Featured stories, N.C. State

State’s Rodon goes six strong as US National Team beats Cuba in Havana

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Carlos Rodon, the North Carolina State pitcher who was named freshman of the year by Baseball America last week, went six solid innings Monday night against Cuba for the United States’ Collegiate National Team, which won the final game of the series in Havana by a 5-4 score.

Rodon, who gave up seven hits while striking out four, left the game with Cuba up 3-2. USA’s Johnny Field singled to plate two in the eighth to take the lead and they never trailed again.

Rodon, a native of Holly Springs, won ACC pitcher of the year honors. He dominated the conference with a 1.57 ERA, opponents’ batting average of .176, and 115 innings pitched, while ranking second in strikeouts with 135 and nine wins.

Team USA dropped three of five during the series with Cuba. The USA squads plays in the Netherlands next week.

Duke, Featured stories, N.C. State, UNC

Area football coaches to hold panel discussion at Pigskin Preview July 19

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You can get the inside scoop on the 2012 college football season when you meet local Division I head football coaches at the 10th annual Bill Dooley Triangle/East Chapter Pigskin Preview July 19. Get to know Duke coach David Cutcliffe, ECU coach Ruffin McNeill, NC Central coach Henry Frazier III, NC State coach Tom O’Brien, and UNC coach Larry Fedora as they participate in a panel discussion and a Q&A session and enjoy a fantastic lunch.

Attendees will also have the opportunity to bid on items from each university. Proceeds benefit the National Football Foundation College Hall of Fame – Triangle/East Chapter Scholarship Fund for Triangle-area high school athletes.

Registration and networking begins at 11:30 a.m. with the luncheon and program following from noon to 1:30 p.m. Tickets are $60.

The event, sponsored by the Greater Raleigh Sports Council, will be held at the Embassy Suites on Harrison Oaks Boulevard in Cary. For more information, call 919-664-7070 or email aedmonds@raleighchamber.org.

Featured stories, UNC

Upper level UNC basketball season tickets up for sale

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Tar Heel Package men’s basketball tickets for the 2012-13 season will go on sale this Saturday, July 7th at 10 a.m. on GoHeels.com. While the schedule has not yet been released, the Tar Heel Package will include every regular season home basketball game with the exception of the Duke game.

Tar Heel Package tickets are $590 each and will be located in the top half of the upper level. The price is based on 15 projected games. If the final schedule allows for fewer games to be included in the package, the price will be reduced accordingly.

The Atlantic Coast Conference is expected to release the 2012-13 men’s basketball schedule for UNC and the rest of the conference sometime in August.

Featured stories, N.C. State

Academic success should trump national athletic recognition in State’s strategic plan

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NC State University Director of Athletics Deborah A. Yow announced the release of the department’s five-year strategic plan today. (July 2)

In 2010, the NC State Department of Intercollegiate Athletics embarked on a comprehensive and inclusive strategic planning process. The objective was to outline the goals and strategies specific to Intercollegiate Athletics (ICA) for the next five years, as well as guiding the department’s decision-making and prioritization during this period.

It appears to be strong document that will be a good guide for the University athletics program. However, the first goal is to “Achieve national recognition for competitive excellence, as measured by ACC finishes and the national Director’s Cup competition.” An important and admirable goal but the second goal, since we are talking about student-athletes here, should be listed as the No. 1 goal. The second goal reads, “Graduate student-athletes at rates that compare favorably to our ACC public peer institutions and achieve same for the NCAA Academic Progress Rates.”

Several years ago, NC State worked very hard to rid itself of the image that its athletes weren’t bright or focused on academics. The athletics did suffer for a while but it is coming back. However, the University should balance athletic success with academic success and image. While the report itself actually seems to do a good job of that, by putting what should be goal No. 1 as goal No. 2 doesn’t set the right tone.

The Seven Strategic Goals are:

1. Achieve national recognition for competitive excellence, as measured by ACC finishes and the national Director’s Cup competition.

2. Graduate student-athletes at rates that compare favorably to our ACC public peer institutions and achieve same for the NCAA Academic Progress Rates.

3. Cultivate an environment where NCAA rules compliance, the pursuit of excellence, gender equity, respect for diversity and recognition of achievement are fundamental values held by staff, coaches and student-athletes.

4. Allocate the financial resources required to achieve the Department’s vision of excellence, while operating successfully as a self-supporting auxiliary unit of the University.

5. Recruit and retain the caliber of student-athletes, coaches, and staff who are committed to the achievement of the Department’s vision of competitive and academic excellence.

6. GENERATE the funds required to pay the annual scholarship bill, facility debt and operating costs.

7. Create an innovative branding program that will promote the Department’s vision and tell the NC State story.

To view the entire report, please click here.

Canes, Featured stories

Hurricanes have Jordan Staal wrapped up for 10 years

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The Carolina Hurricanes announced that the team has agreed to terms with center Jordan Staal on a 10-year contract extension. The deal begins with the 2013-14 NHL season and extends through the 2022-23 season, paying Staal $6 million per season.

