3C
SPORTS^t CtacUittt
Thursday, January 19, 2006
C. JEMAL HORTON
Carolina ahead of curve for most NFL franchises
Continued from page 1C
things go well.
Has Richardson done
everything pCTfectly? No. For
someone who is considered to
be firm when it comes to his
players crossing the line off
the field, Richardson does
have a history of keeping
around serial line-crossers a
bit too long. Negative-head-
lines-waiting-to-happen Tbdd
Sauerbrun, Jairod Cooper
and Rashard Anderson come
to mind. But that’s nit-pick
ing
Plus, I believe in giving peo
ple second and third chances,
so long as they’re genuinely
remorseful and actually
attempt to do better next
time.
The truth is, Richardson
knows what combination of
players and coaches works.
Period. When it was time to
cut loose the fi'anchise’s first
head coach, Dom Capers, and
its most recognizable coach,
George Seifert, Richardson
did let them linger. And when
he made the totally unsexy
hiring of John Fox,
Ridiardson, obviously, knew
it would be the right fit.
Sure, there are fiont-oflice
Cubs’ Baker ‘not crazy about
moving’ after contract expires
RvRft'kr.^nn Evre.
Baker
By Rick Gano
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
CHICAGO — Dusty Baker goes into the final
year of his contract with the Chicago Cubs still
searching for the World Series title he was
brought to town to produce.
Chicago finally got its championship, all
right, but it belongs to the team across town,
the White Sox. Coming off a los
ing season, the Cubs are still
waiting and have been since
1908.
Cubs fans are getting antsy
Both general manager Jim
Hendry and Baker were booed
when introduced at the start of
the club’s annual winter conven
tion Friday
Earlier, Baker said the pres
sure would not be a factor.
“That has nothing to do with the job. Not
really Pressure is what you put on yourself,” he
said. “You can’t do anything about what the
Sox did, you can’t do anything about the last
year of your contract.”
Baker said he’s not looking to move on after
his fourth season in Chicago. Hendry is also in
the final year of his deal.
‘It’s why I came here,” Baker said. "I didn’t
come to move after four years. Look at my
record, my last stop I was there 15 years.... I’m
56.1 think I moved five times in 56 years. I’m
not crazy about moving.”
The Cubs finished 79-83 last season, plagued
by iiyuries and poor fundamentals that includ
ed baserunning and fielding gaffes.
During the offseason they didn’t land prize
fiee agent Rafad Furcal but they did acquire
outfielders Juan Pierre and Jacque Jones
along with relievers Bobby Howry and Scott
_ -v
Company sues MLB over statisties
By Jim Salter
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
ST. LOUIS - As the St.
Louis Cardinals contend for
the National League pennant
this summer, a federal court
hearing a few blocks away
will decide if statistics gener
ated at those games are pub
lic domain or the intellectual
property of Major League
Baseball.
The lawsuit, sdieduled for a
July 24 hearing at U.S.
District Court in St. Louis,
will be watched closely by the
hundreds of companies
whose software facilitates
fantasy sports leagues played
by an estimated 16 million
Americans.
The suit was filed last year
by CBC Distribution and
Marketing Inc , a St. Louis-
based company that has
operated sports fantasy prod
ucts and leagues imder its
brand name CDM Fantasy
Sports since 1992.
Until 2005, CBC had a
licensing agre^nent with the
Major League Baseball
Players Association for the
rights to playra* profiles and
statistics - the life’s blood of
fantasy baseball. In return,
CBC paid the association 9
percent of gross royalties.
But in January 2005, Mqjor
League Baseball announced
a $50 million agre^nent with
the players association giving
baseball exclusive ri^ts to
license statistics — and a big
ger stake in the growing fan
tasy sports marketplace,
CBC requested a new
license, but was turned down,
prompting the suit. The com
pany continues to operate
leagues during the legal dis
pute.
The suit before U.S.
Magistrate Mary Ann Medler
claims that baseball statistics
become historical facts as
soon as the game is over. The
company believes it shouldn’t
have to pay for the right to
use those statistics.
“I like to say it’s the defining
moment in the fantasy sports
industry,” said Charlie
Wlegert, a former newspaper
advertising salesman who
helped start CBC after play
ing in his own fantasy
leagues in the 1980s. “If she
decides tiie^re right, what
you’ll see is 90 percent of the
KEEP AN EYE ON THE BALL
PHOTO/CURTIS WILSON
people who desei've some
credit. Mike McCormack. Bill
Polian. Marty Humey But
Richardson makes it all work,
setting the tone with strong,
silent but powerful leader
ship.
Will the Panthers win
Sunday and make that
momentous trip to Detroit,
home of Super Bowl XL? Who^
knows? Does it really matter?
