Saturday in Charlotte
Here's a secret sports fans should know: There's some great college basketball played in the state of North Carolina that isn't the ACC variety.
Margaret and I attended the Cincinnati at UNC Charlotte game among 7,200 mostly green-clad 49ers fans in sold-out and rocking Halton Arena Saturday. The home team held off its arch-rival in a 91-90 thriller.
Neither of us, by the way, is a Charlotte grad. Our older son, Andrew, is a student there and plays in the pep band. We enjoy Charlotte games because of that but also because Halton is a great basketball environment, parking is convenient and it's easy to get into and away from campus. And the Niners are usually pretty good.
They were really on target Saturday. You think Duke's J.J. Redick can hit a shot from anywhere? Charlotte's Brendan Plavich is unbelievable. He knocked down eight No Way! three-pointers, usually with a Cincy defender right in his face. Charlotte's Eddie Basden and Curtis Withers are terrific players, too.
The best player on the floor, however, was Cincy's Eric Hicks from Dudley High School. Except for foul trouble and a missed free throw in the final minute, he was about unstoppable. I'd like to know how the big in-state basketball programs let him get away.
After the game, we caught Mike Cross at the Neighborhood Theater. I first saw him in Chapel Hill back in the '70s, and he hasn't changed much. He gives a high-energy, zany show. He's almost a Southern-style stand-up comic - think Andy Griffith, Jeff Foxworthy or Lewis Grizzard - who breaks into a song or instrumental riff every now and then. He's an exceptional performer, whether he's singing an original ballad or Irish ditty, playing a Scottish fiddle tune or telling a story about an old uncle warning him against a life of work. Mike would have us believe he took that advice, but he obviously puts everything into his job. Like the Niners, he drew a full house in a fairly small venue Saturday and delivered a great performance.
Comments (9)
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Amen, Doug. Down with the ACC!
One correction, however. Halton arena seats 9,105.
-Rusty
Posted on February 6, 2005 6:30 PM
Davidson's having another good season, too. Just ask UNCG.
Posted on February 6, 2005 10:13 PM
Thanks for the props Doug! This truly was one of the best contests played in Halton Arena. Cincinnati always brought out the best in the 49ers, both players and fans.
Go Niners!
Posted on February 6, 2005 11:17 PM
Rusty,
Thanks for the correction about Halton seating. You're right, and there were at least 9,105 there Saturday. I should have double checked that before posting.
But down with the ACC? Wait a minute! The ACC isn't the only game around, but I still bleed Carolina Blue.
Posted on February 7, 2005 8:45 AM
A Tarheel fan? Well then you and I aren't allowed to be friends anymore! (just kidding)
Posted on February 7, 2005 9:37 AM
That really was one of the best games we've had at Halton. It's too bad the conference is falling apart. It will be interesting to see who becomes the big rival in the next few years. And yes, my dad is a Tarheel fan. Fortunately I imagined to escape that blemish in my upbringing. And Rusty, what happened? We were expecting you at the game.
Posted on February 7, 2005 12:07 PM
Go Wildcats!
And you're right about Plavich. He singlehandedly beat the Cats this year, ina game we should have won. There's something demoralizing about hanging three 6'7" defenders on a guy so tightly that it looks like he's wearing them and STILL have him hit 10 threes.
Posted on February 7, 2005 3:38 PM
Andrew, I meant to be there buy my fiancee's parents came into town and I had to entertain them. I emailed Alex about it beforehand to alert Cory, but he must not have got the message in time. I hate that I missed the game! I don't suppose you've got an extra Diego bobblehead, do you?
Posted on February 7, 2005 9:59 PM
Rusty, you're in luck. As a matter of fact I do. My parents were kind enough to get one for me that they got autographed, so I still have the other one I got.
Posted on February 8, 2005 12:18 AM