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http ://www. thecharlottepost.com c Section Cljarlotte $os!t SPORTS THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2005 Business 8C Bobcats sticking with the vision Long before July 2004, when multi-platinum rapper Nelly became part-owner of the expansion Charlotte Bobcats, a few other NBA teams already had approached him about pur chasing a stake in their orga nizations. Nelly, howev er, was waiting on “the right opportunity” C. Jemal Horion Enter Bobcats owner Bob Johnson, the Black Entertainment Television founder who had become the first Afidcan-American major ity owner of a professional sports franchise. After researching the days when the former Charlotte Hornets regularly led the league in attendance, and having some in-depth conver sations with Johnson, Nelly, whose real name is Cornell Haynes Jr, knew that NBA basketball in the Queen City would be an excellent choice for his new business venture. “Charlotte’s a beautiful city with a strong basketball his tory - that was one of the rea sons I agreed to do what I did,” Nelly said as he whisked through the bowels of Charlotte Bobcats Arena late last Saturday night with his girlfriend, star R&B singer Ashanti, after the Bobcats’ thrilling overtime victory over Boston. “There were a few teams that wanted me to partake in what they had going on,” Nelly said. “But this just felt ri^t. I believed great things could happen here, and I wanted to be a part of it. Charlotte has shown me such much support over my career, so I thought it would be hot.” Sorry, I couldn’t resist the temptation to reference one of Nelly’s biggest hits and say the Bobcats have a chance to be “Hot in Herre.” But, well, they do. Early in just their second season on the court, the Bobcats appear to be li^t on course - just as NeUy saw them evolving and, perhaps more important, just as the team’s general manager and head coach envisioned. “Th.e vision was that we were going to build it the ri^t way” Bemie Bickerstafi* said. “We haven’t changed.” The fact the Bobcats already are showing signs of success is remarkable, con sidering what this oigeiniza- tion faced when Johnson pur chased it in 2002, shortly after the Hornets left for New Orleans: Fans were apathet ic, Johnson was asking for a new $265 million arena and several losing seasons were on the horizon But the Bobcats already are giving an indication this whole thing is gokig to work - perfiaps well. Heading into the final two games of a four-game homes- tand - Wednesday against San Antonio and Friday against Dallas - the Bobcats boasted a record of 2-2. Even more, the team has injected much-needed excite ment into the Queen City, whose sports heart has be^ exclusively owned by the NFLs Carolina Panthers in recent years. Last Saturday’s game featvired a big-event atmosphere. with other celebrities besides Nelly and Ashanti in att^idance; golfer Fred Couples, actor Will Ferrell and North Carolina coach Roy Williams. And the fact the Bobcats Please see FRANCHISE/3C PHOTO/WADE NASH Charlotte Bobcats forward Gerald Wallace is fouled by Andrei Kirilenko in Monday’s overtime loss in Charlotte. Wallace suffered a concussion and was expected to miss Wednesday’s game. One at a time Ne^v building, season agrees with Bobcats By Aaron Summer ihe ciiAHLOTni posr No game is more impor tant than any other. Each win means as much as the one preceding and the next Charlotte Bobcats head coach Bemie Bickerstaff has preached such a mantra to his team from day one, providing the cor nerstone for their blue-col lar work ethic and atti tude. But Bickerstaff would be hard pressed to discount the importance of a partic ular win, a 107-105 over time thriller on Saturday over the legendary Boston Celtics in the first game ever played at Charlotte Bobcats Arena. In one momentous ni^t, the Bobcats accom plished something that they never attained in their rookie season-a win- See BOBCATS/2C Bickerstaff Golden Bulls hurt early, often By Herbert L. White herh.whiie&th£charlonep)st roni Johnson C. Smith basketball is hm*ting for healthy bodies. The Golden Bulls have been slowed by usuries during preseason, with shooting guard Prince Parker (toe, hand) Edmund Rainey (knee) and John P\ilton (knee) on the shelf to varying degrees. Parker didn’t play in last week’s 101-59 loss at (!)lemson while Fulton managed just 13 minutes and Rainey 19. Rainey has been ruled out indefinitely while Fulton is day to day “It’s not the hand we were looking for, but it’s the hand we were dealt,” Golden Bulls coach Steve Joyner said. ^ The injuries have forced changes in the lineup with walk-on 'H’avoris Howerton, and seldom-used Darren Ramsey logging more playing time, Howerton scoi'ed four points in 27 minutes against Clemson. Ramsey was O-for-5 in 20 minutes against the Tigers, who limited Smith to 41.2 percent shootii^ and forced 32 turnovers. Backup guard Jerome Givens led the Bulls with 16 points on 6-of-8 shooting, followed by forwaixi Charles Clark’s 12 points on 4-of-6 shooting. “The thii^ you-can’t plan for is usuries,” Joyner said. “We’re hoping that the plus side will be more experience for the guys who now See INJURIES/3C BEARCATS RULE THE ROCK Joyner PHOTCVHAROLD TYSON Rock Hill Bearcats hoist the Rock Hill City Championship trophy and celebrate the Bearcats victory over the Northwestern Tcojans. The Bearcats won the final City Championship between the two schools by a score of 21^6. The Bearcats lead the series, 2219 wins. A third high school opens in Rock Hill next year. LIVINGSTONE COLLEGE Livingstone cross-country athlete Darius Shade won the Southeast Region championship. Champ mnner has it made in Shade SPECLMTOWEPOSr Livingstone’s Darius Shade won the team at the NCAA Division n Southeast Region cross-country championship at Wingate. Shade, the 2005 CTAA champion, finished the lOK race with a personal best 32 minutes, 14 sec onds. Last season. Shade finished as CJAA and region runner-up. He will advance to the NCAA nationals in Pomona, Calif, on Nov. 19. See LIVINGSTONE/2C Shaw women prepared to maintain hoop dominanee By Bonitta Best THE T1U.\S'GLE TRIBUNE Raleigh has been good to Shaw. The Lady Bears have won all three of their championships here. * The basketball tournament moves to its new location in Charlotte next year at the Charlotte Bobcats Arena. Will that spell a new women’s cham pion? Not if coach Jacxjues Curtis & CIo. have anything to say about it. Shaw (32-2 overall, 16-0 CIAA) Coach Jacques Curtis had the audience in stitches after his prodamation at the basketball coaches luncheon that he just hoped his team could stay in the middle of the pack. After talking to him^this week, he’s sticking to his story ‘We’re used to dominating, not See SHAW/2C PHOTO/WADE NASH Shaw’s Bears are looking for a fourth straight CIAA women’s basketball chapionship. Panthers determined to run away from slide PHOTO/CURTIS WILSON Running back Stephen Davis averages 3.1 yards a carry, but has 11 touchdowns. By David Dawson FOR THE CHARLOTTE PORT The Carolina Panthers are dominating on defense, Steve Smith is the league’s best receiver and Jake Delhomme is managing the oflFense. Ilie running game, howev er, is ailing. As they start the second half of their season, the Panthers are looking to improve their running game against the New York Jets on Sunday Carolina’s ground attack has plummeted in the last few weeks, slipping from ninth in the NFL at the start of the season to 25th within the last two games, averaging 90.6 rushing yards per game. The nosedive started in a Week 3 loss to Miami, in which the Panthers only rushed for 62 yards. By the fifth game against Arizona, Carolina dropped four places. In the Detroit and Minnesota victories, the Panthers ran for a combined total of 165 yards to land in 25th place. With running backs Stephen Davis and DeShaun See PANTHERS^C • •Ol
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
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Nov. 10, 2005, edition 1
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