The Hornets logo wound up on sweatshirts and Starter jackets worn by people all the around the country. “ An Oral History of the place 1988 Charlotte Hornets,

For every game they won, they lost three. They had no superstars. They were short, went and they were tall. They wore baggy shorts. 25 years later They weren’t good with neckties. They were castoffs. But in 1988, the inaugural version of the Charlotte Hornets took the court anyway. The story of that season lives on. And it is the greatest Charlotte sports story ever told nutsBy Matt Crossman ” o g an Cy r us L

44 CHARLOTTE n NOVEMBER 2013 NOVEMBER 2013 n CHARLOTTE 45 I even talked to (former Major League Baseball commis- SHINN At one time there were 11 cities trying to get it. look on his face. Kind of white. I said, “Oh, CHAPTER I sioner) Peter Ueberroth about trying to get a baseball team for Charlotte was always last in the pickings. For a guy that heck, it didn’t go well or something.” I went Charlotte. Peter told me Charlotte was much too small. This was graduated last in his high school class, I thought, I had to the door and said, “What is it?” He said, Charlotte’s pitch 25 years ago. It just wouldn’t work. You had too many games, been there before. I had been on the bottom before. real quiet, “David Stern just called me.” and it would just be too much. You needed a much bigger market Keep your faith, keep pushing, keep believing. All these Yeah, yeah? for Major League Baseball. things continued to motivate me. “And he said, ‘George, this is April So after I left Ueberroth’s office, I went straight to the NBA Fool’s Day, but this is no April Fool. and found out they were expanding. In other words, baseball HENDRICK I never thought we had a chance. You’ve been selected No. 1.’ ” closed the door on me. Basketball didn’t close the door. They left We hugged each other. Shed a few the door cracked. But I really had to show them some stuff. We tears. One of the best moments in my ...... Part 1...... had to sell tickets; we had to do all these things before we even ...... Part 2...... sports marketing career, for sure. It was had a team. sort of incredible. And then it continued “who the hell is george shinn?” The Preacher Man and His Pulpit to be incredible, which you know by the “Honestly, I’m not sure I knew (Shinn, Hendrick, and Sabates traveled to Phoenix to present reception we got. their case for Charlotte to the NBA on October 20, 1986.) RICK HENDRICK, owner of Hendrick Motorsports and Hendrick Auto- where Charlotte was when he came in.” motive Group and an original investor in the Hornets George (Shinn) —NBA Commissioner David Stern, on ...... Part 3...... backed me when I first went into the automobile business. He first meeting with George Shinn SABATES When we got to Phoenix, they were laughing was a customer of mine, and then when I got my first dealership, at us. It was like, “Who in the heck are these cowboys, Colors and a Mascot he was an investor with me. So George and I were friends. Max MAX MUHLEMAN, a sports marketer hired by Shinn We went over to these hillbillies from North Carolina?” It was George How Shinn convinced Alexander Julian (Muhleman, a sports marketing agent) was helping me in the see (NBA commissioner) David Stern in his office in New York. Shinn, Rick Hendrick, Max Muhleman, and myself. to chip in (Hint: chopped pork) Above: Alexander Julian, from racing business. George watched my racing operation, and he We sat down on his sofa. He pulled out a big cigar and pointed it Everybody went to a cocktail party the night before Chapel Hill, was said he wanted to do something in sports. So I said, “Max, call at us and said, “Why Charlotte?” I was ready for that one. What I the presentation. People from Miami (one of three living in New York when he agreed this guy.” had done was show Charlotte not as a metropolitan market but other cities to eventually get a team in this expansion SHINN Alexander Julian (a famous designer from Chapel to develop the colors for the as a regional market. I felt the effective drawing area was 50 to round) were walking around sticking out their chests. Hill) was the one who came up with the colors. Hornets. He FELIX SABATES, owner of yacht and car dealerships and an original 100 miles. Nobody would talk to us. sorely missed “Carolina caviar,” investor in the team One of my friends was the COO of First Union We went golfing the next morning before the ALEXANDER JULIAN, clothing designer I said, “Do you have as he called it, DAVID STERN, and Hornets’ Bank, a gentleman by the name of John Georgius. He called me NBA commissioner I remember that George came up presentation. It was funny—not even the starter could any ideas of what you’d like to do?” (Shinn) said, “Yes, owner George and asked if I would sit down to meet with George Shinn. I said, (to formally apply for a franchise). He was accompanied by the pronounce our names. It was Mr. Shine, Mr. Molahoon. if you can, we’d like to use the colors that we’re putting Shinn gladly agreed to send “Who the hell is George Shinn?” governor—Governor Jim Martin—and a couple of state police- They murdered our names. No one took us serious. in the new stadium that’s being built.” I said, “Well, him a shipment from Papa Doc’s I was already involved with professional sports in this town. men. They were guarding the governor. And this little jumping We went in to make the presentation to the board of I can try. What colors are you using?” He said teal—I Pig Palace every I helped bring in the now-defunct World Football League. bean named George Shinn. He was talking the talk. Honestly, I’m trustees. I’m going to tell you, George Shinn got up and said, “Well, hang on, George, teal is one of my signature month. I brought professional soccer to Charlotte. Of course I was not sure I knew where Charlotte was when he came in. made absolutely the best speech I’ve ever heard in my colors.” Then he said Carolina blue—I said, “Yeah, cut Below: The coaches and involved in racing. I met with George, and we discussed some The reality was, I was instantly impressed at the data of the life. He waited until the end, and then he said, “I have me up and I bleed Carolina blue, because I was born and the front-office possibilities of ownership. market and the enthusiasm of the governor and George. From 10,000 ticket reservations for my team.” I remember raised in Chapel Hill.” He said white. Then he said pink. employees are in suits, and they’re the beginning, I was a huge fan of Charlotte and a big believer Red Auerbach of the Boston Celtics, he was the first one I said, “pink, uh, OK. Well, you know, all I can do is try. surrounded by the players in a sea of GEORGE SHINN, founder and majority owner I … tried baseball. I in the NBA in a single-team market. The reality is that you just to stand up and start applauding. He came over and Send me the colors.” Julian’s signature called Bobby Brown, who at the time was the president of the cannot measure a market by its size. You have to measure the hugged George. It was pretty emotional. Teal and purple were my signature colors. They teal. American League. I had met him before, and we had become available consumer dollars, the available corporate dollars, the were the colors my kids, who were young at the time, pretty good buddies. I asked him would he let me share with him avidity of fans, the cash-basis of where your fans will come from, STERN I was in George’s column long before he knew it. thought that I invented. There are people in the my financial worth and him tell me if I would be able to own a and the presence or absence of other sports, which has a direct I was in favor of Charlotte. He had to sell the owners. fashion industry who still think I get a royalty anytime baseball team. That was my ultimate goal. impact on suite sales, sponsorship sales. I remember he made a great presentation, because somebody uses teal and purple. I wish it was so. George has a little bit of the preacher man in him. So he sent me the colors. What he was calling teal was actually green, more of what I could call mallard, THE CAST SABATES The next morning, the front page of the news- a forest green. My teal, my signature teal was much The names of the people who participated in this oral history, in order of appearance paper said the only franchise that Charlotte is going to more blue, it’s a blue-green. get has golden arches, meaning McDonald’s. RICK HENDRICK, MAX MUHLEMAN, CARL SCHEER, MUGGSY BOGUES, TIM KEMPTON, owner of Hendrick sports marketer the team’s first general manager a 5-3 point guard and a 6-10 power forward MUHLEMAN It was a good line. In fact, I enjoyed it very Motorsports and hired by Shinn fan favorite from Notre Dame much. Yeah, we’ll see. I thought we had a better story Hendrick Automotive HAROLD KAUFMAN, Group and an original DAVID STERN, the team’s first PR rep KURT RAMBIS, ROBERT REID, than pretty much anybody. What we were fighting was investor in the Hornets NBA commissioner the team’s most high a veteran small forward a lack of recognition. DAVE HOPPEN, profile free-agent FELIX SABATES, ALEXANDER JULIAN, a 6-11 center who played a total acquisition EARL CURETON, owner of yacht and clothing designer of three seasons in two stints a veteran center SABATES Two weeks later, when George called and car dealerships and KELLY TRIPUCKA, said, “We got the franchise,” I think the most surprised an original investor CARLA HENSON, TOM TOLBERT, the team’s leading scorer person in the whole deal was George Shinn. in the team mascot designer a forward who was released in and Jim Henson’s December 1988. He returned to BRAD DAUGHERTY, GEORGE SHINN, daughter the team for the 1994-95 season a Cleveland center and MUHLEMAN I’m sitting in my house looking at the door founder and majority star at UNC he came to, which was at the time a rear porch. He drove owner

