Sackem90
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Optimist or pessimist? Panthers fans are both
by Steve Reed
Gazette Sports Reporter
Date Added: 10/12/2005
CHARLOTTE — Ever wondered if you’re an optimist or a pessimist — or maybe if you fall somewhere in between?
Well, if you’re a Carolina Panthers fan, here’s your chance to find out once and for all.
If you’re an optimist, chances are you’re thrilled with Carolina’s 24-20 victory on Sunday over the Arizona Cardinals.
On the other hand, if you’re a pessimist, you probably spent the better part of Sunday night grumbling about why the Panthers even needed a last-minute stop to beat the injury-plagued and perpetually awful Cardinals.
If you’re an optimist you’re eager to point out that for the second straight week the defense, while it may have struggled early on, did come up with a big stop when it needed to. In fact, they had three big stops, forcing Arizona to turn the ball over twice on its last three possessions. Big players, you think, make big plays at big times.
A pessimist will point out that Josh McCown (who?) shredded Carolina’s defense for 394 yards. You’ll point out that over the last two weeks the Panthers have allowed 697 yards passing and six touchdowns against teams with a combined 2-8 record. Big players, you think, make big plays all of the time.
You glass-half-full sorts will point out that the offense, while admittedly stagnant for some portions of the game, did manufacture an important time-consuming 10-play, 94-yard touchdown drive midway through the fourth quarter to take the lead at 24-20.
You glass-half-empty types probably spent a restless night thinking about Jake Delhomme’s inability to put up huge numbers against an Arizona secondary that, due to injuries, was missing not one, not two, not three, not four, but five cornerbacks in the second half due to injuries.
An optimist? “What a great catch by Steve Smith in the end zone to give us the lead.”
A pessimist? “Of course he caught the ball, he was covered one-on-one by a backup safety for goodness sake.”
Optimists tend to believe in clichés like “a win is a win” and “there’s never an easy game in the NFL.”
Pessimists bristle at clichés and dig for discoursing trends like: Why haven’t the Panthers found a consistent pass rush? Why is the secondary giving up so many touchdowns? Why isn’t the running game as dominant as 2003? And, who stole Keary Colbert and replaced him with Harry Houdini?
The optimist is thrilled the Panthers are finally above .500 and believe that when Tampa Bay loses to Miami this Sunday, just like Carolina did, then whammo!, the Panthers will be tied for first place in the NFC South!
Pessimists are dreading another defensive letdown in Sundays’ road game with the Lions, a team that boasts two former first-round draft picks at wide receiver — Roy and Mike Williams, along with Kevin Johnson. You’re thinking, the Panthers weren’t able to stop McCown, so why would they be able to slow down Joey Harrington?
An optimist raised his beer glass to the Panthers after Sunday’s game.
A pessimist slugged one back and said something along the lines of, “Well, they got darn lucky.”
An optimist is thinking Super Bowl.
A pessimist is thinking the Panthers will be lucky to get a wild card unless someone lights a good hot torch under Julius Peppers and Chris Gamble.
So there you go.
Where do you fit — optimist or pessimist?
Still can’t tell?
Oh yeah, one more thing.
If you’re an optimist, you’re probably thinking I’m a pessimist for even exposing some of Carolina’s problems. And if you’re a pessimist, well, I’ve just sent you looking to the medicine cabinet in search of some Rolaids.
Contact Steve Reed at [email protected]
by Steve Reed
Gazette Sports Reporter
Date Added: 10/12/2005
CHARLOTTE — Ever wondered if you’re an optimist or a pessimist — or maybe if you fall somewhere in between?
Well, if you’re a Carolina Panthers fan, here’s your chance to find out once and for all.
If you’re an optimist, chances are you’re thrilled with Carolina’s 24-20 victory on Sunday over the Arizona Cardinals.
On the other hand, if you’re a pessimist, you probably spent the better part of Sunday night grumbling about why the Panthers even needed a last-minute stop to beat the injury-plagued and perpetually awful Cardinals.
If you’re an optimist you’re eager to point out that for the second straight week the defense, while it may have struggled early on, did come up with a big stop when it needed to. In fact, they had three big stops, forcing Arizona to turn the ball over twice on its last three possessions. Big players, you think, make big plays at big times.
A pessimist will point out that Josh McCown (who?) shredded Carolina’s defense for 394 yards. You’ll point out that over the last two weeks the Panthers have allowed 697 yards passing and six touchdowns against teams with a combined 2-8 record. Big players, you think, make big plays all of the time.
You glass-half-full sorts will point out that the offense, while admittedly stagnant for some portions of the game, did manufacture an important time-consuming 10-play, 94-yard touchdown drive midway through the fourth quarter to take the lead at 24-20.
You glass-half-empty types probably spent a restless night thinking about Jake Delhomme’s inability to put up huge numbers against an Arizona secondary that, due to injuries, was missing not one, not two, not three, not four, but five cornerbacks in the second half due to injuries.
An optimist? “What a great catch by Steve Smith in the end zone to give us the lead.”
A pessimist? “Of course he caught the ball, he was covered one-on-one by a backup safety for goodness sake.”
Optimists tend to believe in clichés like “a win is a win” and “there’s never an easy game in the NFL.”
Pessimists bristle at clichés and dig for discoursing trends like: Why haven’t the Panthers found a consistent pass rush? Why is the secondary giving up so many touchdowns? Why isn’t the running game as dominant as 2003? And, who stole Keary Colbert and replaced him with Harry Houdini?
The optimist is thrilled the Panthers are finally above .500 and believe that when Tampa Bay loses to Miami this Sunday, just like Carolina did, then whammo!, the Panthers will be tied for first place in the NFC South!
Pessimists are dreading another defensive letdown in Sundays’ road game with the Lions, a team that boasts two former first-round draft picks at wide receiver — Roy and Mike Williams, along with Kevin Johnson. You’re thinking, the Panthers weren’t able to stop McCown, so why would they be able to slow down Joey Harrington?
An optimist raised his beer glass to the Panthers after Sunday’s game.
A pessimist slugged one back and said something along the lines of, “Well, they got darn lucky.”
An optimist is thinking Super Bowl.
A pessimist is thinking the Panthers will be lucky to get a wild card unless someone lights a good hot torch under Julius Peppers and Chris Gamble.
So there you go.
Where do you fit — optimist or pessimist?
Still can’t tell?
Oh yeah, one more thing.
If you’re an optimist, you’re probably thinking I’m a pessimist for even exposing some of Carolina’s problems. And if you’re a pessimist, well, I’ve just sent you looking to the medicine cabinet in search of some Rolaids.
Contact Steve Reed at [email protected]
The problem is what it's half full of. :imagestor
