What’s in the cards for 2024 Carolina Panthers? Not all answers will be made clear after a pre-season game, but count on them being more watch- and bettable. Willing to reinvest more of my NY casino winnings, what’s over-under on TE Sanders for TDs?
Enormous rain in Charlotte from Debby is no problem, game in New England will be closely watched by all. (Well, depending on Olympic schedule; US-Brazil women’s VB figures to be killer.) Holding out Young so maybe he doesn’t get broken ‘for nothing’ doesn’t sound right; give HC Canales extra rope on who-what-when at this point. Start the season clock, big Nexts will be 53-man roster (Aug. 27th) and opener vs. Saints (Sept. 8).
When assessing the Panthers brain trust during free agency and draft, the poker axiom ‘You can’t win everything in first couple pots, but you CAN lose it that quick,’ is still legitimate now that first preseason game is here. Head Coach Dave Canales knows as well as anyone that proving definite operational changes are as positive as his outlook is constantly described, will count. Nothing could say Tah-dah! better than Young going vertical and tagging one, or several, of those new receivers. But not this week.
Can Panthers run the ball?
While Young’s development will always be front and center consideration, Canales stated offensive plans revolve around running the ball effectively. “Every team I’ve been on, we used all of our running backs at different points because it’s such a violent position,” states the case, and he’ll have full tight end (9) and WR rooms (9) with 90 bodies in camp.
#2 pick Brooks isn’t expected to be available for another two months (post-Achilles surgery). Yes, surgery was reason the Texas product was available. Leave CMC out of any discussions on injury front, when Brooks is ready, we’ll know about it.
The new guard tandem of Robert Hunt-Damian Lewis and center Austin Corbett can’t be one-dimensional QB protectors, seeing Ikem Ekwonu put 3-4 people on their keesters would be uplifting, nothing better than Chuba Hubbard getting thirty-five yards on a half-dozen carries (2023 avg. 3.9/carry) out of the gate tonight. If Sanders put four good carries together, people would be less inclined to point at his $25.4M contract (in Year 2 of 4).
Playing many of the lesser names (Canales eventually held out about 30 players) is 99% the rationale for pre-season, and ‘Lets see what we’ve got’ has to include those here for last year’s 2-15. A lot of personnel is being re-evaluated, Legette (foot concern) and Brooks, like Young, are being handled carefully. GM Morgan has a plethora of Others to dial up immediately, but there will be now be film to watch and names to forget-replace at a steady clip.
RBs – Hubbard (4), Brooks, Sanders (6), Blackshear (3), D. Johnson, Jaden Shirden, Mike Boone (7)
WRs – Diontae Johnson (6), Legette, Marshall (4), Mingo (2), Moore (6), Smith-Marsette (4), M. Strachan (4), Thielen (11), Thompkins (3)
Defense will have opportunities
Patriots were a decently strong defense up front last year, and they’ve given safety Jabril Peppers a 3 yr./$24M contract based on last years strong work. Panthers should be motivated to physically move people every chance they get, pre-season doesn’t earn a participation trophy. ‘Coach wants ground game, we do ground game!’ is order of the day. HC Canales has made it clear the lack of pre-snap discipline at FanFest at Clemson last week can’t/better not be best he gets.
Both offenses will be looking to prove they can run against the other, and Panther fans will be looking for Jadeveon Clowney to become enough of the ‘generational talent’ he was drafted as out of South Carolina. Its Year 11 on his physical clock, and he’s always been more of a beast against the run than truly overwhelming pass rusher. None of that changes with a pre-season game appearance (or not).
We’ll see how DC Evero uses his very different personnel in 2024, but Derrick Brown HAS to duplicate his feats of last year (57 solo tackles, 103 overall, 2 sacks) to move the Panthers defense up the overall rankings – they got scored on a lot without giving up sustained drives for a #3 rating.
Nobody can predict whether betting on Jaycee Horn will become a consistent terror in coverage or guy (still) walking the bench area during games is good idea. Just sayin’.
Even Canales would be hard pressed to out-positive that.
Results $$ during March Madness were good on FanDuel, I’d invested a lot of time on Big East watching (beyond UConn). I’m going to be an expert on understanding-writing Panthers season, and hugely talented Olympic athletes aside, football, including college, is where the meat is for sports books. Yes, I’ve got early $50 on Panthers (+800 consensus over several sites) for the NFC South.
Talk about a classic shot: December game at Clemson, 1995. Sam Mills is going to try and stop Steve Young sneaking in from the one.31-10 was final.
I bought tickets for Knights game on 17th, expect to ride bike downtown and see how close to Panthers practice fields I can get this week. The names of those who won’t be playing football in Charlotte long will be, well, long, starting soon. Lots of people to not learn about.
My red silk boxers picture, from just before moving to Charlotte in 1995, was about elementary personal positivity I’d like to revisit in 2024. That feeling a rising tide lifts all boats, the sunshine-y promise over four days that April for folks anniversary, became Go! action 38 days later. I was never a Giants or Jets fan.
I attended my first Panthers game, against the Steve Young-Jerry Rice 49ers, at Clemson. Panthers made it to NFC championship in Year 2, lost 32-29 to Patriots in their first win (2004) of Super Bowl run, and Broncos in 2016.
The franchises overall record is 223-260-1, 31-68 since #MrTeppers$ bought the team. Its not all his fault, but…Without 15-1 record in Super Bowl season, Rivera wouldn’t be nearly their winningest coach. I lucked into Panthers-Cowboys playoff tickets on Christmas Eve.
I’ve seen the depths three times, but just about every righteous button has been pressed by Panthers GM Dan Morgan in 2024, starting with extending stud defensive tackle Derrick Brown. https://www.nfl.com/news/panthers-dt-derrick-brown-agrees-to-four-year-96m-contract-extension While extensive coverage went to Brian Burns struggles with getting paid, Brown’s stats became a profound statement of his value to this organization – any upgrading of talent or regard for its #3 yardage defense ranking last year is based on his effectiveness.
The free agent elements brought in to mitigate the wiping out of Panthers linebacking corps, the newbies, and names in/out/remaining in the pot, they know THE PADS ARE ON NOW.
–8/1/24, GShork – Yes, Carolina, the Panthers will be bettable this year – points will be scored. No, its not just Canales positive smoke, its a brighter operational day. #MrTeppers$ should just ride the wave, maybe talk about stadium $$$ after they beat 5.5 win projection.
Not Cam Newton’s RPO
Its not necessary to visit any Panthers practices to know run-pass options won’t be in Head Coach Dave Canales playbook, even though he speaks regularly about running the ball offensively. Defensive coordinators figured out long ago that whacking the QBs *on*every*play* was a definite way to slow an RPO offense down, and yes, ‘6’5″, 250 and runs like a deer’ description of early Newton’s physicality is 180 degrees different from Bryce Young’s much slighter frame.
Otherwise, yes, there will be a real quantity of head banging for Panthers O-line in 2024.
If even TWO of the reports that Young is throwing it accurately to Everyone, Everywhere, All the time is true, *that* is still what most sports pundits consider a major criteria for Good Quarterback. The only time Cam hit a receiver on ‘up’ throw in red zone, Devin Funchess reached OVER a Redskin defender from behind to pluck what would have been an easy INT free. https://www.panthers.com/news/devin-funchess-becomes-first-nfl-player-to-sign-professional-basketball-contract (Who knew he was this good an athlete?)
Chuba Hubbard is the stalking horse for Panthers running game – at least right now. He’s been a grinder (3.9/carry) and scored 12 TDs for Panthers, five in ’21 when McCaffrey was the lead back and got traded, five last year (238 carries/902 yds) when there was NOT a great O-line in big picture. https://www.espn.com/nfl/player/stats/_/id/4241416/chuba-hubbard
If only thing that’s come out of camp about Miles Sanders is he’s lost some weight, Canales still likes crowds in RB and TE rooms.
