Ira Cronin | These Tar Heels will accept a Dukie

Ira Cronin NewsChannel 36 Sports

I just got back from the NBA draft headquarters of the Charlotte Bobcats and listened to Michael Jordan and Larry Brown talk about their 12th pick in the NBA draft, Gerald Henderson. It was totally funny to me that the first words out of Larry Brown's mouth was that he was "real happy about the pick, but did have a hard time drafting a Dukie."

Anyone who is serious about their college school takes their rivalries seriously, but especially in Chapel Hill and Durham, but as Larry also pointed out the NBA is a business and if Henderson helps the Bobcats win, no one will care what college he played for.

The thing I noticed about Henderson most when I have seen him play is that he is a freak of an athlete and the chance that he can be mentored by a professional like Raja Bell I think will give him yet another leg up in his journey as a pro. Don't forget Gerald's father also played in the league which will also help the younger Henderson on his way.

I was impressed when Jordan talked about the fact that Henderson is a player who works on his deficiencies. Jordan mentioned that when in college the knock on Henderson was that he couldn't dribble to his left, he began to develop the ability to dribble to his left. Sounds a little like a guy who was criticized early in his professional career for not being able to defend, and then was named the defensive MVP of the league.

In the end, like Larry pointed out the Charlotte Bobcats represent all of the Carolina's which means that Gerald Henderson should be right at home.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 8:27 AM | Comments (0)

Greg Bailey | Same Old Steph

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

Other draft picks laughed and joked, burning off that nervous energy that builds up for weeks entering the NBA draft. Not Steph Curry. Our man from Davidson was as calm and cool as ever.

Make no mistake, Steph enjoyed himself and the experience of New York on one of the biggest nights of his life. But he handles it all, and he handles himself differently from everyone else.

The same way he never rushed on the court, Steph calmly took questions after he was picked by Golden State, 7th overall. I got a chance to talk with him on a satellite connection about 10 minutes after he was picked. (You can see that interview right now on WCNC.com)

I reminded him that a little over a year ago no one expected this for him. Not the attention, not the adulation and certainly not the status as a top 7 pick in the draft. He told me that he didn't really sit down and think about the NBA until after his sophomore season. What a ride. From the great upset run in 2008, to dazzling Lebron James, to network talk shows and all the rest. Steph has remained the same, down to earth, stunningly talented kid he's always been.

I know that Charlotte's proud of him and we all should be. Bob McKillop got a little emotional when he told me last year that the kids who followed Steph at Davidson will want to grow up to be just like him. Now that will apply to kids in the San Francisco/Oakland area (if Curry doesn't get traded to Phoenix as reports have suggested). Think about what he'll accomplish with young people simply being himself.

I can't wait to see what he'll accomplish on the court. I know that he'll make an even bigger impact off the court. Good luck, Steph. We will miss you, but we'll love staying up late to watch you grow.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 8:24 AM | Comments (0)

Donald Fehr - the greatest accomplice in sports

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

Let's start with this: After nearly 7 years covering Major League Baseball, the headline above and everything else you see here is my informed opinion. I'll tell you what I think and what I know, and then you can decide.

I believe that newly retired baseball union chief Donald Fehr is the greatest crook in sports history. Take the idea of the Black Sox scandal and a fixed World Series in 1919 and multiply that times 1,000. Then multiply that by all the home runs that were hit by steroid-fueled monsters. Now you've got an idea of just how bad the steroid era has been. What makes sports different than a soap opera? Different than WWE wrestling? The results you see in sports are genuine and authentic. Not in Major League Baseball.

I know that through legal guile and deception Fehr gave Major League Baseball players a license and an invitation to break the law, abuse their bodies and abuse their sport. I know that everybody in the baseball knew it, but no one was willing to stand up and stop him. (Tom Verducci leads the parade of those with proof: Fehr was told in the late '90s by his union executive board that steroids were a big problem in baseball.)

I understand that Donald Fehr is what happens when powerful men get desperate. There is no more dangerous combination in sports. And no one was more desperate than baseball owners after labor issues wiped out the '94 World Series. Baseball's leaders understood that their methodical, plodding game was lost in an instant gratification world. What I call "Baseball Gladiators" cured all that.

Does anybody think that the "Chicks Dig the Long Ball" ad campaign just happened? That baseball staking its reputation and future on men with grotesquely puffed bodies was just a coincidence? I know better because I asked. Nothing better than baseball owners and leaders who have to gall to talk about steroid abusing players "cheating the game." The shock of it all.

I know that Fehr publicly spearheaded the drive to keep a legitimate steroids policy out of baseball. I believe it was a bluff that was so stupid that it worked. So stupefying that while everybody's mouths hung open, staggered by an idiotic explanation, Fehr kept talking and got a deal done with himself and the devil.

"How dare you accuse players of using steroids?" was the basic theme, along with "How dare you try to implement surprise testing? My players will not have their Thanksgiving interrupted to pee in a bottle!" Did he really think anyone would buy those arguments? Baseball owners did. They couldn't swallow it fast enough.

Back before MLB steroid testing had teeth, I'd ask players I knew well, "When you're playing do you look at guys and say, 'He's using'?" The honest answers from the players I knew best was "of course." Funny now that the one name that came up the most 8 years ago was Roger Clemens.

I know that I didn't recognize some players who came back from the offseason and 3 months of working out. I laugh when I think back to the first spring training I covered when I said to an All Star player, "I didn't know that was you!" I know that after steroids testing finally got some teeth, players looked like party balloons that had shriveled when the air leaked out. I know that their instant results left too much skin and too little muscle once they stopped using.

I know that photos of Mark McGwire before and after he pumped jet fuel into his body are cartoonish. I know that McGwire's refusal to "talk about the past" in front of Congress was bad enough. But I also know that's not nearly as disgusting as when he looked Roger Maris' family in the eye and hugged them after McGwire "broke" Maris' single season home run record. Baseball's owners and leaders applauded it all, gleeful that their antiquated sport was back in the headlines. Baseball's gladiators were saviors to the men who knew too much.

I believe "Baseball Gladiator" fits too well. Disposable masses of muscle sent to perform feats for the masses. The blood-lust comes when the masses don't care about the consequences. Sure, we all knew Mark McGwire had "grown" way too much, but wasn't it cool to watch that ball fly so high and so far? I did a live sportscast from a baseball game back in 1998, and fans in a city far away from St. Louis waited, watched and roared at the pictures in the 13" monitor we used on location. "He did it again!" "Yeah!" They all screamed in unison as McGwire closed in on the most hallowed record in sports.

I know that none of those records count. Not really. Just like if somebody won 12 US Open golf tournaments in a row, and later we found out his 450 yard drives came from an illegal club. The illegal instrument in baseball's case came in the bodies of the steroid abusing players.

Do I think that with everything going on in the world today that baseball's darkest, ugliest hour is some kind of a national tragedy? Hardly. I liked a bunch of the people I covered. Only I know now what I knew all along -- they were using and abusing supplements, many of them illegal, to pump up their bodies and post stats that aren't legitimate. I know that Donald Fehr opened the door to it all.

I believe the happy ending comes two generations from now when parents can tell their children or grandchildren, "See these cartoonish bodies on these guys? This is what happens when it gets too convenient to look the other way. This is what happens when people decide consequences don't exist."

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 10:58 AM | Comments (0)

Sonja Gantt | Lessons from a 65-year marriage

Sonja Gantt NewsChannel 36 Anchor

Editor's note: Sonja Gantt blogs each week for The Charlotte Observer's mommy site, MomsCharlotte.com.

Life doesn't have to appear extraordinary to be extraordinary. A point driven home to me at a recent celebration of my maternal grandparents' 65th wedding anniversary and by the Disney Pixar movie "Up."

My husband Mitch and I are about to celebrate 20 years of marriage. My children think that's such a looooong time and I guess from the perspective of a 13- and 10-year-old it does seem like a long time. But we all can agree that 65 years of anything is a looooong time. I feel grateful to still have all four of my grandparents and their two marriages are great examples of true commitment.

My maternal grandfather Ernest is a veteran. He worked as a plumber and farmed several acres of land in South Carolina for many years. My grandmother helped out on the farm and raised six children without many of the conveniences I enjoy today. They've seen wars, the Great Depression and dealt yearly with the financial uncertainty of farming. So it goes without saying their life together had it's ups and downs.

Watching them and the many who came to help celebrate, I realized how much they are admired -- not for any specific accomplishments you'd read about in the newspaper or see reported on a newscast, but for their character. They are well-known for being wonderfully kind, decent and generous people. They built a life by building relationships with people in their community. My grandmother is the epitome of hospitality and an incredible cook. No matter what time you arrive for a visit, even if it's unannounced, she can have a meal ready within the hour.

My grandfather is a man of few words but when he speaks it is always something relevant, wise and often funny. They are both very committed to faith, family and each other. The values they stressed to their children included the importance of personal responsibility as well as the care and concern for others. My mother, aunt and four uncles are living tributes of what my grandparents thought was important.

It is truly the simple things in life that make the difference. Sometimes I think we all get too caught up in trying to be extraordinary. We get wrapped up in who's going to be first, the best or the most amazing. The race seems so unnecessary in the end.

Mitch skipped the golf course this Father's Day and wanted to go to the movies. We went to see "Up" -- the movie about the adventure of an elderly man and a boy. I won't spoil the story for those of you who have not seen it, but I'll just say in the end I think the movie makes the same point that the lives of my grandparents do. Life is not about some amazing, over-the-top adventure or trip that you'll take, it's about how you live day-to-day and the people who are with you on this journey.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 3:54 PM | Comments (0)

Sonja Gantt | Remembering Mary Ellen Woolard

Sonja Gantt NewsChannel 36 Anchor

Editor's note: Sonja Gantt blogs each week for The Charlotte Observer's mommy site, MomsCharlotte.com.

I love reading stories about random acts of kindness. If you do too, then keep reading. I want to tell you about a woman who certainly was a master of thoughtfulness and blessed me with many wonderful random acts for almost a decade.

Mary Ellen Woolard died last week at the age of 85. She wasn't a relative, a friend of my parents or a former teacher. She came to know me because of TV.

Mary Ellen (she insisted we call her by her first name, which was tough for me initially because of her age) reached out to not just me but several of my colleagues. There are many regular viewers who often write or call but Mary Ellen was different. She didn't want to talk about any news story when she called. She was interested in us personally.

She crocheted blankets for our newborns, brought cake or Godiva chocolates for our birthdays every year and sent numerous cards. Over the years there were lunches and phone calls. She was always delightful and you always left a lunch with her feeling better than when you arrived. She's one of those people who just have a contagious spirit.

I admire the way she lived. She was a widow with one son, a daughter-in-law and a grandson. And while she loved her family, she certainly had a very full life apart from them. At one point she and some of her friends who enjoyed "hula dancing" even formed a group and shared their talent around Charlotte. She traveled, enjoyed her friends and found pleasure in doing for others.

If Mary Ellen hadn't reached out to me I doubt our paths ever would have crossed. I feel blessed to have known her. I am grateful for her encouraging words over the years, her example of a life fully lived, but most importantly the thoughtfulness she displayed with no expectation of anything in return.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 1:20 PM | Comments (0)

Sonja Gantt | Communicating with your children

Sonja Gantt NewsChannel 36 Anchor

With each year of motherhood I understand my mother better and better. The things that used to annoy me as a child no longer annoy me. I finally get it.

