I’m prepared to watch the Spurs and the Thunder play a best-of-137. This is basketball, played by a couple of organically constructed, smartly-managed, small-market teams.

On today's Happy Half Hour, we welcome new Panthers RB/aspiring Charlottean AJ Dillon. In which we get to educate him on important topics like the Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence and Brooks' Sandwich House, and discuss Luke Combs and the power of community. www.youtube.com/watch?v=K6VS...

Panthers coaching staff finalized, with some new faces and new titles. www.panthers.com/news/panther...

Panthers add a tight end on Wednesday. www.panthers.com/news/panther...

This is what Kenny Atkinson gets for spurning the Charlotte Hornets.

As campaign strategies go, “There’s a hole in the bottom of the boat; All Aboard” is quite a choice.

Two Panthers photographers among six nationwide to place in the @profootballhof.bsky.social annual photo contest. We're blessed to work with so many talented shooters. www.panthers.com/news/capturi...

How cool are the Carolina Panthers? They just signed Miles Davis. www.panthers.com/news/panther...

More from Dave Canales on Tershawn Wharton's condition after the defensive tackle's recent neck surgery. www.panthers.com/news/dave-ca...

Canales said the team is bringing Carl "Tater" Smith onto staff to fill a similar capacity to Jim Caldwell in the past. Smith is the father of Panthers ST coordinator Tracy Smith, and a longtime assistant in the league.

Dave Canales said DT Turk Wharton was feeling discomfort, got imagining, found things that needed to be addressed. "He's recovering great." No timeline.

I would say the dog-ass Pistons are done here, but the dog-ass Cavs are perfectly capable of coughing up a 17-point halftime lead.

I mean, sure the Hornets drafted two-time MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and immediately traded him on draft night. But, I mean, they did get Miles Bridges, and not one but TWO second-round picks.

The Venn diagram of Cincinnati Reds/Tottenham Hotspur followers doesn't have a big intersection but it includes me.

Behold, a post-schedule release and minicamp Ask The Old Guy, in which we blow it up real good (both cheese and misconceptions), and discuss line depth, analytics, the chances of UDFAs, the receiver room, HOFer Yale Lary, and of course, my future campaign signs. www.panthers.com/news/ask-the...

The Panthers draft class is under contract. www.panthers.com/news/second-...

Come for the blowing stuff up, stay to find out how far pieces of a 31.22-pound wheel of L'amuse Gouda cheese went flying. We blowed it up real good.

Maybe the best part of the Panthers schedule is that early bye week. With the HOF game, think of it as falling in Week 10 of 23, rather than Week 5 of 18. Plus the mini-bye after Week 8, and it actually balances out pretty well. Having four of the last five at home, as Luke Kuechly said, is huge.

JJ and Luke break down the schedule. In video form. www.youtube.com/watch?v=_JCE...

You could let amateurs break down the schedule. Or you could trust JJ and Luke. www.panthers.com/news/breakin...

And the schedule is in. www.panthers.com/news/panther...

Blowed it up real good. www.youtube.com/watch?v=QG6P...

What's your favorite Schedule Release Eve tradition? I like to drink a bunch of cheap champagne and shoot off fireworks. Actually, I just like doing that, and it doesn't have anything to do with the NFL schedule. www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Lal...

That's right, 8 p.m.

Twitter has exactly as much power as you give it and no more.

While we wait on Thursday’s announcement, here’s an update on their 2026 opponents’ offseasons. www.panthers.com/news/ahead-o...

When Luke Kuechly was eligible for the HOF a year ago, he was asked if he had any process questions. "There's only thing I'm really worried about. If I get elected, will we find out in time to get my mom a flight to the announcement? She'd be bummed if she missed that." Yes, Luke. And HMD Eileen.

I don't know a lot about hockey, but it seems that not ever losing a playoff game enhances your chances of success. Tune into @joeovies.bsky.social and @giglioog.bsky.social for a detailed breakdown. I'm just here for the vibes.

I start watching the Hurricanes about this time every year, and my favorite player is the guy who looks like Kim Thayil from Soundgarden because he's a grinder.

Putting in their own time, working in the parking lot. That's how you make an impression.

Taking a look at what we learned on Day 2 of rookie minicamp, from Chris Brazzell's range, to Monroe Freeling growing into his 21-year-old body, plus more as they wrapped up the weekend. www.panthers.com/news/five-ta...

Minicamp photos? Minicamp photos. www.panthers.com/photos/photo...

For Monroe Freeling, Friday was a chance to break the ice, as he gets used to his new surroundings. www.panthers.com/news/for-mon...

Rookies.

Monroe Freeling in his new home.

Rookie minicamp incoming. Stay tuned to panthers.com for the latest.

Minicamp roster announced. Includes 11 tryout players. www.panthers.com/news/panther...

Veteran jersey numbers have been assigned, though as with all things in life, they're subject to change. www.panthers.com/news/panther...

You want photos of the newly-signed Panthers. We've got you. www.panthers.com/photos/16-ro...

Panthers also sign 10 undrafteds (with one more on the way soon, details inside). www.panthers.com/news/panther...

Panthers sign six of their seven picks, including first-rounder Monroe Freeling. www.panthers.com/news/panther...

Again for the morning crowd, before the rookies roll in for this weekend's minicamp. A look inside the draft room, and inside the program the analytics department created to help GM Dan Morgan navigate the board, which led to an extremely unlikely result. www.panthers.com/news/inside-...

Before Panthers rookies roll in tomorrow for this weekend's minicamp, let's go inside the draft room to see how they got here. An in-depth look at how Eric Eager and the analytics department are a crucial component to the draft process. www.panthers.com/news/inside-...

In the last hour my kitchen faucet blew a gasket and so, apparently, did Reds closer Emilio Pagan’s hamstring. I know which one I’m more upset about. By a lot.

Solo was cool and fun. And that’s most of what Star Wars content needs to be, as long as the baseline message of little vs. big and good vs. evil and natural vs. mechanical persists.

Life of a Star Wars nerd: Earlier today, one of the youngs I work with saw my Chewbacca, Party Animal shirt and said: "Who's that?" Then while watching Mandalorian and Grogu teasers, I yelled at the TV and said: "Honey, it's the INT-4 mini-rig toy that was never in the movies." They don't get it.

Fully clothed. I swear.

I've watched way too much Tottenham Hotspur — this year in particular, but the last two decades in general — to read too much into that first half. Lot of ball game left. It can always get worse.

Tough day for big hosses.

Celtics on pace to lose 192-0. This is worse than the Hawks or the Magic.