Sizeable IFs
Austin Corbett’s move to center (post-knee surgery) and early addition of free agent guards Hunt, Lewis to run with the extremely solid Taylor Moton at right tackle, and betting on a better, remotivated Ikem Ekwonu on the left, is highly anticipated. Corbett has never played center as a professional, Ekwonu’s rep took a righteous dinging in a sophomore season full of penalties and shredding by blitzers that ruined Young’s first season.
Brady Christiansen will be backing up most line positions, but people will be leaving camp sooner vs. later if results are lacking. Morgan replaced Rashaad Penny’s retirement in less than a day. There’s already position competition gents… Cade Mays (3 yrs.)? Stephenson, excuse me, Steven Sullivan?
Solid Credit for upgrades to receiving corps
Best news for WR room is (seriously) that Jonathan Mingo spent time with Panthers great Steven Smith, Sr. during off-season. Mingo has all the physical tools, as does Terrance Marshall, and by all accounts, Ian Thomas has shown something under Canales early coaching. Keep the standard of ‘Whatever improves the competitive outlook of team’ in mind. Football Operations is getting great PR for consistent moves, and yes, it still seems #MrTeppers$ is being invested appropriately and without any hoo-ha.
When talking best moves on upgrading front, getting All Pro who runs great patterns Diontae Johnson as WR1 for CB Donte Jackson, who was about to become an economic cut ($14.5M), tops the trade list. A close #2, because Charlotte has gotten some quality personnel on the roster vs. shunned as ungood place to be, is Xavier Leggette (lee-get), the first round pick Panthers didn’t have going into draft. He’s a rookie most likely to earn a nickname and too modest to accept it. An inch shorter and a ripped 221 lbs., he’s Mushin Muhammad size with serious giddyap, and he’ll be a party to watch happen.
Canales-OC Brad Idzik won’t take as long to get production from him at WR2 as Panthers waited for Ohio St. blur Curtis Samuel to succeed (and then go free agent).
Canales-OC Brad Idzik won’t take as long to get production from him at WR2 as Panthers waited for Ohio St. blur Curtis Samuel to succeed (and then go free agent). Mushin is a franchise great, will be inducted into Ring of Honor with Julius Peppers during Week 8 game vs. Houston Texans.
Ja’Tavian Sanders out of Texas has got to be a prayer answered at tight end. My credo is use that weapon until a defense proves they can stop him, don’t sweat his blocking. Pavoratti didn’t sing the praises of Buicks or Golden Corral, right? Has it only been since 2020 that Olsen has been gone? 15.3yds./catch at Texas and almost elite speed, check, so maybe, please, show us how touches can (always?) equal catches.
Because I like the prospect of calling an obvious event early, mark Sanders down for a red zone TD catch early in season; he’ll filter outside on a goal line defense, be an unstoppable 1-1 cover. You might call it ‘best practices.’
–GShork says, 8/1/24
No pressure on Brooks cutting things up too soon, adding catch-run yardage out of backfield? Noooo, zero expectations…
Hey, WR room still has Adam Thielen, won’t get 1,000 again as primary, but he keeps getting open, so Young has the safety blanket tosses. He’ll earn his check and be a great teammate too. If part of what’s being rebuilt in Panthers organization is culture, with dawgs and foxhole guys in the mix, Thielen deserves to run some routes with daylight between catches and getting thumped by OLBs on a bad team at ending of solid career.
Driving five miles for coffee was rewarded (twice) by having better than regular java at FoCastle Farms with refills and super-cinnamon soft cake cider donuts.
Enjoyed nephew’s Raleigh wedding and family time to the max Friday and Saturday, then high speed, point-to-point, 700+ miles Sunday in 100 degree heat driving north was affirming. Ten ‘As I Damn Well Please’ days of max mental health in NY, then 829 miles in 12 hours to stick the proverbial landing in Charlotte Thursday was Mission Accomplished stuff.
I made two timely decisions to stop for directions, then relied on incredible 35.4 mpg in my silver Sonata, Bullitt2, and dead reckoning navigation skills. #BoomerwithAttitude in 2024 is Eye-it and-fly-it.
Having promised myself nine holes of good swings (screw scoring), and played two balls all the way (from whites, several 440-plus) in breezy 86 degree sunshine, yay! for 5 wood and wedge work. Wouldn’t have tried playing in 97 heat in Charlotte. Saturday at racetrack was a qualified economic loss, but looking good every bit of the day-night, checking my casino luck-skill (+1200 last year) was a classic Yes! on skills.
Greatest unexpected positive was whacking tennis balls with brother David, now 64, in light sprinkle and fading light. Only hit a dozen or so, but seemed to have that nasty break on his serve right out of the closet. Can you believe it, a doctor suggested stressing his leg could help some necessary rebuilding of bone issue. It doesn’t get much better than that for a birthday gift, right?
Why should anyone care about my road trip? Personal JOY and mental health were the prime consideration, because there might be tense times in near future. I’m taking responsibility for my actions in pursuit of that joy, infringing on nobody else. I tipped one dealer $25 – a decent sharing if there’s rent and groceries, I’m just enjoying a little Life rush. My cards – tarot reading is hook to my books – indicated a Good Woman is supposed to be appearing, I’d appreciate that more than boxing a trifecta in next part of 2024.
Social Goodness plans for playing more tennis, that begins immediately. I’ll let you know about the serving part, my shoulder still sounds funny from bike accident in 2020.
Wednesday was definitely casino time
Even after hitting with David until 8:30 in the gloaming and sprinkle, Wednesday was definitely last casino time, went with a seersucker pearl-blue jacket, gray slacks, Bugachi blue-blue shirt, had same felt hat with $200 budget each time. Wound up driving to Schenectady three times, doubling my $$$ the last two. That’s not quite Olympian determination or success, but I appreciated having discipline to say, ‘$200 up, take the traveling cash and I quit’ after just 45 minutes.
Yeah, a bathroom selfie instead of red silk boxers on a Texan with cigar, but I was glad to uphold Saratoga tradition-rep of looking good.
Filling up my Social Goodness tank, bro and I enjoyed Wheatfields 1 lb. Lasagna and bright lights on Broadway post-races that Saturday. Hitting an exacta ($66) with favorite as #2 worked great for bankroll early, freed up betting through featured 11th, a $500k Grade 1 race. Losing voucher slip ($55) at end of day was one of few negatives on two week odyssey-road trip.
I never made it to Siro’s this year, always give it homage in my books. With all the fast driving, I smooshed a cone to avoid a collision at a rotary, so panel awry and $200 parking ticket at downtown location for wedding welcome night, I’d feel okay wishing anyone such a trouble free vacation.
Okay, the water pressure at Dave’s wasn’t that hot, but neither were daily temps, 10-12 degrees less than Charlotte and breezy, high 50s at night, windows open!
Picture of guy in red silk boxers, cowboy hat, cigar
A historic picture of LeSharque (checking as Romance writer name?) in red silk boxers and bow tie is now part of GShork’s Attitude 2024. Just FYI, the classy tuxedoed gent I’m referencing was supposed to be an artsy classic https://artincontext.org/roy-lichtenstein/ The ‘voice bubble’ over the cowboy hat, taped to some coat hanger and anchored with an ace bandage wrap, specifically addressing the red silk boxers, says “I’m so gal-durn rich, I bet nobody notices I’m wearing red silk boxers outside like I’m freaking Madonna.”
That’s some of the Attitude I’m copping at this point. I will not be cowering from any whoa-ho! post-Biden announcement fears after return from Saratoga. How I continue to keep an Etsy microeconomy and personal momentum going into Fall of ’24 is my short term focus. I got official notice about responsibility, and will train as first-time election precinct official (after 40 years as a voter), beginning in August. I’m refreshed and ready for this run to November.