My mother is very direct and passionate about people being honest with themselves and others. As a teenager I wasn't really allowed to sulk. After an argument she would give you a little time alone in your room and then she would show up at your door asking (really demanding in her unique way) that you talk and tell her what was wrong. I used to hate it. I used to want to scream, "Mom, leave me alone. Give me some space. I don't want to talk about it!"

But now some 30-plus years later...the payback. I have a 13-year-old and I hate hearing "I don't want to talk about it." I think I've done a pretty good job establishing a very open relationship where she feels free to tell me about anything. Clearly I understand there will be times when she doesn't want to share. But it's tough not to pry when your child seems sad, depressed or upset. That's when "I don't want to talk about it" just doesn't cut it.

I thought I'd fixed the situation early on by telling my children to remember the importance of honesty. If you're clearly upset and I ask you what's wrong, you are not allowed to say "nothing" because that so obviously is not true. I tell them it's better to say "I can't talk about it right now." Usually they end up coming back to me within a few hours and want to discuss whatever the issue is. I figured this was great because it lets them know I'm concerned but gives them the power to decide when they want to share. It was working for me up until recently. Now twice in the last two weeks both kids have gone past the two-hour mark and never come back to discuss anything with me.

I remember a youth minister friend of mine said be sure to keep your children talking. You have to know what they are thinking so sometimes you can interject another opinion or even correct some falsehood that's causing them trouble. That's why I lately have been persistent with my 13-year-old. I want to know what's going on and want to help if I can.

So I am interested in hearing from you. How do you keep the conversation going? Would you ever read your child's journal? Are you a nag? What's worked well for you? Do you think it's just best to accept that the teenage years are moody ones and we should just let them all be? Let me hear from you and let's help each other.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 8:32 PM | Comments (0)

Greg Bailey | Qualifying night at Lowe's Motor Speedway

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

Best comment that I heard at pole night from a member of the Stewart-Haas race team, "It's not just that we have all the resources that we need. Tony Stewart knows how to use them."

Does he ever. Stewart's teammate, Ryan Newman, rolled to his 8th pole at LMS, bumping Jeff Gordon aside to grab the top spot for the Coca-Cola 600. Everybody latched onto this in a hurry: Newman, Kyle Busch and Gordon are the same three that ran three-wide in a "hair on fire" sequence in the All Star race. But don't forget this either. I talked with Ryan earlier this year at his hauler and reminded him he's already had some luck in big anniversary races, winning the 50th Daytona 500. Don't bet against him in the golden anniversary Coca-Cola 600 on Sunday.

One of the great things about the 600 is the tie-in to Memorial Day. Newman lit up when he talked about his interaction with South Meck grad Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Goodloe. After seven separate tours in Iraq and Afghanistan, Goodloe returned to Ft. Bragg as an instructor. He showed Newman how to fire the .50 caliber sniper rifle and Newman laughed as he told me that he hit his target nine times out of ten. This is a weapon that has a range of 2,600 yards. Whew.

Kurt Busch didn't crack the top 10 on pole night, but he looks relaxed and ready. Jimmie Johnson picked the 2 car as one of his pre-race favorites.

Gordon caused a stir when he admitted that his back issues could force an early retirement. The pain is a problem and driving a race car every weekend won't help. Personally, I'd love to see him grab that 5th title before he goes. Talking with him again on Wednesday after his foundation made another huge donation to his children's hospital in Concord, I was reminded again that Jeff "gets it." That's on the track and off.

The new tires will make the end off the race fun. Goodyear has given drivers a harder tire that will certainly make it possible to take 2 tires for track position late. Darlington and the All-Star Race proved you can win with 2 late, so watch for it again. Who's willing to gamble?

PHOTOS from qualifying round at LMS

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 8:21 AM | Comments (0)

Greg Bailey | T-Rex Lives

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

You never know what you'll find in testing. Ray Evernham and Jeff Gordon brought a new kind of car to test in Charlotte. What they found threatened to change NASCAR's competitive balance.

It all started with one of those concept meetings that everybody has, but nobody really makes work. Rick Hendrick made it work like only he can.

Basically, Hendrick challenged his engineers to start with a blank sheet of paper and build a different kind of car. An engineer named Rex Stump took on the challenge and then some. Stump's creation had a different kind of chassis and different geometry than every other car with an emphasis on underbody aerodynamics that were years ahead of everybody else.

It was 1997. Gordon and Evernham were at the height of their powers as one of the most dynamic pairings in racing history. They checked with NASCAR before the Winston All-Star race to make sure the new creation was within the rules. NASCAR officials gave the OK and waited.

Evernham likes to say, "There weren't many rules back then." Those would come soon enough.

Gordon told me last week that the first time he tested the car it was good, but "nothing special." That changed when it was unleashed in the race.

The Jurassic Park paint scheme was part of the name "T-Rex." Rex Stump was the real inspiration.

Evernham knew he was in trouble when the 24 car was nearly a second a lap faster than everybody else. Gordon dominated and NASCAR officials were waiting.

Humpy Wheeler, the LMS president, asked if the car had an extra engine. Or if it had some kind of jet assist rocket.

Nope. What it did have would last all of one race. NASCAR said "great job" before taking the car away to use, essentially as a teaching tool.

We hope you enjoy our interview with Ray Evernham as much as we did. (For those of you who have seen other parts of our talk with Ray, this time we focus solely on T-Rex.)

You can see that interview by clicking here.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 7:00 PM | Comments (0)

Commuting | Free transit rides and prizes

Jeremy Markovich NewsChannel 36 Producer

Say, do you like free things?

We mentioned this Monday on the news at 4 p.m., but from now until May 9, the Charlotte Area Transit System will give you free rides on a bus or train, so long as you show up with your bicycle. This is all part of Bike! Charlotte, a 10-day, two-wheeled extravaganza that runs through May 10.

I was overjoyed to get a free ride Monday night, after my ride home from the gym turned into a deluge, which I watched with a mocking sneer from the inside of a warm bus. Many thanks to the driver for remembering to give me a pro bono ride.

You could theoretically squeeze an infinite number of bikes into a LYNX train, much like sardines in a can. Each train has four bike hooks per car, provided the people sitting in front of them give up their seats. But here's the catch: each bus can only accommodate two bicycles in the front rack, so if it's full, you'll have to wait for the next one to come along. Hope you can find a bus stop with some shelter if you're trying that today. (Full disclosure: you'll be competing with me for a spot on the bus. I rode through the rain to work this morning).

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Two more quick things: Thursday is Don't Drive Day, where you could theoretically win prizes by getting to work without using your car, although carpooling is one of your options.

The idea is this: you don't drive, then you go on to dontdriveday.org by noon Friday and tell them that you didn't drive, and then you could win things like an iPod Touch, solar phone charger, programmable thermostat, and so on. You have to live in Mecklenburg or one of the nearby counties. There had been a glitch on the website earlier, but after an inquiry to CATS Tuesday morning, the inter-tubes were un-kinked and the site is up and running.

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Have you noticed fewer people jamming the roads on your way to work? So did some of the staff at public radio's Marketplace program. Here's their theory: It's not gas prices, but unemployment that's unclogging the interstates during rush hour. I asked the folks at Charlotte DOT about this last month, and they said they'd try and figure out whether there's actually less gridlock on our roads. Stay tuned.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 1:37 PM | Comments (0)

Sonja Gantt | An inspiring example

Sonja Gantt NewsChannel 36 Anchor

Editor's note: Sonja Gantt blogs each week for The Charlotte Observer's mommy site, MomsCharlotte.com.

I'm fortunate. I work with some really wonderful people who have become close friends. One of the closest is Ann Sheridan. I love Ann because of how passionate and positive she is about life. She's the one in the office who can always figure out a way to get the story done. Ann throws her all into everything she does and trust me when I say she does a lot.

She's a mom to 10-year-old twins and a 13-year-old. She stays busy at her children's schools, with swim meets, church, work and I'm sure other groups I know nothing about. She's the one who's always willing to volunteer and the one with the great ideas. And what's more amazing about her is how thoughtful she is. Many of us have been the recipient of Ann's random acts of kindness. So you can understand why so many of us were so saddened by her most recent struggle. Ann's fighting breast cancer.

The diagnosis came last year around the holidays. She's tackled it in the only way I guess Ann can do things... with passion and hard work. She read all she could about the disease, talked with cancer survivors and now she's courageously sharing her experience with the hope it might be able to help someone else. That's just like Ann... always giving.

Soon after she received the news she started allowing our cameras to follow her. In her reports airing this Tuesday you will see Ann not only at her doctor's office but also at home with her family. It was compelling to hear from her children and her husband Steve about how they felt when Ann was diagnosed. Cancer is a diagnosis that impacts more than just the patient.

I appreciate the honesty with which Ann has faced this disease. She never tried to hide her fear with her friends but I, at least, never heard her say "why me?" In a recent Charlotte Observer article Ann talked about how often as a reporter she's asked others for interviews during their toughest moments. I'm so glad she's got the courage to turn the camera on herself during one of her most difficult times. Thanks, Ann. I am inspired by your example.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 1:21 PM | Comments (0)

Commuting | More bike routes coming in Charlotte

Jeremy Markovich NewsChannel 36 Producer

It may be hard to believe, especially if you're stuck behind us, but we bicyclists really don't want to act like cars.

The problem is this: when we're trying to ride long-distance across our fair city, say from South Charlotte to Uptown, we'll probably have to hop on to a main road at some point. And that means we'll likely be riding in traffic without a bike lane, with a line of cars stacked up behind us. Sorry.

Charlotte's Department of Transportation is now trying to remedy this by creating bike routes, specifically ones that can get you across town without having to spend too much time on main roads without bike lanes. Signs have been going up over the last few weeks -- you can see them up along Old Pineville Road and on back streets just south of East Boulevard in Dilworth. Ken Tippette, CDOT's bicycle transportation program manager, tells me the signs are going up gradually, and his department is working on a map that can tell you where those routes actually lead. He also adds that this is very much a work in progress and it could be months before that map comes out, maybe more.

This is all part of a big master plan to make Charlotte more bike-tolerable, if not bike-friendly. The master plan passed last year by city council would create more bike lanes, paved shoulders and bike racks around town. Right now, some bike lanes end without rhyme or reason: the bike lane on Tyvola Road mysteriously disappears when you cross South Boulevard, for example. In any event, here's to hoping that these changes will make Charlotte a safer place to ride, and an easier place for cars and bikes to co-exist. In the meantime, be nice to us. Remember, we don't have airbags.

For more information on biking to work (or commuting in general), check out this series of stories I did last year. The bicycle section is about halfway down the page.

View The Amazing Disappearing Bike Lane in a larger map

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 10:55 AM | Comments (0)

Greg Bailey | Here comes Tiger

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

12:54 p.m. Thursday, April 30

Tiger Woods just birdied the 9th (his 18th hole of the day) to cap a 7 under par 65. He leads by 3 shots with a good chunk the field still waiting to tee off.

Tiger carded birdies on 6 of his last 9 holes.

