Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Oct. 24, 1996, edition 1 / Page 28
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m Cliarlotte SPORTS THURSDAY, OCTOBER 24, 1996 Big is better for Panthers’ Muhammad PHOTCWEHN VERNA Muhsin Muhammad has added a physical presence to the Carolina Panthers’ passing attack. Braves have city buzzing THE ASSOCIATED PRESS ATLANTA - Atlanta fans were a little late in catching Braves fever this year, but after another trip to the World Series, they became believers again. “The fever is finally hack.” .said Sgt. (lien (’ooper at the Clayton County fire station where firefighters cheered enthusiastically Thursday night as the Braves walloped the Cardinals 15-0 in Game 7 of the National League Championship Series. At the Gold Club, the dancers complained that tips were down because customers were more interested in watching the game, on televi sion than watching the dancers. Kat Martin and Elizabeth Deschesne celebrated their birthdays with friends at Eddie’s Attic in Decatur, breaking out victory cigars by the second inning after the Braves scored six in the first. “1 personally think they enjoy giving their fans heart attacks,” Martin said. “We’ll lie here for every game of the Series, if we can,” said Janet Jeffries of Tucker who was with her husband, Mark, at Atlanla-Fulton County Stadium. “We’ll do all we can to be here.” Game 1 in Atlanta fell short of a sellout, but when the Braves returned from St. Louis trailing 3-2, fan interest built up to fever pitch. They cheered each pitch by winning pitchers Greg Maddux on Wednesday night and Tom Glavine on ’Thursday night. “'They got me a little nervous in the first inning,” Glavine said. “I went out there and they’re going crazy and obvi ously 1 want to pitch a good ball game for my teammates, but when the crowd of 52,0(X) is as loud as they are, I don’t want to let any of those people down, either. It was great. They played a huge, huge role.” Although he doesn’t know too much about baseball, Shahed Chowdhury, 38, of Bangladesh sat glued to the radio at the service station where he works. “Actually, I don’t understand baseball all that much, but I eryoy being with all the peo ple,” said Chowdhury. He said ho planned to mingle with the crowds at Underground Atlanta after work. In Athens, crowds including University of Georgia students gathered at taverns to watch the game and wish the Braves luck against the New York Yankees in the World Series. “This game is great - it’s much better than studying,” said Garth Potter at Peppino’s Pizza. “They’re going to move on and beat the Yankees because they’ve got better S«e SERIES on page 11B By Herbet White THE CHARLOTTE POST Muhsin Muhammad’s first name is Arabic for “charitable” or “one who does good deeds.” He’s living up to his name with the Carolina Panthers. Muhammad, 6-2 and 220 pounds, is part of pro football’s new wave of receivers, big men who can run and catch the ball. The rookie admits he checks out pass catchers of similar physical stature in hopes of learning something new. “Herman Moore in Detroit, Cris Carter, and of course Jerry Rice and Michael Irvin” are receivers he takes notes on. “I’m one of the more physi cal-type players in my posi tion. I’m a big guy, so I watch big guys.” Opponents are watching Muhammad now. Elevated to starter three games ago by Carolina coach Dom Capers, Muhammad has 22 catches for 362 yards and a touchdown. What stands out about him, though, is his size and tough ness, something that the Panthers had in mind when he was selected in the second round of the April draft. “When you’re one tackle away from getting into the end zone, your eyes light up and you fight a little harder than you would normally,” Muhammad said. “You try to make the first man miss and try to break tackles. That’s part of my game.” That’s how Muhammad scored his first NFL touch down. Catching a routine pass from quarterback Kerry Collins against St. Louis, Muhammad shed the comer- back covering him and outran the Rams’ defense for a 54- yard scoring play. “It was exciting,” he said. “I just want to be able to do that more often and be able to make plays like that once or twice a game.” Having a receiver like Muhammad adds another dimension to the Panthers’ passing attack, tight end Wesley Walls said. Having a physical presence on the out side forces defenses to make choices, which usually leaves someone open. Walls, who signed as a free agent in the offseason, has been open often enough to lead Carolina in receiving touchdowns with five. “I’m stretching