Not sure how The Great Recession, COVID Pandemic, and now resisting *another* round of trump negatives will stack up with Brokaw’s ‘Greatest Generation’ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Greatest_Generation_(book) but there’s a magnitude of something coming next four months. If my post-Biden analogy-prediction of bloody heads popping in profusion in trump world like Season 3-4 of The Boys holds up, let Miller be in that scene. Just sayin’.
We’ll see how the Olympics roll for USA
The first election I voted was 1976, post Watergate. I always gave those Repubs who went to Nixon and said, “Nuh-uh, you can’t stay,” credit for reality and pride, doing right by the country and office. Nixon wouldn’t do about 10,000 of the things trump et al minions continue doing in service of The Big Huge Lie. These last two SCOTUS verdicts, wow! but Uncle Joe stepping down for the good of party and country, Legendary is the best word.
I’m chuckling out loud at Pubs demanding Speaker Johnson investigate whether the President lied about his cognitive powers after this. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/can-t-tell-the-truth-mike-johnson-caught-in-lie-about-joe-biden-s-health/ar-BB1qf0f5?ocid=BingNewsSerp Will the Olympics take all the air out of Repubs and news cycle, until they LEAVE EARLY, with a withering amount of financial bills to fix? Will that give Harris (+$200M raised in short period after change, direct link to Women’s support) an opportunity to showcase her leadership more than LeBron against South Sudan, or on boat for opening ceremonies?
Every group will get air time at convention, Biden’s age is no longer a question. Let’s admit, for several cycles the Dem’s haven’t been guilty of circular firing squads. Open convention or aligned on committed delegates is solid, the business-task at hand 100% known. Bigger deal than Olympics? Yeah, second won’t really count.
For the female boxer who quit her match with a ‘questionably gendered/previously suspended’ fighter whose punch was ‘far, far more painful than anything she had ever experienced,’ yes, you need to pick another sport.
Just sayin,’ but my brother said West called him up at Pat Riley’s camp (maybe 1972) because he said Mike had good rotation on foul shots. Known as a premier evaluator of talent, I’ll cut Mr. West a break on that. Fact he couldn’t stop the Clippers from choking, not a factor in Legendary status.
I’m sure 1,006 coaches at all levels of women’s hoops will have to rework young girls desire to shoot Js from WAY downtown after seeing Caitlin Clark the last two NCAA tournaments. Hoopsters like me (67) had a love affair with Jerry West’s undeniable Quality and desire to win, and trying to replicate that ‘last hard dribble into the jump shot’ we read about, yep! Its impossible for me to hear and agree with anyone’s ‘Best 5 Ever’ if it lacks his name.
West notably stopped a Shaquille O’Neal rant about being tired of not winning by acknowledging he had *seven* losses to the Celtics before breaking through for his only championship as a player (1972). Apparently Shaq didn’t know that, thought West was ALWAYS a winner. As an NBA executive he might not have an equal – if your team gave him enough reasons to help them, positive results were around the corner.
He put together Kobe and Shaq, (almost?) rescued the Clippers from douche-bag hell, drafted Draymond Green and Klay Thompson for Golden State, two titles while there (they now have four), and had no qualms about getting in a reporter’s ear if their verbiage needed correcting.
Stats and Attitudes
‘Mr. Clutch’ was his handle for fourteen seasons, 27 ppg, 6.7 assists, 5.8 rebounds and 47% shooting is the official line, but on two occasions – the 1959 NCAA Finals 71-70 loss to California, and Lakers 1969 loss to Celtics in Finals – he was given the MVP trophy even though his teams lost. The idea if he’d scored ten more points at specific times in his career he could have an NCAA title and six NBA championships as a player (he had eight as an executive) inspired the efforts of a generation. How could you not hate the Celtics when they kept denying West his fair share of rings?
The blockbuster trade of Kareem Abdul-Jabbar from Milwaukee Bucks to the Lakers for four players (Elmore Smith was no great loss, Brian Winters was a good second‐string shooting guard, and two blue‐chip selections from the first round of that years draft (Dave Meyers, Junior Bridgeman) seemed crazy at the time – why would Bucks give up such a player? Building a team means fixing your shortcomings, and having the presence of an unstoppable center was West’s mission. When the local Charlotte Hornets (1996) got a pretty decent and necessary center, Vlade Divac, for swapping their rights to Kobe Bryant, you have to say West knew what he was getting.
NY Times writer Tom Kawakami opined in a long ago column that phone calls with West ‘felt like you were tapping into the NBA mainframe,’ and often left recipients thanking him for the extra knowledge imparted. Current Celtics coach Joe Mazzulla, who was a West Virginia Mountaineer like West, recalls getting a blistering phone call junior year from The Logo about wasting his talent.
If anyone with West’s no BS cred gives you such a call, by ALL means, ‘straighten up and fly right’ would be be advice to work on.
GOAT-ing with West
Both West and Olympic teammate Oscar Robertson (Cincinnati Royals) lost out to the massive enterprise that the NBA became, where TV, the Today-ness and huge $$$ thrown at stars overwhelms any appreciation of what has come before. All the plaudits given West before and since his passing are Truth (he was a terror to play cards with when he wasn’t getting good hands). Stories of his broken noses, because he backed down from no one, and gave the 110% effort that gets lost in dunk-fests, or isn’t recognized as an absolute necessity by talented newbies and flex-skilled European transplants, is the antithesis of a teammate you can truly count on to get a necessary (CLUTCH!) bucket.
I always smile about Jimmy Caan (in ‘The Gambler’) in a bathtub, kicking a radio because West misses three FTs that costs him the spread for like $40k. Who else I’d accept a negative like that from and bet on again, I don’t know. Frankly, if West had a broken leg, I might want odds…
Celtics great Bill Russell was often asked why he had years of 25+ rebounds a game, and now 13 will get someone (almost) all the $$$ they’ll ever be able to spend. “If you had a 40% shooter on your team then, that was great. Now, entire teams are shooting 40%, there are less rebounds, and lots more 7-footers.”
Unsaid is fact you did NOT want the ball in West’s hands with the game on the line if possible.
Players didn’t have opportunity to jump around in free agency then – would he have left LA just for money? Doubtful – he felt he owed the franchise and his teammates his best effort, and that meant a championship.
Ja Morant and Steph Curry (together) *might* be able to carry West’s golden jockstrap, although Morant doesn’t seem to have the necessary focus, Curry’s incredible shooting and four NBA titles is an acceptable way to gain credibility. Luka Doncic, with almost unlimited shooting range and the ability to manuever his (often whiny, doughy-looking) 6’7″ body for unreal baskets in close, is a solid player, and many will agree that you’ll earn your paycheck any night he’s your guy to guard.
LeMelo Ball? A 6’7″ hot-diggity guy (career 20 ppg, 6.2 reb, 7.4 asst) when on the court vs. bench? Nah, you have to stay on the court and contribute to be Great, but he IS on a big money deal now, and Hornets only won 21 games this year.
West said basketball was the best -easiest sport to practice , because you didn’t need anyone else to improve shooting or FTs.
I don’t know how many guards would follow Shaquille O’Neal’s humbler-than-most analysis about Best Ever Center, but he puts himself no higher than 4th (Russell, Chamberlain, Jabbar) in NBA hierarchy, and Michael Jordan won’t take anything away from those who came before him (or LeBron debate), preferring to go with ‘different people and times affects everything.’
No problem using a favorite picture in Saratoga instead of geared up as Blue. NY vacation to include Yankee Stadium trip? Never been!
Saturday will be my final umpiring gig of the season, and I should have started in late March instead of May. Its been very satisfying-affirming again, even that wicked foul tip to forearm bone that I thought might have broken it first weekend back. I can still take getting drilled, #BoomerwithAttitude, y’know.
