Our wonderful web designer Chris Chambers has completely redesigned our entire website and has done so in phenomenal fashion ! Feel free to go through and look at the wonderful images from our SWARMs, read up on why this entire thing got started and leave us a comment at the bottom telling us what you think about the whole thing!
Screen Shot of Website
This is a picture of Kendall Phills (Bobby Phills’ wife), Kerstie Phills (daughter), cousin and Trey Phills (son) all sporting their father’s jersey’
Since we started our petition to get Bobby Phills’ Jersey back home to Charlotte from New Orleans rafters we have had some good news. Michael Jordan recently said that the Bobcats will do their best to get back some of the Hornets history along with the return of name at the Season Ticket Holder Town Hall Meeting (see our previous post for more notes from hall meeting)!
We had the great privilege of talking with the Phills family to see how they feel about the return of the Hornets and our mission to bring home Bobby’s Jersey!
BBTB- You were the first member of your family to share with us your desire for the return of your father’s Jersey to Charlotte
Can you tell you tell Charlotte Hornets fans old and new, just why you think this is so important?
Daughter– I think the return of my father’s jersey is so important because the Charlotte Hornets fans need to know who my dad was. He was a great man that worked his butt off to make it to the NBA. He proved that dreams really can come true if you work at it. Also, he was one of the few people that could actually lock down Michael Jordan. Although I have no recollections of my dad, it would truly bring joy to my heart seeing his #13 jersey hanging up in that Time Warner Cable Arena!
BBTB- Many from Charlotte and around the NBA recall the iconic image of you as a young boy watching your father’s #13 Jersey raised to the rafters of the Charlotte Coliseum. Can you share your memories of your father and your feelings about the city that remembers him so fondly?
TP- That’s actually one of my favorite pictures of me as a little kid. It was bittersweet having to say “goodbye” to your favorite player and father, but it’s a blessing to see the Charlotte community coming together to remember him. Every now and then people in Charlotte tell me about what a great guy and role model my dad was and that makes me very very proud!
BBTB- How do you feel about the return of the Charlotte Hornets?
TP-I’m probably one of the most excited people in the city! I feel like it’ll literally bring back some buzz around Charlotte. I’m already making plans for the 2014 home opener.
BBTB- Some of our supporters have vocalized their opinion that you should be the one to raise your father’s Jersey into the Time Warner Cable Arena’s rafters. Your thoughts on this?
TP-Raising his jersey into the rafters would be an absolute blessing. If I was asked I would gladly accept! It would definitely hold a memory in me that I would never forget.
BBTB- Thank you for being so kind to answer our questions. Those of us born and raised in Charlotte are all aware of your tireless commitment to the young people of this city. You have never shied away from the hard lessons to be learner from Bobby’s tragic accident.
We all know what an amazing basketball player Bobby was, but some may not know of his personal commitment to academics and his service to the Charlotte community. Can you tell us about the Bobby Phipps Foundation and Bobby’s work and vision for youth academics and sports?
KP- The Bobby Phills scholarship fund was established as a tribute to my late husband to continue his legacy by supporting the values he believed in. Over the past 13 years our foundation has awarded over $100,000 in scholarships and have blessed several organizations that serve the underprivileged youth.
BBTB- Have you had the chance to visit New Orleans and his Jersey?
KP- Yes. We have visited New Orleans and had visited his jersey.
BBTB- What do you see as the benefits of the returning his Jersey to Charlotte and bringing it to Time Warner Cable Arena, for your family, the spirit of the team and the re-kindling of Bobby’s vision in the city of Charlotte?
KP- I see his jersey hanging in the rafters of the Time Warner Cable Arena would be such an honor to remember his legacy as a community leader, role model, and basketball player. This city has not forgotten his contributions to the hornets organization. Bobby’s jersey #13 was the first number to be retired in franchise history. Having his jersey back in the city of Charlotte with the Hornets name coming back will be a constant reminder to everyone what a positive role model he was on and off the court.
BBTB- Do you agree with the Charlotte Bobcats changing their name to the Hornets? Why or Why not?
KP-To have my brother-in-law Stephen Silas as an assistant coach to have his former teammate Mark Price coaching, and to see Bobby’s jersey hanging (pause) I would be elated and honored, also I would have to purchase some season tickets –LOL
MJ said he will look into creating Charlotte Hornets Jordan brand stuff
This is places is packed “I’ve been a season ticket holder for 6 years and I’ve never seen it this full” STH pic.twitter.com/e6ktunZaei
MJ wants to be down there on the court but he’s been warned by the league for talking to refs and players hahaha
We are working with league on retaining hornets records.will look into retiring hornets jerseys if they get records
“Next year we will have more cap space and will spend more $” MJ
“I want the Buzz Back in Charlotte, I want the same environment that was in CLT when I played here” MJ
“A lot of our coaches stem from the Pat Riley tree”
“I could have played for Mike Dunlap but I don’t play anymore ” MJ
We just got approval from NBA to have 5 “Buzz City nights” this year where old players will be at games!
MJ says @Bobcats r not still “technically allowed” to use Hornets name.
