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SPORTS/tEjie Clwrbitte «at
Tuesday, November 25,2003
M50 gets FOfd back in buck battle
Winfred
B. Cross
Test
Drive
Ford’s need to hit a home
run with its next generation
F-150 is dire. The companys
car sales have been eclipsed
by Tbyota and its trucks, at
least critically, have given
way to spiffy product by
General Motors.
Ford should be breathing a
bit easier. Not only is the
2004 F-150 a home run, it’s a
grand slam.
Why? Looks, quality, func
tion - you name it, Ford has
addressed the problem. The
F-150 is more truck-looking,
or to some more masculine.
The rounded edges have
been replaced with creases.
It’s a good look - not ground
breaking, but obviously
handsome.
The interior? This is where
Ford knocks its competitors -
domestic and foreign - on
their ears. I’ve seen luxury
cars that don’t have this kind
of refinement. My test vehi
cle didn’t have the slick nick
el finish or wood grain, but I
still impressed. Ford has
about five different interiors
which include a floor mount
ed, aluminum gear selector.
In a truck? Yes sir.
The truck’s interior isn’t
just good looking, it’s luxury-
car quiet. I’ve never been in a
pickup with such an absence
of wind and road noise. Even
when speeds approach triple
digits, noise is at a mini
mum.
This is one of the few pick
ups that really lives up to
car-like handling. In two-
wheel drive mode, the truck
can be a bit squirrel, all pick
ups can be. Dial in the four
wheel drive and that tricky
stuff becomes more manage
able. Cornering is good for a
truck and it tracks straight
and true.
The ride is comfortable,
even in 4x4 mode. This isn’t
a car, but it’s doing the best
impression of a car I’ve seen.
My XLT was equipped
with the optional 300 horse
power 5.4-liter Triton
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Ford’s new F-150 has the looks and features to help the
automaker reclaim a bigger share of the lucrative U.S. truck
market.
engine. It’s not as powerful
as some GM engines, but it’s
smoother and power comes
on in a more linear fashion.
Tbrque is plentiful at 365
pounds-feet.
Problems? The truck is
heavier so gas mileage isn’t
great: 14/18. Despite giving
the Explorer and indepen
dent rear suspension, the F-
150 sticks with leaf springs.
Former Division n standout
the latest to prove college size
no factor on NBA ability
By John Froschauer
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
Ronald Murray is from
Shaw University, a member
of the Division II CIAA and
located in Raleigh, about a
mile from N.C. State. He is
one of 10 active.players who
entered the league from
either a Division II, III or
NAIA school or junior/com-
mtinity college.
“I feel like I can get around
anybody in the league,” said
Murray, who is averaging
24.6 points, 5.2 rebounds
and 4.8 assists. “It doesn’t
matter that no one in the
arena knows who I am.
Theyll know who I am in
time.”
Fans are getting to know
Murray, the 2002 Division II
player of the year, while he is
starting in place of Ray
Allen, on the injured list
with a surgically repaired
ankle. Murray was a second-
round pick of the Milwaukee
Bucks in the 2002 draft and
a footnote in the five-player
deal that sent Gary Payton
to Milwaukee for Allen.
“A lot of you have never
heard of him, but you better
learn who he is,” Minnesota
Timberwoives coach Flip
Saunders said. “He’s for
real.”
Timberwoives guard Sam
Cassell was a mentor for the
6-foot-4 Murray when the
two were in Milwaukee last
season.
“He was a guy that really
looked to me for guidance,”
Cassell said, “and I showed
him a lot of things to be suc
cessful on the basketball
floor. Now he has an oppor
tunity to play, and he’s going
to do well for (Seattle).”
Fewer players take the
small-college road to the
NBA than any other. There
are 18 active players drafted
out of high school and a
record 71 international play
ers.
Active small-college alum
ni:
Division n
Eddie Robinson, Chicago,
Central Oklahoma
Darrell Armstrong, New
Orleans, Fayetteville State
Ronald Murray, Seattle,
Shaw
Ben Wallace, Detroit,
Virginia Union
Moochie Norris, Houston,
West Florida
Division HI
Devean George, L.A.
Lakers. Augsburg (Minn.)
NAIA
Scottie Pippen, Chicago,
Central Arkansas
Community/junior college
Chris Anderson, Denver,
BHnn (Ifexas) JC
Qyntel Woods, Portland,
Northeast Mississippi CC
Kedrick Brown, Boston,
Okaloosa-Walton (Fla.) CC
Young Bulls look to turn corner
Continued from page 1C
(1-2)
“I won’t say where they are
because I don’t know if we’re
consistent yet,” he said.