This is commitment time for baseball families, when All-Star teams start traveling in the winnowing process to Little League World Series, whole communities raising $$$ as their local heroes advance.
I’ll be plate umpire ($60) for a 9:30 scrimmage between two local teams, less than five miles from home, be done about 11:30. A beer and maybe whacking tennis balls down at Freedom Park with Josh, yep, that and Carolina blue sky qualifies as A-1 Social Goodness-New Normal lifestyle.
People easily understand my saying, “If you hear the ball crack! into something, that’s not a problem. If you don’t hear it, it got meat.” –With Sincere thanks to guy with ice pack after foul tip injury.
Its factually True, if not an actual umpiring credo: Don’t reward stupid. (You’re out!) “Don’t pose like I missed the pitch,” is a one-time warning.
Actual calling of balls, strikes, out-safe, has to be consistent, and yes, between inning chats that let people know about catchers moving the ball is legitimate. ‘Whose kid is the one who just nailed the runner at third with that BIG throw?’ will always be a Mom-pleaser comment.
Looks good from here, Blue!
I’ve never offered my clicker and face mask to anyone shouting that common comment, but I’m still the authority figure for this situation. Two sides of coaches-players: When you tell a player to move away from a potential situation, the correct Next is act of moving, never “I’m not in the way.” Coaches usually get that straightened out without extra hoo-ha.
“Why was that last pitch not a strike?” by the catcher clarified a long-running situation, where coaches had questioned *every*single*call* for two games as they came back through Losers bracket. “You need to turn around, and Coach,” I signaled, “you need to come here, because ten year olds wouldn’t have the stones to question an umpire about a pitch if you coaches hadn’t been d*cks for two games.
“Get all the coaches and buckets back in the dugout (they had 4-5), and if I hear anything more about X, you can watch this game from the parking lot,” was gist of my instructions. Getting specific about catchers trying to get sucker swings by setting up on outside corner – “It crosses the batters box line, I don’t care how good a catcher is about bringing it back, its NEVER going to be a strike,” is my mantra.
Not all catchers relate that fact to pitchers, who get frustrated post-move, seeing catchers glove in strike zone. Many pick up sand on low throws or even jump, then position glove dead center.
When I plant my foot so I can see plate and batters location to it, as catcher, you WILL need to set up closer. I’m grateful for shorter spaces between plate and backstop many places, too many passed balls with run-run-run scoring isn’t cool.
Coaching and Other Stuff
The coach who used ’22 years pitching in big leagues’ as credibility might be counting minor leagues too, but thinking he’s getting better pitching from a 10 year old arm by nibbling outside vs. getting it over plate so kids learn what strikes really look like, is flat wrong. Its also contrary to ‘get them to swing’ by calling strikes attitude we’re told to use. If a batter couldn’t reach it with a pole, I’m not calling your kid out.
Special bats – You hear an obvious difference in a sturdy ten year old’s PING! of 200-plus feet into trees and whatever is brought to the plate in less competitive leagues. If a kid ‘got all of it’ putting it over an outfielders head, thats not a Drop 5 level bat.
Curve balls – If you KNOW your pitcher’s got one, and you try telling him not to use it a lot because it WILL hurt young arms, that’s not going to work when he keeps getting people out with it. When a pitcher smiles and fiddles in their glove, you know their Special Pitch is coming.
On Fathers Day: More power to millions of Dad-coaches, who often started because of their kids, but keep things going over ten or twenty years. I smile every time I hear one say, “If there’s a passed ball, you should be here!”
Admitting I have NO respect for the coach who left his pitcher in for *8* runs in top of first (eventually 12-0 hole), actually saying, “Don’t look at me, I’m not taking you out.” What could possibly be on his mind? when they lost 15-11, humiliating a kid who couldn’t find the plate with Google Maps?
Its said the only person you can rely on is one dressed like you, but when every parent at a recreation league game thanks you for being there, man, that’s affirming! As long as little sisters have enough snacks, the American Family Experience that is Little League carries forward. For anyone who offers me a Gatorade on a 95 degree day like today, yay you!
After last years success at the Saratoga track and casino, my Blue paychecks are mad money for NY vacation in July, New Normal at its finest.
Earning over $1100 in last ten days, even having four rainouts, makes umpiring a favored evenings/weekends gig. Seeing terrific glovework, the JOY of tough catches, winning, and hell yes! 10 year olds going yard, is worth an occasional mask-adjusting foul tip. My new product on Etsy – entrepreneur again! online gig, being ‘Blue,’ a girlfriend? my recent New Normal is all positive.
A week after opening OTAs, business is like Carolina Panthers handle on 2024 – Back-glancing isn’t necessary, fans are interested.
Arrived in Charlotte 1995, same as Panthers
Making a case for kinship-history with a football team’s hopeful resurrrection feels legitimate. I use ‘Year 30 starts’ as a personal marker, Memorial Day being my landing date in the Queen City. Having come down from NY for my folks 40th anniversary (up from Tampa), I enjoyed Chamber of Commerce weather in mid-April, 38 days later, I was here. I was never a Giants or Jets fan, so when Panthers threw down that 12-4, NFC championship game second year, I was an easy convert. And hey, the weather is still terrific.
I’ve only been to two Hornets games at Spectrum Center, good thoughts sent to them for new owners efforts to turn that franchise around too. Charlotte doesn’t want to become (stay?) Loserville. It definitely looks like a time to change almost any-everything after Bridges, Miller, Grant and Mark Williams, plus the upcoming high draft pick. Since huge extension contract $$$ is kicking in, maybe keep that LaMelo dude healthy.
The first Super Bowl https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xK_2j0CDNFo was exactly what fans remember forever. Conversely, I’m chuckling at the offer of tickets for a rain-soaked final game of 1-15 train wreck under George Seifert in 2001. “No, thanks, hopefully there’s another game on TV,” was reasonable response to going just to support in very yucky weather. I’ve done the pilgrimage to Wofford twice, and the 95 degree heat (plus index) as ‘a cauldron to test players in’ is Truth; I sweated lots just standing in the minimal shade. I maintain such efforts are still a marking point for fandom.
Highs and lows happen. I tried going to the Cowboys game last year, thought fan interest was about zero, and found out scalpers were having a good day. Cowboys fans travel well, tickets were over $150 in three tries – my expectation had been $30-50.
Brother Steve gave me tickets to the 29-10 stomping of Cowboys in 2003 playoffs, I scalped the second ticket for $50, only took one try, and nobody ever showed up next to me. I still have an over-priced, large plastic beer mug, and a #34 DeAngelo Williams jersey was a good Belks discount rack purchase.
You see how out of control things are in Detroit after finally winning a division (and maybe choking vs. 49ers)? They gave Goff HOW MUCH $$$? New Normal won’t be like that in Charlotte.
If the Panthers are .500 at Thanksgiving, Tepper *will* get more than adequate good press. An $800M re-do on stadium? Oh man…!
It Won’t be like that in Charlotte
Still not sure why nobody has given #MrTeppers$ even back-handed kudos for what certainly ACTS like a Football Operations Team that has produced positive, substantial changes in the roster already, without any stated output about approval or expectations by him regarding any of it.
While I’m still a little amazed that Ian Thomas isn’t one of those constantly tabbed to be gone players from last year, Tommy Tremble sounds positive about the tight end room, including that #101 pick https://www.nfl.com/players/ja-tavion-sanders/ from Texas. Every analysis of Panthers TE position always ends ‘since Olsen left,’ drafting a REAL pass-catcher sounded like an excellent decision.
Let Canales and Offensive Coordinator Brad Idzik earn their paychecks. Yes, put people in positions where they’ll use their talents well/better. Tillis and Morgan ripped off the $46M bandaid of bad contracts/salary cap situation, tomorrow (2025) is a better day, but nobody is liking idea of Tampa Bay and Mayfield ruling the NFC South in 2024 either.