MJ talks about how is goal is the same as ours which is a winning franchise and a championship pic.twitter.com/qRrpZE7SHF
In support of Breast Cancer month Muggsy is going “Pink” and having a YouTube contest.
The challenge is to produce the most creative “Support Breast Cancer” Video telling him your story.To enter simply upload your video to his Facebook Fan page and have your friends like the post. The video needs to be less than a minute long and must be appropriate.
Submissions are due Oct. 23rd and winners will be announced Oct. 30th.
The GRAND PRIZE will be announced when He has reached 300 subscribers on his YouTube channel.
BEElieve us when we say you are gonna love the GRAND PRIZE!
You must use hashtags #muggsygoespink and#MBBreastCancerChallenge
Chris Creamer’s SportsLogos.net is one of the of the most trustworthy sources for any news and updates for logos and brands in the sports world!
Tuesday Oct. 8 at 8 p.m. This was posted as the official color scheme for the Charlotte Hornets for the 2014-15 season!
Everybody who was worried about the Teal! It looks like you’ve got your wish answered. Also it says (as we predicted) that the Carolina Blue is an accent color and will only be used for pinstripes!
Remember as with all statements that aren’t made by the Bobcats organization officially, take this with a grain of salt!
BUT THIS SURE IS EXCITING!!!
The Charlotte Bobcats opened their last season under the moniker “Bobcats” with a new coach and a positive outlook on the 2013 season. Among those invited to tryout for the team includes some interesting options for the Bobcats should they make the team. Before going into detail about the roster and the roles that the players will ultimately take, I wanted to examine the long shots in camp and try to figure out how likely it is that they will make the Charlotte roster come opening night. Knowing that there are only 12 players that are able to suit up on a given night, I wanted to take players that will make the roster and throw them out for this conversation. So we will look at players like Kemba Walker, MKG, Gerald Henderson, Ramon Sessions, Ben Gordon, Cody Zeller, Al Jefferson, Jeff Taylor, Bismack Biyombo, Brendan Haywood, and Josh McRoberts individually at another point. For those keeping track, that is 11 players. That leaves 1 roster spot open for the team, and they have several interesting options on how to fill the spot. Without further ado, let’s take a look at the 3 most interesting players.
Option #1: Jannero Pargo
The Positives: Pargo played for the Bobcats for 18 games last year and was relatively effective in his role, posting the 2nd highest PER of his career with a 14.1. The veteran out of Arkansas would give the Bobcats a 3rd option at point guard behind Walker and Sessions, and has been a serviceable backup in the league. With Pargo, you really kind of know what you are getting, and that can be a luxury for teams, especially at the PG position.
The Negatives: When you know what you are getting, it can also be a detriment to the chances to make a roster, as potential is huge in the NBA. Pargo also posts a higher shots per minute than Kemba Walker, and unless you have the dynamic playmaking ability of Walker, you really want your point guard to be able to distribute at a higher rate than what Pargo showed last year.
Chance He is the 12th Man: 40%. Pargo has stuck around the NBA during his career for a reason. He is a veteran who could add an established voice to a relatively young roster and help with the development of Walker. When you add those factors to the fact that he will be able to add depth to the point guard position, he is the most likely of these 3 players to play a role for the team this season.
Option #2: Patrick O’Bryant
The Positives: O’Bryant was selected in the lottery in 2006, and there is a reason why teams were so high on him. It’s hard to find legit 7-footers and his size would be an asset to the Bobcats if he is able to hang on the roster. He averaged double digits in minutes played per game just once, and that resulted in his most efficient season. If he gets the chance to play, the hope would be that the statistic would continue to show improvement. Coach Clifford also has a lot of experience with big men and could help the development of O’Bryant.
The Negatives: For a 7-footer, O’Bryant does not rebound very well, posting the lowest total rebounding percent among himself, Biyombo, Haywood, Jefferson, and McRoberts. He is not a particularly strong free throw shooter at a lifetime 58.3%, and that is a liability late in games. He has been coached by Don Nelson and Doc Rivers, and both let him go, which is telling.
Chance He is the 12th Man: 35%. Size is always needed in the NBA, and O’Bryant has that in spades. While he has yet to show the potential that made him a top-10 pick in the draft, Clifford’s experience developing players like Dwight Howard might just make this a somewhat logical choice for the Bobcats. However, O’Bryant will have to impress early and often during camp as he has already showed that he might not have the ability to stick on an NBA roster so far in his career.
Option #3: James Southerland
The Positives: Southerland was a deadly shooter during his time at Syracuse, and could give the Bobcats the ability to spread the floor and give Jefferson and Zeller more space in the post. He has true NBA athleticism. Played for Jim Boeheim while in college and Syracuse players generally translate well into the NBA. The main positive about Southerland is the fact that he has the ability to get hot from 3-point range and score in bunches when called upon.
The Negatives: The defensive acumen of Syracuse players has been questioned in the past, as they come from a strict zone scheme and that makes it hard to truly know how well the players will be able to guard when outside of the system. Southerland also doesn’t rebound well for someone his size, which is not a desirable trait for a team like Charlotte that occasionally struggles on the glass. Also, while Southerland is an excellent shooter, he does not really have the ability to create his own shot, preferring to be a catch-and-shoot option.