‘We’re a much different team
than we were last night
hopefully on Tuesday night,
we’ll be much like we were
tonight and not like we were
All eyes on Charlotte freshman
Continued from page 1C
“Three days a week Martin’s in the gym at 7
o’clock in the morning, by himself, working
out. He works hard. He’s going to come
around it’s just a matter of time.”
While the eyes are definitely on Iti and the
49ers basketball program they won’t stay
there for long if there’s not success. The 49ers
Report: AL MVP Rodriguez OK
with trade to Boston or Yankees
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DALLAS
League
MVP Alex
Rodriguez
would accept
a trade to
either the
Boston Red
Sox or the
New York
Yankees,
The Dallas
Morning
— American
Rodriguez
News reported Sunday.
Rodriguez informed the
Rangers of his choices, and
the newspaper, citing an
unidentihed major league
source, reported the short
stop chose Boston and New
York.
Rodriguez has seven years
left on a 10-year, $250 million
contract. A clause in his con
tract prohibits the Rangers
from trading him unless he
agrees.
Rodriguez said at a news
conference Friday in the
Dominican Republic that
Rangers owner Tbm Hicks
told him there were three
possible scenarios', sticking
with his contract, restructur
ing it or shopping him
around.
The newspaper said that
numerous baseball officials
have confirmed the Rangers’
claims that there are no seri
ous talks for Rodriguez
The bed on the crew cab
model is too short.
Those aside. I’d buy a crew
cab with the big engine, 4x4,
and upgraded interior with
out hesitation. My test vehi
cle was about $37,000.
pricey, Especially without
leather, but worth aU you
pay-
If this isn’t truck of the
year, the fix is in.
ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTO
Former Shaw standout
Ronald Murray is making a
big impression In his sec
ond NBA season.
NOTICE OF TWO CITIZENS INFORMATIONAL
WORKSHOPS FOR THE PROPOSED
GASTON EAST-’WEST CONNECTOR STUDY
'STBS No. 34922.1.1 U-3321 Gaston/Mecklenburg Counties
The North Carolina Department of Transportation will hold
the above Citizens Informational Workshop on Tuesday,
December 9,2003 between the hours of 4:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m.
at South Point High School, 902 South Point Road, Belmont and
on Wednesday, December 10, 2003 betw'een the hours of
4:30p.m. and ^30 p.m. at Hunter Huss High School, 1518
Edgefield Avenue, Gastonia. These workshops will be in the
same format as the workshop held on September 30th at
Ashbrook High School.
. Interested individuals may attend this informal workshop at
their convenience during the above stated hours. Department
of Transportation representatives will be present to answer
questions and receive comments relative to the proposed pro
ject.
The purpose of this workshop is to present information,
answer questions, and receive comments regarding this project.
This project proposes to improve to improve east-west travel
between 1-85 west of Gastonia in Gaston County and I-485/NC
160 in Mecklenburg County. The proposed study boundary will
be 1-85 to the north, the South Ciirolina State line to the south,
the Charlotte-Douglas International Airport to the east, and the
1-85 and US 29-74 junction to the west.
Anyone desiring additional information may contact Kristina
Solberg, P.E. Project Development and Environmental Analj’sis
Branch at 1548 Mail Service Center, Raleigh, NC 27699-1548,
phone 919-733-7844 ext. 310, or email
ksolberg@dot.state.nc.us.
NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services for disabled
persons who wish to participate in this workshop to comply
with the Americans with Disabilities Act. To receive special ser
vices, please contact Kristina Solberg at the above address or
phone number or fax 919-733-9794 as early as possible so that
arrangements can be made.
Friday night. We’re still
developing stiU looking for
consistency and we’re still
looking to understand in
terms of what we try to do.”
are coming off a tough year where they fin
ished under .500 and this is the last season
that Charlotte will be only major basketball
in town. Next year is the Bobcats inaugural
season and if the fans don’t have a reason to
get excited about the 49ers they may lose a
large part of their fan base to the new team in
town.
because of his contract.
Rangers general manager
John Hart has said a few
inquiries about Rodriguez
got no further that ‘lacking
the tires,” the newspaper
reported. Hart did not imme
diately return a telephone
call to The Associated Press.
This season Rodriguez hit
.298, tied for the major
league lead with 47 homers,
and led the AL in runs (124)
and slugging percentage
(.600). He had 118 RBIs.
Regarded by many as the
league’s best all-around play
er, Rodriguez became the
first AL player to win the
MVP while playing for a last-
place team.
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