TEAM PHOTO SY CO U RTE TEAM BO PHOTO H USS E Y ; G AN LO C Y R US up to the back and came to the door. He had a chalky

46 CHARLOTTE n NOVEMBER 2013 NOVEMBER 2013 n CHARLOTTE 47 I’m a great fan of Thelonious Monk. First of all, he was a Tar I said, “What?” CARL SCHEER, the team’s first general manager George Shinn didn’t outstanding player. And he was a good player, but he just wasn’t Heel. Secondly, he made his own notes up. He would hit two keys Their attitude about it was so positive. They said, “Look, you know anything about basketball. But he insisted on being front the great player we expected him to be. at once to play a note that didn’t exist on the piano. That’s what accomplished this goal against all odds. Nobody thought you’d and center in the hiring of the coach. It’s his team, and he had teal does to me. It’s a blue and a green combined. The reason I used do it. You ended up being picked first. The spirit of this city, and that right. Almost every interview I did, he was there. SABATES I remember the night of the drafting party. Everybody it for fashion, along with purple, is it looks good on everybody. All your spirit, is what made this happen.” Larry Brown had Kansas in the NCAAs and won it that year. He was thinking we were going to draft a big man. I was standing skin colors look great in teal or in purple. There’s a wide range of So I reluctantly agreed, and we announced the team was was in Nebraska at the regionals. We went there and visited him there with Dell Curry, having a beer and speculating on who skin colors in the NBA. It enhances everybody at the same time. the Spirit. there. That interview fell apart so fast. It was an interview he did we were going to take. When I found out he was talking about green, I put my foot The next day in the news, it was the most negative thing. as a favor to me. He wanted to get back in the NBA. He always When they announced Rex Chapman as our first draft pick, down. I said, “I know your architects have chosen this for your It just destroyed me. One sportswriter, I think it was Tom looked at every opportunity. I thought Dell Curry was going to have a stroke right there. He stadium. But your uniforms are not going to be that color. Sorensen, I’m not sure. Tom is pretty funny. He said, “What’s There were some positives about it. But he knew he would lose came in thinking he was going to be the starting guard. I remem- They’re going to be my teal.” Shinn’s mascot going to be, Casper the Friendly Ghost?” 60 games no matter how good of a coach he was. He didn’t know ber telling him, “Look, don’t worry about it.” He said fine. I thought, “My God, that’s humiliating me.” I realized it was if he could take it. That was the determining factor. When I asked He said, “Why?” a mistake. So I said, “OK, let’s just let the fans vote, and we’re him in front of George if he thought he could handle 60-loss I said, “George probably picked somebody because he could SHINN He wanted to know how much he was going to be paid. going to see if they like the name Spirit. But we’re going to seasons, he was quite candid. He said no. He didn’t think he could. remember what his first name was.” He cracked up laughing, but This is really clever. I said, “I’m not going to pay you anything.” throw in some other names.” The Hornets was just the over- We talked to Tommy Heinsohn, who wanted to get into he was real concerned. George came out and said, “Hey, kid, don’t I said, “You’re going to have the privilege of doing this for whelming name. coaching. We didn’t think he had the right temperament. We worry about it. You’re our man.” It turned out Dell was with us for Charlotte’s first major league sports franchise.” He agreed to I wanted to get the best mascot, the sharpest mascot I could. I talked to Gary Williams from Maryland, right before he went many, many years, and Chapman didn’t make it very long. do it, but he wanted me to send 10 pounds of North Carolina had to get somebody who could do a Hornet. to Maryland. I thought he was very good, very knowledgeable barbecue to him every month for the next couple years. on the fundamentals of the game. He had interesting theories CHERYL HENSON, designer and daughter of The Muppets creator Jim about how to play it. But he was emotional. I didn’t think he CHAPTER II Henson I had recently completed a degree in textile design. I could do long, 82-game schedules. He turned out to be a very “All skin colors look great in teal or in purple. went to interview with Alex Julian. He said he wasn’t hiring for good coach at Maryland. A Season Of Firsts: Big Wins. fabrics, but he had recently gotten involved in this project to do What was interesting about (Dick) Harter was he was the best Ugly Losses. And Bad Ties There’s a wide range of skin colors in the NBA. the uniforms for the Charlotte Hornets, and (he asked if I was) prepared I’ve ever seen a coach seeking a job in my 40-plus years It enhances everybody at the same time.” interested in doing the mascot. in basketball. He wore his white shirt and tie and jacket. He had I said, “Here’s my portfolio. It’s much more puppets and full- every principle that Shinn believed in, from the Bible to Basketball —Alexander Julian, world-renowned designer, body characters.” I said, “That’s not really what I do, (but) that’s for Dummies. He had every answer to George’s