Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, 81, selling team (sexual harassment and racial slurs alledged.)

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Omega
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Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, 81, selling team (sexual harassment and racial slurs alledged.)

Post by Omega »

The old order and ways are crumbling fast. From ESPN:


CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, amid allegations of workplace misconduct, announced Sunday night in a letter on the team website that he plans to put the NFL team he founded up for sale after the 2017 season.

The letter came after Sports Illustrated published a story saying the Panthers settled with at least four former employees regarding inappropriate workplace behavior by Richardson.

"I believe that it is time to turn the franchise over to new ownership,'' Richardson wrote. "Therefore, I will put the team up for sale at the conclusion of this NFL season. We will not begin the sale process, nor will we entertain any inquiries, until the very last game is played.''

The SI article detailed accusations made against Richardson that include sexual harassment of multiple women and the use of a racial slur toward a scout who has since left the team

Richardson, 81, allegedly made verbal comments about women's appearances, inappropriately touched female employees and made advances to women that included asking whether he could shave their legs and for them to give him foot rubs.

Along with the allegation of using a racial slur that led to a settlement with the scout, SI notes comments made by Richardson about black players' appearances and his threat to discipline players who addressed social issues.

According to SI, Richardson and the Panthers reached confidential settlements with complainants that included nondisclosure and non-disparagement clauses. The SI report describes the settlements' value as "significant."

Richardson was awarded the franchise in October 1993. The Panthers played their first season in 1995. Richardson previously had a plan in place that called for the team to be sold within two years of his death.

Richardson reached a deal with Charlotte officials in 2013 when the city agreed to pay $87.5 million in upgrades to Bank of America Stadium that would keep the Panthers there through June 2019.

Bruton Smith, the owner of Speedway Motorsports Inc., that owns Charlotte Motor Speedway and other tracks on the NASCAR circuit, said last year he would be interested in purchasing the team.

Forbes placed the value of the Panthers at $2.3 billion in September. Richardson and investors paid $206 million for the team in '93.

Charlotte-based sports marketing executive Max Muhleman, who helped Richardson bring the team to the Carolinas through the sale of personal seat licenses (PSLs) that financed the stadium, was sad to hear the news the team was being sold.

"If that is his wish, he will leave one of sport's most remarkable legacies for, hopefully, generations of Carolinas to come," Muhleman told ESPN.com.

The Panthers are 10-4 after Sunday's 31-24 win over Green Bay and tied with New Orleans atop the NFC South. They are only two years removed from a 15-1 2015 regular-season in which they lost Super Bowl 50 24-10 to Denver.

Carolina also reached the Super Bowl following the 2003 season, losing to New England.

Richardson's promised when purchased the team to bring the Carolinas a Super Bowl victory. He reiterated that in the letter.

"I hope everyone in this organization, both on and off the field, will be firmly focused on just one mission: to play and win the Super Bowl," Richardson wrote. "While I will no longer be the team owner, I will always be the Panthers Number One fan."

http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/2179 ... g-nfl-team


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farmer
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Re: Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, 81, selling team (sexual harassment and racial slurs alledged.)

Post by farmer »

That was not his fault. It was the CTE from playing football that made him do that.
Could be a lot come out with this.


Omega
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Re: Carolina Panthers owner Jerry Richardson, 81, selling team (sexual harassment and racial slurs alledged.)

Post by Omega »

farmer wrote: Sun Dec 17, 2017 9:50 pm That was not his fault. It was the CTE from playing football that made him do that.
Could be a lot come out with this.

Richardson is a wealthy native of Spartanburg. The stereotypical genteel southern gentleman. Benefactor of local universities, mover and shaker of Upstate SC commerce (BMW). He has been in failing health with speculation the team would be sold, maybe this is just a convenient cover to force the sale. Bottom line is that the country is undergoing a shockingly quick cultural revolution. Teach your sons well, boorish behavior at school, work, or in public is no longer acceptable. Alpha male behavior without constraint seems to be no longer cool.


Gut feelings are your guardian angels
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