The operating theory is that WAY too many disparate opinions about the Panther offense, combined with a dearth of talent at skill positions, put Bryce Young into a horrific situation, which he survived, if not as admirably as some expected. Its been pronounced from the rooftops that Panthers GM Dan Morgan and Head Coach Dave Canales have got better players for sure after free agency and draft.
Has Bryce put on same couple pounds of muscle McCaffrey did after a year with the big boys? not a bad idea at all. In fact, nobody *wondered* if C-MC bulked up a little – he had GUNS to show for it. Young does look like he’s a little firmer topside though.
Putting a number on how much better outlook could be, is according for several, not all that decisive a change, like 5.5 victories. I won’t ask Charles Barkley for his opinion, but getting maybe $20 ($50?) worth of whatever those odds (about +2500 for playoffs) may be is reasonable. I tend to concur with The Athletic analysis, “It is safe to say that the Panthers won’t be an out-right elite team in 2024, but it could be a feisty team that odds-makers are a bit too low on.”
That could be a great take on New Normal compared to last season’s pounding. Feisty and under-appreciated bets-wise, I like the idea.
Business-like plan, No panic
The sense of business as usual seems legitimate at this stage, the operation has even sorted through personnel at the office level, and there is a steady stream of whose status is better or worse in 2024 to read online. Given the emphasis on positivity Canales has engendered, is Young truly catching on to the methods, philosophy, progression, footwork Canales brings to the QB Whisperer function?
There’s no reason to believe otherwise. If the worst thing you’ve heard is Panthers stretched on some picks, well, Ejiro Evero’s defense is still being assembled. Nobody is forgetting that Luvu and Burns were A-level talents now playing elsewhere, and Gross-Matos is in San Francisco. On a team that either stopped people (#4 in yardage) or very definitely *didn’t* stop them (29th of 32 teams in ppg given up), a decent amount of attention has been paid to the secondary. The verdict is still out on getting Clowney’s HS buddy, Stephon Gilmore – late of Dallas and Buffalo – to Charlotte again, but additional names and bodies (and economics) will be checking in-out of here consistently.
Whether there’s any hyping of possibilities, the player shuffle now seems regular and well-documented. Some experts are coming around to the idea Panther draft picks as reasonable choices instead of ‘flyers,’ those never-as-good-as-we-thought selections that happen less in good organizations, because they don’t need Magic.
If the Panthers finally discover they can move the chains with throws to a tight end not named Olsen, that would be a good thing, and if Brooks breaks a 60 yard run before November, that would count plenty for sure.
Other people will have to produce besides Bryce Young. Former Panther Head Coach Ron Rivera often said, “Things change when the pads go on.” Mandatory minicamp is June 11-13.
Training camp doesn’t start until July 26th, C-MC winning a Super Bowl before Panthers organization is a legitimate fact, all else is negotiable. Player skills will be delineated, displayed, discussed, eventually becoming a 53-man roster.
No hard core trips to Wofford for practices, but keep that roasted alive feeling, the effort of being a fan.
Great Panther Debate Topics
For the first time in 28 years, the Carolina Panthers won’t start that process with training camp at Wofford College in Spartanburg, but with a downtown Charlotte practice field near their stadium. If you’ve ever attended a practice in the cauldron that is South Carolina in mid-July, keep that memory as a standard of team support. Cam won’t be around, a LOT of new faces will be.
Football Operations-wise, with a documented, valid free agent group signed and draft completed, there’s no reason for early May naysayingby NFL ‘expert wannabes.‘
The emphasis is on getting righter-better personnel – and Panthers ripped off the proverbial cap hit bandaid by losing most of their linebacker experience (except Shaq Thompson), who got big money elsewhere. Anyone who expects ends Clowney, DJ Wonnum, Josey Jewell et al to do better than replace 18 of a paltry 27 sacks in 2023, that’s both legitimate and necessary.
Dave Canales supposedly radiates positivity – #1 FACT is still turning around Geno Smith to Comeback Player of Year for Seattle, and Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay last year. *WE saw* Baker in Charlotte, possibly the wrongest thing I’ve ever written (https://cdtalententerprises.com/2022/03/25/panthers-6-pick-cant-fill-two-major-needs-so-7-ideas-for-gm-fitterer-to-consider-along-the-way/ (Nine wins for Rhule to keep his job, what was I thinking?) Canales as OC and Idzik did that much with him, you *GOTTA* give them some love up front when working with an advertised brainiac like Bryce Young.
Accept that Morgan knows how to spot talent. Forget ‘Prove you’re not a robot’ for every player now because of that rosy 2023 bs. Rhule and Fitterer shouldn’t be invoked further regarding roster building, where every ex-Temple or Baylor person available seemed the answer.
GM Morgan – Stretch picks?
Lots of online ink being spilt about the turning-building of the Panthers roster. I wasn’t there for the expansion Tampa Bay Buccanners, who went 0-26 before finally breaking through to win a game, but sportswriting in ’80s, we often talked about Suckaneers. Asked about how he felt regarding his teams execution, original Bucs Head Coach, the emminently quotable John McKay said, “I’d be in favor of it.” (rimshot)
Things aren’t really like that in Charlotte. Those recently signed free agents Morgan has coming in, that level of talent wasn’t how it rolled when Bucs joined (1974) and played first game in 1976. It was 90% castoffs, economic hits, or problems. Charlotte was 12-4 and went to the NFC title game in Year 2.
Morgan clearly knows how to get together better talent, a skill proven for years in Buffalo and elsewhere before coming back to Charlotte. He worked with Canales in Seattle. If he hasn’t gotten enough props for making a deal during draft that gives Panthers a #2 next year, its a legitimate part of doing things right on the way back.
Many asked, ‘Why not wait one pick for USC’s Legette, instead of making a trade with Buffalo?’ 1) There was a mid-round run on all those receivers teams wanted, and Buffalo *actually*needed*one*, but they traded with Panthers, who got Xavier Legette, a player they seriously wanted. 2) The 5th year option is much better for budgets with #1s who flourish, than guaranteed $$ for same person at front of contract. 3) Organizational and personal pride is allowed here – GM Morgan wasn’t slated for a 1st round pick, and deserves taking a Big Boy Bow for first step in a place where smart hasn’t always flourished.
Morgan wasn’t fishing
Morgan wasn’t just fishing around, didn’t expect anyone special to jump in the boat – he landed those talents the brain trust agreed they wanted and actively kept up with, especially South Carolina star Legette. In a solid example of ‘Why this instead of that?’ at #101, Panthers selection in 4th round was a praise-worthy (and rated much higher) pass-catching tight end in Ja’Tavion Sanders, and first complaint on several sites is, he’s apparently not much of a blocker. Geeez!
A nerdie numbers guy might say, ‘He looks like a bazinga! guy in red zone situations!’ and ‘Damn straight about getting better targets for Bryce Young, throw it near those 10.5″ mitts!’ His speed is rated as just below Elite. He should be Greg Olsen’s first guest of the year, and if Steve Smith likes (Lee-gette) anywhere near as much as he did DJ Moore, that’s good by me.
Head Coach Dave Canales
Morgan-Canales-Tillis are building from rubble, not nursing a Dynasty. At some point, Tepper has to get some attaboys! for personal silence part nobody expected he’d accept. Would anyone have given Baker Mayfield a 3 year/$100M/$50M guaranteed contract without the (4,044 yds/28 TDs/10 INTs) stats he put up in 2023? No, and HC Canales is the Whisperer that made that happen, and he’s working HERE now, not Tampa.
