Carolina Panthers: Camp named 5th best by si.com’s Peter King today

The Carolina Panthers training camp has been chosen as the fifth-best facility to visit by Peter King, si.com‘s outstanding football writer. And King would know something about them. Annually he visits as many camps as possible, usually taking just one day off a week at the most.  As his number five pick, he went with the Panthers camp in Spartanburg. Here’s what he said in Monday’s edition of Monday Morning Quarterback: “I’ve always loved the feel of this place, in part because of the way the Panthers treat the fans who attend. Ten or 12 players sign until the last autograph, and you can walk around the Wofford College campus and see players if you pick the right time. Oppressively hot most of the time, but a postcard of a place.”

Yes, it can be really hot in Spartanburg, but so far, the 2012 training camp weather has cooperated…humidity has been down and having later practices ensures fans of shade!

WR Steve Smith was singled-out by si.com’s Peter King in this morning’s column for his generous gift of $100,000 to the Aurora, CO shooting victims.

And King’s praise of the Panthers continued later in the article when he singled out WR Steve Smith‘s very generous gesture in his “Ten Things I Think I Think” part of the column. “I think my Hero of the Week is Steve Smith, the Carolina receiver who donated $100,000 to victims of the Aurora shootings — a tremendous and selfless move by a complicated man with, apparently, a very big heart. Smith said in a statement: “As a father and husband, I cannot imagine the pain and suffering the victims are going through. I hope this contribution might assist in paying some of the medical bills that will help allow these families to move forward in this tragic circumstance.”

The camp is a great place to visit…Spartanburg is south of Charlotte and Asheville…easily reached in about an hour. There’s a hill for fans to sit on – many bring blankets or chairs and make a nice evening of it – that gives great views of every field.  And be sure to thank Steve Smith if you talk to him…his generous gift to the victims in Colorado speaks volumes!