Last night at 11 we talked about his focus after falling short at the Masters. Today we see it on the course. Great stuff.

12:26 p.m. Thursday, April 30

Tiger Woods just birdied the 8th hole to move to 6 under par for the day. (Tiger started his round on #10).

Like only he can do, Tiger has birdied 5 of his last 8 holes. This is classic Tiger and a sizzling start for a player who normally starts more slowly, then charges through the weekend.

Playing his 18th hole of the day, Woods leads Jeff Maggert and Retief Goosen by 2 shots.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 2:33 PM | Comments (0)

Jeff Campbell | How to save big bucks on golf

Jeff Campbell WCNC Anchor

If you play golf a lot, you really should know about the deals we found. We're talking about playing golf in some cases at 50 percent off or more at some of the very best courses around.

Personally, I have to tell you, I didn't know about many of these deals until we started looking. But if you play a few rounds every month, you could easily save $1,000 or more over the course of the year. $1,000. Yeah, I figured I could get your attention.
So, how do you do it? Check out these sites:

www.clickitgolf.com

www.golfnow.com

www.lastminutegolfer.com/Charlotte

Think about all the courses in this area. And then think about trying to fill them up -- 4 golfers every 10 minutes, all day, everyday, at every course around. The bottom line is the courses simply can't fill every course up. It's simple supply and demand, and the numbers don't match. So, at these online sites, these courses are resorting to some mega-deals in order to attract more golfers to the course.

So, here's the deal. We started the ball rolling. Now it's your turn to let us know how it works. You find a great deal, tell me about it. You find another site offering great deals, share it with us all.

May the bargains be good, the drives straight and the scores low. HAPPY GOLFING!!! AND GOOD LUCK FINDING THE DEALS!!!

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 7:15 PM | Comments (0)

Sonja Gantt | Lessons from the Women's Living Well Series

Sonja Gantt NewsChannel 36 Anchor

Editor's note: Sonja Gantt blogs each week for The Charlotte Observer's mommy site, MomsCharlotte.com.

Isn't it wonderful when you share a problem or situation with a girlfriend and realize that you are not alone? There was plenty of sharing this past weekend at the first annual Women's Living Well Series in Charlotte.

Workshops on balancing your life, finding fulfillment when you're overworked and overextended and learning to refocus were all designed to inspire, empower and enlighten.

I had the chance to moderate a luncheon entitled "This I Know For Sure" with four dynamic women. They said so much during that hour that was helpful, but I wanted to pass along three things that I think are universal truths.

Don't be defined by others. This advice from a woman who was praised from the time she was a baby for her beauty. She heard her brother complimented for his intelligence. She calls herself a late bloomer because for much of her life she was afraid to try anything believing that her only asset were her looks. She couldn't be smart too could she? When she stepped out and ignored the expectations of others she realized how much of her life had been restricted because of the words of others. How deep and lasting our words to children can be. I wonder which of my words my children will remember? Which words that I speak shape them the most?

You are enough. A simple truth learned from a woman who realized that her lack of material things when she was young motivated her to amass as much as she could as an adult. It was almost as if she believed the more she had the more successful she appeared. Lost luggage on an overseas trip taught her something different. Three days without clothes helped her realized she didn't really didn't need all her things. She alone was enough. We do worry often about what we lack instead of celebrating who we are. I applaud her for the self-awareness that helped her face the truth.

Don't let fear hold you back. That mantra from a woman who spent years admiring the business plans of others before feeling confident enough to pursue her dream. It was only after her marriage ended that she learned to trust herself, her God and her instinct. Having to rely on herself in a city away from family, without a husband taught her that she was more than capable to handle her life. It was then that she had the courage to be guided by her values. She tells of being fearful that she wasn't as smart or as creative as the people she'd been helping. Her successful business today says otherwise.

I was inspired by the honesty of all these women, the simplicity of the advice and the common bond that people can find when they are willing to open up and share. Here's to Wialillian and Company, the organizers of the first Women's Living Well Series. I hope this is the beginning of many more to come .

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 2:09 PM | Comments (0)

Greg Bailey | Thoughts on Panthers' draft picks

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

The Panthers are at it again. Trading away next year's No. 1 pick for the immediate gratification of a player who might or might not be a first round talent.

Still, maybe the most telling comment from the Panthers on Sunday came from John Fox when he said he had not communicated with Julius Peppers. A defense that struggled last year with Peppers might be awful without him. I wonder if the defensive staff changes that everyone assumed were made to make Peppers feel better about Carolina might have come with an eye towards playing without Peppers.

Here's what I like about Everette Brown, the defensive end from Florida State:

He gets it. When he spoke with WCNC's Ira Cronin Sunday, Brown was at ease and confident. He also smiled a lot. More than half the first round picks I've covered were too scared to smile so I like that a lot. Seriously, Brown seems very comfortable in an NFL atmosphere. Compare that with Dwayne Jarrett, Carolina's 2nd round pick from two years ago who was ill at ease from day one. Deep inside I think prospects know. Everette Brown impresses me as someone who knows he belongs.

Brown is also fast. Can't teach that and you can't teach the skill of knowing how to get after the quarterback. Sure, there are techniques, but Brown just knows how to do it -- 13 1/2 sacks tell me a lot of what I need to know.

Here's what I don't like so much:

Everette Brown only weighs 256 pounds. Not many defensive ends who weigh that little (sounds funny) hold up against the run. Let's face it if 330-plus pounder Jeff Otah tangles with Everette Brown 20 snaps, Otah will beat him up more often than not.

Also, I have seen the 4th round pick, Texas A&M running back Michael Goodson, play a lot. I probably saw 3/4 of his college games at my alma mater. The man can play. Electric with the ball. Just ask the Texas Longhorns. Goodson didn't single handedly beat the Horns twice, but he came close. What he does best is catch the ball out of the backfield. Make no mistake, Goodson is not ready to be an every down back in the NFL. But he can make some plays. He can also return kickoffs, and he might do that sooner than later.

He does come with some attitude questions, and it's no secret that he didn't always see eye to eye with his new coach, Mike Sherman, at A&M.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 9:46 AM | Comments (0)

Sonja Gantt | Why I don't have a Facebook page

Sonja Gantt NewsChannel 36 Anchor

Editor's note: Sonja Gantt blogs each week for The Charlotte Observer's mommy site, MomsCharlotte.com.

Peer pressure doesn't end with college graduation. I've been shamed and frequently questioned lately about why I don't have a Facebook page.

I spent the weekend reconnecting with some college friends the old fashioned way through face-to-face conversation. It was wonderful catching up on their lives. At some point the veterans of social networking in the group reminded those of us who don't Tweet or have a "status" to update on Facebook that we could be connected all the time if we would just sign up.

Let me say up front I do understand the benefits of social networking sites. Locating long-lost friends, efficiently updating friends on your life and meeting new people all seem like great things. My concern if I signed up is that I don't have the time to keep up with it and I wonder if it moves us further away from verbal communication, which I think has no replacement. Whether it's face-to-face or over the phone I really think there's something to be said for looking in a person's eyes or hearing their voice. Am I less likely to pick up a phone and call a friend if I feel I've already updated her on Facebook? I don't know.

In some ways I think social networking by computer continues society's move toward making it more convenient not to have to talk to people. Think about it. You can check out at the grocery store without speaking to anyone, you never need a bank teller anymore to get your money and you can check the caller ID before you answer the phone to weed out those you don't want to talk to. Even those we like we often would just rather text.

Why is that so bad? Well I think conversation is like anything else. If you don't practice it you become less comfortable doing it. And being unable to speak and express your feelings can make every relationship you have more difficult. Not just your friendships, but what about the bond with your spouse, your boss, your children?

Maybe I'm over thinking this issue but I worry as I watch and listen to my own children. Mitch and I are working with them on the art of learning how to have comfortable conversations. It's amazing how quickly a child who sometimes talks non-stop at home can all of sudden become quiet in the presence of others. I understand being shy but you have to learn to give more than monosyllabic answers when you're asked a question. They are part of a generation that's never known life without computers but I want them to understand that while talking is low-tech it still has value.

So will I get a Facebook page? Mitch has one and quite a few of his "friends" are also my friends. He gives me the updates on them and even passes along their messages to me and then I CALL them. For the life of me I don't understand why they don't just e-mail me. I do answer those. I figure I'm getting the benefits of Facebook without doing the work so why bother.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 1:36 PM | Comments (1)

Greg Bailey | Taking measure of Carolina Blue

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

I have decided this about the 2009 Tar Heels: It's one of the greatest teams in NCAA history, and talent has little to do with that. The best comparison I've heard today is to UConn's dominant 2004 team. Only that edition of the Huskies had Charlie Villanueava, Ben Gordon and Emeka Okafor. I doubt North Carolina has anyone out of their veteran cast that will have that kind of impact in the NBA. I don't say that as a knock on Carolina. Instead, it's the biggest compliment I can give.

Roy Williams and his team didn't really overwhelm opponents with talent, but they made it look that way. Coaching and team play. Deep, but not overwhelming talent and a laser focus on the tournament. Six wins by an average of 20 points? Those days were supposed to be over. Last night was silly.

Michigan State apologists offered this one today on ESPN radio: The Spartans had nothing left after battling UConn in the semi-finals. Ridiculous. 65,000 people, roaring and wearing green, tried to will Tom Izzo's team to something special. It's the greatest homecourt advantage in tournament history. And the Tar Heels blew it up, stomped on it, and set it ablaze in the opening 10 minutes.

I said last night it's the greatest half in NCAA tournament history, and I feel more certain about that today. Records for points and margin only start to tell the tale. A great team completely overmatching an MSU team that had beaten Kansas, Louisville and UConn -- in front of 72,000 fans in Detroit.

Today in Chapel Hill the crowd roared as Tyler Hansbrough took the stage and the microphone. Signs offering marriage proposals dotted the packed floor at the Smith Center. The crowd waited and Hansbrough spoke -- for all of 18 seconds. Perfect. Of all the players I've ever seen who let their play talk for them, none has ever played or talked (or not) exactly like him.

I guess the nitpicking is just part of life in the internet and talk radio era we live in. Tyler's case really reminds me a lot of the scrutiny that greeted Shaun Alexander when I worked in Seattle and covered the Seahawks. It never ended, even when Alexander won the MVP and set the NFL touchdown record.

Hansbrough's not a painting, he's a player. The national title cements his status as one of the true legends of the ACC.

And there's no end in sight for Carolina. This is what everyone feared when Williams came home. More talent. Better recruiting. Great coaching. Brand name program. North Carolina isn't just the class of the ACC. They're in a class by themselves. Does Coach K have one run left? Does anybody really think that any lasting challenge will come from anyone else in the league?

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 8:28 PM | Comments (2)

Greg Bailey | Daily Ty Lawson Toe Update

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

Sports Director Greg Bailey is in Greensboro for the first round of play in the NCAA Tournament. North Carolina plays Radford around 3 p.m. Duke takes on Binghamton later that night around 9:30 p.m.

Friday, March 20 -- UNC point guard Ty Lawson got his toe taped today during Carolina's open locker room. He's still not sure if he'll be able to play Saturday against LSU, and he still has to prove to Roy Williams that he can cut and change direction. Lawson will try to do those things in a closed practice later today.

