Notes ‘n’ quotes ...
Expect the newly-named Kannapolis Intimidators (formerly Piedmont Boll Weevils) to be razor-sharp when they hit the field this spring at Fieldcrest Cannon Stadium.
The Chicago White Sox have announced the new manager: Razor Shines.
The 43-year old Shines spent 16 years playing pro ball, including three with Montreal.
Joining Shines is pitching coach J.R. Perdew. Trainer Kevin Pillivant also jumps aboard.
The Intimidators begin their Class A South Atlantic League season April 5 against the Lakewood BlueClaws, who just happen to be the Philadelphia affiliate and coached by last year’s Boll Weevil manager Greg Legg.
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Marvin Moore’s dreams of playing professional basketball have been nothing more than nightmares so far.
The former All-American from Catawba College was supposed to begin his pro career a couple of years ago in Turkey but an earthquake ended that quest.
After being released in Sweden, he recently surfaced in Monte Carlo, France. Things were looking good for the 6-2 guard until a couple of weeks ago, when he was on a van with his coach and a few teammates.
The van lost control, hit a guardrail, went back across the interstate and ended up underneath an 18-wheeler.
The coach was killed. The player beside Moore is in a coma. Moore was the only player to walk away from the wreck and moments after getting out, the van exploded into flames.
Moore did injure his knee in the accident and is being sent home to rehabilitate.
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Scooter news:
Not the gold tooth!
N.C. State freshman Scooter Sherrill of West Rowan fame had his famous smile rearranged by an elbow, courtesy of Maryland’s Chris Wilcox Sunday in the Wolfpack’s 75-61 loss. Scooter was fouled on the play and was awarded two free throws. But he knew if he allowed anyone to look in his mouth, the tooth might fall out, he wouldn’t get to shoot and that would be it. So he faked it, telling everyone he was O.K. He shot the free throws and then went to the locker room, tooth dangling.
n Scooter is also finding out that when you’re playing sports in the Atlantic Coast Conference, you are married to your school.
“I came home two days for Christmas,” the N.C. State freshman basketball player said. “I probably won’t go back home until April.”
With a grin, he added, “I’m starting to miss it.”
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The Sporting News has ranked North Carolina’s Dean E. Smith Center as the No. 1 game venue in college basketball today.
The publication writes, “Packing more than 21,000 people who bleed Tar Heel blue into the Smith Center is a sure thing for creating the warm glow that college sports fans flock to in the dead of winter.”
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I am now a big fan of a sports fan because of The Andy Griffith Show.
Before the Catawba-Carson-Newman college football game, I quoted Barney Fife in saying the game was, “Big. Real big. Oh it’s big!” I noted that Barney said that when the gold shipment went through Mayberry.
Wrong, says Vickie Reading of Milford Hills Road.
Reading informs me that Barney was not saying the gold truck coming to Mayberry was big, really big. Opie and Andy were fishing when Barney came driving up yelling about something being, “Big. Really big.” Seems the state troopers were coming to look for an escaped convict.
Reading writes, “You know sports, I know Andy, all the way down to the tag on his squad car: JL 327.”
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Speaking of Catawba, it is having quite a year in athletics.
First, the football team goes 11-1.
Now, the Indians have the ninth-best combined records of men and women in the nation (26-5). The men are 13-2, the women are 13-3.
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North Carolina’s Kris Lang, talking to reporters recently about Duke’s Shane Battier fouling out against Stanford: “I can’t believe they fouled out the Golden Boy. Amazing.”
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Maybe Lang is just jealous. Temple’s John Chaney said after losing to the Blue Devils 93-68, “I’ve never seen a college team as good as that one.”
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Betcha didn’t know: The North Carolina High School Athletic Association released a list of the winningest active coaches in each sport.
At No. 8 in wrestling is West Rowan’s R.L. Lail, who began the season 285-172 in 21 years.
Davie’s Buddy Lowery is seventh with over 350 victories.
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Trivia question: Golden State’s Antawn Jamison recently scored 51 points in a game. Who was the last Warrior to reach 50?
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Something banged into a building in Los Angeles recently. At first, scientists thought it was some sort of meteor.
Then, they realized it was just an errant Shaq free throw.
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Leonard Owens is seeing plenty of playing time for Texas-El Paso. The former Salisbury High star has helped the Miners to a 15-2 record, the latest win coming Monday, 83-69 over SMU.
Miners coach Jason Rabedeaux says of Owens, “He’s my glue, a chemistry guy.”
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Trivia Answer: Purvis Short on Nov. 7, 1984.
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Believe it or not: Browsing through the Marquette media guide after watching North Carolina dismantle the Golden Eagles, I noticed the name of the sports anchor at the CBSaffiliate in milwaukee who overs the team.
His name is Rock Rote.
Really.
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And finally ...
This Shaq-Kobe feud is reaching new heights with the Lakers.
The other night, Shaq blocked four shots, three by Kobe.
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Ronnie Gallagher is the sports editor of the Post.
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