Panthers added some heft to go with Mr. Brown on defensive line, we’ve seen the $$$ tags attached to the O-linemen they brought in early, a best possible signal about fixing a considerable problem for Panthers, 62 sacks of their rookie QB. Could there still be injuries…? Hushhhhh…
Third-rounder, Trevin Wallace – maybe a hitting machine, but wasn’t rated as going that early – let’s call that ‘coloring outside the lines,’ compared to last year’s ALL IN! on Bryce Young. Losing top three linebackers, DC Ejiro Evero needed a weapon to improve defense’s Top 5 yardage given up-Bottom 5 in points scored efforts. Why select Brooks as a running back, six months after ACL surgery? Compared to 4 yr./$180M contract Atlanta gave to 35 year old QB Kirk Cousins, also for ACL surgery, Panthers believe he’s right where supposed to be. Yes, we’ll see about his versatility.
Canales says having several running backs (5) and three QBs was how he wanted to roll, but on a team that might consider using a top running back on the bomb squad, thats taxi squad talk, not 53-man roster.
Lacking few transformational opportunities for credibility over the next two months, my Little League umpire, mid-May POV is essential response Morgan and Canales should give any fannie – We’ve got a way better look at the situation than anyone else, and your opinion about too many running backs is (meh) noted.
May 17th is old group’s first poker gathering in years, but post-draft, the Carolina Panthers brain trust has put check marks next to what makes a better hand in 2024. Don’t mention that – whatever number this dawg was called at – Trevin Wallace might hit like a young Dan Morgan.
Rating it a C+ draft as one industry name did, doesn’t seem very accurate, especially when top-end producing receiver, 90%-studly linebacker, and versatile running back all got checked off Must Have list. Those naysayers who point to lack of career production vs. comeback quality in newbies back stories, Panthers organizational zen is tight with Canales and Morgan – its about dawgs and guys you’d want in proverbial fox hole.
Needed: WR1 type, a burner with size, worthy of organizational approval as exceptional person. People know about Xavier Legette’s injury, I’m trusting nobody is hiding shaky info otherwise, so 71 catches for 1,255 yards and seven TDs, CHECK. You can’t fault the PR value of Morgan making that ever so humbly great step of selecting in 1st round, so extra CHECK.
It was stated throughout pre-draft period Panthers wouldn’t have a first round pick, so for Panthers GM *and* that young man, already a local kids dream fulfilled, motivation! There’s no denying (Lee-gette’s) physical tools and attitude, quantifying the fight in dog thing, really, no reason to consider the resumes of Panther selections as puffed up. Small trade to gain 5th year option on rookie $$ scale, that’s better thinking than last year.
Charlotte fans not ‘believing’ until meaningful games ending with Ws happen, gotcha. Snarky about everything being hype, nah. Be a better fan.
Not an A, But Lots of Checks
So having second documented good WR1 to Dionte J. seems like a no-brainer Goodness, and same with Jonathan Brooks. Plans were for another running back and a 3rd QB, thats how HC Canales wants to operate. Chuba Hubbard had 902 yds. last year, good overall, so stated goal of adding depth at all positions, CHECK.
Brooks late injury, after TX back was behind Bijan Robinson (now ATL Falcon) is supposedly a legitimate bonus, two less seasons of getting whacked a lot, which can’t really be a flaw. Of course he got downgraded as light on numbers, this isn’t a baby-bathwater deal though – he’s less dinged, not less valuable. Nobody is expecting the second coming of McCaffrey, just versatile. Its not humanity, its competition.
Okay, Trevin Wallace is going to get some play about Morgan self-image or whatever, but reading elements under ‘Weakness’ in scouting profile reveals nothing close to fatal. ‘Over-pursues, and doesn’t read trick plays great?’ Hmmm… ‘You know when he’s hit you.’ What, we have to choose between those attributes? Its called coaching. Here you go Ejiro Evero, a really good weapon.
Numbers-wise, Burns sack totals are mostly a wash with Clowney acquisition, and FA pickups are balance. Getting off the field on third down means knocking people down for real, nothing says knocking down can’t be learned better by a rookie banger. A personality trait and physicality – why should that be any reason to DQ a guy based on where others thought they should land?
Morgan may have been dancing around with picks, but its no small thing he got back a #2 for next year out of his activity.
#4 pick J’Tavion Sanders
Was pass-catching tight end on the Get List? Hell yes, has been for years. Report said his speed is *just short of elite,* his strength on contested catches has real red zone value (!!!) a super run after catch (RAC) guy. Tough guy, could have been a linebacker out of high school if he wanted? Noooo, Panthers don’t need anyone like THAT, 10″-plus hands, touch it-count it reception guy with wheels?
There’s any question of how 6’3″ 245 and 15.2 yards a catch could affect TE room with Panthers? Ian Thomas is still on the roster? #4 pick J’Tavion Sanders, the TE from TX, sounds good to me. Put twenty pounds on him as a pro and see how he still runs and does some blocking. If teams know he’s the receiving guy who gets eight yards and first down AND/OR gashes you for thirty-five on a seam route, let them stop it.
Noooo, Panthers don’t need anyone like THAT, 10″-plus hands, touch it-count it reception guy with wheels? We’ve already got the Ninja, Olsen. Oh, right, we don’t, or had anything that looks close to that Legend since forever.
–GShorkey, 4/27/24 Post first draft, no way a C+.
Dismissing team evaluation process is beyond silly, ‘They got their guys’ with #1 Legette, Sanders.
There’s a DT pick but no nose guy, and I know there’s a Michigan LB, Michael Barrett, at the end too. Why kick about a guy until you see how things look on the field – that Michigan defense played pretty well all year to NCAA championship. Did Harbaugh drafting a major slab of beef for Chargers #1 shake anyone’s confidence?
Panthers #5 Chau Smith-Wade, D-back with some attitude? Pretty sure that was on the list. Pet peeve with supposed fast-fast Jackson was whacking people after they already made catch instead of tipping it away. A dude about my size gets territorial about giving up catches, nothing wrong with cheering for that picture. Explosive recovery y’say? Difference maker in secondary? We’ll see.
Again, peanut gallery agreeing with every pick and priority is like my Little League umpiring, where periodically reminding people how much better view, and opinion that counts, is from here. Tell me you knew jack about where Smith-Wade played… (Washington St.) If they actually get (soon to be 34, but maybe still a player) Stephon Gilmore signed as a leader, things will work better. No, he’s a DB, not the center you think they could’ve maybe gotten, but nobody should say Smith-Wade didn’t fit the Get List.
Leave #MrTeppers$ Alone
Recognizing Panthers 2023 draft Reality was rosy glasses and BS if not lies, doesn’t mean we automatically assume 2024 crew would be presenting over-pretty backup info about picks, or injuries plus-minus situations with documentation not up to snuff. Panther Head Coach Dave Canales has only ONE YEAR as an Offensive Coordinator before gig in Charlotte, and same is true about Idzik getting OC post. Nobody in Panther org questions their cred, nor should Others concern themselves with Morgan’s eye for talent.
After free agency and draft, Phase Three is the blending part, and if the cash pile available for more signings gets smaller, Fortune (still) favors the bold. I haven’t looked at a price-odds for Division Title bet, but maybe I’ll cash the big payoff at upcoming poker game, putting my version of Big Boy Chips on the table like Dan Morgan on a roll, striking for a WR1 with a first round pick he wasn’t supposed to have. (I can hope, because good cards don’t always show up as needed.)
Without going for any wholesale Homer Attitude, picks #1-5 were definitely above average. Everyone knows Panthers had a lot of holes to check off, so filling many of those, I wouldn’t think less than a B. Certainly no guarantees expected on Legette or my bluffing a flush, but if Steve Smith has an opinion about Legette, I’m willing to hear it.
Mom wasn’t much of a football picker, but she would’ve agreed with letting Dan Morgan doing the selecting, and naysayers should hush up.