----

UNC vs. Radford

Business as usual for North Carolina. The Tar Heels lead Radford by 19 at halftime, 53-34. They cruised to victory, winning 101-58.

Tyler Hansbrough leads the way with 14. Ed Davis has made a huge impact off the bench with great defense and blocks inside.

Bobby Frasor has started to impact the game with more aggressive play, turning a steal into a great fast break pass to Wayne Ellington.

It's loud courtside, but it''s almost like all the fans know exactly what's coming before it happens.

UNC doesn't look like it wants to sweat it out today like Memphis did.

Tyler Hansbrough takes over the ACC scoring record with what else, free throws. It's appropriate for the NCAA's all time leading free throw scorer.

Amazing how tired everyone gets so quickly in these tournament games. Everything is bigger, faster, more important when you know it's one and done.

Both Carolina's players and the Radford players were huffing and puffing after just a few possessions.

---

Ty Lawson just went through warm ups, and he is in uniform for North Carolina.

I didn't believe the announcements that tickets were available, but there are rings of empty seats in the upper level. Everything about the economy has changed and the economy has changed everything -- even the NCAA tournament in the Tar Heels' backyard.

Starting lineups just announced -- Bobby Frasor starts in Lawson's place.

More later as the Heels take on 16 seed Radford.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 3:04 PM | Comments (0)

Sonja Gantt | Daylight savings time and coupon clipping

Sonja Gantt NewsChannel 36 Anchor

Editor's note: Sonja Gantt blogs each week for The Charlotte Observer's mommy site, MomsCharlotte.com.

Daylight savings time is really turning my household upside down. After one week we've usually adjusted but this year it's been rough. I'm just never ready to get out of bed these days. And my kids are having the same problem. Even Grant, who is usually up at the crack of dawn, has needed one of us to wake him up lately. I'm hoping week two is going to be better.

A friend says I'm having a tougher time because we moved ahead earlier this year. I did a little research and found out that's not true. We moved ahead an hour the second weekend of March for the last two years, in 2008 and 2007. So there goes that excuse. I suppose the rainy weather hasn't helped the cause either. I guess it helps to remember that ultimately daylight savings time is a good thing. I mean, who doesn't want more daylight hours? Now if I could just increase my energy so I could actually get more done during that time.

If I had more time I'd, of course, be more organized and one of the things I might be able to do is follow through on my coupon clipping. I always have good intentions to use coupons but those little slips of paper don't always make it from my house to the store. When I hear stories of people saving unbelievable amounts of money I feel wasteful and always make a vow to do better. If you're like me I want to pass along an opportunity that might get you in the coupon mood again.

You are invited to log on for a live web chat on on wcnc.com on Tuesday, March 24 from noon-1 p.m. You'll have the chance to talk to a woman who claims to be able to cut our grocery bills in half.

Stephanie Nelson is better known as the Coupon Mom. She's shared her tips on how to save money on any number of talk shows and news programs. Stephanie is a former Proctor and Gamble sales and marketing executive who left her job to stay at home with her children several years ago. Nearly five years ago she used her degree in finance to begin coupon mom. Who couldn't use a little extra cash these days? I hope you will have the opportunity to log on to wcnc.com for the chat!

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 2:58 PM | Comments (0)

BLOG | First thoughts on North Carolina vs Radford from media day

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

Sports Director Greg Bailey is in Greensboro Wednesday for media day leading up to first round of play in the NCAA Tournament. North Carolina and Duke both play their first round games Thursday in Greensboro. North Carolina plays Radford around 3 p.m. Duke takes on Binghamton later that night around 9:30 p.m.

Ty Lawson Update

UNC point guard Ty Lawson just told me that he has been able to run through some of the drills at practice today. Lawson admits that he did not take part in all of the practice as he tries to heal his battered toe. But he has made enough progress that he can walk without pain. That alone is better than it was a week ago, but he is still wearing the protective boot that we saw in Atlanta.

Lawson was able to run some this afternoon so there is hope that he can play at some point in the tournament. Lawson asked that we call him a game time decision for Radford on Thursday.

Based on what Lawson told us today my best guess is that he sits out against Radford, but that's only a guess based on what I saw and heard today.

A few early impressions of the interview day in Greensboro:

Smaller than normal media group. The economy means fewer papers, TV and radio stations are traveling. We saw it at Daytona, and we see it here.

Radford will have fun, no matter what happens against UNC. The Highlanders have played teams like Wake and W. Virginia (losing both) so they won't be in awe of the Heels. Radford's interview session just wrapped up, and the team is loose and having a blast.

We'll feature Radford center Art Parakhouski at 6 and 11. He came from Belarus with little basketball experience and no experience speaking English. What a great story and he has evolved into the player that turned Radford's program around.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 12:39 PM | Comments (0)

Sonja Gantt | A day at the dog park

Sonja Gantt NewsChannel 36 Anchor

Editor's note: Sonja Gantt blogs each week for The Charlotte Observer's mommy site, MomsCharlotte.com.

When my kids were younger I used to love hanging out in the park on a spring day. They liked the swings, the sand boxes, the sliding boards and just running around. But they've gotten older and the trips to the playground have become a thing of the past.

But I'm happy to report our entire family is enjoying the park again thanks to Rosie Grace. She's our 4-year-old German Shepherd/Labrador Retriever mix and she loves an afternoon at the doggie park as much as the kids used to love the swing sets.

If you enjoy people watching, trust me you'll enjoy dog watching just as much. In fact you get to watch dog owners with their pets so think of it as a two for one.

We just started taking Rosie to the doggie parks about a year ago. She's normally a calm and friendly dog but there's nothing calm about her when she realizes we're approaching the park. As soon as we turn into Reedy Creek she whines and drools and this dog never drools! We can barely put the car in park before she's pawing trying to get out, and once out you just can't walk fast enough to get her inside the gate.

As soon as she arrives she takes off greeting everyone. Big or small, Rosie doesn't care. She's not a snob and greets every dog that will allow it. She does a lot of sniffing. Sometimes she'll stop to play, other dogs she sniffs and moves on. Why does she decide to linger with some and not others? I wish I knew.

One thing I do know is that her decision making is pretty efficient. Usually it takes me at least 10 minutes at a party to decide if I want to continue talking with someone or move on, but Rosie can do it with just a few quick sniffs.

I think it's fascinating that despite all the dogs (this weekend when we were there I counted at least 25) she routinely will look over to make sure that we are still wherever she left us. A few times we've hidden from her (not my idea but Mitch's) and you should see how quickly she goes from "play" mode to a very serious "search" mode. I've felt guilty every time we've done it. Rosie seems so excited when she finds us that I told Mitch she's probably having the doggie version of an anxiety attack when we go missing.

German Shepherds are known for being protective. If any dogs come near our bench Rosie comes back to us from wherever she is in the park. It's almost as if she's saying, "Hey, they belong to me."

If you have a dog and haven't checked out one of the county's doggie parks, put it on your list of things to do this spring. Great people watching, great dog watching and something that even your pre-teen will want to do.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 2:14 PM | Comments (0)

Ira Cronin | My night as a roller derby girl

Ira Cronin NewsChannel 36 Sports

I wish I could say that I skate like a girl, but after a night at Kate's Skate rink in Gastonia with the Charlotte Roller Girls, I can't even say I skate half as good as these girls. I have seen roller derby on TV, but trust me when I tell you it's a much different deal when your skates hit the hardwood and the bodies start flying.

Usually when I go do a story, people thank me for coming out and for the coverage and so on, and the girls did get around to all that as I was leaving. But never before have I showed up to do a story and was welcomed with trash talk and a waiver that needed to signed.

My team assigned guide was Cress Barnes whose derby name is "Lucy Kwipment." Lucy was kind enough to take me under her wing and guide me through this derby experience. She comes right out of the gate by asking me, "Do you have good insurance? I'm not kidding do you have insurance?" I would be lying if I didn't say that I had real thoughts of leaving at that point but the camera was already rolling so I was committed.

In my 15 years as a reporter I have done my share of cool or dangerous things. I have flown in an F-16, driven a race car 150 mph around Lowe's Motor Speedway, but I have never had to wear a helmet and a mouthpiece until this night. Thankfully the mouthpiece wasn't necessary but just about every other piece of equipment, knee pads, elbow pads, wrist guards were put to good use.

It's been at least 25 years since I have been on roller skates, but after a few trips around the rink it came back to me... a little. I remember having a very smooth crossover move in the corners but it was nothing but a memory. The girls kept yelling at me to stay low and bend my knees. I was just trying to stay on my skates.

They explained all the subtleties of the sport to me, the goal of being a jammer or a blocker. After a short demonstration it was my turn. I don't remember much about trying to block, other than I'm trying to not get my skates tangled up in pack of women, and the jammers kept weaving through traffic with the skill of New York cab driver. My turn at trying to be the jammer, the girl who skates through the pack to score points, was by far the scariest. While the coach kept yelling things like, slow down, and be nice, my teammates kept offering their hands to me, slingshoting me up through the pack, with opposing blockers putting moves on me, like Brian Vickers put on Dale Jr. at Daytona this year that caused the big wreck. Only difference was on this night, I seemed to be only one to get taken out.

In the end, I survived. Four falls have brought me some rink rash on my leg, and a very sore hip. I'm off to get some ice. I want to thank the girls for being so nice to me, and I know they were nice or I would be blogging from a hospital bed and not at my desk.

Good luck on the season ladies and if you want to see some tough customers in action go check out the Charlotte Roller Girls at the Grady Cole Center this season.

Blog you later,
Ira

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 1:05 PM | Comments (5)

Sonja Gantt | Do you want fries with that?

Sonja Gantt NewsChannel 36 Anchor

Editor's note: Sonja Gantt blogs each week for The Charlotte Observer's mommy site, MomsCharlotte.com.

I have a new appreciation for those who make their living in fast food restaurants. Saturday I spent my afternoon working a concession booth at UNCC's basketball game. My daughter and her Girl Scout troop are working to raise money to go overseas in 2010.

I arrived ready to cook since we were selling Bojangles chicken. But instead I was put out front on a cash register. The assignment made me a little nervous from the beginning. I figured I wouldn't have to do much math since I'd heard today's computerized registers do it for you but I knew there'd be pressure. I was right. Imagine the sounds of an arena, a line of people saying their orders faster than you can find the item on the touch screen and the constant battle of trying to remember if the money in your hand is supposed to go back to the customer or in the drawer and you get an idea of what it was like. I'm grateful 49er fans didn't complain about their slow service... at least not to my face.

And if you've ever wondered why someone has struggled with what you think is a simple order, blame the cash register. My computer froze twice -- once when someone tried to pay with a debit card even though we only accepted cash (I'd already rung up the order and the computer wouldn't cancel it) and again when a student asked me to check the balance on their meal card. You feel really bad when you have to shut down a line. You can just hear everyone thinking, "Great! Now I have to go to the back of the other line. I'll never get my food!"

Thank goodness both of my major problems happened after half-time. My thanks to Raul (who works for UNCC) and Henry (who works for Bojangles). They trained me well and truthfully I know it wasn't the computer's fault. It was definitely operator error.

