Game On Rewind: Sports Director, Mike Solarte, of Spectrum News 1, Charlotte joins the show! 2024-7-17

Episode Transcript

(00:00):
Joining us now on Ingles Hotline isone of our good friends. He's Spectrum
News his own Mike Solarti. Hehas been around this Carolina sports scene and
just the national sports scene for manyyears and we bring him on here not
only to talk Panthers, little LACCfootball perhaps, but the British Open,
which is coming up, not reallytomorrow like today, it's here based on

(00:23):
the hours. Mike, welcome backin my bud. Thank you for having
me. Sure, hope you're doingwell. Man. We're living the dream.
You come in here, you talksports. It's you know, mid
July, which is one of myfavorite times a year because you know,
the ramp up to football season isstarting. It's nice to have a little
low hot doogg eating contest or grayto a certain degree. But we're really

(00:45):
into it now the British Open.Here we go. So look, this
has been, needless to say,a fascinating season in the world, not
just on the PGA tour, butcourtesy of Bryson the Shamba, the Live
Towards entered the Fray. Don't knowif it's helped their ratings, don't know.
People can still find where it's broadcastfrom. But I will say this
fascinating character that he is. Lookingback at what happened at that US Open.

(01:07):
We talked in advance, Mike aboutthe challenges of that course. What
did you make of what happened downthe stretch in your perspective of Rory's finish
and Bryson's amazing bunker shot at eighteen, I think we saw Rory prove that
he's a little bit fallible when hehas the lead. You know, that's
something that he usually is a guythat slams the door shut. And he

(01:30):
had a couple of putts and gotaway from him down the stretch and then
opened the door for Deshamba to hitthat remarkable bunker shot on eighteen and then
followed up with a tremendous putt tofinish for the bar and the win.
But you know, and oh andrevisionist history here. And I know that
nobody's going to believe me in this, And it turns out it didn't matter

(01:51):
anyway, because Deshamba won. ButI wanted to mention ludvig Oberg before the
US Opened. Yes, and heplayed beautifully for three rounds and and just
didn't seal the deal. But he'sthe guy that I'm watching this week,
uh for sure, and I thinkreally you know, and listening to some
of the pre tournament comments that aremade this week of world crude with conditions

(02:15):
of the British Open what they are. You know, it's not necessarily the
guy who strikes the best shots,uh you know, Tee to Green.
It's the guy who's gonna guy's gonnawin the Claric Jug this week is going
to be the player that controls hisgolf all the best. And the conditions
at the British Open are are reallythe X factor. If it's blowing hard

(02:38):
and windy and rainy, uh youknow that that's a that as a neutralizer
for some. If it's if it'sdry and fast, that's a huge advantage
to the to the to the bighitters. So there's there's there's a lot
of different things that come into playwith in regards to uh, you know,

(02:59):
how this thing is going to playout of True. So and the
one thing that True's known for,I mean not only just the postage stamp
part three, but those bunkers.I mean those bunkers. I don't think
people I don't know, I havenever been there, but I try to
like amp it up by a powerof one hundred to imagine what it's like.
Because I visited Augusta and you seethe nuances there and you're like,

(03:21):
wow, I didn't see that ontelevision. This is like, man,
you get one of those pot bunkersgood night diro if you're in the back
side of it and you need aladder to navigate your way down to your
golf ball forgotten literally and then theshovel to get it out. So it's
you know, like I say,the player that best flights his ball during
the week is able to control distances, be able to control the wind,

(03:44):
you know, control the ball againstthe wind. I mean that that that
player is usually the one that endsup winning the cleric drug at the end
of the week. And you know, we talk a lot about Scotti Scheffler
and every time he puts a pegin the ground, he's a threat.
But he was not a threat atall at the US Open at Pinehurst because
he was I mean, he wascompletely bewildered by that place. So they'll
get another shot at it in fiveyears, and I think he'll take a