questions. I wasn’t who developed the Hornets’ colors really the direction I want to go. But I know someone who does sure he was the right man for an expansion team. But in any case that professionally.” He said, “No, why don’t you give it a try?” he was well prepared, and I was OK with that. George loved him I said, “OK, I’ll give it a try.” It’s something I knew how to do. right from the beginning. JULIAN George said, in his country accent, I had been doing that kind of work for The Muppets. So I built “Can I afford you?” I said, “George, I would the mascot. It was great fun. HAROLD KAUFMAN, the team’s first public relations rep We had the ...... Part 1...... be honored to design the uniforms for free. I did not design the character. The character was a graphic pick of everybody’s 9th through 12th guys. In that expansion But if you sell copies of them, then I would logo already. I put that graphic logo into a full-bodied costume. draft, we picked Dell Curry, and we got Muggsy Bogues. If you Looking the Part like my standard 5 percent royalty.” He got What I really liked about what I did with it was I kept the integ- can imagine, in that highly unlikely expansion draft, you have his face all screwed up. He said, “I don’t rity of the character in the logo. The sneakers were big, the two players who last for 10 years and become a piece of your think I can do that.” I said, “It sounds wings were big. organization. It was mostly D-league caliber players. There were DAVE HOPPEN, a 6-11 center who played a total of three seasons in two fair, what’s wrong with that?” I didn’t I loved Alex’s choice of colors. Purple and teal were really two guys who made nice careers for themselves. stints We were still flying commercial. The Hornets had estab- know that it’s all shared revenue (in innovative at the time. I worked hard on getting those colors lished a rule that everybody had to have at least a sport coat and the NBA). right. The original Charlotte Hornet had a flashing light in the tip SHINN Dick didn’t want us to pick Muggsy, and I did because I a tie. We get on our first bus, we’re going to the airport. Kurt I could have gotten at least six figures from of his tail. I’m not sure that got used all that much but that was a was selling tickets. I called (UNC coaching legend) Dean Smith Rambis has a sport coat on, but he doesn’t have a tie on. I don’t George. But—and this sounds terrible to fun little detail. and asked Dean, “Would you pick Muggsy? Give me a descrip- think the sport coat really matched the pants. I think he went out say—I really didn’t need the money in those I did, in fact, hand-sew almost all of the original. I hand-sculpted tion of what you think of Muggsy.” He said, “Well, and bought one just for the occasion. He was very casual. days. I had this idea: What good is money if the head. I was very proud of it. one thing I always told my players when we’re Coach walked up to him and said, “Kurt, I hate to do this, but you can’t buy barbecue? I call it Carolina playing Wake Forest: ‘If you don’t see Muggsy, you’re one of our captains. You’re going to have to be the first caviar. … I said, “I’ll give you ownership if he’s not in your vision, hold the ball high in official fine for a clothing problem. You don’t have a tie on so I’m of the design for five pounds of Carolina ...... Part 4...... the air because he’s going to take it away from going to have to fine you for that.” barbecue a month.”… you.’ ” To me, that was just respect. I said, He says, “No, no, hold on a second, Coach.” And he rummages A well-worn and A (writer) asked me to sum up the whole “WE’RE GOING TO PICK MUGGSY.” “We’re going to pick Muggsy.” through his gym bag, and he pulls out this old tie that was brown well-loved souvenir bobblehead of the experience. I said, “Well, George got rich, and on one side and blue on the other side. It was reversible. He Hornets mascot, I got fat. I traded $10 million worth of royalties SCHEER We tried to stay young and lifted it right up to his neck and said, “Look, I have a tie.” Hugo for a gut.” SABATES I remember sitting down with George. He goes, “Do you build through the rookie draft, but Coach Harter just started laughing. “OK, that counts.” believe we’re going to be an NBA owner?” I go, “Yeah.” He goes, it was very hard to do that. We had SHINN After we were rewarded the franchise, I had to come up “Do you know much about basketball?” I said, “No, and neither the 8th pick. We chose Rex Chapman TOM TOLBERT, a forward who was released in December. He returned with a team name. I decided I would get some of the bluebloods do you, and neither does anybody else. We’ll have to bring in from Kentucky as our first pick. to the team for the 1994-95 season It was like a neoprene tie, like of Charlotte to help me name the team. We had a meeting somebody who knows what he’s doing.” That’s when I suggested We thought he was going to be what you’d make wet suit material out of. He popped that bad to make a decision on naming the team at WBTV studios. I to hire Carl Scheer. I knew Carl since 1977. a great player. We thought he boy on. It was black on one side and blue on Muggsy Bogues is now remember getting up and going to the restroom. When I came Carl helped us put the organization together. We were just like would give us the excitement 48 years old, but he says the other.

