The Charlotte Observer from Charlotte, North Carolina • 18

SIB THE CHARLOTTE OBSERVER Wednesday November 29 1 995 Fans rule airwaves under new WFNZ handle i Sports on the air back to Charlotte where Raycom runs and televises the Tournament of Champions at the Coliseum with North Carolina facing Tulane and South Carolina playing Stanford in first-round games On Saturday in addition to the consolation and championship games of the tournament in Charlotte Raycom has assembled a national syndication package for Massachusetts vs Maryland at Lan-dover Md DAVID POOLE be on the said Jackson an Ohio native who graduated from Bowling Green last year He will realize that goal in mid-December when he joins the team as an anchor for the 2:30 am CBS and NASCAR have reached a deal that will put at least eight SuperTruck races over two seasons on the network beginning in 1996 With the hopes of getting No 1 Nebraska vs No 2 Florida in its coverage of the Fiesta Bowl hanging in the balance rest assured nobody at CBS is pulling for Arkansas to win the SEC championship game Saturday on Questions or comments? Call (704 358-5 134 fax comments to (704)358-5110 send e-mail to Dpsleehrataolcom or write Sports on the Air Observer Sports PO Box 30308 Charlotte NC 28230-0308 Winstor Cupeha'p nJeffGor don will be th ta attraction do Night with on CBS Thursday and Morning on Friday The awards banquet is Friday night at the Waldorf-Astoria and ESPN will have live coverage at 9 will precede at 8:30 pm and "NASCAR Shop follows at 1 1 pfn An hour-long NASCAR season review starts at 1 an Busy busy busy Raycom is a place this week announcement that CEO Rcl pay is stepping down just addea the activity around 'the Charlotte-based company this week Raycom and ESPN devised the Great Eight which concludes tonight at the Palace at Auburn Hills Mich with Wake Forest playing Oklahoma State at 7 followed by Virginia vs Kansas at 9:30 On Thursday attention shifts WRFX-AM (610) is no more Calm down That mean Cerry Vaillancourt and Matt Pinto are going to turn up on your street corner holding signs that say Bicker for It just means the Federal Communications Commission has come through with approval for the new call letters Effective immediately all-sports station will be called WFNZ-AM It will adopt as a slogan a play on the FNZ portion of the new letters Station manager Macon Moye said Tuesday promotion of the new identity will begin in the next couple of weeks Technical improvements to the transmitters and towers are nearing completion The station is licensed to operate at 5000 watts and was at about 3500 Tuesday from 3500 to 5000 watts going to make a dramatic difference in the said Bill Elliott the engi- town Charlotte on Fourth Street but its signal is dispe sed from a set of four towers on Radio Road where the 610 studios were in the days it operated as WAYS-AM Elliott has led almost two years of work at that site repairing and upgrading equipment Maintenance had fallen behind when a previous owner went into receivership and since so much of the work to upgrade has to be custom done for the particular set-up of AM stations it took time were literally going down to the hardware store and buying copper tubing to build our own Elliott said Moye said his budget request for next year included money to begin a local morning show but it been approved yet Geared up NASCAR have a race in New York City but it will make its presence felt there this week as the top names gather for their annual awards program neer all notice is the signal blip out as much when you go under a bridge or The nighttime signal is at the full power allowed by the station license Moye and Elliott are aware that the technical improvements about $300000 worth made their station come in loud and clear everywhere in the city have done all that we can do within our license to improve the Moye said city has just grown away from our signal and nothing we can do about WFNZ-AM has studios in up Noted ESPN has the final of Davis Cup Friday through Sunday with the United States facing Russia Taped coverage airs at 1 1 am Friday 12:30 pm Saturday and 1 pm Sunday Jason Jackson decided to get into sports broadcasting because he loved watching was always a goal of mine to No contest 1 FACES AND PLACES Who's news