Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Dec. 31, 2003, edition 1 / Page 2
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2A NEWS/tE^ CiMlsttt $os(t Wednesday, December 31,2003 Bobcats owner makes imprim on Charione sports Continued from page 1A me, this is not a one-person success story. “This is a success story of a community coming together to bring the excitement of basketball back. It’s the story of a community coming together to create an arena that becomes an economic statement and contributor, and an arena that becomes almost a community trust created to bring the fans and the community together.” Johnson does not want all the credit. The city, the black community eventually must come to grips with that. That said, Johnson must come to grips with the fact that peo ple are not going to let him forget that he is giving Charlotte reason to hope. No matter what, he is consid ered the anti-Shinn, largely because he is going out of his way to make it known that he thinks and cares about the people here. Although he plans to keep his permanent residence in the Washington, D.C., area, Johnson will not be your run-of-the-mill, absentee team owner. The finishing decorative touches are being put on his new uptown home at the extremely desirable address of The Ratcliffe, and Johnson said he will be in Charlotte “three or four times a month, sometimes more.” Opportunities knock Johnson looks at his fran chise and the $265 million arena in which it will play starting in 2005 as financial opportunities for eveiyone. The Bobcats, Johnson said, already have 50 to 60 employees, and the number should grow to about 100 when the team begins play in 2004. “We’re already dealing with minority vendors and small businesses are getting contracts fmm us,” Johnson said. ‘We’ve got accountants, we’ve got lawyers, we’ve got service vendors and opera tors. The arena going up right now — it’s creating jobs, creating opportunities for minority subcontractors. Soon, we’ll be a magnet to attract economic develop ment: office buddings, shops, restaurants. “The arena will create a downtown area where peo ple spend more time down town. So restaurants throughout the region will benefit, shops throughout the region will benefit. People will want to relocate their offices here because there’s the excitement of a professional basketball team here, so that makes it attrac tive as a place to live and raise a family. The communi ty will benefit, whether we’re going out to do Read to Achieve, whether we’re involved with the schools, whether we’re involved with young athletes and having clinics.” Johnson also has announced plans to start a regional sports network, Bobcats Entertainment Sports Network, that he said will create additional job opportunities for young peo ple interested in television. “It will give exposure to col leges and high schools and other sporting events that are not on television on a Pughsley Sanford King local and regional basis,” Johnson said. “As long as we look at it as a broad vision of community spirit from sports, economic develop ment from combined invest ments, and unity of a region from fan enthusiasm. It all has to work together.” Where credit is due U.S. Rep. Mel Watt (D- N.C.) of Charlotte said even though Johnson doesn’t want praise, he deserves it. Watt agrees the city should cherish Johnson - and vice versa. “He brings a whole new dimension to the city, in terms of quality busi ness leader ship,” Watt said. ‘We’ve had some outstanding leaders in this city, especially in the area of education and things of that nature. But to have one of the most recognized business leaders in the coun- tiy here is an outstanding thing for Charlotte. It does n’t surprise me that he does n’t want to be considered a savior. People who have it don’t really have to flaunt it. Watt “I think people realize that there are only a few people who can play in that finan cial league that Bob plays in. But in order for him to be successful, he’s got to have the community’s best inter ests at heart. And, just as important, the community is going to have to be willing to reciprocate. Overall, I think having Bob Johnson as the new owner of the NBA team is a win-win situation.” It all coincides with the overall view over at Edwards’ Barber Styling III. And the overall issue of Johnson and the Bobcats is an important one for 54-year-old Early Vaughters, the manager and de facto patriarch of the shop. “I’ve lived here all my life, and I’ve seen this city when its chief resource was truck ing,” Vaughters said. “And I’ve seen it move to banking as its chief resource. Now, this team he’s helped bring is going to give the