down the middle and somebody is stretching down a seam over there that’s going to be open,” Walls said. “They’ll get covered and that leaves me open. “I appreciate it.” Although he’s still learning, Muhammad is encouraged by his progress in relating to Carolina’s offense. His famil iarity with pro-style schemes at Michigan State, however, prepared him for the adjust ment to the NFL. “It’s working out pretty well,” See MUHAMMAD on page 10B Running of the Bulls Winning season hinges on final four games By Hebert L. White THECHARLOTTE POST Figuring how Johnson ('. .Smith can wind up with a winning sea son is simple. Getting there is another matter. The Golden Bulls, who haven’t ended a season above .500 since 1982, can do so by splitting its final four games. Their first oppor tunity is Saturday against CIAA rival Winston- Salem State, a team that has struggled at 1-6 but hasn’t lost to Smith in 14 years. The Bulls, who beat Fayetteville State 22-7 last week, are also looking to win two consecutive games for the first time this year. “That’s my challenge this week - prove to me that we can win two in a row,” coach Daryl McNeill said. “That’s our motto for the week, two in a row.” The Bulls will also be playing in front of a McNeill homecoming crowd this week, which can be a distraction in itself. McNeill’s job this week is to keep the Bulls’ attention on the Rams and improving on a season that’s produced twice as many wins as 1995’s 2-8 mark. Smith (4-3, 2-3 CIAA) also fighting to finish in the league’s upper division, where N.C. Central and Livingstone sit atop the standings. See STRETCH on page 10B South Africa trip puts JCSU in the spotlight By Hebert L. White THECHARLOTTE POST PHOTO/HERBERT L. WHITE Demetrius Campbell, shown avoiding Fayetteville State defenders in Johnson C. Smith’s 22-7 win over Fayetteville State, needs to have a big game against Winston-Salem State Saturday. Johnson C. Smith’s going to make football history again. ’The Golden Bulls, who played the first black college game in 1892 against Livingstone, will travel to Johannesburg, South Africa to play Morehouse Nov. 16 in the African Heritage Classic. Smith replaces Central State (Ohio), which pulled out of the clas sic. The expenses-paid trip will include cultural and educational activities for players and university officials. In addition to Smith and Morehouse, Alabama A&M will play the Moroka Swallows in a soccer match. A contingent of 85 players, coaches and JCSU offi cials will leave Charlotte Nov. 12 and return Nov. 18. The game is an opportunity for Smith players to reap the rewards of the game. Bulls coach Daryl McNeill said. “If you are good to football, football will be good to you, not only the game itself, but all aspects of college life,” he said. “Words can’t express what this means for Johnson C. Smith football and the See BULLS on page 10B Bears roar into CIAA showdown By Herbet White THE rHARLOTTE PIXST Livingstone is playing the biggest game of the season, and Wilmont Perry isn’t think ing about losing it. The Bears, who take on N.C, Central, No. 6 in NCAA Division II Saturday in Salisbury, can take over the conference lead with a win. Livingstone (6-1, 4-1 CIAA) was expected to contend for first place, and Perry, a junior running back, is predicting a Bears win for homecoming. See UVMGSTONE on page 10B Delk wants to win as Hornets rookie By Karl Petraroja FOR THE CHARLOTTE POST PHOTO/CALVIN FERGUSON Tony Delk Is learning a new position as a point guard with the Charlotte Hornets after a stellar career as shooting guard at Kentucky. Not much is expected from the revamped Charlotte Hornets this season, but Tony Delk isn’t ready to settle for mediocre. Winning is a good feeling, and Delk wants to keep it flowing in the pros. “I’ve been winning since high school, so I’m bringing that same atti tude,” the rookie point guard said. “I want to win regardless of what people expect out of us and I think all us have the same goal in mind, to go out there and play 100 per cent to win games.” 'The Hornets added toughness and size this season, but they also added some championship experience in Delk, who led Kentucky to an NCAA championship last year. He looks down the Hornets roster at people like Glen Rice, Anthony Mason, Vlade Divac, Dell Curry, Scott Burrell, Muggsy Bogues and sees a lot of talent. Delk likes what he sees, and believes the Hornets will make some waves. See DELK on page 10B
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Oct. 24, 1996, edition 1
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