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2C ©•O SPORTS/^e Thursday, November 2, 2006 Big Ben bolsters Chicago Continued from page 1C some major moves in the ofeeason while keep ing their young core of guards and forwards intact- Chicago signed Wallace to a four-year, $60 million contract and traded xmderachieving center TVson Chandler to New Orleans for vet eran forward P.J. Brown. ‘We like our roster, but we don’t know what we have yet,” general manager John Paxson said- “There are stiU a lot of unknowns ” The biggest is this: How will the younger core respond to expectations that haven't been this high since two guys named kfichael and Scottie were in uniform? The first hint comes Tbesday, when the Bulls open the season at Miami. “If there is a downside to (the expectations), then we’re not ready for it,” coach Scott Sidles said. “We should have beaten Washii^ton two years ago. We led the series, 2-0, and then lost it. We could have beaten Miami. We haven’t had any real (postseason) success, but we’ve had the ejqpeiience of it.” After helping the Pistons win a champi onship and reach four straight Eastern Conference finals, Wallace was foiuth in the NBA last season in rebounding (11.3 per game), ninlh in blocks (2.2) and 10th in steals (1.7^, but he had a rough ending in Detroit. Wallace reportedly did not get along with coach Flip Saunders and refused to enter a game. Now, heh work with the more feisty Sidles, who had heated words with the Pistons last season. Wallace shn^ed that off and compared Sidles’ attention to detail to that of Larry Brown, who coached Detroit to a champi onship. “I like what (Sidles) biir^ to the table, the fact that he coaches everyone the same way and doesn’t play favorites,” Wallace said. “If the guy’s not getting it done, he’s not afi'aid to let him know. As far as the words he had with the Pistons last year, I’m a Bull now. If they don’t like him, I dont hke them.” At 32, Wallace may not have many prime years left, and he has never averaged double figures in points dxirir^ a career that began in 1996, so the Bulls did not fill their need for an interior scor^ when they acquired him. Instead, they strer^th^ed a defense that was already good but committed too many fouls. Although opponents shot a league-low 42.6 percent, they attempted 505 more firee throws than the Bolls Chandler had a habit of collecting quick fouls, but that shouldn’t be a problem with Wallace, who has fouled out just four times in his career. Panthers questions during bye Continued from page 1C Last season, Lucas had six interceptions, Carolina as a whole had 23. Halfway through this season, the Panthers have taken the ball away fixim opponents only seven times Panthers’ quarterback Jake Delhomme has been inter cepted five times and many times at game changing points. ‘'You don’t want to go on a roUer coaster ride during the season,” Delhomme said. ‘'You want to stay on one of those kiddy rides and keep it kind of steady and we’re not doing that ri^t now.” Delhomme said with eight more games left, the Panthers have to turn it aroimd. The race for the NFC South crown is tight because Atlanta, New Orleans and Carolina are aU 2-1 in the division, though Carolina is 2-3 in the NFC. Delhomme said after the bye, the Panthers have to come back to work. “You don’t look foi’ excuses, that’s the first thing. You have to look yourself in the Her dream is life in the pits Continued from page 1C said Thomas. She is 5 feet, 7 inches and weights 160 pounds, about 25 pounds less than when she left TOsconsin. And although Thomas prefers being off the radar, she does not go urmoticed. As an i\fiican- Ameiican and as a woman, Thomas has over come two hmdles to compete at the profession al level. “'Pec^le tend to look at you more and question what you do and if you have the ability to do it,” she said “There are alwaj^ people I know that, once they see what you do, they go out and teU everybody” And she gives them plenty to talk about. The first time Thomas went over the wall was in a non-points event at the Nextel Open in May at Lowe’s Motor Speedway She cleaned the grill and took tape off the windshield. “1 remember standir^ on the infield watch ing them play and watching the cars drive around the track and thinking, ‘Oh my gosh, I never thought I was going to be here doing this stuff”’ She has made quite an impression doing that stuff in the fastest growing sport in America. “She catches on so damn quick that it’s amazing,” said Derek Sutton, a fabricator and classmate of Thomas’ at Bobby Isaac Motorsports. “If she wants to do it she will.” In additio]! to changing tires, Thomas