people in Charlotte more opportunities to grow to new heights. Bob Johnson is a good man. Areal good man.” People nod. Johnson can buy a whole lot of things with his millions. Still, if he happens to forget his wallet one day, there is at least one place in Charlotte mm Honor roU of newsmakers Bob Johnson’s selection as newsmaker of the year puts him in select company. Since former U.S. Senate cemdidate Harvey Gantt’s selection as the first in 1990, newsmakers have included pohti- cians, members of the arts community and community activism. Newsmakers are selected by The Post’s edi tors based on the impact of individuals in set ting the agenda for impact on the overall Charlotte community through accomplish ments or issues during the year. Previous newsmakers include: 2002 - Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools Superintendent James Pughsley 2001 — Charlotte Housing Authority Executive Director Harrison Shannon and Charlotte Convention & Visitors Bureau President Melvin Tennant. 2000 — Arts & Science Council Executive Director Harriet Sanford 1999 — Charlotte-Mecklenburg School Board Chairman Arthur GrifSn 1998 - Northwest Corridor Community Development Corp. Executive Director Isaac Heard 1997 - Attorney James Ferguson 1996 - Mint Museum official Dawn Womack and United Way of Central Carolinas director Gloria Pace King 1995 - Transamerica Insurance executive Bill Simms f >/■ 1994 - Mothers of Murdered Offspring founder Dee Sumpter 1993 — Stop the Killing foimder the Rev. James Barnett 1992 - U.S. Rep. Mel Watt 1991 - Charlotte Hornets coach Gene Littles 1990 — U.S. Senate candidate Harvey Gantt Leadership Charlotte sponsors open house By Herbert L. White THE CHARLOTTE POST Leadership Charlotte is recruiting for its 26th class. An open house will be held Jan. 13 from 5:30 - 7 p.m. at the Sykes Building Rotimda in the McCoU Graduate School of Business at Queens University of Charlotte. Anyone interest ed in applying is invited to attend the even. RSVP should be e-mailed to edie@leadership charlotte.org by Jan. 9. Applications for Class XXVI wiU be accepted from Jan. 1, - Feb. 15. For information regarding the process, call Leadership Charlotte at (704) 688-2888, extension 2, or log on to www.leadership charlotte.org. Class XXVI begins in August 2004. Leadership Charlotte develop and enhance volunteer com munity leadership by providing a diverse group of emerging and existing leaders with the opportunity to increase their community knowledge, civic network, and service to the com munity. Leadership Charlotte is a broad-based leadership development program that embraces inclusiveness. Leadership Charlotte operates an aimual, 10-month leader ship development program in which participants meet with community leaders, explore issues impacting the Charlotte region and receives leadership skills training. Each class also takes on a service project. Leadership Charlotte, which celebrated its 25th anniversary this year, is an independent organization. UPCOM nNG CONCERTS Fri |an 16 & Sat Jan 17 • 8 pm BLUMENTHAL PERFORMrNC ARTS CENTER • BELK THEATER DIANNE REEVES CELEBRATING SARAH VAUGHAN Albert-Ceorge Schram, conducting PiDudV sponsored bv: IW o-tm e GRAMMY® Awairi W MNER Reeves can wrap her voice around a melody like few other current jazz singers...she caresses every phrase with^ palpable warmth and joy. • Billboard Magazine Northwestern Mutual FINANCIAL NETWORf Presenting Sponsor of the Charlotfe^^ymphony Pops Science tS giUNQL Mon Jan 19 • 7 pm Blumenthal Performing Arts Center • Belk Theater DAYBREAK freedom 7th annual Ir. Martin Luther King, Memorial Concert^ PlDUdV sponsored k Tony McNeill & Alan Yamamoto, Co-Directors Friendship Missionary Baptist Church Choir & Charlotte Community Choir, Tony McNeill, Director "A community tradition... too poignant to do without' ~ The Charlotte Observer l=>EqtlDE She Charlotte ©bseroer ForTikets orExchanges OrvistCSO TfcketofSre SymphonyC Large ■ 704-9 72-2 000 ,co„ceS'k^,u%%;L'l", WWW £:har]Dttesym phonyX)rg orpAc Boxoffice704^72-1000 where he could still get haircut. E-mail C. Jemal Horton at see- jemalwrite @ aol. com Braces for Children & Adults - Serving the English & Spanish speaking community - DR. PAUL A. McGILL D.D.S., P.A. “Practice Limited To Orthodontics” 704-375-7005 -h; 1404 Beatties Ford Rd., Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28216 - Northwest Gateway Professional Center - Office Visits by Appointment Only Gee, mom says she may... Need Cash Til Pay Day! So, that’s easy... She can go to... 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Dec. 31, 2003, edition 1
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