The Durham Bulls today announced Raleigh native and international pop-star Clay Aiken will perform the national anthem at the Durham Bulls game against the Indianapolis Indians on Monday, May 9th at the 2nd annual Back to the DAP game presented by Measurement Incorporated.

“We’re extremely happy to have Clay with us again for such a important night,” Durham Bulls General Manager Mike Birling said, “A know a lot of our fans will remember the first time he sang the anthem at our ballpark and it was amazing.”

Aiken began his rise to fame in 2003 when he made it to the finals of the hit television show, American Idol. That season, he performed at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park upon making it to the final three. A sold-out crowd at the DBAP watched as he landed in the WRAL helicopter in centerfield, threw out the ceremonial first pitch and then sang the Star-Spangled Banner.

Since Idol, Aiken has released five albums, including his mult-platinum debut album Measure of a Man. Aiken has also launched nine tours, authored a New York Times best-selling book Learning to Sing: Hearing the Music in Your Life with Allison Glock, and was the executive producer for a 2004 televised Christmas special, A Clay Aiken Christmas. He has been a frequent talk show guest, particularly on The Tonight Show and Jimmy Kimmel Live. He appeared as a guest star on Scrubs and participated in comedy skits on various shows.

Aiken created the National Inclusion Project (formerly the Bubel/Aiken Foundation) in 2003, accepted a UNICEF ambassadorship in 2004, and in 2006 was appointed for a two-year term to the Presidential Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities.

Aiken made his Broadway debut playing the role of Sir Robin in Monty Python’s Spamalot in January 2008.[10] His run ended in May but he rejoined the cast as Sir Robin in September and remained through January 4, 2009.

Tickets for the May 9th game at the Historic Durham Athletic Park are available now by phone at (919) 956-BULL.

– NEWS RELEASE –

The Atlantic Coast Conference had a total of 35 of its players chosen in the 2011 National Football League Draft, held Thursday, Friday and Saturday at Radio City Music Hall in New York.

The ACC finished second only to the SEC (38) among collegiate conferences in numbers of players chosen. The Pac-12 Conference had 31, followed by the Big Ten and Big 12 Conferences with 29 selections each. The Big East (22) and Western Athletic Conferences (15) were next followed by the Mountain West (9).

The ACC became only the second conference to have had 30 or more players chosen in each of the past seven years of the NFL Draft, a feat only matched by the SEC. During that time, the ACC has had 250 players drafted into the NFL. Only the SEC (273) has had more.

The ACC was particularly strong in the first two rounds of this year’s Draft. Of the first 60 players chosen, 15 came from the ACC, 10 from the SEC; nine each from the Big Ten and Big 12 and eight from the Pac-10.

On Saturday night, the conference tied its all-time high with 12 players taken in the second round of the Draft. The league previously had a dozen players selected in the first-round of the 2006 Draft, which is still an NFL record for first-round selections.

North Carolina and Southern California, which each had nine players chosen, led all schools nationally in numbers of players drafted. The nine players selected were the most in a single Draft for the Tar Heels, and the most for an ACC team since Miami and Virginia Tech each had nine players selected in 2006.

UNC’s previous high of seven drafted players occurred three times (1949, 1959, 1998).

The ACC had three schools ranked among the nation’s top ten in players drafted. Miami was third among all schools with eight players chosen, the most for the Hurricanes since 2006. Nebraska was fourth with seven. Clemson, LSU, Iowa, and Georgia were tied for fifth place with six selections each.

In addition to North Carolina, Miami and Clemson, seven other ACC teams had players chosen in the Draft including Florida State and Virginia Tech with three selections each, followed by Maryland (2) and Boston College, Georgia Tech, NC State and Virginia with one apiece.

Five of Clemson’s six drafted players were on the defensive side, a single-season high for the Tigers. Clemson was the only team in the nation to have three defensive players chosen among the top 51 players in the Draft with defensive tackle Jarvis Jenkins (41st), defensive back Marcus Gilchrist (50th) and defensive end Da’Quan Bowers (51st) all selected on the second round of the Draft .

