Even though he went to four Super Bowls (winning three) and even though he played for the Washington Redskins, who were shown on TV in the Triangle area every week during his playing days from 1981-91, Russ Grimm got little play in the area media after being inducted into the NFL Hall of Fame yesterday.

At WRAL-TV, veteran sportscaster Ken Medlin, who grew up in North Carolina and should realize the high volume of Redskins fans in the area, devoted exactly four seconds to Grimm while almost all of the long report was spent on Dallas’ Emmitt Smith and San Francisco’s Jerry Rice.

Smith and Rice are certainly higher profile nationally and deserve all the accolades they get but area sports reporters should realize that the Redskins were North Carolina’s home team for 50 years including the time Grimm spent with the Skins. Therefore, more effort should have been made to report on Grimm.

The News & Observer’s headline reads, “Rice and Smith enter Hall of Fame.” The Associated Press national writer, who wrote the piece, got around to giving information about Grimm in the 33rd paragraph of his article. Perhaps that’s understandable from a nationwide slant but, again, area media should be more in touch with their audience.

WTVD, at least during its 11 p.m. sports report, did not even mention the Hall of Fame induction ceremonies at all. Interestingly, on WTVD’s website, the exact AP article ran but under the headline “Rice, LeBeau, Grimm inducted into Hall of Fame.” Maybe the web poster hates Dallas, not sure, but the article still didn’t get around to Grimm until the 33rd graph.

The exact same national story ran on the NBC17 website (if you have the patience to find it). In years gone by, each media outlet would have a different story, and at least a little different take. But there are fewer and fewer traditional journalists these days and we’ll probably be seeing more identical reports from a national perspective.

It’s a shame. Grimm was a hero to many a youngster in this neck of the woods. He was a member of the famous “Hogs” offensive line and is the first one to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.

This class is arguably the strongest in the history of the Hall of Fame with Grimm, Rice, Smith, Dick LeBeau, Rickey Jackson, John Randle and Floyd Little being inducted. To read more about Grimm, go to the Washington Post’s story here.

(As a reminder, the Triangle area of North Carolina, as proven by a DirecTV study, has the biggest contingent of Redskins fans outside the D.C. area.)

Five ACC teams were selected to the preseason USA Today football coaches poll which was announced Friday. This marked the first time since 2004 that the ACC had five teams picked among the preseason poll’s Top 20, the league announced in a news release. The ACC led all conferences with five schools selected in the Top 20, while the SEC had the most total Top 25 picks with six.

Virginia Tech led the way for ACC schools, being tabbed for 6th place on the inaugural 2010 coaches poll, followed by Miami (13th), Georgia Tech (17th), North Carolina (18th) and Florida State (20th). Additionally, Clemson (31st) and Boston College were among schools receiving votes in the poll.

The last time the ACC had five schools in the Top 20 of the preseason coaches poll was in 2004 when Miami (5th), Florida State (6th), Clemson (16th), Virginia (19th) and Maryland (20th) were chosen.

The ACC had five teams selected to the pre-season USA Today coaches Top 25 in 2005, but only three of the teams—Virginia Tech (7th), Miami (8th) and Florida State (12th)–were among the Top 20, with Boston College ranked 22nd and Virginia 23rd.

In all, ACC teams will play 10 schools in 2010 ranked in the pre-season Top 25 including No. 1 Alabama (Duke, Sept. 18), No. 2 Ohio State (Miami, Sept. 11), No. 3 Florida (Florida State (Nov. 27), No. 5 Boise State (Virginia Tech, Sept. 6), No. 8 Oklahoma (Florida State, Sept. 11), No. 15 Pittsburgh (Miami, Sept. 23), No. 16 LSU (North Carolina, Sept. 4), No. 21 Georgia (Georgia Tech, Nov. 27), No. 23 Auburn (Clemson, Sept. 18), and No. 24 West Virginia (Maryland, Sept. 18).

The Conference will also play no fewer than 19 games against teams which were ranked or received votes in the pre-season USA Today coaches poll.

Cody Zeller, a rising Indiana high school senior and brother of UNC’s Tyler Zeller, has narrowed his choices for college to Butler, Indiana and North Carolina.

