Newspapers / The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, … / Nov. 9, 2006, edition 1 / Page 17
Part of The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.) / About this page
This page has errors
The date, title, or page description is wrong
This page has harmful content
This page contains sensitive or offensive material
http://www.thecharlottepost.com c Charlotte ^osit THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2006 SPORTS Section Brock of ages Charlotte native's goal is to unify boxing’s most lucrative - and muddled - division By Herbert L. White herb.whife@*hechar/offepos/.com Calvin Brock’s goal is to clean up boxing - at least the hea\yvi'eight division. Brock, a Charlotte native, will take on Wladimir Klitschko of Ukraine Saturday in New York for the IBF and IBO world titles. For Brock, a former Olympian, step ping between the ropes at Madison Square Garden is the first step in consoli dating the heavyweight belts around one waist. “That’s the ultimate dream, starting Saturday,” he said. Klitschko {46-3,41 knockouts) won’t be a willing participant. At 6-foot-6, he’s the tallest opponent Brock (29-0, 22 KO) has faced. Klitschko, w'ho won the title with a seventh-round knockout of Chris Byi*d in Api'il, also has the power to end fights quickly. “I brought in taller sparring partnera” to approximate Klitschko’s height and reach, Brock said. “Every'body's been a punching bag for him. I’m not going to See CHARLOTTE NATIVE/2C Calvin Brock of Charlotte (right) will fight Wladimir Klitschko for the IBF and WBO heavyweight titles Saturday at Madison Square Garden. Brock emerged on the heavy weight radar last year with a win over Jameel McCline (left). ASSOCIATED PRESS PHOTOS Baker eager to get back in dugout, perhaps with San Diego Padres By Janie McCauley JHEASSOOA1EDPRB$S SAN FRANCISCO - Dusty Baker would like nothing more than to be back in the dugout as a manager next season - and he might, get his wish with the San Diego Padres. Baker is set to interview with Padres general manager Kevin Tbwers and other team officials on Monday about becoming the successor to Bruce Bochy, who last week left San Diego to take over as skipper of Baker’s former club in San Francisco. Baker, whose contract was not renewed last month after four years managing the Chicago Cubs, has been working in televi sion since the season ended and hoped he would hear from teams about job openings. “It just happened,” Baker said in a phone interview Thursday night. “You’ve just got to play it out and see how it comes out. It’s a good organization and a good team in a very good city. I think it’s a great opportunity. It aU depends what everybody wants and it all depends what the motto for the organization Baker appears the most qualified of any of San Diego’s candi dates - he’s the only one with major league managing experi ence. He left the Giants after taking them within six outs of the World Series title in 2002, his lOth season with the club. Baker’s Cubs struggled with injuries this season and finished 66-96, the worst record in the National League. In his first sea son, the Cubs came within five outs of reaching the World Series. The Padres have won back-to-back NL West titles, losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in the first round of the playoffs the past two seasons. “This would be the best team I’ve inherited from the begin ning,” Baker said. “I took over the Giants after they had a los ing season and I took over the Cubs after they had a losing sea son.” The Padres interviewed Los Angeles Angels pitching coach Bud Black, who lives in San Diego and pitched at San Diego State, on Wednesday and he is considered a top candidate. St. Louis Cardinals third-base coach Jose Oquendo inter viewed on Thesday and Trey Hillman, manager of the Japanese team Nippon Ham Fighters, on Thursday. Giants bench coach Ron Wotus was set to interview Friday and former Dodgers hit ting coach Tim Wallach on Saturday. Hillman’s interview with the Padres was so impressive that he is expected to meet in Japan with San Diego owner John Moores and CEO Sandy Alderson, who are accompanying