-by James Boger-
Chance He is the 12th Man: 25%. The Bobcats have an option similar to Southerland on the roster in Jeff Taylor. If Southerland doesn’t show a true defensive ability, it will be hard to imagine him being a 12th man on this roster when you consider the emphasis that Clifford has put on that end of the floor. However, his shooting ability has the potential to carry him into the roster.
We are looking for the “Cliff Calvin” of Charlotte! (for all youngins’, go watch and episode of “Cheers”)
Below is a Quiz with 13 pictures of Charlotte and its most historical and cultural “Hot Spots”. Mama Buzz and Big Boi from Outkast taught us that “you can’t know where you are going until you know where you have been!” Some of these pictures should be fairly easy if you have ever been to Charlotte for more than a weekend visit; some of these could make the most weathered Charlottean scratch their head in wonder.
“TiqIQ” and “Bring Back The Buzz” have teamed up so that the winner will get FREE tickets to the Monday, Decemeber 9th showdown between your Charlotte Bobcats and the Golden State Warriors. You can welcome Stephen and maybe even Seth Curry back home to Charlotte (Hopefully with a Loss).
2 STEPS
1) Email us at BringBackTheBuzz@gmail.com with your answers numbered 1-13 for the corresponding picture.
2) *DO ONE OF THE FOLLOWING*
A) Like TiqIQ on FB,
B) Follow @TiqIQ on Twitter,
C) Add TiqIQ to their circles on Google+
D) Share the Bobcats ticket link on Facebook
The more people who do “Step 2” the more likely TiqIQ will be willing to do this again in the future! PLUS it doesn’t hurt your chances if there is a tie 😉
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*We would like to take this opportunity to publicly welcome James Boger to the “Bring Back The Buzz” Blog Team. His category for the blog will be called “James Boger’s Buzz” and this is his inaugural post. If you are interested in reading more by James, check out his website Inside Charlotte Sports *
The 2013-14 season is one that will shape the Bobcats for years to come. The team, marred in embarrassment and the type records you want to avoid, has shown that they are ready to reverse recent trends and win now. The offseason has brought moves that signify this with almost reckless abandon. For one, signing a player like Al Jefferson to a contract worth more than $35 million shows that the team has the ability and the will to sign a big name player to bring talent to Charlotte. When you put that move with the drafting of Cody Zeller, who is extremely talented and is able to contribute immediately but lacks the “ceiling” of some players drafted after him like Ben McLemore and Nerlens Noel, you have a mix of talent ready to climb out of the basement of the NBA hierarchy. One year before the team sheds the moniker of the Bobcats and transitions to the Hornets name that has so much weight in the Queen City, one question remains to the fans: Why now?
Being negative doesn’t accomplish much, but when you look at the variables that the team has been presented with, one has to question what is going on with the Bobcats. The experts are predicting one of the most talented draft classes in recent memory. These classes can take teams from being part of the bottom rung of the NBA and turn them into the upper class with the speed and cap flexibility that most can only dream of. One only has to look at the storied class of 2003 to see the impact that truly memorable classes can have on franchises. When you are able to refer to most of these players by their first names and get immediate recognition it just shows how much certain teams were impacted by the presence of players like Lebron, Carmelo, and Dwyane. Will the 2014 class bring more of the same? It’s hard to tell at this point, but the Bobcats have thrown caution to the wind and decided to win in the now over the ever possible light at the end of the tunnel that seems so close to the fans that have persevered through the past 2 seasons. While no one is predicting a championship run for the Charlotte franchise, they might have found the right mix of players to show flashes of a contender while remaining with enough lottery chances to get a player that could push them over the hump.
This is a hard thing to explain, but when you look at the team, the simple fact is that while the Bobcats aren’t going to make a lot of noise this year but have the potential to do some serious damage if a couple things (read: Ping Pong Balls) bounce their way. When you look at how the lottery has gone since Orlando “won” it and selected Dwight Howard, the team that had the average % chance of ending up with the eventual #1 pick was awarded to was equivalent to the 5th highest chances. The moral of the story is that you can’t depend on outside forces to make yourself better: you have to take fate into your own hands and hope that along the way the odds will be in your favor and actually come through. For any Charlotte sports fan, this is not a particularly hopeful situation. Some might not agree with how this team has been ran in the past, and I for one think the strategy that is being used is a mistake, but at least there is a clear plan. That is something this team needs, and something this city deserves. The Bobcats have the unique plan to be bad enough to continue to build the team through the draft while making strides of improvement enough to keep an already disgruntled fan base interested enough to continue to buy tickets. It’s a strategy that has a very small margin of true victory, and the Charlotte front office is banking on the fact that they took the gamble at the right moment. Only time will tell, but it is clear that this season will go a long way to determine if the team will usher in a new era of success to go along with the Hornets name change in 2014.
Bring Back The Buzz @BringBackTheBuz
Bring Back the Buzz 