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SP0RTS/®6e Charlotte ^otft
Thursday, June 1,2006
Mw day in racing
Continued from page 1C
where it’s at. And it’s more
fun with talented yoimg
Americans hke Homish,
who’s all of 26, Andretti and
Danica Patrick (24) that
Americans could actually
care about.
I was raised on stock cars —
Richard Petty, Yarbrou^,
David Pearson. Those cats
were drivers first and mag
netic, personalities in. a natur
al kind of way, not’built by
hype. If NACAR wants to
keep a grip on the racing pub
lic, it needs to boost the on-
track product as well as pro
mote Hfestjies of the fast and
famous-
AJl racing, however, could
use a dash of color.
NASCAR’s on the right track
with grassroots programs
and Drive for Diversity a
feeder system that prepares
underrepresented groups for
entry to the industry
Open wheel, which 20 years
ago was in lockstep with
NASCAR in terms of Afiican
American participation,
which meant next to one, is
much slower. 'There are no
black drivers on the horizon,
but there are a couple of own
ers. Denver Nuggets forward
Carmelo Anthony owns a
team in the Indy Racing
League and Cedric the
Entertainer owns a squad in
the rival Champ Car World
Series. Sam Belnavis, who
has a piece of Roush Racing’s
action, is on the stock car side.
Ultimately when the rub
ber hits the road, it’s all about
performance. After Simday
Indy’s is a lot bett^" than any
one could’ve hoped for. Even
in NASCAR Valley
Sam Belnativs, the
second African
American to own a
team that partici
pates in NASCAR’s
top division, Nextel
Cup, watches the
Coca-Cola 600
Sunday from the
pits at Lowe’s
Motor Speedway.
Belnavis has a
stake in Roush
Racing, which
fields five teams.
PHOTOS/WADE NASH
Sting rookies otf to good start
Continued from page 1C
beginning- (Washington) got off to an 11-0
start. We knew the Mystics were an explosive
team and we didn’t want them to continue
with that confidence, so I just made a change.”
'The rookies are part of that diar^. Bond
and Currie were drafted to provide immediate
oflfensive help for a team that couldn’t sustain
much rhythm last year. Although they have a
lot to learn, Currie is optimistic.
“I think with any rookie, there are adjust
ments,” she said. “The game is different. 'There
are much better players in this league and you
have to be ready every night. I like this stjie
and I like our coaching stjie. You are really
Harding freshman finishes third at
international boxing competition
Continued from page 1C
Last year Bolton won a national Silver
Gloves championship for junior boxers. Atthe
Azerbaijan tournament, he made it into the
semifinals in the 110 pound class, where he
lost to a boxer finm Ireland. Competition in
the Aliyev Cup was for 15 and 16 year old
champions fi:om 17 coimtries.
Bolton’s Charlotte Boxing Academy coach,
A1 Simpson, coached the 15-boxer U.S.
national team to a second place finish at
NFL looks at playing two
regular-season games abroad
By Roy Kammerer
THE ASSOCIATED PRESS
DUESSELDORF,
Germany - The NFL has pro
posed playir^ two regular-
season games outside the
U.S. starting in 2008, league
ofi&dals said Saturday
Mark Waller, head of NFL
international development,
said the proposal to play
abroad was put to team own
ers 'Riesday in Denver. It
came after the 49ers and
Cardinals played last
October before a regular-sea
son record crowd of 103,000
in Mexico City
The owners wfil discuss the
issue ^ain in October. The
games would be played in
Mexico, Canada, the United
Kingdom and Germany,
where five of the six NFL
Europe teams play
‘T will say the reception we
got fi'om the owners was
incredibly positive _ all the
questions were on the practi
cal issues,” Waller said.
Plans were also announced
to add two more teams to the
six playing in NFL Europe by
2010. Last year, owners gave
die league a five-year operat
ing license - ending years of
threatening to puU the plug
on the operation because of
the cost.
‘Tt now gives us a platform
to grow the game internation
ally with a concept of clarity”
Ex-Panther pleads not guilty
mEASSOCAlTED PRESS
LOS ANGELES - Chicago
Bears comerback Ricky
Manning Jr. pleaded not
guilty Friday to an assault
charge stemming' fi'om an
alleged attack on a man in a
restaurant last month.
The 25-year-old Manning,
who played last season for
the Carolina Panthers,
appeared in court but entered
the plea through his attorney
He remains firee on $30,000
bail.
He waived his ri^t to be in
court Jime 16, when a date is
to be set for a hearing to
determine if there is enough
e'vidence to require the for
mer UCLA player to stand
trial on a charge of assault by
means fikely to produce great
bodily injury
Two other former UCLA
football players, Maurice
Drew and Tyler EbeU, are
scheduled to appear on the
same charge, also on June 16.
All three are accused of
attacking a man at a Denny’s
restamant early on the morn
ing of April 23, according to
prosecutors. 'They were
arrested soon after in
Manning’s car.