a PHOTO/CURTIS WILSON Ryan Houston and Butler High will try to leap past Scotland County Friday in the first round of the N.C. 4AA playoffs. First round seedings usually follow form in high school playoffs Please see BAKER/2C This is why. Bill Parcells once said, football players lift all them weights. It’s high school playoff time, arguably the most excit ing month on the amateur athletic calen dar. Therell be intrigue, a sprinkling of upsets, and yes, a lot of hurt feelings. But at the end of the road, eight champions will be crowned from four different divisions, which is way too many, in my estimation. I like four in four — that way you know the absolute best without a doubt. Of course, the NCH- SAA, which sanctions public school athletics in this state, sees the larger field as a larg er revenue stream, too. On to the games at hand. Mecklenburg County has its usual large contingent of 14 schools. Just think. A few See FIRST WEEK/2C OOOI PHOTO/CURTiS WILSON Johnson C. Smith’s Elijah Ashley (23) and Ed Wilson stop N.C. Central’s Greg Pruitt Jr. in NCCU’s 52-7 win in Durham. The Golden Bulls finished the regular season 7-3, their best record since 1996. Golden Bulls sit fight for bowllnulto Pioneer still a possibility for 7-3 JCSU despite loss at N.C. Central By Herbert L. White herb.white@fhecharioltepost.com The only thing Johnson C. Smith can do now is wait for Nov. 17. That’s when ClAA Commissioner Leon Kerry will pick the league’s Pioneer Bowl representative to face a team from the SIAC. The Golden Bulls, who finished the regular season 7-3 after a 52-7 loss to N.C. Central in the finale, are in contention, as is 7-3 Virginia "Union. Elizabeth City State (,9-l->, which plays Central in the CIAA championship game, is a possibili ty should the Vikings not get a bid to the NCAA Division II playoffs. “You don’t want to go out like that,” Bulls all-CIAA linebacker Ed Wilson said. “Hopefully, well get a bid for the Pioneer Bowl, but if not, we had a great year.” After breaking a 24-game losing streak. the Bulls won seven games for the first Wilson time since 1996, a startling turnaround for a program that had been a perennial bottom-feeder. But instead of clearing out lockers, the Bulls will pre pare to go bowling. ‘We’re going to be fine,” head coach Daryl McNeill said. ‘Well just hang back. That’s all you want to do. You don’t want to be able to lobby for nothing. Whichever team deserves it, that’s who they’re going to give it to. Right now, we’ve just got a wait and see game, but we’re stiU going to do the things we’ve got to do to get better.” Smith’s formula for success, which depended on limit- Please see BULLS/2C PIONEER PULSE Upstart Elizabeth City State holds key to bowl invitation FROM STAFF REPORTS Around and around the Pioneer wheel goes, where itll stop no one really knows. Johnson C. Smith’s chances of representing the CIAA took a hit last week in a 52-7 drubbing at N.C. Central. The good news, however, is the Golden Bulls play in Charlotte, which is where the^ Pioneer Bowl will be contested J Dec. 2. CIAA Commissioner, Leon Kerry wants better i attendance to boost the game’s bottom line, and Smith has a student body, alumni and the Carolinas’ largest city to draw fmm. The bad news? Elizabeth City will have a better record regardless of what happens in Saturday’s CIAA championship game against N.C. Central. As for Elizabeth City, the Vikings are as much a feel good story as Smith this season. ECSU wasn’t expected to contend for the East Division, but rolled through its le^ue schedule undefeated. This week’s results: • N.C. Central (10-0, 7-0^. Eagles aren’t likely to be sent to Charlotte. The CIAA’s only undefeated squad plays Elizabeth City in the championship game in Durham Saturday. Then it’s off to the Division II play offs. Elizabeth City State (9-1,7-0) Great regular season for the Vikings, who capped it with a 29-21 win over See WHO’S UP2C . iSiiWiTfTW-imiStaB,, X, 1 -
The Charlotte Post (Charlotte, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Nov. 9, 2006, edition 1
17
Click "Submit" to request a review of this page. NCDHC staff will check .
0 / 75