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2C
SPORTS/®()e Cliariotte
Thursday, December 11, 2003
nndMR in need Of a Win Sunday at kMNly Arizona
Continued from page 1C
three close games (in which)
we ended up on the short
end. We have to turn that
around quickly.”
This Sunday, the Panthers
have another chance to
clinch the NFC South title -
something they refused to do
last week in a late-night loss
to the Atlanta Falcons.
The Panthers are playing
the no-account Cardinals
this weekend, you say?
Big deal. That means noth
ing right now, because the
Panthers also are struggling
with confidence, especially
after losing to Atlanta. They
don’t seem to know how to
win anymore.
That the Falcons were ben
efiting from the emotional
return of quarterback
Michael Vick (broken leg)
was not an excuse for losing
to Atlanta. Vick doesn’t play
defense. The Falcons had the
single-worst defense in the
whole NFL, and the
Panthers still got beat.
So, no, victory at Arizona
on Sunday is not a given.
Should the Panthers win
this game? Absolutely.
They’re better than the
Cardinals. And, hey, the
Panthers only have lost
these three consecutive
games by a combined 20
points. That means there are
things that can be fixed.
That means it’s not as if the
Panthers are going out on
the field and getting out
played every single Sunday.
The bottom line? This club
does not yet know how to
win. Not when everything is
at stake. And, honestly, you’d
expect that from a team
that, not so long ago, was an
NFL bottom-feeder.
But because we know the
Panthers can beat great
teams in this league.
because we know they aren’t
just going out there and get
ting clobbered each week,
even during an ugly eight-
game skid, we can’t just
shrug and give them conve
nient excuses to under
achieve. 'They’re beyond that
If the Panthers continue
limping into the playoffs and
wind up with an early post
season exit, yes, they defi
nitely will have choked.
Reach C. Jemal Honon at see-
Jemalwrite@aol.com.
Muhammad, Panthers deal with gaffe
Continued from page 1C
ers.”
But make no mistake, Fox
is not blaming Muhammad
for the loss
to Atlanta.
The
Panthers
made plenty
of other
errors, from
Delhomme
losing one of
three fum
bles and
throwing
two interceptions, to a com
plete inability to contain
F alcons quarterback
Fox
Michael '\dck.
But Mxihammad’s mistake
is not so easy to overlook in
what’s been a miserable sea
son for the former Pro Bowl
receiver. With just 42 catch
es for 677 yards and two
touchdowns this season,
Muhammad has fallen out of
favor with many fans for
numerous drops, fumbles
and failed plays.
He argues that his num
bers are down — third-year
player Steve Smith is the
leading receiver with 72
catches for 914 yards -
because Carolina’s offense is
centered around running
back Stephen Davis.
And the Panthers insist
Muhammad has quietly
done the dirty work all year,
sacrificing statistics for the
unheralded role of blocker.
Before the Atlanta game,
he was on a three-game
streak with 17 catches for
326 yards and a touchdown.
Solid numbers, but probably
not good enough to help him
extend his stay in Carolina.
Muhammad has one year
left on the five-year $22.5
, million deal he signed after
the 1999 season, when he led
the NFC with 96 catches and
ranked fourth with 1,253
yards. He counts for close to
$6 million against this year’s
salary cap , which has led to
rampant speculation he’ll be
released in the offseason.
Mistakes like the one he
made against the Falcons
won’t do anything to silence
the talk, even if Muhammad
did step up and partially
accept the blame.
“Jake threw to a spot that
he felt like I should have
been in — I probably should
have been there,” he said.
“But they are a good defense
and they played the play and
stepped right in front of me
and made the play.”
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USOC pressures USA TVack over doping
Continued from page 1C
but have yet to get an
answer.
The IOC’s executive com
mittee decided Friday to con
sider denying accreditation
to USATF administrators if
they fail to explain why
Young was exonerated.
Young and the rest of the
1,600-meter relay team,
including Michael Johnson,
could be stripped of medals if
the IOC determines Young
was improperly cleared.
USATF officials have
refused to acknowledge that
Young is the athlete in ques
tion or provide details in the
case, citing confidentiality
rules after an international
arbitration court ruling
upheld the' organization’s
right to maintain secrecy in
doping acquittals.
“It is our recommendation
that they should either con
firm the name at this stage
or, in the alternative, provide
the unredacted version of
the appellate opinion that
exonerated Jerome Young,”
McCarthy said.
USATF compiled the 23-
page report after executive
director Craig Masback and
president BUI Roe were sum
moned to a USOC meeting
in October. At the meeting,
USA'TF was told to either
address recent doping and
athlete conduct issues of face
being stripped of its Olympic
charter.
USATF filed the report on
Nov. 19,
Your source for community
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tETje Cljarlotte
NOTICE OF A CITIZENS INFORMATIONAL WORKSHOP
FOR THE REALIGNMENT OF THE SR2804
(REEDY CREEK ROAD)/SR 2805 (HARRISBURG ROAD)
INTERSECTION IN CHARLOTTE
WBS ELEMENT 36774.1.1 U-4401 Mecklenburg County
The North Carolina Department of Transportation wiil
hold the above Citizens’ Informational Workshop on
Thursday, December 11,2003 between the hours of 4p,m,
and 7p.m. in the Multi-Purpose Room at Reedy Creek
Elementary School, 10801 Plaza Road Extension, Cnarlotte.
Interested individuals may attend this informal work
shop at their convenience during the above stated hours.
Department of Transportation representatives will be pre
sent to answer questions and receive comments relative to
the proposed project.
The purpose of this workshop is to present informa
tion, answer questions, and receive comments regarding
this project. This project consists of realigning Reedy
Creek Road/Harrisburg Road intersection further away
from the existing 1-485 Interchange Ramp.
Anyone desiring additional information may contact
Ms. Michele James, 1348 Mail Setvice Center, Raleigh, NC
27699-1548, phone (919) 733-7844 ext. 233 or e-mail at
miames(5)(iot.state.nc.us.
NCDOT will provide auxiliary aids and services for dis
abled persons who wish to participate in this workshop to
com.ply with the Americans with Disabilities Act. To
receive special services, please contact Ms. James at the
above address or phone number, or fax 919-733-9794 as
early as possible so that arrangements can be made.