Witch Hunt
Posted December 4, 2005, 5:31 PM ET

During the course of hosting "PrimeTime with the Packman" and in my previous years in the sports marketing and broadcasting business, I have had the chance to meet many celebrities, players, owners and other entertainers. For the most part, the people you meet are interesting and approachable.

Of course, there are times you run into some real jerks and jackasses. I could tell you stories that would have you laughing all night long. But every now and then you meet somebody that leaves a lasting impression.

One of those "celebrities" that has made a positive impression on me is Ric Flair....the Nature Boy. There is no doubt that Flair might be the most popular entertainer and celebrity to ever grace Charlotte and the Carolinas. The decades of performing and mastering his craft in the ring are legendary not only in the Southeast, but worldwide.

How can you not like Nature Boy Ric Flair?

The best part of meeting Flair is how taken back you are of his kindness and graciousness. His persona away from the ring is completely different from what you see on WWE or any time he's "on" in front of a camera or in an interview.

Nature Boy has been a semi-regular on my radio show as a guest and a co-host. We've spent time together in other settings, too. He's joined me on a Southern Fried Football™ Tour stop in Columbia and I even spent some qualtiy time with him last week at the taping of the Southern Sports Awards in Atlanta.

Last week in ATL, we spoke about his latest legal woe with a reported "road rage" incident that apparently took place in Charlotte a few weeks ago. Flair explained to me what happened, and I found his explanation very different than what was reported by a few local TV stations and in the Charlotte Observer.

Time will tell what the truth is surrounding the incident, and the courts and judicial system will make sure that happens. In addition to this issue, the Charlotte Observer and other media outlets took liberty to include other Flair issues from the past in their coverage.

Friday's Charlotte Observer had a front-page headline and two-page of Nature Boy's past IRS history and current divorce procedure. You have to be kidding me! Front page news? The Observer has produced some quality work on important issues, but this was pathetic and a desperate act to sensationalize the news.

The divorce papers from Flair's marriage were issued in February....it is now December. That's timely news? Front-page headline news in the Observer? Perhaps the National Enquirer has invaded the Observer's editors. I hate that anybody has to go through a divorce, but when it is played out in public it can get ugly and uncomfortable. It seems to me that the Observer and other news outlets are enjoying piling on Nature Boy. If this matchup was taking place in the wrestling ring, the media would have been disqualified.

The story about Flair and the "road rage" is certainly timely and newsworthy, but the divorce and IRS matters in print last week have nothing to do with the current issue at hand. As I stated on the air and in this journal entry, time will answer all the questions surrounding Flair.

The question I have is this....Will the Observer and the local TV stations spend as much time apologizing to Flair if he is found not quilty in the "road rage" incident ?

If I was a betting man, I would say "absolutely not". I suspect the media in question will turn the other way and pretend it never happened.

Ric Flair has really been mistreated by the local media and that's a shame. He's one of the nicest guys on the planet and he has been a positive influence and treasure to the Charlotte community. And I for one will be rooting for him.....Wooooooooooooooo!