“We are very pleased that Jordan has chosen to commit to the Hurricanes organization and to make North Carolina his home,” said GM Jim Rutherford. “At 23 years old he is just starting to come into his prime, and he now represents a cornerstone of our franchise for the long term.”

Staal, 23, completed his sixth NHL season in 2011-12, posting career highs in assists (25) and points (50), and a career second-best 25 goals, despite playing in just 62 of Pittsburgh’s 82 regular-season games. The Thunder Bay, Ont., native added six goals and three assists (9 points) to lead the Penguins in scoring in their six-game, first-round playoff series against Philadelphia.

In six NHL seasons with Pittsburgh, Staal (6’4”, 220 lbs.) has scored 120 goals, earned 128 assists and posted a plus-53 plus/minus rating in 431 regular-season games. The Penguins have qualified for the playoffs in each of his six seasons, and he captured the Stanley Cup with Pittsburgh in 2009. In 73 career Stanley Cup playoff games, he has scored 23 goals and earned 13 assists (36 points). The Penguins selected Staal in the first round, second overall, in the 2006 NHL Entry Draft. He is the younger brother of Hurricanes captain Eric Staal.

The Carolina Hurricanes will open their 2012 exhibition schedule on Sept. 26 at Columbus, and play their first exhibition home game on Sept. 28 against the Nashville Predators. For information on 2012-13 Carolina Hurricanes ticket packages, please visit www.CarolinaHurricanes.com, or call 1-866-NHL-CANES.

– News release

Featured stories

Railhawks July 3 match to be televised on WRAL2

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The Carolina RailHawks and Capitol Broadcasting have announced that the July 3rd NASL match against the Atlanta Silverbacks will be broadcast live at 7 p.m. on WRAL2 as part of a partnership between the team and CBC. WRAL2 is available on Time Warner Cable digital channel 106 and for over the air customers on WRAL channel 5.2.

The RailHawks (4-5-4, 17 pts.) are currently on a 4-game NASL winning streak and have won 6 out of their last 7 games, including the U.S. Open Cup. In the last four matches, Carolina has outscored its opponents 11-2. Tuesday’s match will also include the RailHawks Fireworks Extravaganza for fans at WakeMed Soccer Park. In addition, those interested in tuning in via the radio can listen in as Dean Linke, the voice of the RailHawks, calls the game on the all new 99.9 HD-3 The Ticket.

“We are delighted to work alongside Capitol Broadcasting Company to bring fans of soccer yet another way to enjoy an exciting RailHawks match. The RailHawks 12th Man will be in full voice, and I am confident the television audience will see something very special when they tune in Tuesday night,” said RailHawks President Curt Johnson. “Televising the game live is another very important step as we all work together to grow the game locally. Tickets are available, however, if you are unable to attend, please watch it live.”

To purchase tickets, visit www.CarolinaRailHawks.com or contact the Cruizers Box Office by calling 919-459-8144. The Fireworks Four Pack includes four tickets, food, and drinks for just $49, and they are available for presale only.

Featured stories

Fireworks not just for July 4 at DBAP, Five County

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Fireworks aren’t just for July 4th anymore as the Durham Bulls will also fire ’em up the night before and the night after while the Carolina Mudcats will light the flames on July 3 and July 4.

The Mudcats welcome the Potomac Nationals to Five County Stadium on July 3 and the Salem Red Sox on July 4 (both games start at 7:15 p.m.). Meanwhile the Bulls host the Norfolk Tides on July 4 (6:05 p.m.) and July 5 (7:05 p.m.). The DBAP will also host a USA Baseball game on July 3 (6:05 p.m.) between the Collegiate National Team and the national 18U team.

To get tickets to one of the games at the DBAP, please click here. To get tickets to one of the Mudcats games at Five County Stadium, please click here. To check out the USA Baseball schedule, with most games played in the Triangle area, please click here.

Featured stories

Bobcats say they have a character guy and a winner in Kidd-Gilchrist

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Before the Charlotte Bobcats brass met with Kentucky’s Michael Kidd-Gilchrist over dinner a while back, they said they knew he was a winner. What they found out was that he was a high character guy as well.

“We really liked him in Chicago with the interview we had,” Bobcats GM Rich Cho said Thursday night. “We took him out to dinner. He was great there.”

But make no mistake, they didn’t draft him because he’s a good date. “First and foremost, he’s a winner,” Cho said. “He plays both ends of the floor. He’s a competitor who is a high character person.”

Cho praised his work ethic and the Bobcat officials will be looking for Kidd-Gilchrist to improve his shot and they are sure he will.

The Bobcats did pick up some good perimeter shooting with the first pick of the second round when they landed Vanderbilt forward Jeff Taylor who can slash to the basket or hit an outside jumper.

“These two guys who have a great opportunity to come in and play right away,” said Bobcats president Rod Higgins.

Cho said both players can guard well defensively and get up and down the court, both attributes that will fit well with the Bobcats new upstyle of play they’ll be employing.

