Posted 11:15 AM by Gene

RENDELLISM AT WORK IN NORTH CAROLINA:

Victor "Chili Man" Werany voted against an uptown arena in 2001. Standing behind his hot dog cart on Trade Street, he swore to never set foot inside the arena.

"I'll stand here and sell hot dogs," he said. "The voters said no, and it got built anyway. It was our taxpayers' money that could've gone to roads, could have gone to schools. Could have gone anywhere."

But hey, it did go anywhere -- it went to a pleasure palace where a KnightRidderite could groove with the STONES!

WHERE'S THAT ANGRY REPORTING YOU FOLKS PROMISED?

Ticket prices have been a point of controversy already. For Bobcats games, it'll cost $275 a ticket to sit in the first five rows, and no less than $40 a ticket to sit in the lower bowl. Upper deck seats are as low as $15, and Tapscott assures that there are no bad seats in the house. But even though the top row is a lot closer than the worst seat in the Charlotte Coliseum, it's still the nosebleed section.

The cheapest ticket to last night's concert cost $95.

NO PROBLEM -- if you're a NEWS HACK.

TEPID RESPONSE: Anonymously sourced reports in the local media have claimed tickets are selling slowly; the arena also lacks a naming rights sponsor and will open as Charlotte Bobcats Arena.

SEEKING PATIENCE: The team says it needs time to let the public see how great the new building is; some residents remain angry that the arena was built despite citizens' vote against such a facility for the now-departed NBA Hornets.

GOOD LUCK! (Pffh-hh-hh!)