Carolina Panthers tell Ric Flair to go back to the bushes

[TheGreatShowtime]

http://espn.go.com/nfl/playoffs/201...nd-game-san-francisco-49ers-carolina-panthers

CHARLOTTE, N.C. -- Professional wrestling legend Ric Flair issued a statement on Thursday saying he will not attend Sunday's NFC playoff game between the Carolina Panthers and San Francisco 49ers.

Team officials at Carolina said they were not aware that Flair, who reportedly has moved from Charlotte to Atlanta, was invited.

Flair became embroiled in controversy between the two teams last weekend when he flew to Wisconsin to give the 49ers a pep talk before their wild-card game against the Green Bay Packers. Flair, who lived in Charlotte from the early 1970s until recently, went so far as to say his "heart is with the 49ers all the way to the end.''

This came several days after it became public that the Panthers have been using Flair's famous "WOOOOOOO'' chant as part of their locker room celebration after wins. Cornerback Drayton Florence, who began the chant with the defensive backs early in the season, went so far as to say he wanted to invite Flair to speak to the team before Sunday's game.

Florence, cornerback Captain Munnerlyn and safety Mike Mitchell also had taped a video of them shouting "WOOOOOOO" to play on the stadium Jumbotron to pump up the crowd.

That was before they heard Flair had gone to Wisconsin to meet with the 49ers at the team's request.

Melinda Morris Zanoni, Flair's agent at Legacy Talent and Entertainment, said the WWE asked Flair to fly to Wisconsin to meet with the 49ers. She reminded that the WWE is hosting WrestleMania XXXI in San Francisco in 2015 and that Flair is friends with players on the 49ers, Packers and Panthers.

Said Flair, "What can I say? I've always been a very good heel.''

Flair once wrestled with former Carolina linebacker Kevin Greene and was a regular at Carolina home games. The Panthers used to put his "WOOOOOOO'' chant on the scoreboard to get the crowd excited.

That ended years ago after Flair had several well-publicized legal disputes.

Carolina wide receiver Steve Smith, who has a Flair robe he bought at a charity auction, told the Charlotte Observer earlier this week that he was "real disappointed'' seeing Flair had spoken to the 49ers.

"I'm not sure if he'll get the invite here,'' Smith told the newspaper. "That Golden Gate Bridge has been burned.''

On his Facebook page, Flair posted: "To be the team, you gotta beat the team! Congrats to the Carolina Panthers on their win last night! Steve Smith isn't the man to mess with! WOOOOO!''

Carolina officials were not aware of whether the player video of the "WOOOOOOO" would be used at the game. San Francisco coach Jim Harbaugh said on Wednesday Flair could cheer for both teams.

"What's the matter with having two favorite teams? Is that a crime?" Harbaugh told reporters in the Bay area. "My opinion would be that it doesn't make you a bad person to have two favorite football teams."

OG Steve Smith telling Flair to ice up

*Flair cries*

 

[Nintendough]

Flair has more championships than the Panthers organization, every individual player, coach or exec combined. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

 

[Da King]

49ers gotta win for flair now otherwise he be looking like a damn fool after this weekend

 

[LastEmperor2k2]

49ers gotta win for flair now otherwise he be looking like a damn fool after this weekend

Panthers worried about the wrong thing.

Naitch gonna come out rocking a red and gold robe.

 

[ADK]

I knew something would be up, how can Naitch turn on us?
Hell our stadium is in Charlotte

 

[Heelish]

49ers gotta win for flair now otherwise he be looking like a damn fool after this weekend

Not that he needs any more help in that department

 

[Da King]

I knew something would be up, how can Naitch turn on us?
Hell our stadium is in Charlotte

49ers asked him for the pep talk, not the panthers, can't blame flair for going

 

[Mr.Black]

flair getting turned down, whats new, old fukk would probably try to drink all the champagne when the panthers win

 

[DEAD7]

 

[R=G]

It's a damn shame in many ways but his heart is where the MONEY is

 

[LastEmperor2k2]

Flair speaks in the speech how he used to be a big 49ers fan back in the day.

Talking about John Brodie and shyt. Dude aint like he had no connection to the team.

49ers reached out to Ric, Panthers aint do that.

Funny part is you know it's inevitable whoever scores first is going to do the Ric Flair strut.

The 4 fingers works perfectly for SF too

 

[Bryan Danielson]

Flair just thought he was going to see the Charlotte 49ers

 

[Ill Lou Malnati]

Those yellow streaks in the hair

 

[Berniewood Hogan]

THE SHRUBBERY WEARING, SQUIRREL'S NEST SHARING, TWIG AND LEAF BARING SON OF A GUN!

 

[mannyrs13]

where's the flair alias at so we can hear direct from the man on how he feels? woooo.