The Carolina Panthers are being sold and Diddy wants to be the buyer. I haven’t been into an idea this much since I started making grilled cheese sandwiches with mayonnaise instead of butter. The Panthers are in dire need of a face lift, and Diddy can do it — with a little help from some friends.
Diddy wants to buy the Panthers. This should be his ownership team.
This is how they become “America’s Team.”
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James Dator has been covering a wide range of sports for SB Nation for over a decade, with a special focus on the NFL.
My dream scenario is a Diddy-led consortium of super fans and local luminaries that will not only reinvigorate the Panthers, but turn them into America’s Team. If you’re a fence-sitting football fan without a dog in the fight, do you side with Jerry Jones — whose BFF is Papa John — or do you go with this group?
Stephen Curry
Steph was born and raised in Charlotte, he loves the Panthers, and he’s perfectly poised to join the group. Look, I’m not going to tell Steph how to live his life, but he should probably force a trade to the Hornets as well. Just so he can oversee his business a little more closely.
Brooklyn Decker and Andy Roddick
Decker and Roddick have already shown interest. Both are awesome. Get on board the Panthers train.
Homer Simpson
Look, hear me out: I know Homer is a cartoon character, but Mark Davis basically has the face of one anyway — so it’s all good.
Why Homer? Simple: He is an established Panthers fan in The Simpsons canon.
He will really bring some much-needed “every man” quality to the ownership group that currently isn’t there.
Ric Flair
Flair’s relationship with the Panthers is ... complicated. People always used to assume he was a ride-or-die for his home city of Charlotte, but in reality he’s identified more closely with the Falcons.
And that’s why this is perfect.
There is nothing more Flair-like than spending years with the Falcons, leading cheers in their locker room, supporting them publicly — then heel turn, become a minority owner of the Panthers, and burn it all down on his way out the door.
Michael Jordan
Let’s add MJ to the group too, because why not? Sure, there could be some shoe wars, considering Cam Newton wears Under Armor and Steph does too, but I’m sure this can all be worked out.
The entire cast of Dawson’s Creek
I’m a big fan of a good homecoming, and it’s been too long since we got the band back together. These lovable scamps defined late-’90s teen drama, and while Dawson’s Creek was shot in Wilmington, N.C., which is way on the east coast, it’s close enough that I want this reunion to happen.
Whatever happens, I just hope the sale moves quickly and without issue because ...