(04:06):
lot from what happened this past yearand apply it then. But He's going
to be a threat. Rory isa threading out to a great start at
the Scottish Open last week. XanderSchaffley is a guy that Xander Shaffley is
a guy that you always have tokeep an eye on. And of course
the live guys, you know,the Deshambos of the world. I mean,

(04:26):
there's just so many good players there. Cam Smith that are you know
in Brooks Koepka who usually shines intomajors. You know, there's been a
lot of players to keep an eyeon this week. But again, flighting
the golf ball and controlling it isthe key. You still right about that.
You look back at what Troon hasoffered in terms of champions And we're
joined by Mike Solardi Spectrum one News. We're going to talk a little bit

(04:46):
about the Panthers here in a minute. Some of the greats of the game.
Bobby Locke one in fifty, Plummerwho goes lard unnoticed as one of
the greats, one in seventy three, Watson in seven and eighty two,
I should say, calcul I forgetthat shot day teen that he knocked down,
and justin Leonard. You talk aboutcontrolling the ball, that's a guy.

(05:06):
On that particular day that was justnow again the sun was shining,
it looked like a beautiful data onthe Carrolls out there. But he played
well and then Todd of course thisis got himself won. And of course
this is dating back to Phil Mickelson. I'll say this, how fascinating is
it? See again, it's notjust about the Live Tour's future and growth,

(05:29):
but you know, every so often, four times a year, I
guess, including maybe the Ryder Cup. Now the Keegan's a part of it.
You get to see the best ofthe best back together again. It
is a fun thing to see,you know, out on the brains.
You know, Mickelson warming up.I don't know if he's going to contend
Tigers out there, but Rom's hadsome injury issues. Deshamba looks at times
just impossible to beat. How vitalis it that they eventually I know they're

(05:56):
working on it, it sounds like, but get the two sides back together
and make sure they're playing together asmuch as possible. I think the pulse
of the game, it doesn't relyupon it, but it would be a
lot healthier in terms of revenue andeyeballs and future growth for youngsters. If
you could see these guys more often, like Koepka and Rom and the Shambo
needs to happen well. And andthat was something that the Shambo pointed out

(06:23):
after he won the opening pinners.And you know, he's a guy.
Look, I'm gonna say this here. I've never really been a fan of
Bryce and Shambeau at this. Youknow, when he first burst onto the
scene, he was this you know, complete nerd doing all the analytical stuff
and the and his you know,his uh uh scientific approach to the game.

(06:45):
It's like, you know, golfis a game of steel and mechanics,
and he took it to a certaincertain level. And like, ah,
I'm not a big fan. Ithought I thought he would burn out
within five years of it. Ithought that the mcand the math alone,
but some people are just wired thatway. I was with you, I
thought it was going to be adisaster. Then he comes from that,
and then he goes and becomes abodybuild of Bryson or Cammer's when we were

(07:09):
calling him and you know, youknow, doing four he's like eating five
thousand calories a day and working outthree times a day and It's like,
all right, golfers aren't built likethis, and he's vombing it. So
he kind of became like a freakshow dude. But you know, since
all of that, I said,I've never really a fan of him.
I became a fan of him atthe US Open because you know, he

(07:30):
handled himself so well, handled himselfso well on the golf course, and
what he said in the post postchampionship interview, you know, was saying,
look, everything that's passed is passed. We need to find a way
to get everybody back in tournaments together. And you're absolutely right. Guys like
the Shamba and Keeka and you know, the young guns that are over at

(07:53):
Live, they're lost in the shuffleif they're not seen on CBS or NBC
every week during the I mean nodisrespect to the CW. I have no
axe to grind with any of thenetworks that they actually you're right, they're
absolutely lost there. I mean theproduction you can't find it. It's hard
enough to find CBS now on YouTubeTV, but you cannot find it.

