Hurricanes Hornets Night: A Chat With Fox Sports Southeast Hornets Analysts

The Hurricanes hosted Hornets Night last night at PNC. We got the opportunity to chat with Hornets analyst Gerald Henderson and sideline reporter/host Ashley ShahAhmadi Before the Game.

Last night wasn’t as fun as it could have been. The Carolina Hurricanes hosted Hornets Night in the terrible loss to the New York Rangers. But they managed to keep it fun with Hornet themed giveaway towels, posters and even had Hugo the mascot in the arena.

Fox Sports Southeast Hornet’s Analyst Gerald Henderson and sideline reporter and host Ashley ShahAhmadi were there to sound the siren and send the Hurricanes onto the ice. But before the game I got the chance to talk to both of them about the sports of Hockey and Basketball and how the Hornets and Hurricanes relate to one another across sports and cities.

Check out our incredible conversation Below:

Cardiac Cane (CC): We are here talking today with Ashley and Gerald from the Fox Sports Hornets, Correct? 

Ashley ShahAhmadi (AS): Yes!

CC: Awesome, how are you guys doing today?

AS: I’m good!

Gerald Henderson (GH): I’m doing great, how are you doing?

CC: Doing excellent! You guys are heading down to the [Canes] game, I’m heading down there myself. Excited about that. What do you guys think about the Sport of Hockey? Is it the first time going to a Canes game?

AS: Yes, its my first time going to a Canes game, but I actually went to an Aves game a couple of weeks ago. I used to go to Atlanta Thrashers games growing up, so I’ve been to a couple of hockey games, but this is my first Hurricanes one and I’ve heard this is the way to go!

GH: Yea, this will be my first Hurricanes game. I went to Duke, so it was always kind of close around but I never went to a game when I was at School or after but I grew up in Philly so I went a bunch of Flyers games growing up.

CC: Flyers games! Now they have Gritty, what do you think about Gritty?

GH: I don’t know anything about that, I [was watching] back in the early 2000s late 90s when I was growing up in Philly

CC: Brings us to our next question; What have you guys heard about the Hurricanes so far in their season?

AS: I know that ever since last year when the made the Eastern Conference Finals it’s just been, they’re just on a roll. I unfortunately haven’t been able to keep up to much with them this season, but I have been via social media and whatnot. I know the fans love them and I think that They can definitely be a playoff team again.

GH: To jump on what Ashley said, I know they made it to the [Eastern Conference] Finals last year. It’s been a while since they made the playoffs and it’s a big time thing for just the Carolinas in general.

I haven’t followed hockey as much, but being in the media world now you always see what’s going on with everybody especially Carolina, so it’s good to see that. They are having another good season this year so hopefully they will be able to make the playoffs and make it back to the [Eastern Conference] Finals. That would be huge for Carolina Sports.

CC: Absolutely, will you guys be back for the Playoffs?

AS: Oh yes! Count me in!

GH: If they do [make it to the playoffs] I definitely have to make the trip back. Plus your guys’ season is another couple of months, kind of like the Hornets, I can definitely make the Trip back down and see some exciting times.

How About Them Hornets?

CC: Hurricanes are amazing in the playoffs, they always back a deep run when they do make it. How about the Hornets? How are they doing this season?

AS: So, as you [would know] if you follow them a little bit, we are a really young team, but a very exciting young team. They are fun to watch. We just had three guys at All Star weekend this last weekend in Chicago. We are coming off a win last night.

The main thing we want to focus on is player development and really just developing the young guys. So there is a lot to look forward to. They are so much fun to watch this season, but in terms of making the playoffs and setting themselves up for the future there is a lot to look forward to because of how exciting these young guys are.

GH: I Agree with Ashley. This team is very young. Having guys that are getting minutes this year for the first time and with that comes some growing pains. I think they made some progression this year and a lot of the young players have really emerged. All Star weekend was a true sign of that having three guys in the rising stars game.

I think they are headed in the right direction. Could take some time before they’re headed to an Eastern Conference Finals like the Hurricanes but it will be a good process.

CC: Sounds like the Hornets are going a really good rebuild. Should be something to excite the Carolina Fanbase soon enough.

