In the first that is bound to be many articles detailing the disappointment of the City of Charlotte losing their franchise, Gary Shelton of the St. Petersburg Times writes that the NBA had everything laid out on the table in the Charlotte-Hornets management fiasco and made the wrong decision.

?A bad owner or a good market?? Shelton asks.  ?Which do you pick??

We all know what the result was? the Hornets are on their way to New Orleans.  Was it the fair choice?  No, and the fans are the big losers in this whole scenario.

The fans supported the Hornets, selling out the Hive nine years as owner George Shinn continued to grumble.  The Charlotte folk were in love with pro basketball, and the loved their team, but in the end they gave up on Shinn rather than the team.

It was Shinn who let all the popular players go.  It was Shinn who rejected Michael Jordan, which surely would have got the crowds back.  Look at Washington for evidence of that.  And it was Shinn who got his wish and is moving the franchise to New Orleans.  And it isn?t like this is Shinn?s first relocation project either, purchasing and moving the East Coast Hockey League?s Birmingham Bulls to Atlantic City, N.J. at this time last year.

Lest we forget the first commandment in professional sports; The owners never lose.  The move was approved via majority vote by the NBA owners where they were simply looking out for their comrade who was after more money.  He couldn?t get it in Charlotte, the city wouldn?t oblige to building his arena with more luxury suits which means more dollars, so he came through on his threat and relocated his franchise like somebody trashing their house then simply moving to a new neighbourhood.

However Charlotte fans, there may just be hope.  Tom Sorensen of the Charlotte Observer writes that although the basketball state of North Carolina lost its professional basketball team, it may not be a long-term departure.  Sure they may never get the Hornets back, like New Orleans will never get the Jazz, but the NBA will still return.

All that has to happen is for Charlotte to slowly build a consensus for a downtown arena and the NBA will expand.  David Stern has already opened up this option when discussions of whether or not the Hornets would be moving arose, but first Charlotte must build an arena for the new ?Charlotte Whatever?s to play in.

While it might not happen in two years, give it five or six and once again Charlotte fans will be rocking, a new team to support without the headaches of bad ownership.