and what's hot from the world of sports Belle convicted of reckless driving The Carolina Panthers and Charlotte Hornets went head-to-head for a time Sunday and although it was the NBA Hornets who got the win on court the Panthers won the television ratings battle Based on data compiled Tuesday here are the numbers: Panthers Then enter the code below for more information on that subject 6765 Sports headlines 6770 Major League Baseball scores 6775 NFL scores and news 6780 NHL news 6785 NBA news 6790 College scores and news 6766 Major League Baseball schedules 6767 NFL schedules and standings 6771 College standings 6772 Pro tennis update 6795 Motorsports update 6773 Golf update 6774 Pro wrestling update Speedway to drop Sportsman series Racing Two 100-mile qualifying races are tentatively scheduled May 17 and 18 to determine the field for the 400-kilometer race said have a friendly duck It will be eaten by the But when you have a ferocious duck the odds are a little better" promoter Nick Freyer said Fashion infraction: The Arkansas women's basketball team has been wearing an illegal uniform because the crimson panel on the jersey shoulders can distract referees according to Marcy Weston the national coordinator of basketball officiating The apparel manufacturer Converse will replace the jerseys had all compliments on coach Gary Blair said referees have said a thing No opposihg coaches have said a thing" For the record Lyle Whiting a former trainer and jockey whose son Lynn saddled the Kentucky Derby winner in 1 992 died Monday night of cancer He was 80 John Horne said Mike fight against Buster Mathis Jr is on for Dec 16 in Atlantic City despite oppositio from New Jersey gambling enforcement authorities Evander Holyfield says he will retire from boxing at the end of 1 996 Prizes for the male and female winners of next 100th Boston Marathon will be increased from $75000 to 1 00000 Free agent first baseman Mark Grace rejected a contract offer from the Chicago Cubs his agent said Observer News Services LYNDHURST Ohio Albert Belle of the Cleveland Indians was convicted Tuesday of reckless operation of a motor vehicle on private property and fined 1 00 Belle made no comment during the one-minute hearing Belle who finished second to Mo Vaughn of the Boston Red Sox in balloting for the American Most Valuable Player award was charged with a misdemeanor after a dispute with five teen-agers who allegedly threw eggs at his house Halloween night Richmond Heights police Chief Gene Rowe said the outfielder was charged with reckless operation of a vehicle for chasing the teen-agers onto private property with his car Uniformity Daunting ducks: Peking duck is a popular item on the menu of gourmet Chinese restaurants but Peking has long since become Bejing Now Bejing has its own Ducks one of 1 2 teams in new basketball league which opens its first full season Dec 10 The logo depicts a ierce-looking duck eyebrows arched with a streak of lightning in the background SPORTS DAY Todastetevision COLLEGE BASKETBALL ON THE TABLE YOUR VOICE Readers have their say Basket is only hole Hornets need to fill A second 400-kilometer ARCA race worth $152000 will be held Oct 1 in conjunction with qualifying for the UAW-GM 500 Winston Cup drivers who have won ARCA races include Mark Martin Kyle Petty Ernie Irvan Tim Richmond and Davey Allison Benny Parsons won the 1968 and 1969 ARCA points championship NASCAR is expected to expand its reach yet again staging a demonstration race in Japan as early as next year Details will be announced Thursday in a news conference in New York featuring NASCAR president Bill France 1995 Winston Cup champion Jeff Gordon and officials form Chevrolet Ford and Pontiac The demonstration race similar to events held at Thunder Dome in the late 1980s is expected to bring top Winston Cup cars and drivers to the Suzuka Road Course in Tokyo site of the Japanese Grand Prix Formula One race after the Winston Cup season is over Winston Cup car owner and driver Ricky Rudd won a lawsuit Monday against SABCO racing owner Felix Sabates over the services of crew member Dave Char-pentier Under terms of the decision Charpentier will not be allowed to work for a Winston Cup race team in 1996 Charpentier had signed a contract to serve as engineer and