North Carolina also had five defensive players chosen led by Robert Quinn, who was taken 14th overall in the first round, but also including LB Bruce Carter (2nd, 40th), DT Marvin Austin (2nd, 52nd), DB Da’Norris Searcy (4th, 100) and LB Quan Sturdivant (6th, 171st). Four Tar Heels were also chosen on offense including WR Greg Little (2nd, 59th), RB Johnny White (5th, 133rd), QB T.J. Yates (5th, 152nd) and TE Ryan Taylor (7th, 218th).

Miami had four players chosen from its defense in CB Brandon Harris (2nd round, 60th), CB DeMarcus Van Dyke (3rd, 81st), DE Allen Bailey (3rd, 86th) and LB Colin McCarthy (4th, 109th). The Hurricanes also two players on offensein T Orlando Franklin (2nd, 46th) and WR Leonard Hankerson (3rd, 79th); as well as P/PK Matt Bosher (6th, 192). Bosher was one of only two kickers chosen (Alex Henery of Nebraska was the other) in the 2011 NFL Draft.

The Hurricanes have now had a player chosen in every NFL Draft since 1974, a span of 37 straight years. Virginia and Florida State have each had a player chosen in the draft in each of the past 28 years, or every year since 1983.

Florida State’s Christian Ponder, the first of three Seminoles taken in the Draft, became the first Atlantic Coast Conference player taken in the 2011 National Football League Draft being selected 12th overall by the Minnesota Vikings. It marked the second straight year the Seminoles had a player chosen in the first round of the Draft. Last year, FSU CB Patrick Robinson was a first-round selection. It also continued a streak by the Seminoles of having a player chosen in the first three rounds of the Draft in each of the past 24 years, or every year since 1988.

Ponder becomes the first ACC quarterback chosen in the first round of the NFL Draft since Boston College’s Matt Ryan was the fourth player taken overall in the 2009 NFL Draft by the Atlanta Falcons. Ponder also became the first Florida State quarterback drafted in the first round.

Despite being hampered by injuries in his final two seasons at FSU, Ponder who graduated after his senior season and earned an MBA Degree at FSU, bolstered his draft status by being named the MVP of the Senior Bowl as well as with a strong showing at the NFL combine. A native of Coffeyville, Texas, Ponder was honored this past year as winner of the ACC’s Jim Tatum Award which is annually presented to the league’s top football scholar-athlete.

Ponder was one of three ACC players taken in the first round on Thursday. North Carolina defensive end Robert Quinn, an early entry into the NFL Draft, was taken two slots after Ponder, or 14th overall by the St. Louis Rams. Boston College offensive tackle Anthony Castonzo was the 22nd player taken on the first round by the Indianapolis Colts.

Quinn, from Ladson, S.C., did not play in the 2010 season, but enjoyed a strong sophomore campaign in 2009 finishing second in the ACC in quarterback sacks and leading the conference in tackles for loss and earning first-team All-ACC honors. Quinn also was honored by the ACC after his freshman season as winner of the league’s Brian Piccolo Award, which annually is presented to the league’s most courageous player.

Quinn overcame surgery for a brain tumor in high school to start for the Tar Heels as a redshirt freshman in 2008.

Castonzo, from Hawthorn Woods, Ill., is a three-time member of the All-ACC Academic Football Team. He started an eye-catching 54 games in his career at offensive tackle with the Eagles and earned second-team All-America honors from the Walter Camp Foundation this year. He is a two-time first-team All-ACC honoree at offensive tackle and was honored by the National Football Foundation and College Hall of Fame as one of its 2010 National Scholar-Athletes.

In addition to Ponder, Florida State also had G Rodney Hudson (2nd, 55th choice), the ACC’s 2009 and 2010 Jacobs Blocking Trophy winner, and DE Markus White (7th round, 224th), chosen.

Virginia Tech saw RB Ryan Williams (2nd round, 38th), CB Rashad Carmichael (4th round, 127th) and QB Tyrod Taylor (8th, 180th), the ACC’s 2010 Player of the Year, drafted.

Maryland had WR Torrey Smith (2nd, 58th) and RB Da’Rel Scott (7th, 221st) drafted. The Terrapins hold the ACC record for most players taken in a single NFL Draft, having had 11 players chosen in 1975.