is a fabricator in the CJM Motorsports shop in MooresviUe. She does welding and makes mis cellaneous parts of the car. No matter the version, new Camry has style and options Tbyota has inaled the top-seUing sedan spot for a while with its bread and butter Camry a well-built but boring car that was reliable to a faiilt. The 2007 Camry is probably still reliable, but borit^ it is not. Tsyota has given the car a much-needed dose of stjie and even more refinement that should keep it Ameiica’s top selling car. But wait, is this a Camry that drives with a touch of agres sion? Why, yes, it certainly does. Tbyota’s even thrown in a SE version that’s sportier. The new Camry is about the same size as the outgoing VViNrKtU model but has more interior B. Cross space. But let’s talk about exte rior first. The new shape isnt extravagant, but it’s now flowing lines are more appealing than the previous model. The grill is integrat ed nicely and is more subtle. 'The interior sparkles with refinement. The instrument duster’ is ringed with chrome and the gai^s look Lexus-designed. The center stack houses the excellent stereo and optional voice-activated nav^ation system. The seats ai’e vea’y comfortable, fiunt and back. There’s plenty of leg, head and hip room for even tall folks. The really tall may want to check out the cavernous Avalon. HCiE* mirror and say I have to play better, I have to work harder,” he said. Wde receiver Keyshawn Johnson said no one wants to go into the bye week at 4-4 but, “it is what it is.” “We have to put this behind us, watch the tape and come back and get ready for Tampa,” said Johnson, who dropped a key pass that looked as if it would have gone fcr a torrchdown. ‘We had opportunities, we just didn’t cash them in.” Thomas’ decision to work in a practically all male environment was made while she was in another field dominated by men. After- the war in Iraq started, she volimteered for the Army While undeigoit^ basic trainii^ in Missouri, she had some second thoughts. “It was really unsettling,” she said. “You never really know if you’re going to go to war and defend your coxmtry It makes you think if you joined for the ri^t reason.” Two years later, she received an honorable discharge after injuring her knees. She then turned her thoughts to racing. ‘1 waited way lor^er than what I should have,” she said. “I let people say that if I came down here with the way the sport is, there is no way I could make it. I really don’t think that is ■ true. Thomas wants to make it as a crew chief one day but her plan now is to improve her akillR and to land a job with a bigger team. She’s has offei-s fium otho’ Nextel Cup teams, but knows she knows she has to pay her dues at the bot tom, working on teams that are fairly new and have Hmited budgets. “It has been hectic becavise we are lower on the totem pole at NASCAR,” said Thomas. ‘We have to rush because we are the last to go through everything. It’s a little bit harder for the smaller team to make it throu^ every thing.” Many of her^fiiends and relatives thought it would be too hard for a black woman to make it in the auto racing world. ALL-NEW DVD! WltH 15 DELETED DCENES/ALTEEIMrE TAKES, FEmETTES, AN ON-CAmSA WTEKViEW WITM MACAULAY CaKIN, DEEAT GAMES AND MORE! I test drove all Camrys at an event and was pleased with all. The V6 was powerful, dehv- ering stunning acceleration and passing power. At 268 horses, the engine is a jewel. I recently spent more time in a four-cylinder and hybrid- The LE four-bai^er was nearly as quiet as the six, except rmder hard acceler ation. Passing power was good, but 0-60 times were, let’s say leisurely The hybrid was even a bit slower, but it would be my pick fium the bimch. There’s something about 40 nules per gallon in the dty and 38 mpg on the hi^way for a car this size that just makes since. City miles are higher because hybrids use tlie electric engine in urban areas. A conventional gas engine kicks in during highway driving. The hybrid handles much like its gasoline sister - great ride, good handling, solid brakes and nicely weighted stewing. The hybrid wili cost a bit more. At $27,800, it was well equipped with killer JBL stereo, stability and traction control and navigation. The LE had about the same equipment at $24,135. Its 24 mpg dty and 33 mpg highway was no slouch either. Neither car had leather seats. You can save money by going Korean and getting more car and a better warranty Tiling is, I don’t think you would get a better car than this. 'Ibyota’s hit a grand slam. Your source for championship sports coverage Cljarlottc ^oiSt
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