data analyst for racing team in 1996 He later signed another contract to work for team Because of an exclusivity clause in the Rudd contract an Iredell County Superior Court judge ruled that Charpentier will not work for either team next season Rudd could not be reached for comment Tuesday From preceding page once again the tragedy (in October) not happened we would probably still be doing Wheeler said fact I know we would be doing this" Asked if the 15-mile superspeedway is too dangerous for novice racers Wheeler said look at the record and it looks that way Two of the deaths were freak accidents the way it is in racing Usually when someone is killed a freak accident But there comes a point when you have to move Wheeler created the division in 1989 for part-time drivers who needed superspeedway experience before advancing to Grand National or Winston Cup racing Charlotte and the 25-mile Pocono (Pa) Raceway were the only tracks where the division raced last year Five of those seven races were at Charlotte Wheeler said he believes the goal of developing future race car drivers can still be accomplished by replacing the Sportsman division with ARCA races "We believe ARCA is evolving into a major player on the US racing Wheeler said ARCA racing in which speeds approach those in Winston Cup races has a 25-race schedule each year and includes superspeedway races at Daytona Talladega Michigan and Atlanta Charlotte Motor Speedway will host a 400-kilometer (250-mile) ARCA race on May 22 in conjunction with qualifying for the Coca-Cola 600 The ARCA race will be the richest in ARCA history with a $258000 purse Wake Forest vs Oklahoma St 7 pm WIRC-AM (630 Hickory) WJRI-AM (1340 Lenoir) Appalachian State at Clemson 7:30 pm WIFM-FM (1009 Elkin) WEAC-AM (1500 Gaffney SC) WBZK-AM (980 York SC) UNCO at Tennessee 7:30 pm WFNZ-AM (610 Charlotte) NBA New York at Charlotte 7:35 pm WBT-AM (1110 Charlotte) WCSL-AM (1 590 Cher-ryvile) WBT-FM (993 Chester SC) WGNC-AM (1450 Gastonia) WHKY-AM (1290 Hickory) WKVS-FM (1033 Lenoir) WLON-AM (1050 Lin-colnton) WAYN-AM (900 Rockingham) WSAT-AM 1280 Salisbury) WOHS-AM (730 Shelby) WHYM-AM (550 Statesville) MISCELLANEOUS Carry and Matt Pinto 2 pm VFNZ-AM (610 Charlotte) Drive Time Sports Report 3:05 pm WCGC-AM (1270 Belmont) Sports Zone with Chris and Josh 4 pm WSGE-FM (917 Dallas NC) Sports Talk 6:05 pm WRHM-FM (1071 Rock Hill) Sports Huddle with Brett McMillan 6:30 pm WBT-AM (1110 Charlotte) Today's sports menu UNCC enters SEC territory plays Tennessee Observer Staff Reports basketball team fresh from a tough test in its opener gets a tougher one tonight at 7:30 when the 49ers meet improving Tennessee in Thompson-Boling Arena UNCC squeaked to a 63-60 victory in its opener Saturday at UNC-Wilmington The Volunteers might prove even more difficult SEC member Tennessee is also 1-0 having opened at home with a 74-59 nonconference victory over Georgia State on Sunday game offers some interesting matchups including a battle in the middle between 7-foot Tennessee center Steve Hamer who had 19 points and eight rebounds against Georgia State and 7-2 Alex Kuehl who had 1 1 and six against the Seahawks Stan Olson Checkers face Storm A league-best record and most goals scored what the Charlotte Checkers face in a 7:05 pm East Coast Hockey League game today against the Toledo Storm at Independence Arena Toledo (16-3-2) on a six-game road trip has scored 105 goals It has two of the top scorers in wingers Angelo Ricci (14 goals 16 assists) and Todd Wetzel (16 goals 13 assists) The Storm leads the North Division game is the lone meeting between the teams this season Charlotte (9-8-1) has won three straight and moved above 500 for the first time this season The Checkers are playing well since an 0-5 start top scorers are centers Matt Robbins (25 points) Darryl Noren (14) and Gerry St Cyr (13) Goaltenders Nick Vitucci and Ken Shepard have sparked the recent surge each lowering his goals-against average below 400 average is 369 and 6-4-1 Shepard is 378 and 3-3 Cliff Mehrtens Observer featured Rick Bonnell lamenting the hole Mourning left" and how the Hornets dread" this week facing Patrick Ewing Alonzo Mourning and Hakeem Olajuwon There is a neat little graphic showing these three centers averaging about 20 points and