The Bobcats Are Really Into This Whole "Carolina" Thing

The Charlotte Bobcats are apparently big, big fans of that little piece of "God's country" in Chapel Hill. The Bobcats already have minority owner and former Tarheel Michael Jordan to go with head coach and former Tarheel Larry Brown and forward and former Tarheel Sean May. That's a lot of former Taheel. Tarheel tarheel.

Well, on top of that, yesterday the Bobcats hired former Tarheel player and coach Dave Hanners, and former Tarheel player and assistant coach Phil Ford for assistant coaching positions on Larry Browns staff. At this point, we're pretty sure the concession guys used to rock the baby blues.

It's a savvy marketing strategy, in a market that has been lukewarm to the NBA, especially since returning in Bobcats form. Using ties to local heroes for the revered college is a surefire way to create connections with fans between the club and the UNC crowd, of which there is no shortage of in Charlotte. Still, traditionally, teams have veered away from going overboard in selecting "local" guys, as to not pigeonhole themselves. The Bobcats seem to be bearhugging the idea.

Bobcats fans might want to thank their lucky stars there isn't a small guard from UNC in the top of this year's draft, given their need for size and scoring at the 5 spot.