Purple Shirt Guy Tells His Side of the Story

From the Bring Back the Buzz archive. First published October 4, 2018 on bringbackthebuzz.net, lightly edited.

Ten years on, the 2016 first-round series against Miami is still the last time Charlotte played in a playoff series. And one fan still gets brought up every time it does. In 2018 we tracked him down.

I admit that at first I was pretty peeved with Michael Deason, who's now part of Hornets folklore as "Purple Shirt Guy." I wanted that first playoff series win in 14 years more than I could put into words, and when we lost, most of the fanbase turned its gaze toward Michael. We used him as a scapegoat, and luckily he was strong enough to carry that load.

Over time I could see the real reasons for the loss, but plenty of fans just couldn't let it go. He got more blame than starters who scored zero points in that Game 6. Years later, he's still a recurring reference on social media. So I wanted to find Purple Shirt Guy and hear the story from his side.

What happened in Game 6?

"To understand my demeanor in Game 6, you have to realize my enthusiasm in Games 3 and 4. Apparently the NBA thought I'd been cheering too enthusiastically. After Game 3 the Hornets called and asked me to stay in front of my seats (I'd been running down the sideline during timeouts giving high fives and trying to get people on their feet). In Game 4 I stayed just as loud but in front of my seats. Again, a phone call. I was a little upset at being singled out, so I decided not to stand and cheer during the first half of Game 6.

"In the second half I went back to cheering. When Wade hit that two over Courtney Lee to put Miami up five, I was cheering for our defense, not against the Heat. After the shot, Wade got in my face and said something I won't repeat here. I didn't even hear it at the time; I was more shocked he said anything at all. I was just reminding him he'd only tied the series and still had a game to go."

Do you know some fans blame you for the loss?

"Yes, which is fine. It must be hard for them to point at the players, coaches or anyone actually paid by the Hornets. Maybe I provide some stress relief. So, you're welcome. One guy posted an old address online and suggested fans go heckle me. He was easy to contact, and I explained the dangers of doing that. Other than that, not really."

Did you lose your courtside seats?

"Ha! No. I gave up my tickets. I've been back to a couple of games since. I had fun, but it was time to move on."

Are you still a Hornets fan?

"I am. I became more of a fan when we became season ticket holders. It was nice to be part of the transition back to the Hornets name. It brought more excitement to the games."

Do you feel responsible for the loss?

"If I take responsibility for the loss, will the same people give me credit for the wins? In Games 3 and 4, I cheered like a madman. We won. In Game 6, I sat the first half and cheered the second. We got outscored in the first half and outscored them in the second. I'm not claiming any miraculous power. Wade is a great player."

Any other run-ins with players?

"I once told Kevin Durant he was number three in the league and asked if he'd stop crying to the refs. He let me know, colorfully, that he disagreed. It ended with me getting red-carded. There's a first for everything. Most nights we'd just remind players about their great warm-up shooting. We kept it clean and made some friends along the way. Chris Bosh even came over and thanked me after I told him how much I respected him. I had a great seven years supporting the team."

What would you say to Hornets fans?

"Maybe put your energy toward what really cost the game. And show up during the regular season in Hornets gear, not the opposing superstar's jersey. Bring the same enthusiasm against the bad teams. Your support might actually help the Hornets win more."

Honestly, that last part is the best advice in this whole interview. Loud, organized, every night: that's what we're about. Find us at The Local 90 minutes before every home game and bring the noise.