Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Dec. 31, 2003, edition 1 / Page 19
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3C SPORTS/O^e Cfiatlotte ^s«t Wednesday, December 31,2003 We’re all part of me-first society C. Jemal ^ Horton , This is a scenario you are J -Sure to see take place when j^^e Carolina Panthers have • "^heir playoff game at flffiricsson Stadium Saturday: !»J/ A Panthers player - or any J •fjjlayer, for that matter - will [.JSommit a blunder. He’ll try J t»tiis best, but theln hell drop a JV^ass or fumble a ball or miss j a tackle or ... something, f'l And someone will boo, >' someone vrill. yell nasty r !',l,hings to him. Many of the same people ; I ,>vho screamed about the hor- ;,';rific lack of sportsmanship J ^when Joe Horn puUed out a ' cell phone in the end zone » recently will narrowly miss > spilling their beverage on I 'their children as they jump J and scream at players. J _ “You suck!” j ' ' “Shut up and play!” ' Yep, there’s an example for f the kids. That’s real sports- Ij^anship. That’s not showing up a player. ,, And Horn gets viUfied, not ' 'to mention a $30,000 fine, for j;. pulling out a lousy cell phone? Come on. We have got to get over ourselves, people. We have got to get over using athletes as the symbol of eveiything that is wrong with our country, particular ly when, in some cases, we’re the ones setting the poor example. Let’s look at these elabo rate end zone celebrations for a moment: What’s the big deal? Please teU me how a guy who celebrates a touch down somehow is a menace to society. WiU somebody please tell me why we’re so quick to act as if a guy pulfing out a cell phone is so much worse than, s^, a guy violently spiking the ball 5 feet away from his fallen defender. That’s taunting. That’s hurt ful to the opponent. And that’s exactly what future Hall-of-Famer Steve Young used to do. Yet no one ever com plained. This is the classic example of people from different cul tures and life experiences trying to force their own mores on other people. And that’s wrong. Very wrong. Fans and media love to complain that there are too many ‘look at me” athletes in our society and not enough “team.” Well, if you’ve been fortu nate enough to attend a game at Ericsson Stadium or the Charlotte Coliseum or similar places, you’ve seen the reaction of most fans when their faces pop up on the Jumbotron. Let’s just say they don’t sit in their seats and, as so many fans and sports commentators love to say, “act like they’ve been there before.” People do eveiything from get up and dance to wave their hands feverishly to bring attention to their body parts. How much more ‘look at me” does it get? A whole lot of us are hyp ocrites, because a whole lot of us are ‘look-at-me” people. First of all, most of the peo ple spewing this mess are loudmouth talk-radio hosts and sports columnists with their pictures in newspa pers. These are the same people who are, at the tops of their lungs, publicly ripping players, owners and fans. Again, how much more ‘look at me” does it get? And let’s get rid of this ridiculous notion that profes sional sports are all about the team, OK? Something Sporty; That’s Monte Carlo’s SS coupe Winfred B. Cross Test Drive NASCAR has done a lot for General Motors, or is that the other way around? GM products win a lot of races, which helps sales for those models, even though racing versions have little to do with the consumer prod ucts. Still, some people get a ,, kick out of driving the cars i [ their favorite drivers use. I ■ Those who like the Monte I; Carlo will like the SS version • • ^ven more. SS probably j_!^stands for super sport or pifomething. Sporty it is, • tixiasting a 240 supercharged ^version of the venerable ^800 engine. That’s the real ^Sweetness of this car. The h ' i^^ngine is hvely, propelling »-jthe car to 60 mph well before the clock ticks off 7.0 sec onds. The engine has a somewhat metallic sound while producing these hors es, but the exhaust note is quite nice. If you go fast you need to stop and turn fast, the Monte Carlo delivers. The four-wheel antilock brakes will haul this puppy down to 0 in a pinch. The standard traction control helps keep the car on the right path, even under adverse situa tions. Steering is good also. It’s not as tight as I like for a car this fast, but it’s quick enough. The four-wheel