c y r us (2) he’s actually slightly back, they had already made up their mind that they wanted the Dumb and Dumber. We didn’t know what to do with anything. that we needed. We thought Rex below his playing weight I’m not much of a dresser. I hate ties and of 140 pounds. team to be called the Spirit. g an lo Chapman would grow to be an never wear ties. But I had never seen a tie like

48 CHARLOTTE n NOVEMBER 2013 NOVEMBER 2013 n CHARLOTTE 49 A tie that resembles what Kurt halftime because they’re not washed, and they gave them to us BRAD DAUGHERTY, Cleveland Cavaliers center, former UNC star DAUGHERTY We beat them really bad. I thought they were cheer- Rambis wore as a “dress tie,” on the team’s road trips new, and that’s a problem. I was excited, because I’m from North Carolina. I was so excited ing for us because we had put on such a stellar performance that there was a pro basketball franchise going to be in North kicking their behind. that before. I was like, “Where’d you get that, the scuba JULIAN I have a blowup of the picture (of the unveiling of the uni- Carolina in Charlotte. Being able to come back and play in the shop? That thing is incredibly horrendous. Even by my form with Tripucka) in my store in Chapel Hill as well as one of inaugural game was fun. I think they had pictures of me and Kelly BOGUES I couldn’t believe it. We thought they were cheering for standards, it’s horrendous.” I remember Kurt telling the original uniforms. Tripucka on the tickets that night. Cleveland. But as they walked off and Cleveland was no longer me, “Look Tom, when it comes to fashion, if it’s free, All these kids today look at it. I tell them, “Guys, look at those It was fun, a festive atmosphere. A lot of my friends came, and on the court, they were just going crazy, going bananas, cheering it’s me, and I’ll take three.” And I told him, “You shorts. Those shorts were considered so radically long and baggy they had their Hornets garb on. They were kidding me. “Yeah, we and yelling in their tuxedos and their gowns, letting us know how don’t need three of those. One’s plenty.” when we introduced them—this is a true story—that Kelly and pull for you, but we’re pulling for the Hornets tonight.” We were they appreciate us. the entire team, without telling me, they hid it from me, went to just laughing and carrying on. MUGGSY BOGUES, a 5-3 point guard and fan favorite my tailor in Charlotte and had all of their shorts shortened and I remember him having the tie in his bag, just taken in. They were afraid of being laughed at for having such TIM KEMPTON, a 6-10 power forward from Notre Dame Coming out “That’s when we realized they were one tie, for the whole trip, for the whole season. long, baggy shorts.” and seeing everybody in formal wear, the guys in tuxedos and Whatever it was, it was black one day and white the women in long dresses, it made that night so memorable. actually cheering for us.” the next. It was a reversible tie. Truly, he always SCHEER We didn’t know if the NBA would fly. There was very Kelly Tripucka, Hornets forward, on the standing ovation kept it in his bag. little NBA talk before the Hornets. So we had an education to TRIPUCKA We were all very excited about what was going to the team received after losing by 40 on opening night do, to our fans and even to the local media. We were teaching happen. At the same time, we didn’t know what was going to KURT RAMBIS, the team’s top free-agent acquisition and learning at the same time. We thought we were better than happen. Great enthusiasm, certainly having a sellout, knowing It was blue on one side, gray on the other, something we were. We were that naive. … how much they sold it. We were coming to a city that was more TRIPUCKA With the clock winding down, all of a sudden the like that. Because it was neoprene, you could stretch it, you We were the Katzenjammer kids. We were messy. We left known as a college area with the ACC. You had Duke fans and crowd starts standing up and cheering. My first thought was, could wad it up and throw it in the bag. You could do anything cookies on the table. But we had some fun. North Carolina fans, N.C. State fans and whatever. “Oh, this is great, now they’re cheering for the other team you wanted with that thing. We had to do our best to get these fans interested in profes- because we got killed. Now they’re applauding the performance A friend of mine who works for Body Glove, he made a lot of the sional basketball. Most of the guys had a lot of pride and wanted of the Cavaliers.” pads that players would use to pull over their knees or neoprene ...... Part 2...... to get off to a good start. We also had to be realists and know Then all of a sudden Cleveland had already left the floor. ice-bag holders that had Velcro on it so you could wrap it around we’re putting together a team of guys coming from other teams That’s when we realized they were actually cheering for us. For your knee. He was goofing around one day and made that tie. THE FIRST GAME and rookies, and it would be difficult to win on a consistent basis. whatever reason, losing by 40, I can’t say they had a great time, I was known for … not getting dressed up. I did not enjoy November 4, 1988: Cleveland Cavaliers 133, Charlotte Hornets 93 We were playing a very good team in Cleveland. but I guess they did in some sort. They were proud to now call us getting dressed up. So I was like, “Oh, we have to wear ties? OK. We wanted to get off to a good start and hopefully have the their team. I tell you what, from that moment on, after getting I’ve got a tie for you, right here.” type of night that would make people proud of us. that kind of reception, after getting blown out by 40, from that HOPPEN Opening night, I went to get a haircut that day. The girl That went out the window pretty quickly. moment on, we realized that this could be something. TOLBERT The players with the most seniority got first class. had no idea who I was. She’s cutting my hair. She said some- After first class was full, everybody thing about being tall. I said, “Well, make ROBERT REID, a veteran small forward By halftime, with the new RAMBIS I was a little embarrassed at the end of the ball game, had to do coach. They would do two sure you do a good job. There’s going to uniforms, we were all itching all over our legs. We had to change obviously getting blown out like that. That did not set well for players for three seats. I remem- be millions of people seeing this haircut material. Everybody was like, “Man, what’s going on here?” me. I came from the Lakers, where we won championships. That ber the first flight I got on. There’s tonight.” She said, “What are you talking was my mindset, how I viewed everything, what you should get Dave Hoppen, 7 feet tall, didn’t about?” I told her we were playing on TV, SCHEER We went from 10 points down cheered for. quite make the seniority cut list, I was with the Hornets. She about started early in the game to 40 at the so he had to go sit in the back. Even screaming in the place. end of the game. All that I was REID We were ecstatic and happy that the fans with the two for three seats, he hoping for was that the clock stayed and applauded us. But let me tell you some- has his knees up in his face. Here’s HENDRICK The first night, when we pulled would malfunction, let us get thing. When we got in that locker room, the older Muggsy Bogues, sitting in first class up at the coliseum, the TV trucks were all out of there quickly. It was my players, Kurt Rambis, Robert Reid, Kelly Tripucka, while Dave Hoppen is eating his there, it was such a buzz. And you walked worst nightmare, the game itself. and Earl Cureton, the ones who had been in the knees. During the flight, Muggsy in and the crowd was nuts, and we were trenches, there was no laughing. There was no, “We was sitting there, with his feet in all dressed (up). You couldn’t believe it TOLBERT It was so bad I got in the did OK.” No. We took it personally. the little magazine holder, sleeping. was really going to happen. It was like the game. It was cool. I enjoyed that day. Mr. Shinn came in there with his people to meet Something didn’t seem quite right feeling I had the first time I walked onto I hit my first jump shot of my NBA us. (I said), “Hey, you’ve got to get out of here. Get about that. pit road at Daytona. … I was so proud for U RANT career, a left wing jumper to cut it to 37. out. No. You don’t come in here shaking our hands. our city. I thought we had a chance at that point. This is our job. We’ll meet you outside.” Me and KELLY TRIPUCKA, the team’s leading scorer Kurt stood up and said, “Whoa, whoa, whoa. We didn’t Nobody knew how to make reserva- HOPPEN We had a pretty good idea that we HOPPEN The thing that really hit us as a do nothing to have people come in and say, ‘Hey, how you tions to get on the plane, or how were going to have a pretty good fan base team was to get beat by 40 points and get doing?’ ” That right there set the tone for coach Harter, the the uniforms fit. We went through there. Opening night, playing the Cleveland a standing ovation as we’re walking off assistants and the players. … issues with the jockstraps in the Cavaliers, Cleveland had a really good team. the floor. There was no begrudging the Cleveland Cavaliers. Don’t preseason. The uniforms didn’t fit, They had Brad Daugherty and Larry Nance you quit on us. We’re not no wimps. It was good, hard basketball. they hung way too big, or way too and Mark Price. ale x an d er ju l i an STERN It was wonderful to behold. That let us know what was going to be expected. small. We were a mess. We were We had already played them a couple sy sy co u rte Hornets memorabilia: Basketball cards for star TRIPUCKA a bunch of misfits going through times in the preseason. We had actually players Muggsy Bogues and Dell Curry (courtesy During the course of the year, I had the first point, this. We have to tell them how the played them pretty well, but they weren’t of fan Anita Hall); and an official game ticket for the first game, featuring an illustration of uniforms are supposed to fit here. Hard to believe now, but when Alexander Julian (left) and Kelly always playing their best players in the c y r us (1); continued on page 100 Tripucka (right) posed for this photo to unveil the Hornets uniform, Kelly Tripucka and Brad Daugherty (courtesy of fan Bo Hussey).

