Flub on top of flub.(Twisters)(Brief article)

Now, Rod Harper still may not make Twisters fans forget local-born hero Reggie Swinton, but the Twisters new ownership seemed to do just that earlier in the season.

Jim Everetts and Jim Smith took ownership of the Twisters on Nov. 25 and, in the haste of getting ready for the upcoming season, they ordered and assigned jersey numbers that no one told them had been retired: the numbers of Swinton and another local product, Khalil Carter. Those two went on bigger arenas--Swinton played for the NFL's Dallas Cowboys and two other NFL teams, while Carter spent last season with the Canadian Football League's Montreal Alouettes.

When other players wore the retired numbers, it caused a minor controversy for the 9-year-old franchise. Carter became aware of the situation after his ex-wife attended a Twisters game a n d noticed his "retired" number being worn. News spread fast when it was also pointed out that Swinton's jersey number was in play again.

But the flub only got worse. The Twisters invited the media for a press conference to point out the mistake and to publicly apologize to Swinton and Carter. And while we applaud Everetts, who wasn't owner during Swinton's playing days, for bravely stepping forward and admitting the error, it didn't help that instead of saying "Swinton" in the press conference, Everetts twice called him "Swifton" (as the video we have on ArkansasSports360.com will attest).

We knew Swinton was swift, but it's a major PR gaffe to mess up the last name of one of the organization's best-ever players.

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