Jerry Richardson’s decision to step aside as the Carolina Panthers owner after the 2017 season has left a very understandable power vacuum in Charlotte. With no clear successor, it’s only a matter of time until the Carolinas go into full panic mode.
Richardson says he’s not going to entertain any inquiries “until the very last game is played” but I’m not sure Panthers fans can wait that long. It’s not good juju to have a team in limbo with the playoffs less than a month away. Cam Newton already looks like he’s flirting with the deep end. I’m not sure how much more he can take.
Cam Newton with the fez hat
(: @Panthers) pic.twitter.com/q1XOq5hnER
— Def Pen Sports (@DefPenSports) December 17, 2017
Fully aware of the precarious situation that is Charlotte, Forbes has made a momentary pivot into the sports world and named 12 men who could take over the Panthers. While other sports sites avoid rabid speculation, Forbes’ own Kurt Badenhausen dove headfirst into the feeding frenzy. And his list is electric.
Some predictable players are on the list, like the Belk, Levine, and Wordsworth families (who are already Panthers shareholders). There are some high net worth individuals up there too, like North Carolina natives James Goodnight (the state’s richest man), Bruton Smith, and Michael Jordan.
And then there’s the absurd part of the list. Badenhausen thinks Mark Cuban could be eyeing the Panthers which — though not entirely out of the question — is almost wholly impossible, since he already owns the Mavericks and continues to flirt with a 2020 presidential run. Jeff Bezos also made the list, probably because he’s closing in on a $100 billion net worth, per a report this morning. Hedge fund giant and Steelers partial owner David Tepper also made the list, though that looks unlikely as well.
Photo credit: MAURO PIMENTEL/AFP/Getty Images)
But there is one man who seems to be the natural choice. He would fit into the role so seamlessly, so effortlessly, that people would probably forget he wasn’t just born the Panthers owner. He might seem like a dark horse now, but mark my words, he could be the most electric NFL owner the league will ever see.
Jon Bon Jovi.
He’s allegedly been eyeing NFL teams for a while, the Panthers might just be the perfect prey. I know Diddy promised to have the best halftime shows but I think Bon Jovi might be stiff competition.
You can bet I’ll be following this story closely. And in the meantime, I’m living on a prayer.