Shinn wrote a book on team move

Hornets owner writes book about team’s move from Charlotte

CHARLOTTE, N.C. (AP) – New Orleans Hornets owner George Shinn has written a book about the acrimonious departure of his team from Charlotte last year after 14 seasons.
“Never Give Up” is due in bookstores in October.
“I’m shocked he didn’t interview me,” said Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory. “I’m sure myself and the mayors of many other cities will be interested in reading how he never gave up in playing us against each other,” McCrory said, mentioning Norfolk, Va., and Louisville, Ky. – cities that also tried to lure away the team last year.
Shinn, a self-made millionaire, led the effort to land an NBA expansion team for Charlotte. He could not be reached for comment Monday.
His relationship with city officials and fans soured over the years as Shinn often refused to pay to keep top players and then demanded a new arena for his team. He left for New Orleans after voters rejected a deal to build an arena and he couldn’t negotiate a deal with city leaders.
A downtown arena is being built for a new NBA owner, Bob Johnson, and a new team, the Charlotte Bobcats.
The original title of Shinn’s book, according to the publisher, was “Flagrant Foul.”
The new title is one of many revisions being made to the book, said Stephanie Williams, senior publicist at Pelican Publishing. The Louisiana company is publishing the book for Shinn.
“He’s working on revising the manuscript,” which could result in a delayed publication date, Williams said. Originally, the book was due in August.
Pelican’s fall catalog describes the 192-page book as “an engrossing biographical portrait of an era of the team’s life and of the man who led them to a fresh start in the Crescent City.”
“This first-person account marks the first time the true story of the move of the Hornets NBA team from Charlotte to New Orleans has been told.”
The book also promises a “behind-the-scenes perspective on numerous players, what actually occurred in contract negotiations and trades, and how the death of Bobby Phills ripped out the team’s heart.”
Phills, a guard for the Hornets, died in a high-speed wreck near the Charlotte Coliseum in January 2000.
Pelican’s catalog lists Shinn’s hometown as New Orleans. In the past, Shinn has taken pride in his small-town N.C. roots. He was born in Kannapolis.
Shinn has also written “You Gotta Believe!,” published in 1996, about the team’s creation and early seasons. Before that, he wrote five inspirational books, including his 1977 autobiography, “Good Morning, Lord!” It was later reprinted as “The American Dream Still Works.”
McCrory said Shinn gave him one of his books to read several years ago, when the mayor was in the hospital with a blood clot.
“I didn’t read that one, either,” he said.

 

Can't wait to see it on the shelves of the local Dollar Tree.

 

dude, this is SERIOUS whiner line material.

thanks George!

 

everyone at hornetsreport.com is up in arms about mayor pats remarks. read the message board, its too funny

 

They are in denial. I'm glad Paul Silas will get to coach James.

 

Thanks George.:xyzthumbs

I will buy the book.