(08:16):
And I'm look, I'm someone thatworked in Raleigh, started off at a
Fox affilitate. We lost the Foxaffiliation became the WB and we were absolutely
put off the planet. So Iget it. I get it, and
no disrespect to the CW, butyou know, people don't know where to
find it. They is. Everybodyfor their lives has been betweened on you

(08:37):
know, the Big Three. Mike. Here's the thing. It's Bryson wins
in the fashion he does. Andwhether it's politicking or whether it's authentic,
it came across as authentic to me. The way he engaged with the crowd.
There was one hole in the backnine where he's talking about, Hey,
you think I should hit go forthe green? Think I should go
for it. He's in the middleof trying to win a major here his
second of his career. Rory iswound tiger, you know he is.

(08:58):
And so it's good to see Bryson, who was once you know, led
very much by the power of thecalculator on the course, now doing it
a little bit by feel and alittle charisma, a little Arnold Palmer to
that. But you see he goesout to live Nashville, which again that's
the name of the tournament, Liveand then the city the week, you
know, following great crowd, butthat does nothing for their ratings, It

(09:20):
does nothing to move the needle becauseit's still live golf. It's still boom
Box on sixteen playing, you know, David Getta, you know tracks,
it's it's not good. It's Jackie'swacky golf from Caddyshack too, And it's
never going to resonate with me.And until they merge back into the traditional
seventy two whole format, put somepants on, play some golf, get

(09:43):
off my lawn, but at leastget them all back under one umbrella.
And I know they're trying to getthat done, but this seems like it's
going to take a while to getit, you know, finalized. If
it happens, Yeah, you're absolutelyright. And Mark, I'm gonna you
know, no disrespect to you andthe crew that surround you. But none
of us this call are smart enoughto figure that out. And and and

(10:05):
hopefully there are some some bigger brainsin the room when they, you know,
sit down to talk about this,because you know, golf fans are
missing out on the young careers ofa lot of guys they're seeing they're missing
out on the twilight of other guyswho went to live and the game itself
is what is being hurt, youknow, And no disrespect to the PGA

(10:28):
tour guys that are out there thatbuild those spots from the guys that detected,
you know. I mean, there'sthere's there's plenty of talent that there's
plenty of golf talent on the planet. There really is. But you know,
but ultimately the game of professional golfis is is worse off now because
of the split and Bryce to hitthe nail on the head and fine ers,

(10:48):
we gotta we got to figure itout and get everybody back together.
Mike Selati is our guest here.Let's shift to the NFL, the Carolina
Panthers, like you've been covering thisteam, uh since their inception thirtieth season.
Enough for this team, and I'llbe up there with you in Charlotte
for the first time, not justfor the first time ever. I've been
up there a lot, but fortraining camp itself. Because Wafford is in

(11:09):
the review mirror, they will comeback down to Clemson. We're excited about
that. Thoughts on that. Imean, look, you've been with this,
you know, beat for a longtime, covering this team. You've
seen all as John Fox would saythe deepest and the highest. But this
move I think has to happen.It's, you know, one of those
things. Wafford has been a greathost. I love the city of Spartanburg.
I lived there, but it wasinevitable. And where do we go

(11:33):
from here? What does it looklike? I know there's tickets on sale,
but you don't pay for them.Some practices are sold out. Is
the construction? Is the construction complete? Are they ready for this? What
does it look like? Well?They better be ready for it. They
were still working on a lot ofthings during OTAs, but I mean I

(11:54):
don't think. Look, they're gonnabe They have to be ready because I
mean, you know, Camp isnot breaking news. You know they know
that camp that everybody reports on thetwenty third, and they hit the field
of the twenty four. So how'sit going to look? I really don't
know because this is just the secondtime that how camp in Charlotte, and
the first time was during COVID.Every other year has been down at Wafford,
and we have all known the layof the land down in Spartanburg.