Hockey and Basketball: When You Mix Them Up

CC:What can the hockey fans take away from the Hornets and basketball?

GH: Well, I think in a lot of ways the teams are similar. At least the sports are similar. You need the entire roster to be successful. When I watch hockey I see shifts of guys come in and out of the game, very similar in terms of basketball where you can see 3-4 guys coming into the game at a time and multiple guys playing different roles.

The teamwork is a big aspect. You need every guy on the roster to be successful.

CC: There are a lot of basketball fans on the team. We have Trevor van Riemsdyk, who is a defender, as well as Dougie Hamilton, another defender, and Andrei Svechnikov and Warren Foegele who are forwards. All four have been seen going NC State, Duke, and UNC games. What would you tell them?

AS: Well, we definitely love any support. Any fan that loves the sport, the guys love the sport I’m sure they can relate. They love when fans come out and get to watch them play.

I love the impact that Carolina sports have on each other. It can just be from this Hornets night at the Hurricanes game. I hope that it continues and we do a Hurricanes night as well and we keep going back and forth. I think that just cross promoting each other and just showing the support, obviously they are two very separate sports but, we come together because we are in NC.

Hopefully they can maybe catch a game or I think it would be awesome if the teams could maybe meet each other. I know Devonte Graham is from the Raleigh area, so this is his town. I am sure he would be up for something like that.

CC: How far do you think this collaboration between the Canes and Hornets can go?

GH: I think it should continue. It’s a little different because the two teams aren’t in the same city or the direct connection is not there.

But as a player and to connect the question you asked before, when you see other athletes at your games, you may not know as much about their sport or really know them but you know what kind of respect and what kind of work ethic you have to put in to make it to the professional level. So thats one thing.

I ams sure all athletes have in common is the respect and the level of commitment to be on that level. We didn’t have Hornets/Hurricanes nights when I was a player here. But I know, just being a player, how much those guys are committed making that franchise successful and it’s the same on the Hornets.

CC: Absolutely! How important do you think it is for both of these teams to speak to their sport in the other’s city? So Hurricanes in Charlotte and the Hornets in Raleigh?

AS: I mean, just from bouncing off of what Gerald said, just supporting each other, because, like he said, it’s incredibly hard to be a professional athlete I am sure. Just having that support from [them], even if you don’t know [them].

The Hurricanes, some of them are basketball players, but even if not all of them are, just to have that respect from each other and support from each other and all kind of come together as Carolina Professional teams I think shows a lot about this state and how much support means to the fans here.

I think it’s awesome personally.

CC: What would you guys think if someone petitioned to change the name to Carolina Hornets from Charlotte Hornets?

GH: It would be a tough thing to do, just with the resignation with Charlotte and the Hornets. It was the reason they wanted to bring the name back to the city. I played with the bobcats and it was always a push to bring it back and it finally did happen.

Now to change it to ‘Carolina’ would be a tough thing to do. It is Carolina’s team and Charlotte is a big part of the Carolinas. I’m not sure if that would or could happen. People should know that wherever they are in the Carolinas they can make a quick trip to Charlotte and it’s their team.

CC: Absolutely!  It belongs to all Carolina regardless of the name. Touching back on what Ashley said about doing a Canes themed game in Charlotte with the Hornets, would they wear Canes themed Jerseys?

AS: I don’t know if that is against regulations. At least warmups. Honestly I am all for it. I am not sure if that is something that is against NBA regulations. Maybe they can wear like a Canes Patch on their Jersey. At least warm ups or something with their shoes. I think it would be really awesome. I don’t know. I have to look into that.

CC: In fact on social media, the Hurricanes have a photoshopped picture of Devonte Graham wearing a jersey that is very reminiscent to the Hurricanes Third Jersey. We think it’s a good look, even for practice jerseys, especially since the Hurricanes are wearing Hornets practice Jerseys to come out on the ice tonight. 

https://twitter.com/Canes/status/1230584688919666700

AS: YES! I actually saw that on twitter too! They look really, really cool. If anything I think fans would love to have something like that, especially if they are both a hockey fan and a basketball fan. To just be in North Carolina and be able to support both of them. That’s amazing. Hopefully that becomes a thing!

CC: Awesome!