Sure, the NFL is about win
ning. But even more than
that, it’s about making
STRIDES toward winning.
Remember “Rocky” was a hit
movie long before “Rocky II”
and “Rocky III,” when the
“Italian Stallion” finally won
the heavyweight champi
onship, because the prize
fighter was so humble,
indomitable and SO hellbent
on app)reciating the journey
Richaixlson is taking
Pantliers fans on a ride to
remember.
And whether it’s this yeai* or
10 years fixmi now, you have
to believe Jerry Ricliardson’s
football team is going to break
through to a title.
E-mail coliimni.sl C\ Jemal
Horton at
seejenuUwrite (« aoU om.
Eyre.
And there were plenty of rumors about their
pursuit of Miguel Tbjada, many centering on
ri^t-hander Marie Prior going to the Orioles.
“Jim (Hendry) never came out and said,
'We’re looking to trade him,’ so I don’t really
validate any of the rumors,” Prior said,
“It never really bothered me. It didn’t matter
to me. If it was something that became serious,
I feel I probably would have been getting a
phone call,” Prior said. “I want to stay in
Chic^o, I love playing here and as of ri^t now
until someone tells me otherwise, I plan on
showing up in Mesa in a month.”
Prior said he talked to Baker and pitching
coach Larry Rothschild about the rumors.
‘"When you are talking about Miguel Tfejada,
he’s an MVP and an All-Star, they’re not going
to ask for two minor leaguers. They are going
to want something significant in return,” Prior
said.
Prior has been slowed by iiyuries the past
two seasons. He was 11-7 a year ago, overcom
ing elbow problems and a line drive off the
elbow to make 27 starts.
“I feel the same as I always do. I don’t feel like
I have to go out there and try to prove that I’m
healthy or do anything out of the ordinary”
Prior said.
Prior, who was 18-6 in 2003 when the Cftibs
got within five outs of the World Seri^, is 17-
II over the past two years. Tlie Cubs’ success
each spring is linked to his health and that of
Kerry Wood, who is working his way back fixan
shoulder surgery His availability for the start
of the season is not known.
But Baker said he was happy with the off
season acquisitions and ready to move on.
“Last year is behind us. The last two years
are behind us. My guys got good attitudes,” he
said.
fantasy sports operators put
out ofbusiness.”
Major League Baseball has
claimed that intellectual
property law makes it illegal
for fantasy league operators
to “commercially exploit the
identities and statistical pro
files” of big league players.
Jim Gallagher, a spokesman
for M^or League Baseball
Advanced Media, declined
comment.
The suit could have huge
ramifications for the multi-
million-doUar fantasy sports
industry said Ben Clark, a
St. Louis attorney who spe-
dalizes in intellectual proper
ty rights.
If baseball vrins, “I think it
would send a shudder
through the entire fantasy
industry,” Clark said. “The
ramifications are pretty
laige.”
Ramifications are large for
baseball, too. If it loses, it
may forfeit the ri^ts to any
royalties for use of statistics,
Claric said.
“You just wonder whether
it’s a fight Major League
Baseball wants to have,” he
said.
Ulfliypead
ihePosd*
ITS essential
“I couldn’t imagine being a resident of
Charlotte and not subscribing to The
Charlotte Post. It covers a wide range of
news and serves a vital function for the
African American community and for the
entire Charlotte community. The Post does
a great job in covering the local issues; not
just news, but sports and leisure as well.”
Chris Weiller, executive vice president for tmirketini> and conmmnications,
Charlotte liolx ats
Call (704) 376-0496 to link
with news that’s important to you.
Cl)arlotte |)o6t
Queens forward Esau Eatman watches the ball go downcourt in the Royals’ loss to CVAC
rival Pfeiffer Saturday at Ovens Athletic Center.
PROFESSIONAL FLOORING
MOBLEY’S
Visit Our
Showroom
4930
Albemarle Road
Charlotte, NC 28205
Residential & Commercial
Carpet Cleaning,Sales & Service
• New Carpet Sales • VCT • Hardwood Flooring
• Ceramic & Marble Tile
Thmlu U thu U m%
New Carpet Installed
Carpet, Pad & Labor
99
per yard
Only $21.
( pT'-- -S/-
Carpet Cleaning
“3” Rooms & Hallway
Only $105-'^ ---
400 Sq. ft.
Vinyl Floor
Congoleum & Armstrong
99
per yard
Only $15.
Duct Cleaning
Only $20 per vent
“For Your Health”
Remove the Dust From Your Vents!
“SPECIALS” Valid With This Ad Only
Eddie Mobley, Sr. • Eddie Mobley, Jr.
Ph: 704-531-0155 • Fax: 704-536-4272