I'm proud of the girls -- Kendall, Olivia and Kelly wore themselves out making smoothies and Gabrielle and Renee were great at filling drink orders and making sure people got their food. I do think when they travel overseas they will appreciate it more since they're putting in a little "sweat equity."

o the other parents, cooks Rodney and Kenny, "supervisors" Sarah and Debbie and fellow cash register operators Zeta and Kecia, I'd work with you guys again anyday. And to anyone running a cash register, if I'm in your line I promise to be patient, always state my order clearly and tell you if I have coupons at the beginning of the order.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 12:32 PM | Comments (0)

Greg Bailey | Reflecting on Marquis Cooper

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

Coast Guard officials have done everything they can do. And late Tuesday they decided they could do no more. The three missing boaters in Florida are now considered "lost at sea."

I ask you to bear with me while I reflect on one of the young football players who won't be coming home.

University of Washington football is king in Seattle. It's been that way for the last 50 years. Sure, pro sports came to town and every pro team has taken a turn, but UW football is the soul of the Seattle sports scene. Marquis Cooper is one of the Huskies that everyone remembers and everyone likes. I'll use the present tense even though Coast Guard officials have given up searching for Cooper, former N.C. State lineman Corey Smith and former South Florida football player William Bleakley.

I met Marquis when he played linebacker for Washington. Later, I met his dad, Bruce, when I covered Mariners spring training in Arizona. Bruce Cooper has been a sportscaster in Arizona for years. Maybe you saw him on NewsChannel 36 the week the Panthers played the Cardinals in the playoffs. "Coop" is always glad to help, and he chipped in with some "Arizona perspective" to help us set the stage for the game. In a business that's not always so giving, Bruce will do anything for you, and he always does it with a smile. His son is the same way.

The week of that playoff game I called Bruce to ask him for a favor with our coverage. I also asked about his son, Marquis. Bruce shared thoughts that every father has, hoping that his son was giving his life in the NFL his best shot. I told Bruce then that Marquis is one of my favorites from my time in Seattle. I also reminded him that Marquis has a head on his shoulders that most young people don't have. I didn't think much about it then, but I'm glad I said it now.

Marquis played linebacker for some good Washington teams and some UW teams that struggled. He was one of the few who always treated people like me the same way, win or lose. He answered questions with thought and perspective, and that's not an easy thing for teenagers learning to deal with media coverage for the first time. And he always managed a smile.

That's what everybody who knows Marquis is talking about -- his smile and easy laugh. He's also a heck of a player -- a little thin, but fast and athletic. I was standing in the end zone at the Sun Bowl when he picked off a pass against Purdue and returned it for a touchdown. I could see him smile through his facemask and laughed a little as I noted the play on my stat sheet.

Cooper went on to a journeyman career in the NFL. He has signed to play for the Raiders this year. I bet he would love fishing in California, too. He's always loved to fish, and I bet he was having a great time on this excursion before his boat ran into trouble.

The best part of my job is all the great people you get to meet. Now, I'm thinking about one of my favorites. Sometime we'll shift to the past tense when I talk about Marquis Cooper. But not now. Not yet.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 12:25 PM | Comments (0)

Greg Bailey | Rock Chalk Roy Williams

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

I wanted to add a little bit more on what we talked about Sunday night on Sports Extra. With all of its defensive issues, this Carolina team reminds me of a great Kansas team (coached by Williams) that I covered in the late 90s. Superior talent with Raef LaFrentz and Paul Pierce, but talented, athletic guards gave that KU team fits.

Sure enough, second round of the tournament in Oklahoma City (the same regional where Valpo's Bryce Drew stunned a good Ole Miss team with his famous shot at the buzzer) Rhode Island sent one of Roy's best teams packing. Cuttino Mobley and Tyson Wheeler carved up KU's defense, and it shouldn't have come as a surprise. We had seen it before during the regular season. Sound familiar?

I talked with Rhode Island coach Jim Harrick after his post game press conference as he casually sipped a cola. Harrick was matter of fact -- he had shown his team tape of UMass and its guard tandem giving Kansas fits earlier in the season. Harrick stopped the tape and told his team, "You know you can do this to them. Now go do it."

How many times and how many tapes will be cued up before the NCAA tournament? Did UNC lose the title that so many believed was belonged to the Heels as soon as Marcus Ginyard went down with the foot issues? Can't wait to find out.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 12:12 PM | Comments (0)

Sonja Gantt | Why our kids play sports

Sonja Gantt NewsChannel 36 Anchor

Editor's note: Sonja Gantt blogs each week for The Charlotte Observer's mommy site, MomsCharlotte.com.

Saturday ended Grant's first basketball season. It was a success. He really loved his team. He is a better player than when he started. And best of all, Mitch and I didn't have any major fights. That's a big deal in my house since my husband and I often view sports differently.

We both support the kids playing team sports since physical activity is important and there's plenty to be learned from being part of a team. And we're OK with the time commitment. I'm happy to accept that at least part of my weekend will be spent sitting by some field, at a pool or in a gym.

But Mitch and I often differ on how to best help our kids in their sports. I tend to leave it to the coaches and Mitch likes to coach from the stands, in the car (on the way to and from the game or match) and at home. I tend not to yell at games just give encouraging words on the way home. Mitch would say that's because I don't know any specific advice to yell since I didn't play many team sports when I was young. That may be true. Sometimes during games I've been tempted not to sit with him. Not because I'm embarrassed since he's not one of those obnoxious parents who's always yelling at the referee or the coach. Usually I am the only one who gets the benefit of his commentary and sometimes I just don't want to hear it.

My only concern about sports is that we too often forget WHY we sign our kids up to play. I always thought it was for their enjoyment. I'll never forget what happened a few months after Gabrielle, who was then three or four, stopped taking gymnastics. Mitch wanted to know why I hadn't registered for the next session since he thought she was pretty good (as good as a 3-year-old can be). I apologized and told him I didn't realize we were trying to raise an Olympic gymnast! I thought we were just exposing her to a sport and since SHE told me at the end of the classes that she didn't want to go anymore, then I thought we're done with that!

Grant looks for approval from his father. I think most boys do. He knows his dad played football in high school and college and loves the game. He knows his dad believes in the value of practice and giving it your all on the field. I agree. But what I think we have to remember is that sometimes we ruin sports by placing too much emphasis on winning or perfection. At this age they're just learning and sometimes they're going to be unfocused and they're going to make mistakes.

There's nothing wrong with competition. I certainly agree there's something to be said for learning how to win and how to lose. But let's emphasize the other lessons team sports provide, too. I want to give them the chance to improve their skills in a sport they can enjoy now and maybe later in life. I'd like them to appreciate what it takes to work with others and to feel what it's like to have a responsibility to a group. On all those points Mitch and I agree and we are maturing. We sat together all of basketball season and through the winter swim season. Now it's on to soccer...

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 4:53 PM | Comments (1)

Job Search | Lessons from a field producer

Rachel Clapp NewsChannel 36 Producer

I've been in the field shooting job stories for several months. I feel very fortunate to be employed. By this point, however, I also think I could moonlight as a "career expert." I've talked to career experts, read countless articles and been on the pavement with job seekers. I've also seen a lot of their mistakes. Where they've gone wrong are good lessons for anyone. Here are a couple of things I've witnessed. Let their missteps help put you in the right direction.

Don't start with the bad.

We've posted job candidates and their contact information on our Web site. We've had them sell themselves in a 30-second job pitch. I've been in these job fair lines, asking people to tell the camera what they would tell a potential employer. One woman I spoke with started her pitch with, "I don't have much computer experience, but..." I wanted to tell her to start again. Don't start with what you can't do, start with what you can. Highlight the positive. If a fast food company is selling a new sandwich they don't say, "It has more calories than the old one, but it tastes really good." Duh. Think.

What do you want?

Candidates I've interviewed often have a hard time saying what type of job they want or where they are looking. I realize a camera is intimidating, but you know what? So is a job interview. Buck up. Know what you want and know how to sell it. "My name is Rachel and I want to win the lottery." If you go to an employer and say, "I'm looking for any job I can get my hands on." That may be true, but it doesn't tell the employer who you are or how you can help them. Be specific. "I'm a news producer, with impressive communication skills, who can write effectively and on deadline. I believe that can help your company in x, y and z."

Blanket E-mails

We have an e-mail address at NewsChannel 36 that we use for news tips and story comments: news@wcnc.com. Recently, job seekers have used this address to send resumes and ask about openings. This is not the way you want to apply for a job at a television station, or any workplace A blanket e-mail is not going to get you to a decision maker. It makes you look like you don't know the company or the industry. If you apply for a job and it requests you send applications to resume@greatcompany.com, send it, but also follow up by finding a contact within the company.

Take Advantage of Opportunity

We've set jobseekers up with career coaches, style experts, interview experts. We have web chats, phone call-ins, information on support networks. There's a lot of free resources out there. Look for them. Use them. You never know how that one piece of advice may help you. On Charlotteobserver.com, the "Squeeze" blog has tips to help you cope in this economy. Our next career chat on WCNC.com is March 16 from 4-6:30 p.m. Career Coach Tom Killen will be in our studios answering your questions live. Log on and get a JOB!

Advertise

I had a woman pretty much scream at me for having a camera at a job fair. I realize this is a touchy subject, especially if you have a job. You don't want people to know you are looking and we aren't in the business of putting people on television who don't want to be. But, if you are out of work and you need a job, how are you supposed to network with people if you don't want them to know you don't have a job?

Advertise. Your church, your alumni group, your neighbors, everyone needs to know what type of job you need. Why? Because they can help connect you with companies and decision makers. The squeaky wheel gets the grease. And don't yell at me if you see me out, I'm just trying to do my job, which I am thankful to have.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 2:35 PM | Comments (0)

Greg Bailey | An evening with Humpy

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

Thanks to Jeff Beaver and the Charlotte Sports Commission for a great salute to racing legend Humpy Wheeler on Tuesday night. Beaver has said many times that none of the pro sports we have in Charlotte -- Panthers, Bobcats, Checkers -- would be here without Humpy and Lowe's Motor Speedway.

Friends from college and friends from racing lined up to come on stage and tell stories. Out of 7 or 8 salutes, nobody got through their version of the story without an interruption, clarification or addition from Humpy. We wouldn't expect anything less.
All the tales -- from a rear window blown out by a shotgun blast back in the old days, to the moonshine toasts in Humpy's office (also back in the old days) -- every story included a laugh and a smile from Wheeler, along with an act of kindness.

Rick Hendrick closed the night when he recalled the letter that Wheeler sent after Hendrick's son and family members were killed in the plane crash at Martinsville. Hendrick said he'll never forget the words or the gesture.

I left convinced that all of us really are nothing more than the sum of our actions. In Humpy's case an incredible and unmatched career as a promoter and a sportsman is really no match for the man himself. One of a kind and kind to so many. Humpy Wheeler, I can't wait to see what you do next.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 8:48 AM | Comments (0)

Sonja Gantt | Meeting an inspirational mother

Sonja Gantt NewsChannel 36 Anchor

Editor's note: Sonja Gantt blogs each week for The Charlotte Observer's mommy site, MomsCharlotte.com.

Have you ever met someone and thought, "Boy, I want to be like her when I grow up"? That's how I felt after visiting with Sarah Stevenson. I've known her as a community leader for much of my life but never had a chance to really sit and talk for any extended period of time. I recently had that opportunity when I was assigned to profile her for Black History Month. I left our visit feeling inspired by her positive attitude, her sense of purpose and her dedication.