Panthers GM Dan Morgan traded up to a #1 pick for USC star wide receiver Xavier Legette, Charlotte makes headway vs. Loserville tag. Belief will still take Ws by Canales, and Brandon Miller, JJ Redick are Hornets longshots.
I’m going to do Little League umpiring again in May-June. At 67, I consider it a privilege to have even this much input on youth sports, and appreciate the parents who spend all weekend there – as long as little sisters have enough snacks, all is well. Loved this sign.
Nice try, Hornets
There’s been deserved interest in JJ Redick getting his name tossed into consideration for the Charlotte Hornets head coaching spot, and the notion Brandon Miller might grab some Rookie of the Year votes from Wemby’s huge campaign is nice – he rated ‘best’ three months this year, and 17.3 ppg/4.3 reb/2.4 asst/44% shooting was solid. Wembanyama’s defensive presence is immediately huge in voting, his offensive upside from 21.4 ppg/10.6 rebs means ‘It’s nice to be considered’ time for Miller.
Hornets having a 13.3% chance of getting #1 pick in NBA draft is almost Holy Grail territory for them, haven’t been close to a franchise player in forever. Even a Top Three would mean a very sound additional piece for a new coach to work with, as Steve Clifford moves to another role in the organization.
JJ Redick has no experience at any coaching level, and whether he’s as smart and capable of making changes that a similarly undocumented commentator cum Legend, Pat Riley, accomplished in turning the Los Angeles Lakers into the Showtime! Lakers of the ’80s, you’ll be reading that option more than once before any actual decision gets made.
There’s a decent list of candidates without Redick’s ACC (2x POY) and 15 year pro career resume. Most have the previous assistant experience that Dave Cowens (San Antonio) had when taking reins to 1996-1997 team that swapped out essentially an entire starting team.
’96-’97 Cowens team came from Everywhere
Listening from next table to owner George Shinn and Charlotte magazine editor, who confessed she didn’t have a sports writer that Press Day, became my first sportswriting gig in Charlotte, and honestly, soooo dead on the money. New HC Dave Cowens was spread across a couple folding chairs, he shrugged when I confessed being a Knick fan who hated his guts while he played for Celtics. Yeah yeah, two million and eight…
Dell Curry was still hoisting treys, so was Tom Chambers, Matt Geiger turned out to be a terrific ‘other’ 7-footer, who played to Cowens defense- oriented POV, 6’8″ Glen Rice from the Heat, swooping in from the wings (27 ppg), good-passing center Vlade Divac from Lakers for rights to Kobe, and NBA 6th Man Anthony Mason in trade for Larry Johnson’s absurd contract, it really did have personnel. With tighter defense down to league average, nobody just cha-chaing through the lane, and improved scoring, 52-30 was right on my preseason projection.
Not everybody shot threes either. Geiger wasn’t shy about contact, lots of post fouls to give with 7′ Zidek. Burrell was a physical specimen who didn’t get regular time because of injury, Mugsy was around. ‘Not enough dough, so Zo go’ was start of when Shinn got stupid, he didn’t reward Cowens after two good years either, started making noise about leaving if he didn’t get better stadium deal.
Hornets had been THE Team attendance since the beginning, but when Bob Johnson wondered why he hadn’t gotten the $$$ support from community he’d been lead to consider his due, the fact was, many people still cared more about their college teams, and could watch them for FREE, two or three times a week. The NBA product suffered – HOF Coach Larry Brown once said, “I got 12 guys with guaranteed contracts, and I don’t want any of them!” and there were a significant number of years when the Bugs weren’t hardly significant at all.
In 1999, Dawn Staley, one of the most decorated players https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dawn_Staley in women’s basketball history, was selected #9 by the WNBA Charlotte Sting, leading them to the Finals in 2001.
The last season Hornets made the playoffs (48-34) was 2016, with Clifford as coach. Miller’s chances for ROY in Year One of Wemby has a ring of truth, there’s a question of Bridges status (although its an economic wash), and there’s really only one major contract (Bertans, $16M) for consideration. Redick’s ‘Old Man and the Three’ podcast and a strategy podcast with LeBron ‘Mind the Game,’ might be upgrades from Riley’s rep-duties as sidekick to Chick Hearn way back then, so JJ Redick might be a popular mention here, but the new owners have CPA firm seriousness beyond paying $3B to get team from Mike, y’know?
If ever there was an example of ripping off the Band Aid, it was Panthers losing Burns AND Luvu AND Grosse-Matos. If you read the microeconomy of cap finances, top two would’ve sucked a lot of whatever $$ from the room, so management took the hit now. You can’t bedgrudge the Hornets clearing house as well, bringing in 8-9 new guys is a real possibility. Why should it be otherwise?
Back to Panthers and #1 Pick
Time to put away the negative vibes about Fitterer, and lets be satisfied with how Mr. Tepper has handled, or more accurately *not* had any hands seen, in free agent period. I repeat, its time to lay Fitterer years to rest, NOBODY is going to have to sweat Xavier Legett as Panthers initial #1 of Canales-Morgan-Tilis brain trust as flawed.
No predictions on W-L in NFC South either, but yoiks! on Falcons picking 24-year old Penix after they spent $100M on post-Achilles surgery Cousins is a head scratcher. We’ll also see if Tampa Bay replaces the offensive coordination that Canales and Idzik represented with Bucs last year, now working in Charlotte, maybe how well Baker Mayfield does, dragging a big ol’ contract behind him…
Admitting I considered Fitterer had done as requested by bringing in whatever quarterbacks he did, ‘just dropping in a QB’ was never an operational fact. Yes, everyone thought the 2022 rushing attack would make life easy for Young, even if Panthers gave away only deep threat (Moore) to Bears. That deal is also a dead and gone fact, Caleb Williams was indeed the name Chicago used for overall #1, and the gift-wrapped bonus of Moore produced an exceptional year (96 rec./1,364 yds/8 TDs) for the receiver we appreciated while here.
Taking Moore on your fantasy team is fine, just recognize he isn’t going to be All That for us again. XL, that’s a lot of hope.
No doubts isn’t True
It took until the Panthers went 11-0 by thumping the Cowboys in Dallas on Thanksgiving that Carolina fans started believing a Super Bowl was possible. Its a time-tested standard that still works. Newton isn’t that 2016 quarterback, Young and Canales won’t be the 2016 team, or 2023 version either.
–Glenn S., 4/26/24 Plenty of leeway between 15-1 and 2-15, right?
The CNN article about GE legally becoming two companies isn’t like it’s wiped from face of Earth, and will they keep the big GE light at end of Erie Boulevard? Gotta be a landmark – 1892, right? GE doesn’t sell lightbulbs, say what?
Last year, the house on Lakewood we grew up in was still a well-situated half-block from Central Park, with playground and Rose Garden, barely a block from Gershon’s Deli at corner of Upper Union St. Mom got every nickel of the $125k she expected as a FSBO. The maple out front is gone, the Diamond’s house looks the same. Where I grew up, that’s Schenectady to me.
I hope Scott Grayman makes it to 50th reunion next year (you too, Mazz, Joey G., and former KK., S.Luscier?). Fingers crossed its more like August-Sept. warmth for once.I like the casino there now, won $1500 last August, but partied at Siro’s and beyond in Saratoga.
Feeling good about big race day at Saratoga in ’23, did well enough to be wine buyer @Wheatfields.Travers Day look was full Boss Blue and hat, yellow-blue check shirt, turquoise tie/pocket scarf, polished shoes.
Telling others where you’re from has always been a natural part of introductions in Charlotte. Then-young nephew Ian often said, ‘We still think of you as Yankees,’ but Memorial Day starts my Year 30 here, he’s getting married in July, and he certainly hasn’t thought that way in a long time.
85-15% of people is a legitimate split between Elsewhere-Homies here. My three outstanding nephews here constitute ‘real’ Charlotteans in cultural terms. I continue telling people to shake hands with natives, even passing through a network mixer and turning into the Spoke Easy http://www.thespokeeasyclt.com shop to get a $3-16 oz. PBR and excellent advice about my Miyata needs.