Zeller, announcing the finalists Thursday, says it will come down to the coaches, his comfort with teammates, the quality of the business school and the facilities.

All three coaches are excellent: Indiana’s Tom Crean, which has turned that program around; Butler’s Brad Stevens, one of the best young coaches; and Roy Williams, who is one of the winningest coaches of all time. Edge? Probably UNC. Williams has the most stature, experience and the highest ranking on various online polls.

As for teammates, it depends on if he means talent or guys who he can relate to and enjoy being around. If he’s talking about talent, then the edge goes to UNC again. The Heels have the most talent of the three. But if he means comfort as far as being able to relate, Butler would have a slight edge over Indiana. Butler has nine players from his home state of Indiana and eight of them are white like Zeller. Indiana has five players from the state of Indiana and four of them are white. Except for whatever walk-ons make the Tar Heels roster, there is only one white player and only one from Indiana on the Heels squad and that’s his brother Tyler. With Butler having enough talent to make the final two last year, I’d give the edge to Butler.

While mentioning Indiana having a good business school, it’s actually Carolina’s Kenan Flagler business school that ranks highest of the three by Businessweek magazine. UNC comes in 14th while Indiana is 19th. Butler’s business school in not ranked in the top 50. The ranking and educational reputation of UNC should give the edge here to Carolina.

As for basketball facilities, the bigger schools of UNC and Indiana would have the edge here. Since Indiana is picked more often in the top five for atmosphere in the arena itself, I’d give a slight edge to Indiana here.

Unless he really wants to stay in the state of Indiana, the overall edge would have to go to Carolina. Tyler Zeller would be playing his senior year during his brother’s freshman year. A final decision is expected in November. By the way, the oldest brother Luke Zeller played at Notre Dame.

How would you like to be able to drive to the Super Bowl? NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell seemed to indicate Wednesday, during a visit to Redskins Park, that Washington’s FedEx Field could be a host of an upcoming Super Bowl.

But it could be a while. Goodell says the NFL will wait to see how the Super Bowl goes in New York City first but he expects the 2014 Super Bowl in New York (New Jersey actually) to be a success. Both stadiums are open air and are in cities that are cold that time of year.

Unlike most coaches (apparently) in the NFL, Goodell says he likes the idea of playing football in the elements. I do too. A great team should be able to play in all sorts of weather, not just a climate-controlled dome. Plus, it makes for a more interesting game.

“The fans here are terrific, and I have no doubt that it would be successful,” Goodell said. “We took a big step this year in awarding the Super Bowl to New York.”

Redskins owner Dan Synder, evidently a budding meteorologist, is pushing to host the Super Bowl and says that the weather will be fine in New York for the Super Bowl. “I think people will be surprised by the weather,” he said. “It’s not going to be a problem.”

It wouldn’t bother me if it snowed but I know they like to have a fun experience for the fans the days leading up to the Super Bowl. But frankly, FedEx Field, which is actually in Landover, Md., doesn’t have a lot around it. Baltimore would actually be better as far as people being to walk from their hotels and walk to eat, etc.

But much of the push is related to two things – the fact that Washington is our nation’s capital and that Washington was the other city most affected by 9/11.

Regardless of that, I’d rather see all football games in open-air stadiums. Talk about old school.

(As a reminder, the Triangle area of North Carolina, as proven by a DirecTV study, has the biggest contingent of Redskins fans outside the D.C. area. So, you’ll see me chat about the Redskins on occasion even though they aren’t physically located in the Triangle. By the way, the photo above is former Redskins’ coach and NC native Joe Gibbs hoisting the Super Bowl XVII trophy, one of three he earned with the Skins.)

You heard it here first – and it’s been verified by Durham-based Baseball America’s archives – Roberto Martinez, the winner of the Bachelorette “competition,” apparently is 29 years old and not 26 as promoted on the show and as listed in all the stories you see.

Martinez, the suave Latin lover, was picked by bachelorette Ali Fedotowsky, 25 (we think), on last night’s finale of ABC’s Bachelorette TV show. Martinez is moving from his adopted hometown of Charleston, SC to San Diego to live with Fedotowsky.