We’re taking our jockstraps off at many people thought Tripucka’s shorts were too baggy. preseason. g an lo SY CO U RTE BO HALL, H USS E Y ; RE S TA PRE SS LE Y SY CO U RTE AN I TA PARK

50 CHARLOTTE n NOVEMBER 2013 NOVEMBER 2013 n CHARLOTTE 51 “The Place Went Nuts” continued from page 51

I had the first free throw, all these firsts. They also had something with the local news, anybody who scored 40 points would get to do the weather, so I did the weather one night on the local news. I ended up doing it three times. We had the green screen. I was there with the weather guy. The perks of scoring 40 points man! You don’t get the $100,000 raise, you get to do the weather. That’s great stuff!

...... Part 3...... FIRST WIN November 8, 1988: Charlotte Hornets 117, Los Angeles Clippers 105

SHINN That day, there was a big group meeting of primarily media and other folks about wanting to change the name of the coliseum. I did not want to change the name. I wanted to keep it Charlotte Coliseum. The reason is because when I was first trying to get a team, nobody knew if Charlotte was in North Carolina, South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia. At that meeting, while I was speaking, my left arm jerked several times, kind of uncontrolled. I didn’t have a clue what was going on. I remember when I left, when I parked the car, I was just sweating. I felt like I was going to faint. Thank God I didn’t. I laid down just for a minute, and I felt better. So I got up and went to the office. Spencer Stolpen, who worked for me, he came back to my office and said, “George, you don’t look good.” I said, “Well, I wouldn’t come back here if you’re going to tell me I don’t look good.” He said, “No, you look pale, you look sick. What’s the matter?” I said, “nothing.” I didn’t feel a prob- lem. I laid down on the couch and fell asleep. After he woke me up, something was wrong, and he took me to the hospital. I had had a stroke. The next two weeks of my life are totally erased. I can’t tell you anything that hap- pened during that time. But eventually I survived the thing. I’ve still got that basketball that the team gave me, all the players signed it. It was our first win—I had the stroke during that

100 CHARLOTTE n NOVEMBER 2013 day. I almost died to get our first win. It’s all hysterical. It’s like a movie script. Who would write something as crazy as every- thing that happened?

...... Part 4...... “The birth of Hornets hysteria” December 23, 1988, on national television: Charlotte Hornets 103, Michael Jordan and the Chicago Bulls 101

REID What a lot of folks don’t know, that whupping (against Cleveland) is what set the tone for us to beat the Bulls. We knew the Bulls would be thinking, “If Cleveland can do it, it’s going to be easy. We just have to go in there.” You have lost your mind.

TRIPUCKA We know who is on the other side. Michael is on the other side. He played his college basketball in the state. He’s going to have a lot of people in the crowd. But you know what? It’s funny karma that even though he still has those fans there that night, the Hornets took precedence. They were Hornets fans. They probably wanted Michael to do well, but they wanted to see the Hornets win. For those who couldn’t be there, it gave the national TV audience a chance to see what that whole scenario was about.

KEMPTON You have North Carolina royalty coming into the building. We were an expansion team. Everybody thought we were just going to get run over. At that time, you think it’s a little bit of a nov- elty. But beating the Bulls—OK, they are a legitimate NBA team. These guys are here, and we really are a big-time NBA city. That kind of gave it some legitimacy.

