Jordan wants to restore Bobcats' image

[Kramerica]

I understand that throwback apparel is popular now, but I'd bet anything that if Jordan re-branded this team, no one would be buying and throwback Bobcats gear in 10 years.

And yes, of course winning must accompany this sort of change. No one is suggesting you should just slap the Hornets name on this atrocity--what was that Barry Obama said about lipstick on a pig? Instead, you could be looking at a perfect storm of events over the next couple of years. Re-brand the team, get the fan base excited and energized about the team again. Then have a couple of successful drafts in a row. Build the team with young talent, establish a great home court advantage, and take off from there. I didn't live in the city when the Bobcats were in the playoffs, but I really don't remember it being that big of a deal...as in no one really cared. Re-branding will convert a lot of the fans that were alienated by the horrible mascot name, ugly colors and logo, and high school basketball broadcast style on UPN back in the day. Pair that with winning...here we go.

[MadHatter]

Only thing that will make a difference is to draft well...trade well...and put a competetive team on the floor.

Sadly....Jordan has proven over and over to be completely inept at any of this.

[Panthro]

I haven't spent a dime on the Bobcats but would spend money on Charlotte Hornets apparel....so there's that.

[King Taharqa]

Only thing that will make a difference is to draft well...trade well...and put a competetive team on the floor.

This is the truth. Focusing our energy on reliving the past or "winning back old fans" or erasing our Bobcat history (that will never be forgotten or erased no matter how hard some try) is what got us to this point. What happens in between the lines is 300 X more important than what happens outside the lines. If the Bobcats had a superstar that people NATIONALLY identified with like the Panthers do with Cam, nobody would be talking image problems.

[Johnny Rockets]

I haven't spent a dime on the Bobcats but would spend money on Charlotte Hornets apparel....so there's that.

explain....

[X-Clown]

Awesome, the bi-monthly let's bring back the Hornets name thread because we're depressed about Tankapalooza 2012 in Charlotte. Changing the name back to the Hornets doesn't mean we're going to get 1993 era Alonzo, LJ, and Dell Curry to come with them. Seeing Desagna Diop and Boris Diaw rocking the teal and purple isn't going to make 30 point blowouts any better. I think Jordan will be a better owner than Johnson and have openly criticized Bob for many things, but people are treating this "image" issue as if Bob was the head of Penn State football under Sandusky.

[Mvp2014]

yea i would never buy Hornets anything. They did pick up and leave our city to go to a dump

But what Bobcat jersey would you get? Okafor? lol

[Kramerica]

All the anti-Hornet or re-branding argument hinges on the fact that, without winning, it will not be successful. Enlightening. Neither will the Bobcats. And even when the Bobcats were kinda winning a few years ago, it wasn't that big of a deal. No one is saying that putting Hornets across the chests of these guys is going to change anything on the court. But clearly Mike wants to connect more with the community and create the kind of "buzz" that sold out the old arena so many years in a row. There's many ways to do that. Draft Anthony Davis/Drummond/Barnes...all right, there's some progress. But for the most part no one will care in the city because they're still the Bobcats.

Re-brand the team, draft a superstar, whip out the teal and purple. I think it would do wonders for the city. In Seattle, the city will not let its new NBA team (when it does arrive) be named anything other than the Supersonics. In football, there's only one team name in Cleveland. There's something to be said for tradition and brand recognition, both of which have not, and probably never will, develop for the Charlotte Bobcats.

[X-Clown]

That point would be fine if you were really comparing apples to apples.

The Sonics were around 41 years, won an NBA championship, were in the NBA finals 3 other times, and won 4 division titles in a span of 5 years.

The Cleveland Browns existed for 49 years, won 4 championships (before the merger), 11 conference championships, 13 division championships, 28 playoff appearances, and have 21 hall of famers.

The Charlotte Hornets existed for 14 years, and won 4 playoff series (never advancing past the second round). Everyone who romanticizes about the team keeps remembering 1993, but what about the aftermath of it? Star players left the team left and right, and has given this city a stigma that stars will never want to stay here (which even spills over to the Panthers, see how many people are scared that Cam Newton will pack his bags). Changing the team's name back to the Hornets isn't going to help that.

[Dpantherman]

restore?

[cbarrier90]

explain....

When you think of the Charlotte Hornets, you think of The Hive routinely packed at 23K and one of the best environments in the league. You think of Dell Curry, Muggsy, Mourning and the teal and purple.

[Its The Milk]

Damn, everybody was so happy in that video.

[cbarrier90]

Damn, everybody was so happy in that video.

Good luck trying to find happy people at a Bobcats game...

[King Taharqa]

When I think of the Hornets I think of Bobby Phills, Zo and other guys hating to be here, and a team that couldnt sell out playoff games at the end. All these things are a lot closer to NOW than 1993. Shinn's team is never coming back. Be happy that Bob left us a team that truly cares about Charlotte, that wont just leave us like the Hornets did. Besides the Hornets today are viewed as big a joke of a franchise as the Bobs.