Roberto Martinez is not the younger Roberto Martinez who played for the San Francisco Giants a couple of years ago. While both Robertos are Dominicans, this Roberto Martinez was born May 2, 1981 in Bonao, Dominican Republic. Both were pitchers but this older Roberto Martinez is a right-hander and didn’t get closer to the majors than the Savannah (Ga.) Sand Gnats of the Class A South Atlantic League.

Martinez, who played in the Dominican Summer League for the Devil Rays organization in 2000 before being cut, was drafted twice – once by the Rockies in 2001 and then by the Twins in 2002 – but the later-round pick chose to continue playing for the University of Tampa (Fla.) He eventually wound up in the Expos organization but after pitching in 17 games for Savannah in 2003 and posting a very high ERA at 8.03, his baseball career ended.

He was working as an insurance agent in Charleston when he became a contestant on the show, which is supposed to lead to marriage between the Batchelorette and one of the 25 men vying for her heart.

“Ali” was giddy from the beginning as the studly Martinez exited the limo to meet her. He got the “first-impression rose” with his good looks – plus his foreign language and salsa dancing skills – and it was an uphill battle for the other 24 poor souls as Ali thought he was “hot.”

Not sure what the over-and-under is on how long they’ll be together but the track record isn’t all that good for those shows. Inevitably it seems, the contestants are drawn together by physical attraction and romance while leaving the more solid, dependable and deeper person on the sidelines.

Good luck to them but the guy who came in second, Chris Lambton, 33 (yes, I checked), a Red Sox fan from Massachusetts, seemingly would have been a better choice. One online poll before the finale showed that only 25 percent thought Ali should pick Roberto.

Well, if a guy will lie about his age, what else is he lying about?

In watching America’s Most Wanted last night, I noticed that one accused criminal was pictured wearing an N.C. State Wolfpack sweatshirt and another was pictured wearing a Duke hat. What’s up with that? Do criminals like ACC teams or something?

The one wearing the Duke hat was a gang leader from South Carolina who was captured recently at a public library in Greensboro on charges of robbery, kidnapping and assault with intent to kill. Turns out that Duke apparel is used by the “Folks” gang whose colors are Black and Blue. For them, “DUKE” stands for “Disciples Utilizing Knowledge Everyday.”

Here’s the rub – and proof that gang members don’t get it – Tar Heels apparel is also used by the “Folks” gang. Could you imagine a modern-day “West Side Story” with Duke and Carolina gangstas fighting on the same side?

N.C. State isn’t listed on gang knowledge Web sites as being represented so the criminal wearing the Wolfpack sweatshirt might have been a run-of-the-mill criminal. Or maybe he was a member of the “Spanish Vice Lords” who wear red clothing.

By the way, the 10 most gang-affiliated hats in sports, according to complex.com, are No. 10: Oakland A’s, No. 9: Georgetown Hoyas, No. 8: Minnesota Twins, No. 7: Detroit Tigers, No. 6: Houston Astros, No. 5: Los Angeles Kings, No. 4: Chicago Bulls, No. 3: LA/Oakland Raiders, No. 2: Cincinnati Reds and No. 1: Los Angeles Dodgers. It is strange, however, that the Web site doesn’t say how they came to those conclusions plus they offer an advertising link to buy each of those hats.

Even though the Devils and the Heels aren’t in the Top 10, I imagine if you are a Duke or Carolina fan, after reading this, you might worry about wearing the colors in the wrong place at the wrong time. But according to corrections.com, there is more to it than that. Below is a description of how to identify gang-related clothing and styles.

“Shaved, bald head or extremely short hair, White oversized T-shirt creased in the middle White athletic type undershirt Polo type knit shirts (oversized) and usually worn buttoned to the top and not tucked in. Oversized Dickie, Ben Davis or Solos pants, Pants worn low, or ‘sagging’ and cuffed inside at the bottom or dragging on the ground. Baseball caps worn backwards (usually black and sometimes with the initials of the gang). Cut off under-the-knee, short pants worn with knee-high socks, a predominance of dark or dull clothing, or clothing of one particular color. Black oversized jackets, sweatshirts, jerseys, etc. Black stretch belt with chrome or silver gang initial belt buckle, oversized shirts, Clothing a mixture of gang colors, black and silver or white.”

