]

A franchise that is horribly marketed fires its "top marketing exec". Thats not really news. Its something that should happen. Like how they finally added some strength and conditioning coaches with a decent resume after years of avoidable injuries popping everywhere.

Ditto that. It's not like the dude has done a good job.

I'm just waiting for Bonnell to tell us how great a guy this is, how he has 4 little kids and they'll probably not get to have Xmas this year because of the mean old Bobcats.

Heh, I decided to chk out the local rag before I hit "Submit" and guess what?

Marketing officer's release fits Bobcats pattern

Since it's not thrown in there I guess Mr. Economou must be single.

[chrbal]

Ricks grasp on basketball is....different.

He ranked the available players to this team before the expansion draft. You'd have guys in the 70s that made a ton of sense, with guys in the 30s that made no sense (not to trade, not to keep).

70s- DeShawn Stevenson, Zaza Pachulia, Jumaine Jones, and Juan Dixon.
30s- Corliss Williamson, Jerome Williams, Antonio Davis, Maurice Taylor, Scot Pollard, Malik Rose, and Ruben Patterson.

He even had Eddie Jones, Brian Grant, and Christtian Laettner listed 16-18. Jones and Grant each had $42 mil and 3 years left on their contract. Laettner had this description

He still has a few years left, although back and Achilles' tendon aches have slowed him at times. Probably not a good fit for the Bobcats; he's moody and that drug suspension wouldn't sit well with owner Bob Johnson. Contract: One year, $6.2 million.

. How does that description get ranked 18???

The only area Rick got truly right was 87-100. Danny Fortson, Evan Eschmeyer, Tariq Abdul-Wahad and no. 100 himself (Derrick Coleman) were among this group.

[W_HAMILTON]

A franchise that is horribly marketed fires its "top marketing exec". Thats not really news. Its something that should happen.

Bingo. I don't know what was less surprising, Bonnell making his triumphant return after an almost three-week break on blogs by posting about this incident, or some of the idiots that comment on that blog suddenly becoming huge supporters of Economooyououuou.

I don't know who he is, and I highly doubt the trolls there do.

As I said, you can't bitch and moan about how poorly the organization is run, especially when it comes to marketing, then criticize the organization when they get rid of someone at least partly responsible for those things you had been bitching about. That's hypocrisy at its finest.

[fatlever]

yay! bobcats news. i'll take anything at this point.

so long mr marketing. maybe this year i can get a new bobblehead doll [come on anjinca bobblehead night]

love mjs new nickname "vp of living off past achievements"

[e4Nf6]

Just saw this on the comments for the Bonnell article:

If you want to ask Whitfield a question about the team just get to one of the local bars about 4:30pm. He will be in the corner smoking a cigar and trying to pick up girls with the rest of the MJ posse.

I'm beginning to despise MJ/Bob.

MJ and Diego Maradonna should write a book about what to do with your life after retiring from professional sports.

[BigSlam]

Maybe he was fired because the OKC colour scheme is pretty much the exact same as ours and he allowed that to happen?

[chrbal]

I could probably look this up, but I'm too lazy to right now, but what have been some of the Bobcats promotions (at games over the years)?

I've looked at that page on Bobcats.com, and I seem to remember being not that impressed.

[Walt Cronkite]

Fan Appreciation night, where you get an oversized t-shirt. Ohh, ohh, and each game they have one of those t-shirt cannons where they shoot out shirts from opening night.

Umm...Nascar night, where "sweet" uniforms are worn. Flimsy cooler night. Get a magnet with the schedule on it night.

[chrbal]

Thats kind of pitiful. Up here (pistons) they seem to have a ton. Bobbleheads and "mini statues" are popular options. Plus it was the Pistons 50th season last year, so there was even more. This year is the 20th anniversary of the Palace (where they play), so maybe there will be some things related to that.

[e4Nf6]

How about....

"Sean May Season-ending-injury night"
Probably in November, they could give out free cookies.

"Mathematically eliminated from the playoffs night"
Probably the beginning of April, we could keep track of the Bobcat's "Magic Number" to reach elimination with some kind of display in the arena.

[fatlever]

stuff i've received at games in the past two years:

many t-shirts - only once did i get to pick a size
a metal lunchbox
okafor mini ball
nerf type hoop and ball
wallace bobblehead
ammo bobblehead
ammo bball card w/ fake stache
bobcats nascar hot wheel
car flag
towel
there was a 6th man jersey but i got to the game late
posters
calanders
magnets
xmas rufus ornament
rufus wind up toy

thats all i can think of... not too bad i guess. but nothing beats bobbleheads.

[chrbal]

Thats not to bad. For some odd reason, I thought it was much less.

Primoz Brezec appreciation night.
"If Sean May is active tonight, everyone gets a free hot dog and pop"
Larry Brown night, sponsored by UHaul"

[spectre_]

Fats, you didn't get the Richardson statue? I didn't get mine at the game but I picked it up off EBay for 10-12 bucks. It looks a lot like this one but in a Bobcats' uniform.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/McFarlane-NBA-Jason- ... dZViewItem

I have like a little mini shrine going on for Swish.

[BigSlam]

Fats, you didn't get the Richardson statue? I didn't get mine at the game but I picked it up off EBay for 10-12 bucks. It looks a lot like this one but in a Bobcats' uniform.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/McFarlane-NBA-Jason- ... dZViewItem

I have like a little mini shrine going on for Swish.

There's room for a mini Swish shrine with the Natasha shrine you've got going taking up so much room??

[fatlever]

i did not get a jrich statue. i dont even remember hearing ads for that. then again, i missed a lot of games in december last year. i only went to about 50% of the games last year as opposed to about 75% the year before. stupid 7PM starts.