Virginia CB Ras-I Dowling (2nd, 33rd choice) was the first player chosen on second round while NC State LB Nate Irving (3rd, 67th), a first-team All-ACC honoree and co-winner of the Conference’s 2010 Brian Piccolo Award, was selected on the third round.

Georgia Tech RB Anthony Allen (7th round, 225), the final ACC player chosen, extended Tech’s streak of having a player drafted to six consecutive years. He is the third Yellow Jacket running back drafted since 2008.

A total of 19 different NFL teams drafted ACC players with the Buffalo Bills and Houston Texans both taking three players each. The Arizona Cardinals, Denver Broncos, Kansas City Chiefs, Tennessee Titans and Washington Redskins had two selections.

ACC Players Taken in the NFL Draft
1 12 Christian Ponder, Florida State, QB Vikings
1 14 Robert Quinn, North Carolina, DE Rams
1 22 Anthony Castonzo, Boston College, T Colts
2 33 Ras-I Dowling, Virginia, CB Patriots
2 38 Ryan Williams, Virginia Tech, RB Cardinals
2 40 Bruce Carter, North Carolina, LB Cowboys
2 41 Jarvis Jennings, Clemson, DT Redskins
2 46 Orlando Franklin, Miami, OL Broncos
2 50 Marcus Gilchrist, Clemson, CB Chargers
2 51 Da’ Quan Bowers, Clemson, DE Buccaneers
2 52 Marvin Austin, North Carolina, DT Giants
2 55 Rodney Hudson, Florida State, C-G Chiefs
2 58 Torrey Smith, Maryland, WR Ravens
2 59 Greg Little, North Carolina, WR Browns
2 60 Brandon Harris, Miami, CB Texans
3 67 Nate Irving, NC State, LB Broncos
3 79 Leonard Hankerson, Miami, WR Redskins
3 81 DeMarcus Van Dyke, Miami, CB Raiders
3 86 Allen Bailey, Miami, DE Chiefs
4 100 Da’Norris Searcy, North Carolina, S Bills
4 109 Colin McCarthy, Miami, ILB Titans
4 122 Chris Hairston, Clemson, T Bills
4 127 Rashad Carmichael, Virginia Tech, CB Texans
4 130 Jamie Harper, Clemson, RB Titans
5 133 Johnny White, North Carolina, RB Bills
5 152 T.J. Yates, North Carolina, QB Texans
6 171 Quan Sturdivant, North Carolina, LB Cardinals
6 173 Byron Maxwell, Clemson, DB Seahawks
6 180 Tyrod Taylor, Virginia Tech, QB Ravens
6 181 Richard Gordon, Miami, TE Raiders
6 192 Matt Bosher, Miami, P-PK Falcons
7 218 Ryan Taylor, North Carolina, TE Cowboys
7 221 Da’Rel Scott, Maryland, RB Giants
7 224 Markus White, Florida State, DE Redskins
7 225 Anthony Allen, Georgia Tech, RB Ravens

Ron Rivera’s future with the Carolina Panthers is now liked to Cam Newton, and the hunch here is Newton is not going to be a franchise guy. He was awesome at Auburn, but you can’t help but have the nagging sense that he was a college star in the mold of Vince Young at Texas.

Young was a better runner an Newton is certainly a better thrower. But Carolina’s needs across the board are just so great that a different player seemed in order. The move relegates Jimmy Clausen to the bench and basically tells you what the franchise thinks of his potential.

Thanks – but no thanks.

Still, Carolina needs help on defense. Da’Quan Bowers of Clemson saw his draft stock plummet, but Marcel Dareus of Alabama is clearly an elite defensive lineman, and those players are hard to find. Dareus at least will be a productive NFL player, and there  are no guarantees on Newton.

One scout told profootballtalk.com that Newton looked “terrible” at the NFL combine. And the Atlanta Journal-Constitution quoted a scout in December as saying he thought Newton had terrible mechanics and was several years from being a productive NFL quarterback. That scout didn’t see Newton going in the first round.

As for whether he had anything to say to his critics, Newton said Thursday, “I really don’t. I understand that they have a job to do and I have a job to do as well. And I understand that today everybody is not going to stop (criticizing) and say `that’s Cam, he’s the No. 1 pick, leave him alone’, more than anything the flood gates have opened officially. I’m just going to do what I can control.”