David Patten, a receiver who went undrafted out of Western Carolina yet went on to win three Super Bowl rings, suddenly and surprisingly announced his retirement this morning.

During the second day of training camp with the Patriots, Patten decided that he just wasn’t mentally into it anymore. Patten, almost 36, hadn’t even told his family yet when he told Coach Bill Belichick of his decision.

“This is a sad moment,” Belichick said. “But it’s also a very happy one and one to celebrate – a truly great career, the rags-to-riches story, coming off unloading coffee bags to the NFL career that he’s had is a tremendous story, and very deserving of the type of person and the type of player that David was for the New England Patriots and throughout his career in the league.”

Most of Patten’s success came early in his career with the Patriots. During his 12 NFL seasons, he caught 324 passes for 4,715 yards and 24 touchdowns. He also played for the Giants, Browns, Redskins and Saints.

As a follower of the Redskins, I know he unfortunately didn’t do much for the Skins. During his two years with the club, 2005 and 2006, he had knee surgery and viral meningitis.

Patten lives with his family in South Carolina and will become a minister full time.

ACC NEWS RELEASE – ACC Football is going Three-Dimensional in a big way in 2010. ESPN has announced that the first three games the cable network will televise in 3-D this fall will feature ACC teams beginning with the Virginia Tech hosting Boise State on Labor Day Monday Night at FedEx Field in Landover, Md.

The game between the nationally-ranked Hokies and Broncos, which will have an 8 p.m. (ET) Kickoff, is the first of three straight ESPN ACC contests that will be televised with the 3-D technology.

The second will be Miami’s Sept. 11 contest at Ohio State, which will have a 3:40 p.m. (ET) kickoff and will be televised by ESPN.

Clemson will then travel to Auburn on Saturday, Sept. 18 for the third straight ACC three dimensional gridiron contest featuring an ACC school on ESPN. The game will have a 7 pm (ET) kickoff.

In all, ESPN has announced that four ACC games will be televised in 3-D as the 6th Annual Dr Pepper ACC Football Championship Game, which will be held this year at Charlotte’s Bank of America Stadium on Dec. 4 (7:45 pm, ET), is also scheduled to be televised by ESPN in 3-D.

Former UNC basketball player Rashad McCants, who did not play in the NBA last season, had a chance to play for the Cleveland Cavaliers summer league team this month but chose instead to come to Raleigh to be with his ailing mother, a breast cancer survivor.

McCants, who averaged 15 points a game in 2008 for the Minnesota Timberwolves, didn’t play as much in 2009 and was traded to Sacramento which eventually refused to re-sign him. He sat out last season.

McCants, a native of Asheville, is only 26 and seemingly had an NBA-type game even when in college. He was considered moody at UNC but he hasn’t gotten in any trouble since turning professional.

He says that playing in Europe is not an option. Eventhough his surly reputation remains, hopefully he’ll get another chance with the Cavaliers or maybe the Celtics (he’s friends with Kevin Garnett).

An article on McCants titled “Born to be hated, dying to be loved” appears in the most recent ESPN The Magazine.

Kernersville Post 36 overcame a 3-0 deficit with seven runs in the fifth inning to eliminate Cary Post 67 by a 10-5 score in the American Legion State Tournament in Asheboro today.

Cary was knocked to the loser’s bracket of the double-elimination tournament by falling to Randolph County 2-1 in 11 innings Sunday night.

Against Kernersville, Cary jumped out to a 2-0 lead as Stephen McKinney singled in Drew Woodall, who had doubled, and Anthony Colantino singled in a run. In the fourth, Cary extended the lead to 3-0 when David Hamm singled in Colantino, who had singled and stolen second base.

But a disastrous fifth inning, which included two runs scoring on a bases-loaded walk and a balk by Cary pitcher James Todd, was the beginning of the end of the Post 67 season. Kernersville’s Evan Orenstein capped off the seven-run inning with a three-run homer off Cary’s Gerrit Van Genderen.

Cary ends its season 22-10. The teams left competing for the state title are Whiteville, Randolph County, Kernersville and Cherryville.

A pair of Cary players will remain in ACC country as Hamm, an Athens Drive grad, will attend N.C. State while Grant Shambley, a Green Hope grad, has signed with Wake Forest.