By Larken Egleston
Despite not picking until the 43rd overall selection in Saturday’s annual NFL Draft, many in the Panthers organization had quite a busy day.
Saturday morning, almost 20 players from the Panthers came out to support teammate Jordan Gross at his 2nd Annual “Kick CF with Jordan Gross — Joe vs. Pros” Charity Kickball Game. Held this year at Memorial Stadium, the game pitted a team made almost exclusively of Panther players against a team of amateurs who had qualified in a tournament earlier that day to receive the professional beating the “Pro” team had in store for them.
The game benefitted the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and a handful of children who suffer from the disease attended the game with their families and were invited to participate in between-inning games with the players.
The players, including the ‘competitive at everything he does’ Steve Smith and last year’s rookie sensation Jonathan Stewart, were reduced to children themselves as they played kickball for what one could only assume was the first time in a long time.
In the end, the event raised more than $55,000 for Cystic Fibrosis research. This was a definite do-not-miss event for any true Panther fan ... and extreme Panther fans such as Kit Kat, a real life crazy cat lady. She dresses up like a cat (tail and all) and waits by the practice field while the team practices just so she can get close to her favorite cats.
After leaving the scorching heat of Memorial Stadium Saturday I headed south to Carowinds for the Official Carolina Panthers Draft Party. The event was held in the park’s Palladium where the Panthers broadcast team of Mick Mixon, Eugene Robinson, and Jim Szoke led a Q&A session between the fans in attendance and four of the team’s draft picks from last year, including Charles Godfrey.
Sadly for those of us who hoped to hear some insightful information about the upcoming season, the players were forced to answer such brilliant questions as “What’s your favorite position?” (thankfully the players gave a football related response as opposed to the inappropriate answer half of us were thinking) and “Charles Godfrey, will you autograph my Steve Smith jersey?”
Needless to say, the Q&A was more entertaining than anything – and other forms of draft day entertainment included a live performance from Mick Mixon’s band Mick and the Ultras, a awkwardly delayed dance performance by the TopCats, and of course ... Carowinds.
Those in attendance Saturday also had the pleasure of trying out the park’s newest roller coaster, the Carolina Cobra, a 125-foot-tall ride with three inversions that is ridden forwards and then again backwards.
While the Panther coaches sequestered themselves in the depths of Bank of America Stadium debating the benefits of picking one college standout over another on Saturday, the Panther players were playing kickball and riding roller coasters ... these pro athletes have it rough.
And speaking of Mick and the Ultras will also be at the Blue Jean Black Tie BBQ at the Mint Museum of Art on May 8, 7 – 10 p.m. to benefit the National Kidney Foundation and celebrate the life of Jason Ray, the UNC mascot that passed away.
Mobile