nine rebounds Well turn the page of the same copy of The Observer and check the stats for the twin towers George Zidek and Matt Geiger are averaging 1 5 points and nine rebounds a game! How big is this hole? Add Larry 25 points and eight rebounds and remember Zidek is a rookie ready to improve What have the Hornets to So no more talk of and dreaded encounters Charlotte seen nothing yet! Bob Ferrler Charlotte On the other hand Why the Hornets be like the Panthers? The Hornets lack the determination intensity and professionalism of the first-year Panthers The Panthers play every down with great focus and concentration while the Hornets put four quarters together The Panthers are a first-rate organization top to bottom The Hornets organization has lacked competent management since its inception blame the players even blame the coaches Blame the people at the top who make personnel and coaching decisions They are the ones who are letting the fans down This is basketball country we deserve better afraid that next year the Panthers will be the only (good) show in town Richard Miller Charlotte WRITE US: Your Voice Charlotte Observer Sports PO Box 30308 Charlotte NC 28230-0308 or fax to (704) 358-5110 Please includes phone number Letters will be edited for clarity brevity and grammar Comingug In the event of an emergency please use your cheesehead in Ohio following the Nov 19 Packers-Browns game His traveling companion Baron Bryan 25 was the pilot He is recovering from head injuries Emmert suffered a broken ankle As a consolation Emmert have to buy a new cheesehead gentleman that owns the (manufacturing) company sent cheeseheads to my family and my Emmert said Associated Press STEVENS POINT Wis A Green Bay Packers fan who survived a plane crash credits his yellow foam rubber cheesehead for preventing a serious injury was in my lap because I was using it as pillow when I was snoozing an hour Frank Emmert 36 said Tuesday know when you crash in the big aw Friday-Sunday tennis Davis Cup World Group final United States at Russia Saturday East Coast Hockey League Hampton Roads at Charlotte 7:35 pm a Next Wednesday East Coast Hockey League Wheeling at Charlotte 7:05 pm DIRECTORY ones they tell you to cover your head with a Emmert was returning to Superior Sunday after spending a week How to call us at The Observer Sports department (704)358-5125 Sports fax (704)358-5110 Gary Schwab executive sports editor(704) 358-5120 R4PERlDOMfl LOUNGEH South Florence Shrine Bowl quarterback picks Clemson The Grand Daddy Call Ui for Information on: Wo Competition Wat T-Shirt Confoit By STAN OLSON Staff Writer Before Justin Watts even started grade school he was thinking about Clemson I took him to a Clemson game and he saw those Tigers run down that end zone hill before the game and said like that said Mike Watts father and football coach at South Florence (SC) High tried to keep an open mind during the recruiting field that he understands the game His decision-making is his biggest asset he's called all our plays the last few years throws the ball well enough to play in college He can throw it about 65 yards and accuracy is his best thing And he throws on the move real well" Watts a center fielder who hit 390 last season expects to play that baseball at Clemson as well back said Mike Watts "He liked Air Force because of (coach) Fisher DeBerry South Carolina like their quarterback to run so he felt he really fit Watts who is 6-foot-1 and 195 pounds with 46-second speed in the 40-yard dash runs and throws A three-year starter at quarterback for South Florence he was named to the South Carolina Shrine Bowl team after passing for 1746 yards and 10 touchdowns and running for 1052 yards and 15 scores For his career Watts totaled 4757 passing and 2618 rushing yards with a combined 70 touchdowns As a ninth grader he played wide receiver and caught 42 passes for 604 yards and four scores hard for me to talk about him because my Mike Watts said you always hear say a coach on the The best hospitality friendship entertainment prices in town Club of Choice' WS7 process but after all was said and done it was still Watts the best high school quarterback in South Carolina has orally committed to the Tigers looked at North Carolina closely because of their quarter -4-.