Carr switches spots for interview
WXI1 sports anchor Tolly
Carr was made tor his job.
After all, he grew up watching
the news in a different way
than most of us did. We main
ly watched the news because
something wc wanted to watch
came on afterward. But. not
Tolly. He watched the news in
anticipation of the sports seg
ment.
He wasn't an overnight
success, though. He started out
with the campus radio station,
broadcasting WSSU foothill
and basketball games. He then
got a gig with 97.1 WQMG in
Greensboro. He was the local
voice of the nationally syndi
cated "Tom Joyner Show" for
that station. But, Tolly wanted
more. So he quit his full-time
job to try to pursue his dream
of being on television. Carr
worked his way up the chain at
WXII. He even used to sneak
demo tapes of events under the
news directors' door in hopes
of someday becoming a sports
anchor.
Well, that day has come.
And, Tolly is one of the most
animated analyst in the state.
He and 1 sat down for a con
versation earlier this week to
talk about the road he took to
get on TV, and where he might
be thinking about taking his
act in the future.
Anthony: What's going
on. Tolly?
Tolly: Uh, new. There's
absolutely nothing new that I
can think of. (Both laugh.)
Well, I shaved my mustache.
That's the only new thing that
I can think of.
Anthony: A lot of people
were probably wondering why
you shaved your mustache.
Why did you do that?
Tolly: I just decided to do
one day. When I first got into
TV about three years ago,
everybody was like, you've
got to shave your mustache. I
said that 1 wasn't shaving my
mustache. Black people don't
look right without a mustache.
(Both laugh.) 1 had like a
beard. Well, it wasn't a beard.
It was kind of what you have,
except mine didn't connect. I
shaved my chin, but decided to
keep my mustache. And, I
shaved my mustache while I
was on vacation. But. I'd been
thinking about it for a while,
so I just decided to do it. It
makes me look a lot younger.
Anthony: (Smiles.) So,
you didn't accidentally shave
too close and figure that you
had to just cut it off?
Tolly: No, no. (Laughs.)
That's what my barber
thought. That was the main
thing I was concerned about. 1
knew they were going to give
me a hard time at the barber
shop. And, they did. (Pause.)
That's really been the high
light of my summer: shaving
my mustache. (Both laugh.)
Anthony: OK. Tolly,
everyone knows you as the
sports anchor on WXII. Tell
Con
ing with 97.1, 1 was doing the
-7'Tom Joyner Show," which
was cool, but I needed another
challenge in my life. My
me how long you've actually
wanted to do that job. Fve
heard everything from 6 years
old to your final year in col
lege.
Tolly: It's kind of funny
how it all happen for me. See,
I grew up with my grandmoth
er, and they used to watch the
news all the time. It was all
boring to me, but when the
sports guy came on he was
animated and really lively.
That's what grabbed my atten
tion. 1 never really thought
that I could do it, though. I
guess that was because 1 never
saw any black people doing it.
It was all white guys. It wasn't
that I didn't think I could do it.
I just didn't have anybody to
identify with. I've always
wanted to do it, but I guess I
didn't really believe I could do
until college.
Anthony: What made you
realize that you didn't want to
do radio anymore? What made
you leap to television like you
did?
Tolly: When I was work
roommate at the time was a
photographer at channel 12.
He told me that I should try to
get a job there and work my
way up. So, I quit my full-time
job and went to the TV station
part time. I was like a produc
tion assistant at first. I was
about 24 at the time. I figured
I was young enough to take a
step backwards. I used to
make demo tapes and slip
them under the door of the
production manager. And, I
knew they were never going to
air, but I wanted to show him
how good I could be. Il only
took me about eight months to
get on the air.
Anthony: That's not bad.
So, what are your future
plans? Do you want to stay
with WX1I or do you see
ESPN or something in your
future?
Tolly: I would like to do
something outside of sports.
Sport is cool, but I'm the type
of person that's always look
ing for a different challenge.
I've done radio and I've done
TV. I would like to stay in tel
evision, hut maybe something
outside of sports.
Anthony: Like what?
Tolly: I'd like to do some
thing involving entertainment.
I think one of my strong points
is ad-lihhing. 4 think I speak
better when Lot just making it
up. I'd like to do something a
little more laid hack. I'd also
like to do something that's a
little more opinionated and
have a little more fun. For
what we do, you can only say
so much. I probably push the
envelope more than anyone
else.
Anthony: (Laughs.) Prob
ably.
Tolly: But, uh ? I know
where that line is drawn. I
don't know. I would like to do
something different next.
Anthony: OK. Let's talk
about your alma mater for a
moment. How do you think
they'll do in football this sea
son?
Tolly: I think they'll be a
lot better this year than they
were last year. I was actually
surprised (hat they were able
to get Monte Purvis and Jed
Bines from Parkland. I
remember going to Parkland's
first practice last year, and
they weren't there because
they were on a recruiting trip
at like, Purdue or something.
So, I was really expecting
those kids to go D-I. Not to
knock Winston-Salem State,
but I was pleasantly surprised.
Anthony: What about
Wake Forest? How well will
they do for the next couple of
years? With the addition of
Miami and Virginia Tech, does
that kind of mean that Wake
will never win a conference
title in football?
Tolly: (Laughs.) I don't
know. They've done really
well since Grobe has gotten
there. I can definitely tell a
difference in their condition
ing. Time will tell whether or
not he's a good recruiter. I
think Miami and Florida State
will evenly destroy everybody.
Anthony: What sport or
sports can you play?
Tolly: I play basketball. 1
See One-on-One on B8
Tiny Indians to hold first practice Friday
mr
CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT
It's finally time for the
Tiny Indians to hit the field:
the practice field.