Obviously, the Panthers are believers. If he’s great, it was a bold choice. If he’s never a winning quarterback, it’s a pick that will haunt Carolina for a long time.

Dr. Robert W. Niehaus, 85, passed away Easter Sunday. The Cincinnati native lived in Southern Pines for the past 14 years. He was the pediatrician for the children of several members of the Cincinnati Reds Big Red Machine of the 1970s.

The story goes that Tony Perez’ wife started taking her child to him soon after Perez joined the Reds. Despite his inability to speak Spanish, Mrs. Perez was so impressed with Dr. Niehaus that she recommended him to the other Latin ball players, which included Dave Concepcion, Cesar Geronimo and, later, Pedro Borbon. I also understand, but haven’t been able to confirm, that George Foster’s children also went to Dr. Niehaus.

He was a big sports enthusiast and enjoyed playing tennis, golf and working with horses. While living in North Carolina, he met and became fast friends with another Ohio native Gene Smith, who eventually became the General Manager of the Jacksonville Jaguars.

While he had many associations with the sports world, he was more proud (though quietly so) of his service to the United States. He served as pharmacist mate, acquiring college training for the V-12s, in the U.S. Navy during World War II and as Second Lt. in the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War.

Sports figures who also participated in the V-12 program include former baseball commissioner Bowie Kuhn, baseball player Al Rosen, football player Elroy Hirsch, baseball manager Alvin Dark, Heisman Trophy winner Angelo Bertelli and football manager George Allen.

In addition to being a member of the greatest generation, Dr. Niehaus was my father-in-law. So, to me, his greatest achievement was producing – along with his wife Millie – my wife Andrea, the mother of my son Will Griffin.

He is survived by a brother, five children, 15 grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.

The funeral will be held in Cincinnati Saturday. A memorial service to be held at a future date at St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church, 160 E. Vermont Avenue, Southern Pines, NC 28388.

In lieu of flowers, donations requested on behalf of Dr. Robert W. Niehaus, M.D. to the Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, PO Box 5202, Cincinnati, OH 45201-5202. To donate online, please click here.

Nearly every source out there is saying that the Carolina Panthers will take Auburn quarterback Cam Newton as the No. 1 pick in the draft. They probably will and many experts think they should.

But the Panthers have a lot of weaknesses and could trade the No. 1 pick for multiple picks. Newton may turn out to be as good as advertised but I have to think it’s a less than 50-50 proposition.

First, he has questionable character, maturity and leadership skills. Does Charlotte, which has been through the Rae Carruth, Fred Lane, Jeremy Bridges, Bobby Phills and Kerry Collins situations, really want to risk it on a guy who has who has been charged with stealing a laptop and throwing it out a window when police can to investigate and a guy who was reportedly caught several times cheating in college?

Plus, while he has great size at 6-5, 240 pounds, he doesn’t have great accuracy as a passer. Many experts actually have Blaine Gabbert as the top quarterback rather than Newton, who is considered a better athlete. If the Panthers want to keep the No. 1 pick and want to go offense, they could consider A.J. Green, the Georgia receiver who should contribute on day one. They may even be able to trade down a few spots and still get Green.

The Panthers just got Notre Dame’s Jimmy Clausen in the first round last year. He wasn’t good in his first season but he has the skills to be an NFL quarterback. Why not give him an elite young receiver or trade down to get several picks including a solid lineman – such as USC tackle Tyron Smith or Georgia guard Mike Pouncey – to protect the quarterback?

The Panthers need help on defense as well. They could go with Marcell Dareus, the defensive tackle from Alabama, or Patrick Peterson, the cornerback from LSU.

Even if the Panthers trade further down they could still get multiple quality guys like Purdue defensive end Ryan Kerrigan, who was an academic All-America and team captain, and Colorado offensive tackle Nate Solder, an old-school All-America player who is smart and has a strong work ethic.

It’s looking like the Panthers want to make a flashy pick and that would be Newton. But the smarter choice is to trade down and get more help – they need it. Plus, they can’t afford to have a guy with questionable character as the face of their franchise.