(12:16):
So this is going to be aninteresting first go at it. But you
know, the practice bubble is gone. They've got some new a new area
to you know, a new overthe new area to overlook the practice fields.
And so it'll be it'll definitely bea little more intimate, I think

(12:37):
because of the surroundings. I meanit's just it's not as sprawled out as
Spartanburg was. And you know,and so it'll this is gonna be this
is going to be an interesting gohow fans come in and how they you
know, how they get settled andparked and into the facility and watch practic.
Yeah, I mean we're talking aboutnine thirty a camp start, yeah

(13:00):
past, Yes, that's the that'sthe six thirty. So yeah, oh
but there's you know, and youknow, I don't know how I feel
about the advance, you know,like reserving of space like tickets that took
a guard. Yeah, but butlike, yeah, the limited space.
Now they don't have the hill.I mean, Wafford, you've got you.
I mean you can sit on topof hill, on top of hill

(13:22):
and then stand behind the fence.And yeah, I'm sad to see it
go. But look, we knewthey they were eventually going to part ways.
They were supposed to be in RockHill by now for growing out loud
and now at least they're they're planningahead when you go to camp, and
you know I'll be there. Wehad Mike kay on yesterday we were chatting
about this. I'll ask you thesame question other than the obvious, which
is the development of Bryce Young,which is the big question of course for

(13:45):
this franchise. But it's never justone thing. It's another area that Mike
Solarti is going to be paying closeattention to when he's monitoring the first couple
of days of camp and more importantlyjoint practices the preseason games, because some
of them have different weight than others. Yeah, I think. I think
in the first couple of practices there'sonly so much you could look at.
But as camp goes on, theone thing that I'm going to be interested

(14:07):
in, which goes in line withthe Bryce Young development, there's the cohesion
of the offensive line. You know, Austin Kovick slides into the center spot
away from the guard. We've stillgot the same tackles in Ikey and Mountain,
but the guard spots are going toare going to look a little different,
and I want to see how thoseguys blend because again, Bryce Young
was you know, as you know, running for his life much of the

(14:30):
season last year because of the offensivescheme and the personnel they had that you
know, square peg into a roundhole. It just didn't work. So
the offensive line development is going tobe one thing I'm going to watch.
I want to see how the defensiveline functions now that Brian Burns is a
New York Giant, you know,how how the new faces that come in
to play, you know, inthe edge, and what they want to

(14:50):
do with the nose, you know, all all those things are going to
come into play. But you know, the one good thing I like about
the Panthers makeup overall is that thedefensive coach extent didn't change and they were
able to do a lot of goodthings last year with the personnel they had,
and it's a pretty decent personnel.Now let's see how they do this
year implementing their systems, their styleswith the new faces. And it's going

(15:13):
to be important for guys like ShaqThompson and other veterans that were around Derek
Brown to kind of, you know, be kind of coaches on the field
during camp to say, no,this is how we do it. Here.
This is how we do it there. Don't question it because it worked
because we were pretty good defensively lastyear. So but the big thing for
me is offensive line, to seehow well those guys come together, and
of course keeping everybody out of thetub, keeping everybody out of the medical

(15:33):
tent. I mean, that's Lucas. The season could be made and could
be made or broken in the firstthree weeks of camp, and you don't
want to see that. Mike.I want to just take a second here
and salute you because it's something Iwas late to the party on on Twitter.
I was on vacation and I gotthis note back on the second of

(15:54):
last month, and you were recentlyhonored by our friends up there and including
the great Dave Goren others from then S m A. And I know
that means the world to you andto be a part of that organization.
You wrote a very classy note righthere on Twitter. I'll share it with
our listeners. Look, you obviouslyhave a passion for sports broadcasting, sports

(16:18):
storytelling. What does it mean toMike to be honored in that way?
I gotta imagine it was very humbling. Yeah, humbling doesn't even begin to
describe it. You know, they'vethey've gone in the executive director of the
of the NSMA called me after thevotes were tabulated. They called me in
corner, say January or February,and told me that I had tied for