Both Higgins and Cho indicated that there were trade opportunities with teams vying for Charlotte’s second spot. “As we filtered through the different trade scenarios,” Cho said, “we just felt it was best to take the best player available and we felt that was Michael. He was our No. 1 target and we are ecstatic to have him.”

He averaged 11.9 points and 7.4 rebounds per game in his only season at Kentucky, which won the national championship.

The Bobcats still need size upfront and in the back court.

Duke, Featured stories

Plumlee’s stock really did rise as he goes to Hansbrough’s Pacers in the 1st round

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It was rumored that Duke 7-footer Mike Plumlee had impressed at the NBA combines and sure enough he was drafted in the first round by the Indiana Pacers. Almost no one saw that coming a week ago. He’ll play alongside former UNC star Tyler Hansbrough.

Already, probably because he is white, Plumlee is being called a Hansbrough type that can’t score. One know-nothing Internet sports writer named Riley Schmitt (who is still in college by the way) even went so far as to write, “Apparently the Indiana Pacers thought Tyler Hansbrough needed someone to hang out with. Taking him at 26 is just comical. Bad move by this team.” I wonder if someone would write that about two black players on the same team in the NHL for instance.

Maybe Larry Bird does have a soft spot for hard-working white players like himself, don’t know, but the Pacers are not going to select someone in the first round that they don’t think can play. He might not become a star but there are few of those in the NBA. While he probably isn’t as talented as either of his younger brothers, he fits a need for the Pacers.

“We think he can play for us right now,” Pacers GM Bird said. “We don’t have a center on the roster…He’s a great fit for what we want to do.”

Coach Mike Krzyzewski said he believes in Plumlee. “Basically, he’ll be a complementary player, like most of the guys in the NBA,” Duke’s Mike Krzyzewski said before the draft. “At 6-11, 255-260, he’s an incredible athlete. I think he’s still growing as a player and he’ll only be asked to do things he does well.

“He can run. He can play defense. He can rebound. He doesn’t have to be a great shooter. He’s an adequate shooter, but he can physically play right away. And he can do the things you would ask a complementary player to do.”

Fellow Duke teammate Austin Rivers was selected No. 10 by New Orleans. “I love New Orleans more than anything in my life right now,” Rivers said after being selected on Thursday. “Coach Monty Williams is a great coach. Anthony’s coming. They have a great city. I’m looking forward to going there and working hard and helping out in the community and doing everything I can to help this organization win.”

Featured stories, UNC

Four Tar Heels go in the top 17 picks of the NBA draft; Zeller already traded

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Four North Carolina players were among the top 17 picks of Thursday night’s 2012 NBA Draft in Newark, N.J., giving the Tar Heels 13 first-round picks and 10 Draft Lottery selections in nine seasons under head coach Roy Williams.

“It’s exciting,” Williams said. “It’s exciting for the families, it’s exciting for me, the other guys on our team, our program. It’s an exciting time.”

Sophomore forward Harrison Barnes, as many expected, went No. 7 overall to Golden State, sophomore point guard Kendall Marshall went No. 13 to Phoenix, junior forward John Henson went No. 14 to Milwaukee and senior forward Tyler Zeller went No. 17 to Dallas (before being traded to Cleveland several minutes later).

With Barnes, Marshall and Henson going in the Lottery portion of the Draft, Carolina boasts 10 Lottery picks in the last eight years. Twenty-two Tar Heels have been top-10 picks since 1966, more than any other school in the nation.

“[Golden State] has great front office people and I love the general manager, love the owner,” Barnes said. “I’m just trying to work as hard as I can and help my team as best I can. I’m just really blessed to be in this position. No matter what pick I was drafted, obviously I’m very thankful that Golden State drafted me and I’m happy to be here.”

The feeling is mutual. “We’re thrilled,” Warriors GM Bob Myers told reporters. “He’s got great value and we’re excited. He fits what we need. You guys will love him. A great kid, great player. We’re just excited.”

Shortly after being picked, Barnes tweeted, “First and foremost, all the glory and power to the God Almighty.” Then he tweeted, “Thank you to my mom, sister, Coach Vance Downs, Coach Roy Williams, my agent Jeff Wechsler, and all the other people who helped me get here.”

Marshall simply tweeted, “I can’t believe this…I’m in the NBA.”

Marshall went a little higher than most prognosticators thought at 13. Mostly commonly the mock drafts had Marshall going at No. 20 to Denver. Henson went a tad lower as most thought Detroit would take him at No. 9. Zeller also went slightly lower than most thought as some board had him going as high as No. 11 to Portland. Zeller was traded to Cleveland for three draft picks.

The other first-round picks under head coach Roy Williams include Marvin Williams (2005), Raymond Felton (2005), Sean May (2005), Rashad McCants (2005), Brandan Wright (2007), Tyler Hansbrough (2009), Ty Lawson (2009), Wayne Ellington (2009), Ed Davis (2010) in addition to the 2012 quartet.