It's a Wonderful Team

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It's a Wonderful Team

By Victor Earl – October 19, 2010

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Last week, some of you who read my column wrote comments saying the Panthers should or will eventually leave Charlotte and go to Los Angeles.

Well, I disagree.

Let me state clearly; I am a loyal Panthers fan, win or lose. A true fan’s relationship with a team is much like a parent’s relationship with a child -- you continue to push for excellence but love and support them no matter what they do.

So, with the Panthers coming off their bye week, I would like to use this column to borrow a theme from the classic Christmas movie “It’s a Wonderful Life” to address fans who think team owner Jerry Richardson (George Bailey) and the Panthers (Bailey Bros. Building Savings and Loan) will or should leave town.

The point of this tale is to illustrate what our football landscape might have been like had the Carolina Panthers never existed.

Prior to the Panthers joining the league in 1995, the two teams that local football fans saw on television most often were the Dallas Cowboys and the Washington Redskins. And based on fan attendance when those teams are in town, both still enjoy strong local support.

I like the Redskins, too. But what if Richardson had never brought the Panthers to Charlotte? What if he had never dreamed that one day, like George Bailey, he would lasso the moon? Would our local football experience have been richer?

Hardly.

Consider the ups and downs of the Cowboys or Redskins, which would have been our de facto home teams:

The Redskins
During the past 15 years, the Washington Redskins have had seven losing seasons and only two playoff appearances. In 1994 the team was moved from the heart of Washington, D.C., to Laurel, Maryland. Following the death of longtime and beloved owner Jack Kent Cook in 1999, the team was sold to Daniel Snyder -- the NFC’s version of Al Davis – who is willing to pay well and has high expectations but low football IQ and low results. Under Snyder, the Redskins have had at least 10 starting quarterbacks and five head coaches… and exactly one playoff appearance. The team continues to struggle with identity as a result of Snyder throwing money at free-agent players who have not been a good fit for the organization.

The Cowboys
Over the past 15 years the storied Dallas Cowboys have been underachievers as well, frustrating their obnoxious fan base to no end. Although the Cowboys won a Super Bowl championship in 1995 (15 years ago) they have since had five losing seasons and appear headed for another this year. The Cowboys have had playoff appearances, but fans endured 13 consecutive years without an actual playoff win -- the longest drought in franchise history. Dallas has had six starting quarterbacks between Troy Aikman and Tony Romo, and five notable coaches. It is widely believed that owner Jerry Jones’ narcissistic behavior and desire to be an owner/coach continues to be a detriment to the team’s success.

This is not a knock on either of the above franchises, just a glimpse of what local fans might have endured had Richardson not brought a team to the Carolinas. It is important for our fan base to note that every team has pains and problems, and the Carolina Panthers are no different, but true fans stand by their teams, do or die. You don’t know what you have until it’s gone.

We should be grateful for a Super Bowl appearance, two NFC championship appearances, charismatic and/or memorable players such as Sam Mills, Reggie White, Michael Bates, Kevin Greene, Greg Lloyd, Ken Lucas, John Kasay, Julius Peppers, Steve Smith and, yes, Jake Delhomme. Mr. Richardson and team have been an integral part of the Charlotte community; just ask the school system or the Levine Children’s Hospital.

To Mr. Richardson and the team past and present, loyal and disenfranchised fans say Thank You! It’s been a Wonderful Team.