The three had allegedly
been harassing a man work
ing on a laptop computer at
the restaurant. He com
plained to a manager, and
was then kicked and punched
in the face by several attack
ers until he lost conscious
ness, according to the LAPD.
'The ■victim identified
Manning as one of his alleged
attackers, police said.
A day after his arrest.
Manning signed a five-year,
$21 million offer sheet 'with
the Bears.
Carolina did not match the
deal, but a team official said
the decision -wwas not related
to the arrest
In a conference call the
week after the Panthers
declined to match the offer,
Manning said he could not
comment on the case but
would be happy to do so
“when things are sorted out.”
Manning is on probation for
a similar offense in 2002 near
the UCLA campus, the dis
trict attorney’s office said. If
con'victed in the latest case,
he would face up to four years
in state prison.
allowed the fi:eedom in this league to show
your talents and work toward your strengths.”
That’s what Bogues had in mind when scout
ing Currie for the WNBA draft. She’s tailor-
made for the uptempo offensive pace Bogues
prefers, but the challer^e is in improvir^ her
defense.
‘What we needed and what I saw in Monique
was a little farther advacned than other play
ers. Monique is a flat-out scorer. I am challeng
ing her on the defensive end. She wants to be
one of the best players in the league, and Tm
going to try to help her get there. But in order
to do so, she’s got to play both ends of the floor,
which is what she is focusing on.”
From pros to pee-wees,
your source for Charlotte sports
Cliarlottc
AHyev Cup. Americans earned two gold
medals, two silvers, and Bolton’s bronze to
finish second in the competition which is
sanctioned by USA Boxing, which governs
amateur boxing in the United States.
For more information about Chai-lotte
Boxing Academy call Coach Simpson at 704
241-0314, or check out www.parkandrec.com,
then dick on Activities, then Athletics, then
Boxing.
Waller said.
Outgoing commissioner
Paul Thgliabue said develop-
ir^ the game internationally
may rank as one of his top
five accomplishments during
his 16 years in charge.
‘T feel the international ini
tiatives we made, aloi^ with
the ovmers, may become
more significant over time,”
TagHabue said.
The league’s effort to make
an impact internationally
began in 1986, when NFL
teams began to play presea
son games overseas.
'The German cities of
Hanover and Leipzig are the
leading candidates to get
NFL Europe expansion dubs.
COCA-COLA “STUDENT” OF THE MONTH
'‘Nigel Stephon Harris”
Junior
Olympic High School
Career Goals:
“To major in music education and become a
music teacher and band director by attending
one of the following HBCU’s: 'Winston-Salem
State University, Jayson State, Clark Atlanta,
Howard University, or NC A&T State University.
- Nigel
Our r-\'ear-o!d “Student of the Month,” Nigel Stephen Harris, lias been accepted in the July
Experience Program at Davidson College to further enhance his academic development. Nigel takes advanced
classes at Olympic High School, and has averaged a 3.0 or better throughout high school. Committed to aca
demic excellence, Nigel has spent the last n\'o summers at Davidson participating in the Love of Learning
Program where emphasis has been placed on academic, spiritual and social development. In addition, he has
participated in Campus Connections, Bible-centered teaching program which allowed him to visit numerous
HBCU's and gain knowledge of academic and financial facts for entering college. He will participate again his
senior year. A credit to his school, Nigel was among the group of area high school students selected to con
vene at Waddell High School to discuss youth issues and concerns. Nigel’s extracurricular activities at Olympic
include membership in the Chamber Choir and playing Baritone for the (Jospel and Concert choirs. Nigel won
"Best Musical Accompanintent" during Olympic's recent trip to a Singing Festival Competition in Myrtle Beach.
Nigel's gift as a musician became most apparent when he joined the band in fifth grade at Reid Park
Elementary School. He plays trumpet, trombone, baritone, piano, keyboard and tuba. For two years Nigel has
served as tuba section leader for the Olympic High School iMarching Trojan Band and has been awarded the
position for the coming school year.
Nigel's talents have not gone unnoticed. He has been inducted into the Tri M Music Honor Society at
Olympic, won "Best First Chair’'- at Olympic's2006 Band Banquet, and was selected to attend the Western
Carolina University Leadership Band and Drum Major Camp last summer.
Concerned about the welfare of his community, Nigel is a member of the NAACP, participates in the
Communities in Schools program, and has garnered numerous volunteer hours. Nigel especially likes volun
teering as Santa’s Helper, responding to letters to Santa from area children for the United States Postal Service.
Nigel is the son of Stephanie and Norman E. Harris, Jr. The family attends Little Rock AME Zion Church
where Nigel is very' active participating in the Athletic Ministry as a point guard on the basketball team, singing
in the youth choir, and is a junior usher. This summer, Nigel will travel with other youth to Louisville,
Kentucky for a church conference.
Best Wishes
Coca Cola Bottling Company
Coca Cota tRcat
“Nigel” ft
! Consoliaa
rom
'ated of Charlotte