As we flipped through a keepsake album of newspaper clippings one morning at her house, I realized how extraordinary she is. She was a wife, mother of four boys and a seamstress when she took on the project of doing something about her son's ill-fitting band uniform. The band at his high school had just received hand-me-down uniforms from the white high school. They were too big for many of the students. Mrs. Stevenson led the school's PTA to raise $6,000 for new uniforms. That project was the beginning. She went on to become president of what was the district's colored PTA council. Eventually, after several years, she was elected president of what had been a "whites only" Charlotte-Mecklenburg PTA council. Under her leadership the two councils became one, no longer separated by race.

Sarah Stevenson has a knack for bringing people together. She did it for the city community relations committee when she served as a mediator helping to resolve disputes between neighborhood groups. She does it every week with the Tuesday morning breakfast forum. It's a group that's been getting together for 29 years. It started as a way for politicians to keep the black community up to date. It's evolved into a gathering where people discuss a variety of topics depending on the speaker. The group invites everyone from the chief of police to the school superintendent to speak. Many of the founders have died, others have moved on, but Sarah Stevenson has been the constant for decades. She's dedicated to the group because she believes it's important for people to get together and discuss the issues of the day. She reminds me the goal is not to come away with everyone agreeing but to listen and understand each other better.

Finally, her positive attitude on life is inspiring. When I ask if she faced difficult times as the first black woman on the school board she tells me that sure there were frustrating moments. But throughout her life she's developed a knack for not letting the negative in a situation overwhelm the entire experience. Hmm...what a useful skill. She often felt board members ignored concerns she raised only to give those same issues attention when others brought them up. How did she handle it? She just kept speaking up and eventually people began listening.

Mrs. Stevenson is a widow and she's done what no mother ever wants to do. She's buried three of her children. She looks at her life and says her situation is just proof that God has more work for her to do, that's why he's left her and taken many of her loved ones. So while she's proud of what she's accomplished, she's not finished.

At 83, I hope I will be just as positive, focused and full of energy (we had to work around her schedule to get the interview and I think she still ended up having to miss a meeting to do it). My story on Sarah Stevenson airs this Friday during our 5 o'clock newscast. I hope you'll watch and be inspired by this mother who made such a difference in our community.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 3:22 PM | Comments (0)

Greg Bailey | Dale Jr. takes center stage

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

Dale Earnhardt Jr. has a sinus infection. He doesn't feel well, but he's still smiling in the garage and behind the wheel of the No. 88 Chevy. It's amazing how he still dominates so much of what we all talk about every week at the track.

This week everybody wants to know what Junior thinks about the track surface at Daytona. It's the same track surface that was done back in 1978.

"Bumpy" is Junior's answer, but it's what he says next that makes it worth your while. Junior explains that in this economy he wouldn't put a new surface on, either. They do cost money, after all. Some people get it and Dale does. He understands what to say and what needs to be said. I've never heard him when he didn't understand, but I've never heard him back down, either.

It only gets better when he talks about the "demise" of DEI as a stand-alone operation. And then he shoots us all that trademark grin when he fires one last shot at his buddy, Eddie Gossage, the man who runs the track outside Fort Worth, Texas. Dale made headlines across the country when he blasted track owners who said they wanted more from drivers to sell more tickets in a tough economy. Today, it's obvious Earnhardt and Gossage have made their peace, but it's also obvious that Junior enjoys taking good natured shots when he can.

On the track Earnhardt continues to battle tire problems. The right, front wears out in a hurry, but Dale doesn't seem worried. That's one point that so many drivers hit this week -- it's a long run here and the 500 is still a long way off.

Greetings from Daytona
Feb. 11, 2009

The first thing that hits you at Daytona -- small crowds. It is still early in the week, but RV slots that were full last year now sit empty. Souvenir stands that were hopping last year are now quiet. Everyone hopes that fans will show up for the race and a Speed TV report today claims the 500 is almost sold out, but it's tough to tell that on practice day.

We talked with Dale Earnhardt, Jr., Jimmie Johnson, Kevin Harvick, Joey Logano, Denny Hamlin and others today. The three main topics are the testing ban, the economy and the bumps on the track surface at Daytona. The track hasn't been re-surfaced in 30 years, so it's about what you would expect. The rugged surface makes it interesting for everyone in the new cars. Dale Jr. explains that it's much rougher on drivers than in years past.

Junior feels great about his car and his team, and you can tell that he's ready to race. He slept in his clothes on Tuesday night, trying to get his fever to break, with no luck. Junior did tell us that he sweat a good deal in the driver's seat today, and that has helped what he thinks is a sinus infection.

We also talked with Joey Logano one-on-one today. Look for that on Friday on NewsChannel 36. He's an engaging and bright kid. He mentioned that everyone at Gibbs has reminded him that the 500 is only one race. Sure, it's a big one, but there's a long season and a long career ahead. Logano has already had his share of problems here with a rear of the pack finish in the Bud Shootout and a brush with the wall in practice today.

Jimmie Johnson is the same old Jimmie that's won three straight titles. Quiet confidence best describes it and Jimmie has all of that you would ever want.

Michael Waltrip got into a wreck late in practice. The 55 car has some damage, but crews were hopeful that they could get it back on the track by tomorrow.

We'll have more all week, with more blogs and coverage the rest of the week from Daytona.

By the way, the weather is great, even if it is a little windy. So long, for now, from Daytona.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 6:10 PM | Comments (0)

Sonja Gantt | Conan O'Brien really is a nice guy

Sonja Gantt NewsChannel 36 Anchor

Editor's note: Sonja Gantt blogs each week for The Charlotte Observer's mommy site, MomsCharlotte.com.

Conan O'Brien takes over The Tonight Show in June. He stopped by the station recently to promote the show. Dave Wagner and I shot promos with him. Colleen Odegaard did an extensive interview. He met with clients and then spent a little time in the newsroom. I've told everyone who's asked (and there've been many) that yes...as far as I can tell in the two to three hours that he was in the station he really seems to be a nice guy.

PHOTOS of Conan at NewsChannel 36

His humor was no surprise. You expect him to be witty and he was. When he walked into the studio he quickly and easily made light of all the people (cell phone cameras in hand) who were there. During a newscast there are usually no more than five to six people in the studio. I think I counted about 25 that morning. Larry Sprinkle was hard at work and he and Conan had a great time talking about hair care products. Conan says he shops at home improvement stores for his but he's heard about the stuff Larry uses...it's smuggled into the country right?

Colleen says during their one-on-one chat he was incredibly charming, down to the earth and funny to the point she couldn't stop laughing. Be sure to catch her story on Friday, Feb. 20th during our 11 p.m. newscast.

My lasting impression of Conan is that he is gracious and knows how to handle his celebrity. When he greeted dozens of sales clients he not only said he wanted to have a chance to meet everyone but took pictures with all who asked. Now the cynics might say he needed to do that since those are the people who buy commercials on our station. But...I understand after I left he went into our newsroom and did the same thing, stopping at every edit bay and desk to say hello and take more pictures. Trust me, none of us in the newsroom can afford to buy ad time on his show.

I had the chance to interview a number of celebrities during my four years at WGN in Chicago and some of them were simply not nice, unpleasant and rude. I certainly understand that just because you're a great actor, singer, musician or athlete doesn't mean you are comfortable with crowds or that you don't get tired of doing so many media interviews. But all of us have parts of our jobs we didn't sign up for but we have to do anyway. Conan O'Brien really appears to "get" it. He didn't seem to take for granted that people were genuinely excited to meet him and that fans do play some role in his success. He was refreshing and I wish him all the best when the show debuts in June. I'll be watching and I hope you will too, right after our 11 p.m. newscast.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 12:45 PM | Comments (0)

Sonja Gantt | The gift of unconditional love

Sonja Gantt NewsChannel 36 Anchor

Editor's note: Sonja Gantt blogs each week for The Charlotte Observer's mommy site, MomsCharlotte.com.

There are many things that I want my children to know without a doubt. One of them is that I love them unconditionally. I'm a very expressive person so I'm often hugging them or telling them how much I care.

As they've gotten older I notice I'm the one who initiates those group hugs more often than not. I figure that's natural and I know they know that I truly care. Wouldn't it be great if every child had that same deep, soul stirring love from someone? It's such a great foundation.

I thought a lot about a parent's love this past weekend when I traveled with Gabrielle's synchronized ice skating team to Morristown, N.J., and again during the Super Bowl pregame show.

Any mother of a girl over the age of 11 can appreciate how interesting a trip with TEN girls and their mothers can be. Gabrielle is part of a wonderful team. The girls are not just great synchronized skaters but really a neat and cool group of kids. I had a wonderful weekend with them. And it was great to see that despite our different backgrounds and interests there is one universal experience for pre-teen girls and their mothers. In different ways this weekend I watched daughters asserting their independence and refusing to admit that sometimes mom really does know best. Whew...how good to know it's not just something that happens in my house! There's really no way for children to understand how blessed they are to have moms and dads who care until they have their own children. So it doesn't matter what they say to us, or how they act...we love them anyway...forever....

I was moved by the story about Arizona Cardinal Larry Fitzgerald. Remember him? He's the wide receiver who won't soon be forgotten by most Panthers fans as we watched him catch pass after pass after pass in Bank of America Stadium during the playoffs.

Before the Super Bowl he opened up about his mom, Carol, who died of breast cancer. His biggest regret was that he'd let an argument come between them and hadn't talked with her apparently for months before she died. He talked about being a stupid and selfish college student who thought he knew best and didn't appreciate that she thought differently so he cut off contact with her. Now, he regrets it but didn't make it to the hospital to tell her before she died. His father, also named Larry, explains in the story that he tells Larry not to worry. That, of course, his mother would have forgiven him and that she loved him no matter what.

I know what Larry's father says is true. A parent's love is the kind children, whether they're pre-teen girls or college students, just can't fully appreciate. Thank God we keep loving through toddler temper tantrums, rebellious teenagers and arrogant college students. It's a joy, a sacrifice, not always easy but truly a blessing. And one day I hope they will all come to understand what a gift it is to have that kind of love.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 3:33 PM | Comments (3)

Sonja Gantt | Learning to work together

Sonja Gantt NewsChannel 36 Anchor

Editor's note: Sonja Gantt blogs each week for The Charlotte Observer's mommy site, MomsCharlotte.com.

I really enjoy going on field trips, seriously. It's a great way to see how your child interacts with the class and be able to put faces with the names that we hear so often at home, and truthfully it's just fun to experience anything through a child's perspective.

Over the years I've listened to the Charlotte Symphony, watched plays at the Children's Theatre, hung out at Discovery Place, hiked at Camp Kanuga, been nearly slobbered on by a giraffe at the Lazy 5 Ranch and had a chance to pick a few strawberries and pumpkins. I always come away awed by their energy and grateful for teachers!

If you want to experience hands-on learning at it's best and you have a child younger than fourth grade then make sure you sign up to go to Junior Achievement of Central Carolinas JA BizTown. I think most schools (both private and public) take students during the 4th or 5th grade.