The Indians will hold
their first practice of the sea
son tomorrow,(Aug. 1). The
session will be from 6 to 8:30
p.m.. Extension for sign-ups
is also in effect. All paper
work (certified birth certifi
cates, proof of physicals if not
having one at the field and a
report card with all fourquar
ters showing promotion to
next grade need to be turned.
A child can not ptactice with
out a physical or play. The
doctor will be available from
10 a.m. until 1 p.m..
The doctors will conduct
cheerleader's and player's
physicals for $10. Cash or
money order will be needed to
pay. Any other teams who
need physicals are welcome to
bring their squad, but they
need to ,
bring team's
form in j
order for. the
physical to <
be given.
This also
applies to '
any high
school stu- I
dent(s) who I
need physi- <
cals. All t
cheerleading
squads arc '
-ft.
open, hut only the Jr. Midget
and Midgets are open for foot
hall. The fees are $110 for
Flag and $130 for Mitey-Mite
through Midget.
OF
For more information con
tact league representatives.
Call Sarah Jackson at 407
3298 or Leonard Green at
765-7515.
Bulldogs to hold another sign-up
HROMCI.E STAFF REPORT
Time is running out for the kids who
want to be a Bulldog this season.
The Winston-Salem Bulldogs will
told sign-ups at Hill Middle School for
he second-straight week. They will
;ontinue to have registration today
hrough Saturday.
Team and cheerleading registration
will be from 6:30 p.m. until 8:30
tonight and tomorrow. On Saturday, it
will be from 10:30 until 2 p.m. Practice
will begin on Aug. 4. Today is the final
day for physicals. The doctors will be
on location from 6:30 until 8:30 p.m.
Fee for football and cheerleading is
$125. The cost for Hag football is $90.
?Contact Marcus or Jerry Thornton at
761-8497 for more football informa
tion. Call Sabrina Pinson at 995-3861
for more cheerleading information.
WSSU names Tonia
Walker associate
director of athletics
CHRONICLE STAFF REPORT
The Winslon-Salem State
University Athletic Depart
ment announced that Tonia
Walker was named the Asso
ciate Director of Athletics
effective tomorrow (Aug. 1).
"I'm ecstatic about the
opportunity to serve Winston
Salem State University in the
capacity of Associate Direc
tor of Athletics and Senior
Woman Administrator, Walk
er said. 'This opportunity
positions me one step closer
in my career track of becom
ing a future Director of Ath
letics. The growth of this
University coupled with the
aggressive vision of Dr. Mar
tin is refreshing and promotes
an atmosphere of teamwork
for all of the University
administrators. Working with
Dr. Caldwell has been a joy in
my past role as a
coach/administrator and I
look forward to joining him
as a full time administrator as
we further enhance the image
of Winston-Salem State Ath
letics."
Walker, currently serving
an appointment as the Assis
tant Director of Athletics and
the department's Senior
Woman Administrator, as
well as serving as the Head
Coach of the Women's Vol
leyball Program has been an
integral part of the WSSU
Athletic Department's return
to greatness instituted by
Director of Athletics Dr.
Pdrcy "Chico" Caldwell and
Chancellor, Dr. Harold L.
Martin Sr. She will give up
her duties as Head, Volleyball
Coach, but will take on even
more responsibilities within
the department as she and Dr.
Caldwell take the Athletic
Department to new heights as
they follow the motto of
2003. "Why Be Ordinary, Be
Extraordinary - Expect
More."
She joined the Rams ath
letic staff in August 2000
coming from the Central
Intercollegiate Athletic Asso
ciation (CIAA) headquarters
where she began her career in
1993. During her three years
at WSSU, she performed var
ious administrative duties,
including securing valuable
sponsorships for the athletic
department as well as being
charged as the liaison for the
WSSU Student-Athlete Advi
sory Committee, a body
formed to act as a vehicle of
communication between the
department of athletics and
the student-athletes. They are
responsible for promoting
student-athlete involvement,
community service activities
Walker
and projects for the universi
ty. She has single-handedly
built the SAAC into one of
the most powerful voices of
the WSSU Athletic Depart
ment. In addition to her
duties she helped to guide the
WSSU Volleyball team to
their best record in school
history last season.
"For me, I am extremely
happy to, firstly, have the
Associate Director of Athlet
ics position approved, and
then to have Tonia Walker
interview for, impress the
search committee, and ulti
mately, accept the position as
a senior level administrator,"
WSSU athletic director Percy
"Chico" Caldwell said. " I am
lUnlln/1 ..,kn
UlliliCU IV set. 3UIUWIIL WHU
is as excited about athletic
administration as she is, and
to have someone with her
proven track record as an
administrator is a huge bonus
for the athletic department
and the university as a whole.
With the athletics program
growing as it is, and to have
someone with her capabilities
to manage in this department
is priceless. She is a proven
fundraiser, possesses excel
lent people and management
skills and will be a huge asset
to this department in its'
vision for the future."
A native of Newberry,
SC, Tonia earned a B.A.
degree in communicative sci
ences and disorders from
Hampton University and
went on to attain a M.S. in
Sports Management from Old
Dominion University in
1998.
Tonia is married to Wayne
Walker, Sr. of Petersburg, VA.
Together they have two chil
dren, Daijah^and Wayne, Jr.
"Once we get all the
details sorted out, we can
share responsibilities within
the department and focus on
improving the quality of our
program," concluded Cald
well. "With her appointment
we will get even better as we
focus on the vision - 'Why
Be Ordinary, Be Extraordi
nary, Expect More.'"
W71 ii itiw ? L-3