BOGUES We just kept around, hung around. It came down to an opportunity where Kurt was able to tip the ball in for the win. It kind of shocked them as well as shocked every- body in the arena.

RAMBIS We ran a play that ended up being a busted play. Someone ended up taking a shot that was short. I ended up tipping it up, it came right back off the backboard to me. One of the funny things I remember about that is, it seems like I had to push Tim Kempton out of the way to get my balance after I grabbed the rebound from the tip.

102 CHARLOTTE n NOVEMBER 2013 What I remember about it is it was a very frustrating game for me. I don’t think I played well at all. Finally one good thing happened at the end of the game. It just happened to be a huge basket for that game and for myself. The place went nuts. It went absolutely nuts.

KEMPTON The absolute noise after he made that bucket, from the stands, is what I remember. That’s what was so shocking, was how loud it got right after Rambis made that bucket.

KAUFMAN That was the birth of Hornets hysteria. That was the first sellout of 364 consecutive sellouts—in a 24,000-seat arena, in the smallest market in the league. It was more than a sports story. It was part of the popular culture to be a Hornets fan, to wear the colors. It was a cultural phenomenon. It wasn’t just a sporting event. In terms of something that trans- formed a city and a franchise and set it on a certain path, I think that one game did that more than anything else.

...... Part 5......

Fun Times—The Story Public relations man Harold Kaufman stayed with the franchise even after it moved to New Orleans. He collected of Magic Johnson and many souvenirs in that time, but few are as memorable as the Hornets Shirt this photo of Magic Johnson in a Hornets T-shirt.

SHINN I’m not a basketball guy. I’m not an I would be the one to go back and grab expert in basketball. But I was an expert the player. Back then, we were introducing in people and trying to figure out the the NBA to our community. If we lost, we’d best I could do to make the people happy. ask one of the opposing players to come out When I would go to games, and we played and be the star of the game show. certain music, or we had certain enter- The Lakers came in and beat up on us. I tainment, I would watch the crowd. I asked Magic Johnson if he would come out could tell by the way they were respond- and take part in “star of the game.” Between ing if they liked what they were watching 5,000 and 10,000 people are waiting to or hearing. These are things we would watch this. continue to do, and try to give more to We threw Magic a Hornets T-shirt. He’s the fans, because we didn’t have a good sitting there, on a chair on the coliseum basketball team. floor with 10,000 people watching, and he puts this shirt on. The place goes nuts. I’ve KAUFMAN I still have the photo on my got that picture here in my office of Magic wall in my office. George Shinn has it, with that Hornets shirt on, smiling. It was Ndjg8^inBV\Vo^cZ# too. I think it was the Lakers’ first time just a cool moment, that he would see fit A[[f_d]oek_d\ehc[Z"[dj[hjW_d[Z through, which was a big deal, with Magic to amuse our home crowd and put that WdZ_dlebl[Z¾[l[hocedj^e\j^[o[Wh$ (Johnson) and Kareem (Abdul Jabbar) shirt on. and James Worthy, Showtime at their It would not work today. Back then, this best. In those days, after the game, we was a brand new market, a brand new team.

used to interview the star of the game on U FMAN These people came for a show. They loved the radio. We used to do ours at center Magic. It wasn’t about he was the guy who court. It was done over the loudspeaker, just beat us. This was Magic Johnson in HjWhXg^WZdca^cZViX]VgadiiZbV\Vo^cZ#Xdb and fans would wait after the game to our city.

watch the player. SY CO U RTE HAROL D KA

104 CHARLOTTE n NOVEMBER 2013 NOVEMBER 2013 n CHARLOTTE 105 to trade him. We’ve got to trade him.” end of this long conference table. I’m at to a national newsstand. I’d drive it to his Every day, I would say, “Dick, that’s the the other end with Harter. We actually house and drop it off to him. We had some ...... Part 6...... one guy George would put his foot down. had an echo it was such a big room. of our best conversations then. He’d invite He’s not going to trade him.” I said, “OK. Dick, go ahead.” me in, thank me for the paper, and we’d The Incomparable Dick Harter My suggestion was forget it. I turned around, and there’s no Harter. end up chatting. But he wouldn’t forget it. He’s on his hands and knees, with his nose Finally he got to me, and I said, “I’ll get up on the conference room table, sort of HOPPEN We went up to Philadelphia and SCHEER Muggsy was probably our pre- Shinn, OK? You and I will sit up in this looking over it. And he goes, “This is what played the Sixers on Martin Luther King mier local hero. He was 5 foot 3. George conference room, and I’ll give you one Muggsy sees when he’s playing defense! Jr. Day. We upset them. It was an after- Shinn could relate to him, as could shot at him. You make your presentation, This is what Muggsy sees!” He’s got his noon game, during the middle of the many of the fans. He was George’s and that’s it.” eyes just over the top of the conference week. The day before, coach Harter had favorite. Dick Harter wanted to trade He said, “OK.” table, and he’s on his hands and knees. come on the bus. We were going to the Muggsy. Every single day he would I set the date up. George at that point I look down at George, and George is arena to have our shootaround. We made come into the office and say, “can’t win was always dressed in a suit and white not laughing. I’m about ready to bust. a stop at the Philadelphia Art Museum, with a 5-foot-3-inch guard. We’ve got shirt and tie. He comes in and sits at the Here we are in a meeting to talk about where Rocky ran up the steps. He made a player, and he’s on his hands and his us all get out. knees, with his nose on the table. When that was over, I said, “Dick, that’s REID We stopped, and we looked at it. the most creative presentation I ever saw. Everybody goes (hums the Rocky theme), Too bad you’ll probably be fired.” and then he opens the bus door, every- body goes running out of there like it’s the SHINN We had a boardroom outside my first day of school, running up the steps to office. Dick said, “Come here, George. see who would be the first one there. That Stand up. Stand in front of me.” He got was something else. down on his knees in front of me. He said, “This is the way Muggsy is going to be out HOPPEN We had our Hornets warm-ups on the court.” He held his hands up. on. We all went up to the top of the steps I remember telling Dick, “Look, he sells and all took pictures with our hands up tickets because he’s short. And he’s so fast in the air. It was kind of goofy. But he and quick. We’re going to keep the guy. It’s wanted to get it in our minds that we that simple.” I was impressed with Dick were champions. and what he was trying to do. … We all had big 8-by-10s made. We went I was going somewhere to speak in the out the next day and upset Philadelphia. I Gastonia area. I remember getting lost. remember coach Harter getting on the bus This was pre-cell phone, so I couldn’t call and saying, “Beer’s on me at the hotel bar.” somebody. So I stopped at a convenience He was so happy. I don’t know if I’ve store. I walked in, and I said, “Look, I’m ever seen him so happy. lost, I’m looking for this particular place, can you tell me how to get there?” EARL CURETON, a veteran center (Harter) This girl who worked at the convenience gave a halftime speech in the locker room. store, she looked at me and said, “I know He just kind of broke down each player who you are.” I said, “You do?” She said, and what they needed to make themselves “Yes, I do.” I said, “Who am I?” I swear to better. We laughed at it forever, some of God, she said, “Muggsy Bogues.” the things he said. Dick could be pretty I thought I would cry. I said, “God bless hard on you. When it was all said and you.” I said, “No, I’m not Muggsy. I’m done, it was pretty funny. It was pretty about as short as Muggsy.” I told her who constructive criticisms. … I was. She said, “Oh my God, I knew that. I remember Dick Harter telling Muggsy What am I thinking?” But it was hilarious. he was too small to play in the league. He I told that audience that. They laughed told Dell Curry he had been with three dif- until they cried. ferent teams in three years. He went down the line ripping guys. It was pretty funny KAUFMAN (Harter) was a character. Dick when we looked back on it. We laughed on and I were close. I’m the PR guy; he’s the it four or five years later. head coach. He depended on me for this We had a history, so he didn’t say much and that. He used to tell me, “The PR guys to me. He knew me from the Detroit in the past, on Sunday morning, would days. He said something about I didn’t always deliver The New York Times to me.” play with heart that particular night. He I was 22 years old. I didn’t know any better. was pretty pissed off about some game I said, “OK, coach, be glad to.” I used to go we had lost.