When you walk in the door you're walking into a kid-sized city. You'll see a bank, post office, health clinic, radio station, pet shop, food court, a newspaper and so on. The kids spend weeks in class preparing for the jobs they'll do to run the town. So when the big day comes they're full of anticipation and excitement.

My son Grant was an ad executive for the newspaper. His job was to create ads for the different companies. I helped out in a business my students named the Eagles of Communication. We sold and created Web pages for businesses.

During the course of the day I noticed how well it "clicked" with my group that if one person didn't do their job, then it impacted our entire business. Our Web specialists Emmanuel and Antonious had nothing to do until our ad executives Miguel and Jaylen sold our Web designs, and theoretically we couldn't get paid until the specialists finished their work.

And when one person wasn't doing what they were supposed to do, I could see the annoyed looks that many of us have probably seen in our own workplaces or at home when someone doesn't hold up their end of the bargain. I love the initative I saw in our CFO DePriest when he remembered to print the paychecks that I'd forgotten. With no pay no one would be able to shop.

I watched as my sales managers Breasia and Shanyah really took charge of selling our other products and felt so much pride when they were able to say they'd sold out! As a mother I loved watching all of them look at their checkbooks and realize they might not have enough money to buy everything they'd seen for sale in the town! Wouldn't it be great if they could keep that idea of having to live within their means?

Junior Achievement's overall mission through all of their programs not just BizTown is to help students make the connection between what they're doing in school and prepare them for a global economy. My fourth graders were inspired, excited, creative and willing to work together. Let's hope they'll carry all of those qualities into adulthood.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 7:26 PM | Comments (0)

Sonja Gantt | Meeting Coach Herman Boone

Sonja Gantt NewsChannel 36 Anchor

Editor's note: Sonja Gantt bloggs each week for The Charlotte Observer's mommy site, MomsCharlotte.com.

One of the best things about being a reporter is the opportunity you have to meet interesting people. I met one Monday.

Unless you are a devout historian of high school football you probably didn't know the name Herman Boone until you watched Denzel Washington portray him in the movie "Remember the Titans." It tells the story of a man who took over as head football coach at a newly integrated Virginia high school in 1971.

Coach Boone was the guest speaker at this year's YMCA Martin Luther King Jr. Prayer Breakfast. He is one of several people and places NewsChannel 36 will profile in honor of Black History Month. While he is known for what he did in Virginia, Coach Boone is a North Carolinian.

Our short time together and his story left an impression on me for two reasons. The first is that I think he's a great example of how you can sometimes set a goal but on the way to achieving it you end up achieving something much more important.

Coach Boone tells me that when he became head coach he wasn't trying to create racial harmony among the players at TC Williams. He was simply trying to build a winning football team. He knew the players weren't capable of doing what they needed to do on the field until they learned to deal with the division among them. So in order to create the winners he wanted he preached that liking one another wasn't necessary but respecting each other was. Ultimately he believed by working together it would become more difficult for his players to hold on to racial stereotypes and more likely they would come to know each other as individuals.

Coach Boone wanted a winning program. He got that. The Titans were 13-0 that season and won the state championship. But rather than just the victories in football he'll be remembered more for his victories in uniting people. His story is one that inspires because it's a powerful reminder of what we can do when we respect and appreciate one another. It wasn't his initial goal, but I believe a more important one in the end.

As parents we know that we have the power to be such a significant influence on our children. Herman Boone made it clear to me that his father's words have been both enduring and motivating. He is one of 12 children and his father regularly told them, "None of us can control the break of day. Day is going to come whether you want it or don't. If you don't plan to make a difference, a positive difference then take your butt back to sleep." Those words have been, he says, a guiding force for him serving as a powerful call to service. I hope that somehow I am saying something that leaves a lasting impression on my children.

All this week we'll hear much about the inauguration of our country's first African-American president, Barack Obama, and we will honor the memory of a man who defines the civil rights struggle in our country, Martin Luther King Jr. The election of Barack Obama is truly an example of what King and Herman Boone preached. We must judge people based on their character not their color, we must respect ALL people not just those we like and that ultimately we can achieve more together than we can apart.

I hope you will check out my story on Herman Boone. It will be running on NewsChannel 36 next Monday, Jan. 26 during our 5 p.m. newscast.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 3:31 PM | Comments (0)

Dave Wagner | Ready for Inauguration Day

Dave Wagner WCNC Anchor

9:25 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20

We are riding the Metro in from Virginia. It is packed but people are in good spirits. We have been on this train for 90 minutes, trying to get as close as possible to the Capitol.

1:30 a.m. Tuesday, Jan. 20

It is 1:30 a.m. on Inauguration Day and photographer Mike Hanson and I have just finished up for the night. We are at the Metro Center, waiting to ride to where we are staying in Arlington, Virginia. There is a big crowd and many are chanting "Obama" as we walk down the escalator. The escalators have been turned off.

It has been a hectic day that began with interviewing a group of Charlotte-Mecklenburg police officers. They are here to help with security. I was struck by how honored these veteran officers felt to work the inauguration.

We then headed to the offices of Senator Kay Hagan. The streets of DC were bumper to bumper as our cab made its way around the tight security to the Dirksen Senate Office Building. There was a line of people out the doors. They were trying to see their senators to appeal for inauguration tickets.

Outside Senator Hagan's office, hundreds of North Carolinians were waiting. Senator Hagan tells us she feels badly that she doesn't have enough tickets for everyone. She also says she didn't realize so many people had her cell phone number.

We then headed to George Washington University, just three blocks from the White House. We interviewed three students from the Charlotte area. Colby Anderson of Matthews says that GW does not have a football team. But students live and breathe politics and the inauguration is like their Super Bowl.

It is now 2:20 a.m. and I am headed to bed. I need to be awake by 4:45 a.m. and on the Metro by 7 a.m. for Inauguration Day.

1:57 p.m. Monday, Jan. 19

We are in a cab after leaving Sen. Kay Hagan's office. Hundreds of North Carolinians are lined up outside her office, hoping for inauguration tickets. She can't accommodate everyone. We are headed to talk with some George Washington University students from Charlotte.

----

Projections of gridlock on DC roads have not occurred yet. This photo is of the heart of DC at 10:25 a.m. on Monday.

We are headed to interview Charlotte police officers who are helping for the inauguration. Then we are off to interview Sen. Kay Hagan.

Sunday, Jan. 18

We're in DC doing live shots for the Sunday morning show on NewsChannel 36. It's cold, but not nearly as cold as yesterday.

Saturday, Jan. 17

We left for DC around 9:30 Saturday morning. Traffic is steady, but we are experiencing none of the traffic jams that have been predicted. We see many vehicles with Obama stickers and out of state license plates.

We're just about an hour from arriving. We'll set up our editing equipment at our Washington bureau, then head out to Constitution Hall for an inaugural concert. Pastor John P. Key of Charlotte is one of the performers.

Skies are mostly cloudy, it's 26 degrees and snow is forecast for DC on Sunday. That may create some problems as people make their way to Washington.

Friday, Jan. 16
With anticipation and a lot of warm clothes, photographer Mike Hanson and I are headed to Washington for Tuesday's Presidential inauguration.

I've covered a lot of candidates, conventions and presidents over the years, but this is my first inauguration. The logistics are overwhelming. With traffic jams, bridge and street closures, intense security and a mass of humanity, trying to get the stories to our station's Washington bureau will be a challenge.

I am armed with two video phones, a laptop with webcam plus Skype and my Blackberry. We've been told that cell phone service may not be available. One way or another, we'll be bringing you the stories of Carolinians who have made the trip for this historic event.

No matter whom you voted for in November, the pageantry of the presidency is fascinating. On Tuesday, we'll be watching together as our 44th president is sworn into office.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 9:28 AM | Comments (2)

Simply Green | Charlotte Alternative Energy Group

Tony Esposito NewsChannel 36 Production

Hello all, there are many ways to meet people and share interests. MySpace and Facebook are two of the most popular. People use these sites to share common interests and communicate with their friends.

Many organizations have started using Facebook and MySpace to send out event updates and communicate with their members.

I recently learned of a new online group called MeetUp. It is a way for people with com-mon interests to meet and share their interests face-to-face. After a quick registration questionnaire, a person with a certain interest looks for a group with the same interest on the MeetUp website. The group will send you information on when it meets and where. The site really encourages meeting in person unlike the other two sites I mentioned earlier.

My friend Michelle had joined the "Charlotte Alternative Energy Group" through the MeetUp online program and told me about the meeting. Of course, I jumped at the chance to see what other folks interested in alternative energy had to say.

The group is led by a fellow named Harald and the meeting was held in Indian Trail, N.C. There were five people present. Harald, a German engineer, Lori, an IT person for a bank, Roger a British engineer, Michelle and yours truly.

In addition to a wonderful PowerPoint presentation by Harald, we talked about alternative energy, alternative power sources, recycling, sustainable living and many other topics having to do with the environment.

Harald's PowerPoint presentation gave all kinds of data on energy use by country, by appliance and what the future held for energy consumption. Power generation was illustrated with graphs that made the information easy to grasp and understand.
Different types of heating and cooling systems were discussed with the pluses and minuses of each stated.

Harald talked about the different types of solar hot water heaters there are, and how they work. In the same manner, tank type and tankless systems were also discussed.
Next it was on to a home energy audit and what should be checked during one.

I was familiar with many of the topics discussed but as with many meetings and workshops, you always learn something or at least it gets you thinking a little bit differently.

It was interesting hearing the viewpoints of people who are not from the United States. We all have an interest in saving what is left of the planet and its resources and I found we share many of the same ideas.

We all agreed that education was the primary thing that had to change. The people need to be educated on the problems and what needs to be done to solve them. Change doesn't have to be scary. If we are prepared and have the necessary mental attitude, we will get by just fine.

All in all I found the meeting to be an effective way to share ideas. It was fun and informative. The MeetUp concept (http://www.meetup.com/) is very cool and if you want to meet with people who have the same interests as you, give it a try. I think you'll enjoy it.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 3:29 PM | Comments (1)

Brad Panovich | Coldest air in 4 years

Brad Panovich Meteorologist

Arctic air is invading the country this week and most areas will see the coldest air in over 4 years. The Charlotte region hasn't seen an arctic outbreak like this since 2005. That was the last time we had a high temperatures below the freezing mark. On January 29, 2005, we only had a high of 30 degrees with 1-inch of snowfall on that date.

This Friday we won't get the snow but we won't make it to freezing either. I'm forecasting a high of only 29 degree as the heart of the Arctic air mass will be settling right on top of the Carolinas. Saturday morning we will see a low near 9 above zero -- a number we haven't seen either since January 2005.

The reason for the arctic outbreak is record snow cover for the northern hemisphere -- almost 1.37 million square kilometers more snow cover than the fourth week of January last year, the previous record.

This massive amount of snow cover has allowed huge areas of arctic air to build up over Alaska, Canada and Siberia, which then moves south as the jet stream buckles. Temperatures in Alaska have been brutally cold with Fairbanks being in the -30 to -60 range for the past 4 weeks. One reading in Siberia was as cold as -90 and that air mass is on the move.

The snow cover over the Midwest and Great Lakes helps to keep the air mass cold as it moves south. Normally this air would modify or warm up a little on the way south, but as it travels over snow pack it stays cold.

