BillyCarpenter1

http://www.charlotte.com/mld/observe...ts/6725877.htm



2003

COMMENTARY
Fans now sing Jake's jingle
Weinke's tune falls off charts in Charlotte
TOM SORENSEN

Jake Delhomme is the most beloved sports star in all of Charlotte, and he will remain the most beloved sports star in all of Charlotte until he has consecutive bad games or a mediocre game followed by a bad one, at which point you will call for Chris Weinke.

You deny it. You love Delhomme, have always loved Delhomme and always will love Delhomme. He is your Delhomey and your Carolina Panther quarterback of choice.

You and Delhomme go all the way back to, let's see, the second half of Carolina's comeback victory Sunday against Jacksonville.

Hey, Amnesia Boy, you've been ripping the Panthers for the last month because they refused to start your beloved Weinke. You read that Weinke was the best quarterback in training camp -- which he clearly was -- and you saw him shine in exhibitions against the third string of other teams.

Everybody is caught up in it. While trying to watch a Panthers practice two weeks ago, a reporter walked up and made Weinke sound like a political prisoner.

Remember Slinky? Slinky is a toy invented 60 years ago. It was marketed with a song that goes, "It's Slinky, it's Slinky. For fun, it's a wonderful toy. It's Slinky, it's Slinky. It's fun for a girl and a boy."

In Charlotte, the song -- which I can't get out of my head -- goes, "It's Weinke, It's Weinke ..."

He has been the choice of girls and boys and almost every other Carolina fan since all the way back to August.

Fans have always loved him, except for last season.

The Panthers benched Weinke last season because he made too many mistakes. They installed Rodney Peete as starter, and although Peete was not very exciting, he made few mistakes and led the Panthers to a record of 7-9.

But after watching Peete for a full season, fans knew all the things he couldn't do. You forgot the things Weinke couldn't do. Maybe he can do them now. At some point, we'll find out.

In politics, it's Republicans or Democrats. In racing, it's Chevrolets or Fords. In football, its Delhomme or Weinke, at least until the Next Guy arrives.

There have been many Next Guys in Carolina. Fifteen quarterbacks have made the roster since the team's inception, and only two, Kerry Collins and Steve Beuerlein, have made the position theirs.

The others -- Barker and Bono, Craig, Fasani and Harbaugh, Lewis and Lytle, Matthews, Reich and Trudeau -- borrowed it.

Delhomme has the arm and movement and poise and enthusiasm and leadership and charisma to make the position his. He gets knocked to the ground and, instead of giving a long look at the lineman that missed the block, jumps up clapping.

He likely will be doing some clapping Sunday in his first start as a Panther on the road against Tampa Bay.

Remember the rule. If Delhomme plays poorly and the Panthers lose, he gets one more bad or mediocre game before you turn on him and invoke the name of the other quarterback whose name rhymes with a jingle I can't get out of my head. Tom Sorensen
_____________________________________________________

Looks like if Jakes plays another bad game this week the fans will want him benched.

BillyCarpenter1

FWtex

I was never one who thought a healthy Delhome should start over a healthy AB. Since you keep bringing up the panthers QB on this board I will say 2-0 is what a gamer brings to a team.

There are players that just know how to get their teams in wining situations.

SuperbowlSaints

Jake Delhomme stinks, he should have never gotten the starting job for the panthers