Legendary North Carolina Sports Fixture Passes Away

One of the greatest compliments that can ever be paid to you (IMHO) is that people always felt better about themselves when they were around you. Pat Doughty was one of those people. "Big Pat" was the public address announcer for the Charlotte Hornets for almost two decades. Yesterday, the team announced that Big Pat had passed away. He'd been dealing with health issues for some time. Scenes like this picture above make me think of him. When the lights were down in the Spectrum Center prior to a Hornets Game, you heard people cheering and Big Pat's voice booming throughout the arena.

For many years we had a sports radio station as part of our family of stations in the building. Several times a year, Big Pat would come up for a visit. Big Pat never forgot a person. Never forgot a name. And was one of those people that when he talked to you, you felt like you were the only person in the room. Beyond that, his enthusiasm for basketball in general and the Charlotte Hornets in specific was a joy to be around. And I mean for the vast majority of his time with the Hornets, the team has been a disaster. Yet, to listen to Big Pat, you'd have thought they were on the verge of becoming the next NBA dynasty. This kind of ambassador is next to impossible to replace.

WBTV released this statement regarding the passing of Big Pat from the team, “Big Pat’s vibrant voice was the backbone of our game experience and energized Spectrum Center every night. He was dedicated to our team and our fans, even as he fought health issues in recent years. He will be greatly missed by everyone associated with the Hornets organization. Our thoughts are with Pat’s family and his many friends.”

"He will be greatly missed." THAT, is the understatement of the year. I, nor you, can imagine anyone else's voice booming throughout The Spectrum Center during Hornets' games. Nothing has been announced yet, but I feel certain there will be something done by the team to honor the memory of Big Pat Doughty. Big Pat is a member of the University of Maryland Eastern Shore Hall of Fame. He was a legend in the basketball arena, and in the arena of life.

Maybe you just moved here.  It could be you have lived in the Charlotte area all your life.  Here are the top five facts you may not have known about Charlotte, North Carolina.

I have been in the Charlotte area most of adult life.  My entire career has been here but I must admit I was shocked at a few of these.  When I go to Carowinds, especially when I was little, I loved the Gold Rush roller coaster.  Turns out there was a very good reason why that roller coaster had that name.

I have been to more than my fair share of Charlotte Hornets games but I never knew how we got that name or mascot.  Those origins go straight back to the history books.  As a matter of fact you will find the name of our city right along with "hornets" from a very famous revolutionary war figure.

And how about animals? We LOVE animals even more than you can imagine.  But as much as we love animals,  there is one thing missing in Charlotte that most metropolitan areas do have.  What could that be. Here are the top five facts you may not have known about Charlotte, North Carolina.

Did you know that the Charlotte area is home to the very first gold rush in 1799. A gold nugget was found by a 12 year old boy in Cabarrus county at the site now known as Reed Gold Mine. The second gold nugget was found in a local stream in the 1830s. From then, the gold rush was on.  You can still go to Reed Gold Mine to pan for your own gold and gems to this very day.

The Charlotte Hornets famous name dates back to 1780. When British General Cornwallis came through the area he proclaimed this area was a"hornets nest of rebellion" and the name stuck.  Our NBA franchise adopted the name and the rest is truly history.

One of the reasons why Charlotte does not have a zoo is because authorities thought it would be a good idea to put a large zoo in the middle of the state.  Many people go to the Riverbanks Zoo in Columbia, SC or the North Carolina Zoo in Asheboro, North Carolina.

Due partially to tax reasons and beautiful locations, Charlotte and surrounding areas were chosen for a few really great movies that you have been seen or heard of.  The Hunger Games was filmed here and also in Cleveland County.  Who could forget Talladega Nights filmed at Charlotte Motor Speedway .  Shallow Hal with Gwyneth Paltrow and Jack Black filmed here as well just to name a few.

There are more than 170,000 registered cats and dogs in Mecklenburg County!  You will find multiple dog parks and doggie day cares in our area.  And if you are looking to adopt there is no shortage of facilities where you can find your next best friend