Newspapers / The Charlotte post. / Nov. 9, 2006, edition 1 / Page 18
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2C ®®o SPORTS/®Je Cljarlotte $D«t Thursday, November 9, 2006 Charlotte native aims to unify heavyweight titles Continued from page 1C stand still for Wladimir.” Tb that end, the 6-3 Brock, 31, wants to move and avoid taking punishment. He’s never been knocked down and figures he has the speed to keep Klitschko guessing. “When I get in there, my job is to fight my pace, which is staying pretty busy,” Brock said. “Fm going to hit Wladimir and not take too many shots myself.” Brock will try to become the second American to vrin a world title in a week. Shannon Briggs stopped Sergei Liakhovich last Saturday to win the WBO championship, breaking a log jam of Eastern European titleholders. Brock insists he’d make the kind of champion - an eloquent pugilist — that American fight fans can embrace. “It’s very important to the heavyweight divi sion in the U.S., but it’s not that important in Great Britain and Germany,” said the West Charlotte High School and UNC Charlotte graduate. “Fm the only hope to make it hap pen.” Five straight wins over the last year raised Brock’s profile and moved him to the top of the worldwide rankings. Among the victims were Jameel McCline, who once fought for the world title and top-10 contender Timur Ibragimov, a heavy hitter like Klitschko. He beat both easi ly- “I guess I’ve been coming out from under the radar,” Brock said. “I was under the radar until I beat Jameel McCline. Fm the most deserving of the title shot.” And now it’s here, after four years of climbing up the ranks. The only thing to do now is get in the ring and take care of business. “All the preparation is in,” Brock said. “All we have to do is hang loose. We had a great camp - no injuries, no hands hurt, no bruised ribs. Everything went perfect.” Bulls left to ponder Pioneer Continued from page 1C ing mistakes, unraveled in the finale. Seven turnovers doomed the Bulls, and Central made them pay early and often. Quarterback Carlton Richardson, who threw a pair of first-half interceptions and lost a fum ble that Central turned into 17 points, took responsibility for putting Smith in a hole. “Turnovers can definitely kill you,” he said. “I should’ve played a little better. The offense is riding on my shoul ders and I let them dovm, but the game is over and we’ve just got to move on.” Despite the finale’s bitter taste, there are lessons to be learned, Wilson insists. Perhaps therell be a chance for atonement in the Pioneer Bowl. But next year’s team will be prepared to build on this year’s success. “It’s going to help us if any thing because the guys next year know how (it feels) to actually lose like this,” he said. “I think it’s going to be a motivational tool for the younger guys if we don’t get the Pioneer Bowl bid to just start working out and get everything going from there.” “We can grow from this being in this atmosphere, this hostile crowd and Central coming in, we can definitely learn from this game,” Richardson said. “Not getting ahead of ourselves on what we need to do, but focus on what’s at hand.” Perhaps, on Nov. 17; that’ll include preparation for a bowl game. Elizabeth City will have a major say in whether Smith gets the Pioneer bid, but at least the Bulls are in position to sweat details. “It’s going to be a hectic week for us,” Richardson said. “We’re hoping we can get some more CIAA teams into the playoffs and we’re hoping the CIAA will bless us Who’s up, down for invitation Continued from page 1C Virginia Union. A win over NCCU, or perhaps a close loss, would propel ECSU into the playoffs. A blowout loss could damage playoff and Pioneer chances. • Johnson C. Smith (7-3, 4- 3). Seven turnovers and hot Eagles took some shine off a turnaround season, but Golden Bulls aren’t out of the running. Local fan base alone makes JCSU a sexy choice, although Elizabeth City State folks may howl about their superi or season. Speaking of howl ing, how can Smith line backer Ed Wilson, the lead ing tackier in Division II, not be named league defensive player of the year? ECSU linebacker Kevin Jones got that honor. • Virginia Union (7-3, 5-2) Panthers would appear to be out of the running after losing to both JCSU and ECSU. Regardless, Union football can look forward to brighter days after spending the last two seasons in the dark. First week is for playoff favorites Continued from page 1C years ago, Mecklenburg didn’t have 14 high schools - period. That’s coimting the private schools, too. THE FAVORITES; Of those in the hunt for championships, can anyone really, truly figure Independence will lose? The Patriots have the nation’s longest active winning streak at 103 games and experience on the big stage, something Weddington will find out the hard way Friday. Another time-tested program is Charlotte Catholic, winner of two straight titles and pur veyors of the Wing-T offense. The Cougars are riding high with seven straight victories and are rounding into 3AA championship form when it matters most. UPSET SPECIALS: Gimme Vance (8-3) against West Forsyth (8-3). The Cougars are going on the road, but they’ve been tough all season. Besides, as the No. 9 seed in the West, can beating No. 8 be that difficult? For kicks, let’s go with Pernell Swett from Lumberton against West Charlotte in the 4A ranks. The seventh-ranked Lions (7-4) are banged up and don’t have a lot of depth, which makes them ripe for the picking. If home field stands for anything, West Charlotte should take advantage, especially if the Lions find some offensive consistency. WHO CAN STOP INDY?: Everybody in Mecklenburg County has given their best shot, to no avedl. Butler gave the Patriots a run, lead ing 21-0 at halftime, but lost 30-24 in double overtime. Myers Park was competitive, and so were Providence (7-4) and Vance, but Independence is just so dam tough in the play offs. It’s like another gear magically kicks in. Don’t forget Richmond County, which opens at home against Hopewell. The Raiders are always woofing about taking down Independence. Maybe theyll get a shot. Baker wants to get back in dugout Continued from page 1C major league All-Star team, said a baseball source who spoke on condition of anonymity. Hillman, who also interviewed with Ibxas and Oakland for their managerial vacancies, is scheduled to return to Japan on Friday. He’ll man age a Japanese team in a forth coming Asian series. Baker has been spending time back in the Bay Area getting work done around his house that he didn’t Baker have time for during his tenure in Chicago. While he would be thrilled if things work out in San Diego, he plans to take whatever happens in stride. “I know what I’d like to do,” he said. “I’ve had more options on the TV and radio side than the baseball side. No matter what, it’s all good.” Of his work for ESPN during the World Series, Baker said; “It was fun. I had a great time and they taught me a lot. I was a rookie and didn’t know what to do.” AP sporlswriler Bernie Wilson in San Diego con tributed to this jvport. ... % Charlotte Your source for championship sports coverage Cljarlottc ^osit
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