I'll admit it: I had high hopes for the Charlotte Bobcats this season. The kept Gerald Wallace and his all out hustle approach to the game. The went out and got an offensive force in Jason Richardson, who may be on a down turn but is a perfect fit for this team.

Then Emeka Okafor turned down the contract. In a summer of guys turning down extensions, this is the only one that made sense to me. Ben Gordon and Luol Deng are good, but they had each other to lean on if one didn't produce. Each of them had an over inflated sense of worth because they thought that they alone were the reason why the Bulls were on the rise, and it'll cost them.

Okafor and Wallace have been the only bright spots since the NBA came back to Carolina. Emeka was the teams first #1 pick, the face of the franchise. I personally would've taken him over Dwight Howard at the time because of what I saw out at UConn. He was a solid, defensive minded big man that eats up space, boards, and blocks. A terrific cornerstone.

Then they drafted Sean May. Then Adam Morrison. Neither of them can stay healthy. This is a team that has been floundering in mediocrity it's entire existance.

First Nelly as an owner. Then Michael Jordon, the biggest name in NBA history and not exactly a slouch in North Carolina, comes into run the team. Now, Larry Brown is dropping his suitcases into a Charlotte motel room to see if he can work his magic on the 'Cats. But this is different then his last two stops. He won't have a big man to lean on.

In Detriot, he had Ben Wallace to police the paint. New York gave him Eddy Curry...wait...bad example, but Charlotte won't even have that.

Emeka has had some health (ankle/back) issues through his career, but the fact that he's had stiffs like May and Pimoz Brezec next to him does not help matters. While Nazr Muhammed was brought in this season to try to help, the damage has been done. The organization has shown that it does not value a cornerstone big man like Okafor.

So, with out that and a glut of wing players who ALL think that they should be the go to guy down the stretch, this stop is shaping up to be more like the Knicks then the Pistons. I wish I could feel bad for what few fans of the Bobcats there are out there for having to deal with such a pathetic product being put out on the court, but just take this little glimmer of hope to heart: At least you aren't have the team ripped away from you again. Maybe next time.