(16:45):
North Carolina sportscaster the year with EricCollins, the Charlotte Horner. That's amazing,
and oh we got to have aWe got Collins in Clarion here to
do a voice off. Just givethem liners and generally them bomb nuts.
I'm just gonna tell you right now, he wins. I'm just I'm gonna
because he is he is something else, man. I mean, you know,

(17:07):
to get that phone call and andyeah, uh to know that that
you know that that honor comes fromthose that I work alongside and have worked
alongside across the state, because youknow, I was in Raleigh from ninety
five until two before it came downhere to Charlotte. So you know,
the voting membership across the state thatwould that would think me worthy of such

(17:30):
an honor is what really really hithits the hardest. I mean, on
the on the on the the award, the words chosen by his by their
peers, and to me that.I mean, that's that's the ultimate.
You know, that's the ultimate.I'm a hockey guy, that's the ultimate.
Stick tap your peers when you're whenyour peers recognize and not recognized,

(17:52):
when your peers think that you're worthyof something like that. And so I
mean, the entire voting block inNorth Carolina. I could not be more
humbled and honored, and I wasgrateful to accept that. On July the
first, it was really really cool, great weekend. Got to meet a
lot of great people and the businessesin great hands. I got a lot
of folks coming up behind us because, like you said, i'd uncover this
team since you know it's Inception thePanthers, and so that's thirty years man,

(18:17):
and that's uh, that's pretty hardto swallow as well. Here,
well, I'm not looking. I'mamazed. I'm not on a feeding tube
right now. No, you're notgoing to the glue factory quite yet.
You still have more b roll tocatch on the sidelins. I remember,
Mike, just so you know outthere, I used to be a little
teenage, pimply faced fan and I'dbe looking at highlights and then later on
when I started this one panther place. I'd postal highlights and Mike would retweet

(18:41):
me that's me right there, thoseare my legs. I'm on the field.
I'm filming that highlight. I wasthere. It was the funniest thing
ever. And Dude, I alwaysloved your work and still do. And
this photo of you and Joe buckMan put in a frame, Dude,
that's awesome. Absolutely, there's alot of images that I've got to get
transferred to put into films because itwas a memorable I mean, heck,
man, I met met Bob Ryan, for God's sake, Bob Bryan talking

(19:04):
about and we're talking, we're talkingBulls Celtics in the eighties. That's it,
you know, with Jordan's arrival andeverything. And I'm like, oh,
yeah, I remember that. Idid you remember that I was watching
those games as a kid. Isn'tthat something when you get those mo and
I could relate on certain levels therewith guys I've talked to over the years,
and you get that organic opportunity whereyou feel like you're not bothering them.

(19:25):
It just comes up and it's like, that's that's priceless. And Mike
just saying no, you're one ofmy favorites. You have been and I
try to take a little bit fromeveryone, and you do a hell of
a job covering not only golf butthe entire Spectrum part in the pun of
the world of sports. Here inthe Carolina's Panthers opening camp here next week,
and they're just breaking news here tradeFalco. Mike Clarty was talking about

(19:48):
the three tickets that were on salea Ticketmaster. The entire training camp has
been sold out. There are nomore tickets left. So if you want
to go see the Panthers train yourbest look at the highlights at night with
Mike Solari's great newscast. Where canthey find your work, Mike, to
be able to catch up on trainingcamp because they ain't going to see it

(20:10):
in person without tickets, Yeah,I can. I can find it on
Spectrum News one. Our Chevrolet SportsNight show runs every night ten eleven.
We're going to be we'll be uhin pok at Parlance, all in with
the Panthers as they hit the fieldon on on Wednesday next week for the
first practice. I mean, it'shard to believe that summer as we know
it is basically over. It's goneit's gone. Thank thank goodness. We're

(20:32):
moving on. We're we're on tothe fall. Mike. Congrats man,
and thanks for joining us. I'llsee you next week, Bud. I
look forward to it. John,thanks again,