indepen dent suspension is tuned more for sport than comfort but the ride is OK I expect ed harsh, but I got good. For a coupe, the Monte is pretty hvable. There’s plenty of room for four, maybe five. The doors are about the right side, wide enough to allow easy access, but not so heavy as to make you wish for a foiu-door. Chevy’s interiors always leave me cold. The Monte Carlo is no exception. There’s a lot of inexpensive plastic and odd shapes. The famihar Fischer-Price dash hasn’t changed, nor the ‘80s radio faceplate. There is satellite radio, which is the best GM option next to OnStar. The SS Monte Carlo comes with a lot of standard stuff which includes ABS, dual ch- mate controls, power pack age, traction control, cruise, keyless remote, and 17-inch diamond cut wheels. Options include XM radio, OnStar, upgraded 200 watt stereo and driver’s information cen ter. With options, the car test ed at $31,055. Not bad, but there’s plenty to choose from in that price range. But not many of those will be found circling an oval at triple digit speeds. ti'. Si Si Your best source for black college and community sports C^iarlotte $osit rzr Be in the know ! keep ‘ your system If// n www.thecharlottepost.com You watch an Indianapolis Colts game, and all you hear is commentators going on about how Peyton Manning should win the MVP. When a player holds out, it’s not about the team. When an ovmer underpays a player, it’s not about the team. If it were all about the teams, then the professional sports leagues wouldn’t sell and market jerseys with individual names and num bers on them. Cliarlotte ^osit 704-376-0496 FORD’S USED TIRES New Tires Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 8 p.m. • Sat. 8 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. • Brake Job Front $35.00 Back $45.00 3401 Tuckaseegee Rd, Charlotte, NC 28208 (704)393-1109 ► Oil Change - $21.88 Ford’s Busy Bee Mini Mart 505 Beatties Ford Rd. Charlotte, NC 28216 (704)333-8448 1222 Central Ave. Charlotte, NC 28204 (704)377-0870 NOTICE MINORITY AND WOMEN-OWNED FIRMS The North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) is seeking minority and women-owned firms (MAVBE) to bid on upcoming highway projects throughout the State. The Locations of the projects are: d z o 0) *o (X "J. cB 3 3 0 0 u q: 0 a C o (Q U O ^ r 0 « GOALS BY PERCENT 0 C S lU LU m Q LU CD S LU 00 5 B-2963 32780.3.2 8.2352202 Durham 12 Structure,Grading, Drainage, Paving Bridge 111 over New Hope Creek on SR-1107 B-3067 32849.3.1 8.2750903 Watauga 4 Structure,Grading, Drainage, Paving Bridge 324 over Middle Fork Creek on SR-1542 B-3422 33049.3.2 8.2663203 Cabarrus 10 Drainage, Grading, Paving, Culverts, Signals Bridge 47 over Three Mile Branch on SR-1002 B-3627 33175.3.1 8.1480503 Caswell 26 Structure,Grading, Drainage, Paving Bridge 24 over Hyco Creek on US 158 R-1030E 34363.3.2 8.1330502 Wayne 002 Guardrail, Signing, Paving US 117 from North of US 70 Interchange at Goldsboro to South ofSR-1342 R-1030F 34363.3.14 8.133(5511 Wayne, Wilson 12 Guardrail, Paving, Signing US 117 from South of SR-1342 to South of US 301 ‘ U-3803 34971.3.2 Rowan 32 Grading, Drainage, Paving, Widening, Curb and Gutter, Signals, Pavement Markers China Grove - Intersection of US 29A (North Main Street)&NC 152 -SR 1337 (Church Street) * Designates a Federal Project LETTING DATE: TUESDAY, JANUARY 20, 2004 Until further notice, the pre-letting activities formerly held at the North Raleigh Hilton will no longer be held at the Bennington Corporation. If you have questions, please contact the Office of Civil Rights, NCDOT Office of Civil Rights & Business Development l»800’522-0453 Certification of highway contracting firms: Jerry Armstrong Certification of supply/service/engineering firms: Robert Mathes Comments or concerns: Larry Dickens: Interim Director Getting Marriedf A.. We Want To Know! The Charlotte Post is now publishing announcements the last Thursday of the month. Have your announcement published with a photo for Only $75.00. (actual size 3.792 inches x 6 inches) Send Your Engagement • Wedding • Anniversary Announcement to 0 The Charlotte Post ' P.O. Box 30144 Charlotte, NC 28230 Attn: Bridal Advertising or E-mail: advertising@thecharlottepost.com
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Dec. 31, 2003, edition 1
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