106 CHARLOTTE n NOVEMBER 2013 NOVEMBER 2013 n CHARLOTTE 107 KEMPTON The thing I remember is how He ran out of everything to say. TRIPUCKA I played for Dick in Detroit. I upon thousands and thousands of people the hospital to know we were there, or quick we picked up on it: Uh-oh here we go was a big fan of Dick Harter. I miss him lining the street. what hospital we were at...... Part 3...... again, another one of Dick Harter’s rants. CURETON He told Dave Hoppen some- a lot. He was mild as a professional coach We’re rock stars. We’re NBA champions. He started in one corner, and as soon as body needed to chase him around the versus what he was as a college coach. That Except we won 20 games that year. SABATES I was there. We were very close “It legitimized Charlotte.” he turned around, that player was laugh- building with a baseball bat to make him was his style. He knew he had to change It was a lot of fun. You really had to (friends). He said, “Have you ever been ing. We came together as a group, the tough. He got to Kempton, and he looked a little bit. But sometimes the old Dick be there. If you explain this, nobody’s to a delivery room?” I said, “yeah.” He players against coach, here we go again, at Kempton and said, “Ahh, eff you,” and came out. Sometimes it was very enter- going to believe you. But somewhere said, “I think I’m going to be scared.” DAUGHERTY I remember saying to myself, we have to put up with this again. just went to the next person. That speech taining. And sometimes it was very scary. along the line, somebody’s got video He had one of those big old cassette “Wow, this is going to be a great ride for is one of our historical speeches that we of it, and I’m not the only one telling camera things. these guys if they ever become competi- BOGUES It was against the Lakers. He always talk about. RAMBIS We were all sitting in a circle. the story. tive and the fans don’t burn out on the went off. He went around the room tell- He lunged himself at me. You’ve got TRIPUCKA They had a big press confer- struggles. This would be an unbelievable ing about guys, who ain’t this, who ain’t KEMPTON I think Dick was a little afraid to throw your body at people. He was KEMPTON At times you’re almost embar- ence after she had it, because the news place to play as a player.” that. He got around to the last guy, he of me. I think he thought I was one talking about defense. He got himself rassed by it, like the first game when we had spread. They were all in this big con- The fans here were second to none. They just looked at him and (gravelly voiced of the guys who might just get up and parallel to the floor, but he wasn’t able had to come back out after getting drilled ference room. Every station in Charlotte were the best in the league, in my opinion. Harter impression) said, “Ahh, eff you.” punch him. to hit me hard enough to knock me by the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was neat. was there. I don’t remember a lot of games, because off balance. So he hit me and dropped You just understood how special it was straight to the floor. I’m like, I’ve never for those people to have a team and call it had a coach do that one before. He was their own. They went out of their way to trying to get us to be tougher and nastier make us feel special. as a ball club, which you absolutely need in this league. RAMBIS I got it. I understood it. A little embarrassing for me. Because again, BOGUES One time he said, “You gotta you’re looking at parades for winning a get tougher. You gotta get tougher.” He championship. I understood the whole rammed his shoulder up against the wall PR campaign of it, letting the fans real hard, telling them how tough you’ve know we appreciate them, it’s not easy got to be. Right afterward, he had to coming out to watch loss after loss after wind up in the trainer’s room with ice on loss. I did understand why the organiza- his shoulder. tion would want to develop that relation- ship with the fans. It was the right thing (Editor’s note: Dick Harter died in 2012.) to do. But there was still a part of me that was embarrassed about it. CHAPTER III REID When we had that parade, and we THE END OF A MAGICAL got up on that stage, there was no men- (20-62) SEASON tion of our record. It was, “Hey, thank you for bringing some fun and excite- ment to our coliseum, and to our family, this year.”

...... Part 2......

