Yansinksas leaving Charlotte

Last day today.

 

Where to? Does he need someone to help pack?

 

His new job will be working for espn.com

 

He's moving to Tampa, FL.

IN MY OPINION

It's my bye week

I'm leaving for a new job, but I will miss my old one, covering Panthers
PAT YASINSKAS

Coming to Charlotte a little more than eight years ago was a lot like coming home.

I had spent my life living in tiny Dalton, Pa., and sprawling Tampa, Fla. Charlotte was pretty much the midway point between those places -- on the map and in terms of climate, lifestyle and just about everything.

I quickly became comfortable here, making friends through work and by playing racquetball, softball and basketball, and it didn't take long for Charlotte to start feeling like home. That's why I'm going to miss it.

This is my last column for The Observer. In a couple of weeks, I'll start a new job writing for ESPN.com. I'm going to move back to Tampa, but that's only because I now can live anywhere and family concerns make it best that I live in Florida.

But it's been a great ride in Charlotte and I'll carry the memories forever. I worked at a great newspaper with outstanding colleagues and I got to see just about everything in my nine seasons covering the Panthers.

I saw a surprise run to the Super Bowl that took the Carolinas by storm, the emergence of Jake Delhomme from obscurity and the steady growth of Charlotte into a full-fledged NFL city.

There were also some unpleasant times, covering the Rae Carruth saga and the deaths of Sam Mills and Fred Lane.

Overall, I wouldn't trade my time covering the Panthers for anything. In Jerry Richardson, Marty Hurney, Steve Beuerlein, Mike Minter, Kris Jenkins, Dan Morgan and Delhomme, I got to deal with some of the classiest people in the world on a regular basis. I also got a few trips to Hawaii for the Pro Bowl.

I only hope that whoever follows me as the Observer's beat writer has at least half as much fun as I did. As long as I'm starting a will of sorts, here are a few parting wishes:

• For Hurney: A $50 million increase in the salary cap so you don't have to work so hard.

• For John Fox: Enrollment in one of those Dale Carnegie classes. You're a witty, insightful guy. But nobody out there knows it because you become a robot every time the cameras and microphones turn on.

• For Delhomme: A complete recovery from elbow surgery and 4,000 passing yards.

• For defensive coordinator Mike Trgovac: A defense that's ranked in the top five.

• For offensive coordinator Jeff Davidson: An offense that's ranked.

• For Steve Smith: An air horn that blows in your ear every day at 4 a.m.

• For Morgan: Good health, no matter if you're playing football or just being a husband and father.

• For Mike Rucker: A happy retirement, if that's what you decide on.

• For Julius Peppers: A 10-sack season. Is that too much to ask?

• For Jenkins: A medal for being the most genuine guy in the locker room. That might get you in trouble sometimes, and you can be more than a little rough around the edges. But you say what's in your heart and that sets you apart from the rest of the robots. Don't change.

• For DeAngelo Williams: 250 carries.

• For Jordan Gross: A big, new contract and a couple of trips to the Pro Bowl.

• For the fans: Lots and lots of winning seasons. You've grown quickly into a passionate and knowledgeable fan base and you deserve the best.

That brings us back to my situation. I've written two farewell columns in the past and I'm going to end this one the same way I did those two, because this ending again fits with my decision.

There's an old adage about a flock of geese. The food was good, the barn was warm and they were very comfortable. When it came time to fly South for the winter, they decided to stay in the barn. Before they knew it, their wings became useless.

It's time to fly.

 

after Keyshawn and now this, apparently ESPN will hire anyone. Yas writes like Emmitt talks.

 

i was there when we hired yas at the observer. can't believe it's been 8 years. man.

 

We'll see what he's assigned. If its human interest stories, he'll be fine. He can write. He's just not a sharp analyst. I think Keyshawn has been good.

 

I don't mind him that much.

 

I thought Keyshawn has done a good job for ESPN. He's def an upgrade over Micheal Irving.
Yas did a pretty good job. Him and Reed this last year ssem to have done some more open complaining about things, such as steve smith blowing the horn in the locker room and JR not talkin to local media at all. I don't know if that's the norm for beat writers though.