With a church-related group’s annual dinner tonight, and plans for mingling at Mint Museum’s Kick Back Party Sunday afternoon (1:00-5:00), things are moving well on Social Goodness front in Charlotte. Mental health-wise, get as much Good as you can before election fever starts.
I remember how earlier on, GE shipped the division that made toasters out to Greenville, SC, and in HS some guys talked about being a third shift floor sweeper, because you could sleep on the job. My Dad was a RIF casualty in 1958, about the time third of four boys arrived. All the people from his GE Apprentice Alumni Association group camped together, got pregnant together, got old together.
50th Reunion – Linton HS
I’m unsure how many know that Schenectady and GE had primary parts, as Illium Electrical Works, in Kurt Vonnegut’s ‘Player Piano’ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Player_Piano_(novel). Journalism legend Ray Patterson included several Vonnegut books as required mid-70s reading, but producing Linton Highlights every two weeks remains a journalistic point of pride. Ray sent many of us off to college for Journalism degrees, the most popular major in the post-Watergate, Woodward and Bernstein righteousness. At reunions, I’m always recognized as ‘one of those Journalism guys.’ Close enough. Books written? Sure. I include Charlotte in mine.
In 1975 our graduating class at Linton was 540, which merged in 1992 with crosstown rival Mont Pleasant (at Linton campus) to become Schenectady High. It currently has 2,815 in grades 9-12 (even distrib.,76% grad. = 535). I was working in scholastic fundraising then, and General Electric pauperized three school districts when a tax judgement case forced return of years of previously paid company assessments, and included knocking down a quantity of no longer needed buildings, even historic, to reduce future assessment.
At reunions, I’m often recognized as ‘one of those Journalism guys.’ Close enough. Books written? Sure. I include Charlotte, not Schenectady, in mine.
Employment with, or GE stock, was certainly a good thing, but I was never on the payroll. Brother David, new MBA guy in mid-90s, had a short manager gig there, got hit with a wildcat strike early on – 23 workers checked in and left. Perhaps he wasn’t convinced their promise to ‘give him 120% of what third-shift did’ was a best effort, or he might have compared them to a crew in South Korea as being out-produced at every level.
History? Everyone has it
My first job out of college was a direct result of running in the Schenectady Stockade-athon (15k) in 1979. Of all the training things I didn’t do well, running ten miles in cotton shorts gave me hellacious strawberries on inner thighs. For second interview with TIME, Inc., walking in kind of funky, the VP Recruiting said, “Looks like a story goes with that walk.” I told my runner’s story well – job was 20 cold calls a day, road guy with a company station wagon who could talk as soon as they walked in the door was a match.
Schenectady was just part of my territory (the Hudson Valley and Vermont) and where I continued living the first couple jobs out of college.
A favorite hang out was the Electric Grinch bar on Erie Blvd. One evening a bunch of ruggers came through, and I recognized Kush, a guy from Brockport. Don Kushine was literally that guy *everybody* knew. I hadn’t played college rugby, but liked thumping people, comradarie, lifestyle, so I started in 1980. The Schenectady Reds had a significant history, based on a lot of foreign engineers who played while passing through GE headquarters. There was also a feed from Union College for similar smart types who stayed around.
A SuperFund site (or two) discovered as being hazardous buried GE barrels, I think we even covered it in our well-rounded mid-70s school paper, Highlights. The environment was big then, mostly why I keep thinking all the problems GOP is muddling now – like Roe v. Wade overturned and poisons in the water – the whole PCBs in Hudson fiasco from Waterford GE – was checked on back then. (Dredge it or leave it alone at bottom of Hudson? lol Ask Chris Boehm…)
My folks leaving Schenectady was the toughest day of my life. No more stopping by and finding a piece of available pie, or having a beer (or racketball!) with Dad. I cried while hacksawing the basketball rim down, had to use Norm Diamond’s, Dad’s stuff was packed.
–Sept. 1988. The folks leaving Schenectady was a way bigger deal than GE not being ‘First, second, or forget it GE.’
As part of Karen Johnson’s 1984 Project 5000 campaign, I wrote about the prospect of using the former ALCO railroad assets at far end of Erie Blvd. from GE Main Plant, thoughts considered but never disturbed. Former City Councilman Dave Roberts opined back then, “GE was the proverbial dog in the manger – it can’t eat the hay, but it won’t let the cow get to it either.” It’s housing and casino now, so I guess its okay.
#gshorkonsharonroadseam – This is still my view, 50′ from Sharon Road, where it heads uphill to Queens University. Uphill to the left is Myers Park CC pickleball courts. The plock! of wood on plastic is part of my ‘hood. Pandemic? Yeah, I remember that.
The debacle that was GE Capital just about took out the whole company in 2008; June 19, 2018 General Electric was dropped from Dow Jones Average, 30 select companies that had represented the economy since November, 1907. There was the period of time they owned NBC, and Tina Fey got to make fun of them in ’30 Rock.’ There was the inside joke about how GE bought high and sold low. Jack Welsh was selected as ‘Manager of the Century’ in 1999.
Truthfully, I lost track of GE missteps after I came to Charlotte, with brother David and nephew Curtiss, for folks 40th anniversary (up from Tampa) in 1995. 34 days later, Memorial Day plus one, I rolled into Charlotte, having extended my drive time down by making a wrong turn in Roanoke, VA. Driving across a lot of southern Virginia to 85 in Greensboro and south again, hey, nice weather, relax.
My nephew Ian hasn’t mentioned anything about Yankees in a while. In fact, all nephews have worked on regular basis with same, business verdicts linking smarts and money, fuggaboudit on any other consideration. They’ve spent time in NYC, the belly of the Beast Yankee-wise. One was familiar with the sale of property Panthers started their HQ in Rock Hill at. Blowing matters up during construction funding hoo-hah! is not a fact everyone has forgotten. Smart guys, proud to know them. I like walking in my neighborhood too, just up the hill to Queens University.
Where I’m From…
It’s not Stallone doing Brooklyn, or Wess-chestah, or Lang Giland Nuu Yawk, its 90% rest of the state.
–Almost 30th year here, I still made that New York distinction. Now I’ll say, “Schenectady, where GE used to be.”
Albany-Schenectady-Troy became the Capital District and eventually the Capital Region, so nobody felt slighted by being mentioned last or badly (like Gastonia around here, wink nudge). Albany was the capital and legislative center, Schenectady was second mention because it had GE. Just sayin’.
When I hear people say ‘We’ while discussing the Panthers, I sort of resemble that part of the population now. Blogging and online work involves feature style into sports proposition material, betting on my knowledge of Big East hoops worked pretty well during NCAAs. Marquette was a flameout, I liked Creighton too. If the Hornets could get a stud guard like Kolek, well, good wishes for the home team as NBA season ends.
Its been a long, hard slog for years with sports teams in Charlotte, so now its more a deserved Show us! attitude than anything else. That’s both legit and expected by The Powers That Be as the draft is almost here. Prediction is even more serious topics Panther-wise coming, #MrTeppers$ still isn’t making public commentary on football matters. FYI – he’s got two teams, Carolina Panthers and Charlotte FC, with significant presence here in an older, refurbished stadium.
Here’s hoping the local news about Morgan, Canales, and Tillis stays positive. I consider myself a Charlotte guy on most matters, been here exactly as long as Panthers, even have a burial plot here. Maybe 50th reunion will include fun time in Saratoga, no sense worrying about getting back to Schenectady about other event though.
S-C-H-E-N-E-C-T-A-D-Y. Its Alogonquin for, “Place where two rivers meet, and GE will be built.” Yeah, Schenectady. I’m from where General Electric used to be.
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