...... Part 1...... THE FIRST HORNET BABY Charlotte Loves a Parade TRIPUCKA I have nothing but fond memories. The year couldn’t have ended TRIPUCKA After all this is over, they want any better. It was the birth of my first to throw us a parade like we won the son, after the season, after the parade. championship. We’re going, “You don’t He became a big topic as the first Hornet get parades when you win 20 games in baby. He was on the news. That was big. an 82-game schedule. But, hey, let’s see That was huge. what this is all about.” We were going to have the baby in I’m not sure we all thought this was Charlotte. That became news: a Hornet going to fly. There was probably some baby is going to be born. Sure enough, she hesitancy as far as what this is going to had it on May 3, 1989. I had to go to the look like. Lo and behold, we’re in open-air hospital under cloak and dagger. They cars, Corvettes, Mustangs, all these con- put me under an assumed name (Kelly vertibles. My goodness, there’s thousands Brentwood). They didn’t want people at

108 CHARLOTTE n NOVEMBER 2013 NOVEMBER 2013 n CHARLOTTE 109 I played so many in the NBA. But that guy in every way. Unknown, small market CURETON Grocery store, restaurant, any it’s “What’s next?” Nothing has the con- People were just extremely nice. They never cared about who came and grabbed (first) game’s really vivid in my memory. compared to New York or Chicago. And place we went, they pretty much took tent that it had back in the ’80s. The world were very nice in general, anyway. I don’t whose bat and ball or anything. It was just I was really pulling from day one for that small in stature, pulling off the David-and- care of us. It was first class, everywhere changes so fast, something that’s real hot think it had anything to do with us playing a real cool family environment. franchise to do well. I just knew this city Goliath act of the 20th century. It was fun, we went in that town. news today, tomorrow it’s over and three for the Hornets. would embrace any type of profession- it was really fun to see it happen. People days from now nobody even remembers It was my understanding, at the time, SHINN It was the most gratifying time al sports team. It absolutely rocked in just went nuts over having the team. HOPPEN Charlotte was still a fairly small it. Our attention span, our love affair with we may have been a part of what was of my whole life. It was just absolutely there. Every time we came to play, the city. It wasn’t a big huge metropolis. We an event, it’s just so quick. almost going to naturally transpire in the breath-taking enjoyable. Hive shook. I thought it was the greatest KAUFMAN You know how when you leave a didn’t have any other professional teams. I’m not talking about Charlotte. I’m city anyway. A lot of companies were get- place to play basketball. concert sometimes and you have a ring- We were the big thing in town. talking about everywhere in the country. ting tax advantages to move to Charlotte. BOGUES Every night we had 24,000 ing in your ears? That’s how you felt when Everybody’s so hot and cold. … They had an awful lot of land, there was screaming, night in and night out, regard- MUHLEMAN (Shinn) would not have been you left the Charlotte Coliseum. Twenty- TRIPUCKA It was the thing to do in Char­ Charlotte was a fairly unknown city. Not building going on, homes, golf courses. less of a win or loss. People just wanted to on the list (of potential NBA team own- four thousand people from start to fin- lotte. If you had a choice between going unknown, but it was before the banking cen- The (city) started to have higher end get into that game, get into the building, ers in Charlotte). He’s a little guy in ish were literally screaming at the top of to the movies and going to the theater, the ters, it was before the NFL, it was before all restaurants. We heard talk of all these get into the arena. It was kind of tough to stature. He and Muggsy Bogues saw their lungs. We had great game presenta- opera, the symphony, whatever, it’s going of that. It was the first opportunity to open companies wanting to come down there. get in. It was a special time. things eye to eye. That was part of the tion back then, and we incited the fans. to the Hornets game. It became an event. up our city to show the rest of the world, There was this whole development of that You get recognized everywhere. You charm of the story, I thought. The little People made it a night out. It was like that and the United States, this is the Queen city, and the growth of the city. When I go were like a rock star in Hollywood even every night. It was certainly a lot of fun City. This is Charlotte, North Carolina, and back there now I don’t even recognize the though you were in Charlotte. It was a for the players, that’s for sure. it’s big enough to have an NBA team. place. That’s how much it’s grown since I marvelous experience for everybody. They It was just a different time. People was there. I think we hit it almost on the wanted to show their appreciation. We KEMPTON The way Charlotte has grown weren’t always in a hurry. … I miss those ground floor. … were trying to get to know the city, and the exponentially is unbelievable. It was a times. I miss that wholesome fun. A lot of my memories are about my city was introducing itself to us. It was a banking hub, but it was still a small south- two young boys at the time. We lived in match made in heaven for all of us. eastern city, with not a lot of growth to it RAMBIS We loved it there. It was such a cul de sac. Nobody had fences around yet, but you could see it coming. Every a great change of pace from L.A. How their homes. The people were all nice. time I go back, there are still people who slow a pace it was. People were more Their doors were open, their garages come up and say hello to me. … connected, in a small-town type of were open. There were other kids in the Matt Crossman is a freelance writer based in Charlotte. It legitimized Charlotte. (As in), “We’re environment. That was very pleasing, cul de sac. Wherever they were at lunch- Reach him at mattcrossman.com or follow him on here. Look at us over in the southeast of coming from Los Angeles. time, that’s whose mom fixed lunch. They Twitter at @MattCrossman. America.” That led to the Panthers com- ing here. Do they put the Panthers there if the Charlotte Hornets don’t work? Who knows. It’s a stepping-stone. It does make a tremendous amount of business and other opportunities for the city. Now you’re holding Final Fours, you have bowl games. Not only is it some- thing fun, but it also economically gives a city and the state another avenue for revenue and for people to come and have pride in Charlotte, North Carolina.

STERN We caught Charlotte at a relatively vulnerable time, which I never quite under- stood. There is a kind of validation that occurs. I remember, if you go back and look at the headline in the Observer on opening night, the first regular season game. As I recall it, it was (a) triple-size, banner headline (“In the big time”). I always thought they had it wrong. I thought they were always a major-league city. They didn’t need our validation. We were happy to have Charlotte validate us.

HENDRICK Everything was perfect. The timing—the city needed something like that. We had a great bunch of guys. It was a lovefest. … Nothing means as much to people any- more. As soon as the Super Bowl’s over,

110 CHARLOTTE n NOVEMBER 2013 NOVEMBER 2013 n CHARLOTTE 111