Dear Charlotte, From Bring Back the Buzz

From the Bring Back the Buzz archive. First published April 11, 2013 on bringbackthebuzz.net, lightly edited.

In April 2013, Charlotte was weeks away from the news its fans had fought for: the team would apply to bring the Hornets name home. We wrote this letter days before the final Silent Swarm to thank everyone who made it possible.

Thirteen years later, the Hornets are coming off their best record in a decade, Kon Knueppel and Brandon Miller are the faces of a new era, and the same fans still fill The Local before every home game. Some things haven't changed: this city shows up.

The best place on earth

Dear Charlotte,

Many of you may remember that early on in this adventure, we wrote a letter to Michael Jordan. We poured out our memories and feelings into a heartfelt plea for the return of the Hornets, and asked y'all to do the same. Those letters have been our inspiration. With the final SWARM fast approaching, we've decided to write a letter to the folks who've been on this ride with us.

To the pro-Buzz media: Thank you from the bottom of our hearts for taking the time to listen to the fans and look at the big picture. For many of you this wasn't a jump on the bandwagon, and taking a position involved some professional risk. You've been gracious with us neophytes, but always professional. Now that Evan is turning 21 this week, we'd love to sit down and have a couple beers with you.

To the media Buzz killers: Please accept our deepest apologies for being thorns in your side. Maybe, just maybe, if we made ANY money doing this, and didn't have to tweet and post between classes on a cracked iPhone, we'd care a bit more about a misplaced apostrophe. Seriously, we truly respect your talents and your following. It would be no fun without you. Thanks for keeping us honest.

To the Bee-lievers: You are our kindred spirits. You inspire us and keep us going. We love your passion and your creative ideas. You're the ones who quote Cornwallis and bleed teal and purple. You are, and always will be, the best and truest fans in the greatest hometown around. Thanks for helping us keep the Buzz alive!

To the naysayers: You may be right. We may be crazy. But we're just the kind of lunatics this town is looking for. (Apologies to Billy Joel.)

To John Morgan: Man, thanks for having our back. It would have been easy to be in competition or at each other's throats. Great minds think alike, or maybe just differently enough to cover the Hornets 2.0 movement from every angle. We hope we're there to see your face when our collective dream becomes a reality. Besides, we could never rock the white tux the way you do!

To our friends and family: Thank you for being the best of Bee-lievers. To Jax, Mama and Papa Buzz, and the gang (too many to list) who gave their time and resources to Bring Back the Buzz: thank you for talking us down, building us up, and catching us when we fall. Thank you for following us around and embarrassing yourselves for the cause. When all this is said and done, it will be all about you and the memories we share. We love you guys!

Well, that about covers it. We're all in this together, folks, just trying to bring a little Buzz back to the city we love.

OK Charlotte, let's SWARM!

Sincerely,
Evan and Scotty Kent
Bring Back the Buzz

What happened next

A few weeks later, in May 2013, the team announced it would apply to change its name. On May 20, 2014, the Charlotte Hornets name officially came home. The Bring Back the Buzz energy lives on today in The Crown Club CLT. Read the whole journey in The Story of Bring Back the Buzz.