The result is a cold outbreak that will last into early next week. High temperatures will only be in the 30s and lows in the teens and single digits.

The other thing to watch is for the possibility of low pressure developing along the end of the arctic air in the Gulf of Mexico or along the East Coast. These storms often form when arctic air hits the warmer water of the Gulf of Mexico and the Gulf Stream and often can bring snow to the mid-South. Something we'll be watching carefully in the first Warn Storm Center.

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To "Proof in Charlotte" regarding comment: There are indeed correlations between snowpack and arctic air, most prominently the affect on the Arctic Oscillation. There are several peer reviewed papers on the subject. There are also numerous other factors for the arctic air build up, including the NAO, AO, ENSO and PDO; all climate oscillations. My blog was primarily referring the impact on the increased snow cover keeping the air mass unmodified as it moves south into the lower 48. I think the snow cover is quite significant compared to years past, even breaking last January's record. The albedo of snowpack has a huge impact on the air mass at lower latitudes during the day but maybe more importantly would be the long wave radiation cooling affect at night. While there are many factors to arctic outbreaks I chose to highlight one of the main but not exclusive causes of the Carolinas receiving one this year. Maybe in my next blog I will discuss the other factors to the cooler weather. Thanks for the comments, Brad

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 3:16 PM | Comments (1)

Sonja Gantt | Don't rush to judge Panthers

Sonja Gantt NewsChannel 36 Anchor

Editor's note: Sonja Gantt bloggs each week for The Charlotte Observer's mommy site, MomsCharlotte.com.

I felt sad leaving the Carolina Panthers game on Saturday night. It wasn't just the loss. It was the way they lost. It was embarrassing for a team that has so much talent and had so much success in the regular season. With a record of 12-4 I don't think anyone would ever have predicted a score of 33-13 against the Arizona Cardinals. On the way out of the stadium I heard so many fans calling for the team to get rid of Jake Delhomme and I was reminded of how quick we all are to overreact.

I'm no expert on football strategy and rarely watch an entire NFL game if the Panthers aren't playing, but I think the rush to judgment is just one example of our "instant" society. We like everything quick --not just our food but also the solution to our problems big and small. We aren't forgiving when people screw up and don't let it be someone who is paid a lot of money -- that's supposed to make them mistake proof! Let's not forget people are paid based on the market for what they do.

What happened to judging people on their entirety not just a single incident or a single day? I think Coach Fox summed it up well, saying, "We picked a bad day to have a bad day." The point is we all have bad days.

The Jake the fans want to get rid of is the same Jake who was instrumental in building a 12-4 record this season. I know I would never want my boss deciding my fate based on one day's performance. I hope my evaluations will always take into account my work as a whole. I'm sure you do too. But we don't often give others that same benefit of the doubt. Why is that? One of my single friends often jokes about how quickly she can "write off" a boyfriend before he even knows what hit him.

It takes time to fully understand and evaluate a problem or a person. And sometimes the situation is complicated and can't be fixed quickly. It's a challenge not to overreact or rush to judgment. I hope we can do a better job of giving ourselves and others the benefit of the doubt.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 1:00 PM | Comments (2)

John Wendel | Snow in 3-10 days?

John Wendel Meteorologist

A popular old wives' tale states that if you hear thunder during the winter snow will fall in 3 to 10 days. Some folks told me it is 3 days and some have told me 10 days, but either way I have found that it does work out more often than it doesn't come true.

There is some science behind the tale that gives it some validity. When thunderstorms develop in the Charlotte area during the winter, the jet stream is from the southwest to northeast, pulling warm moist air into the state (fig.1).

In figure 1, look at Charlotte and the warmer temperatures in the 50 and 60s over the Carolinas and the colder air is coming down from the Midwest. The thunderstorms usually develop along the cold front.

Behind cold fronts during the winter, air comes from Canada and is typically very cold. It usually takes 3 to 10 day for the colder air to settle over the state (fig.2).

In figure 2, the colder air is over the Carolinas with morning temperatures in the 20s and 30s. If a weather system passes through that cold air, we have a chance for snow.

On Sunday, Jan. 4, thunderstorms formed over Charlotte during the early morning hours. Four days later, snow should fall in the mountains with 1 to as much as 3 inches of snow possible and even some piedmont and foothill locations may see a few snow flurries.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 1:59 PM | Comments (4)

Greg Bailey | Inside the Panthers locker room

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

Relaxed, confident, intense and curious sums it up on Tuesday. The Panthers really are intrigued by their playoff road. It could end suddenly, but more likely it goes a long way.

Jake Delhomme talked about staying sharp during the bye week with first team offense against first team defense. This is unusual in the NFL. I've covered 4 franchises (Cowboys, Chiefs, Seahawks and Panthers) closely and it's not often that you see that kind of work later in the season, especially the postseason. But John Fox should get a lot of credit for working to keep his team sharp. The players we talked with love every bit of the competition and the friendly trash talk is worth listening to.

Muhsin Muhammad told us today that this is as much fun as you'll ever have playing football. Moose says he'll treat it just like the backyard game in the mud on Turkey Day, only he'll invite 74,000 of his closest friends to watch. Moose also says he won't have any nerves or any worries, he'll just let it all hang out. Reason #24 that Muhammad has been such an instrumental signing to get him back to Carolina.

DeAngelo Williams says he feels like the game will come down to special teams since both teams are so evenly matched. That's as conservative as it gets. The fun really started when DeAngelo told us that Jonathan Stewart was now ready for interviews. Stewart is a bit on the shy side and DeAngelo not only set up his good friend, he asked some of the questions and started saying things like "Why do you want to treat me and my friends in the media like this?" The smile on Stewart's face told us that this is not the first time that he's been on the back end of one of Williams' pranks.

Chris Harris is one of the great interviews on the team. I asked him about the string of key stops the Panthers have made on 3rd and short and 4th and short this year. Harris says it's all about the way you feel about the guys next to you. We'll have more on that as the playoffs roll on. That really is the key to Carolina's season.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 8:23 PM | Comments (0)

The makings of a football special

Jim Alvarez News Operations Manager

WCNC News Operations Manager Jim Alvarez traveled to New Jersey to produce a special show before the Carolina Panthers vs. New York Giants game. Here's a behind-the-scenes look at how the newscasts came together.

Remote productions like this are never easy but always fun and a heavy lift. My trip started on Friday, Dec. 19. My Charlotte to Newark flight was cancelled. I ended up flying to D.C. and taking the Amtrak into the city.

On Saturday morning photographers Ken Corn, Mike Hanson and I headed to the stadium to run cable. We ended up having to borrow ladders, climb catwalks and pleaf with security to overlook some of the crazy things we needed to accomplish. We ended up running and flying over walkways about 2,000 feet of video and audio cable.

After that I was off to NYC to meet my son for dinner. Sunday morning our day started at 7 a.m. We setup shop on the Giants field for our morning live shot. The snow began to fall and fall hard.

Sonja Gantt, the true professional, never complained. She just delivered the information to our viewers. We did about six live hits before Greg Bailey and Sonja swapped positions on the field. Greg drew the short straw, because the snow turned to rain. Lots of it and it was cold.

After 10 a.m. the crew broke off and I went back to catch some rest while Sonja and Mike went into the city to shoot some tape with Panther fans.

3 p.m. quickly rolled around and it was back to Giants stadium to prepare for the evening shows. Now the fun begins. In our business you shoot for the heavens and happily accept the sky, we did.

Equipment was getting cold wet and starting to give us issues. But we must have a clean production of the shows. So I started to make changes. Instead of two cameras we are going with one. Instead of two locations we are using one. At one point we even had one of our very expensive lights run over by a salt spreading truck. VERY EXPENSIVE light squashed. OUCH!!
It's not like we can delay the broadcast, news at 6. It went off clean and looked good with the one camera.

While on air it is brought to my attention that our media credentials to shoot the game are a no go. Some kind of temporary confusion throws me into a frenzy. So now I am also having to deal, with this issue but after a few calls it gets quickly resolved and on to the next hurdle. No problem, I know more are coming.

Game starts. The Panthers do a fantastic job but are not able to put away the Giants. Very close and we do love our Panthers! What excitement! After the game it's back to live TV. We do news, sports and Panther Game Day show all without a hitch.

At 1:15 a.m. when we are cleared by Charlotte, the teardown begins. This is the part nobody likes but gets done quickly. After all, we are about to get off for the evening. The crew, all of us, go in different directions breaking down gear and packing away the equipment as the night gets colder and colder.

As for the next hurdle. I am bumped off my return flight to Charlotte. I am to wait four hours for the next plane. I do love my job and all the fun it brings me. Go Panthers!

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 9:50 AM | Comments (0)

Sonja Gantt | Getting ready for the game

Sonja Gantt NewsChannel 36 Anchor

There's always a lot that goes into getting ready for a big event but the scene over at Giants Stadium Sunday morning was really impressive. I met a man named Hashim who when I saw him had been working 25 hours with no end in sight!!! He's one of many who are using dozens of plows and shovels to try and keep the stadium clear of all the snow that's been falling. By the time we finished our live shots for the morning show the snow had turned to rain...not exactly a good thing when you consider the temperatures are expected to drop into the teens by later tonight. I'd rather have snow than ice.

I just talked with some Panthers fans who are headed into the city to do a little sightseeing...we're going to go and try to catch up with them. Let's all cross our fingers for Jessica Thompson. We sat next to each other on the plane and she tells me she will be proudly wearing her Jake Delhomme jersey despite going to tonight's game with some of her colleagues who work in the New York area. She's going to be surrounded by Giants fans. They asked her not to wear the jersey...she said no.

We've been treated well by New Yorkers at the stadium, the hotel and even the restaurant we went to last night. Greg Bailey insisted we eat at Steve's Sizzlin Steaks. It's apparently a popular hangout for Giants players since it's so close to the stadium. The walls are lined with pictures of Giants past and present. The food was good...our waitress very nice...the owner a very gracious woman named Marie even took time to share the history of the restaurant her family started. But the bartender couldn't let us leave without telling us in words I can't use here that the Panthers would not be going home with a victory.

The New York papers are putting all of the pressure on the Giants. They're describing them as struggling while calling the Panthers streaking and hard charging. And get this...one writer says Carolina has never been an intimidating place to play football but with the success of the Panthers this season at home he chides the Giants not to lose so they don't have to go to Charlotte to play. Maybe the team is starting to get a little respect.

It's going to be a great game. I hope you join us for our Countdown to Kickoff tonight at 6!!!

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 1:57 PM | Comments (0)

Greg Bailey | Welcome to New Jersey

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

That said it will be COLD Sunday. Watch for us starting Sunday morning on NewsChannel 36, and right through the pre-game special at 6. Panthers Gameday wraps it all up after the game on NBC/NewsChannel 36 at 8. Nowhere I'd rather be.

Last Few Notes:

Thanks to everybody at Steve's Sizzlin Steaks. This is a New Jersey institution a mile or so from the stadium. Opened in 1936 and Steve's daughter still works hard to make sure it's great. Great steaks and great service. It's an old hunting lodge that Steve's wife secretly bought and then made famous. Everyone could not have been nicer. When we told them we were from Charlotte they all perked up, but only with playful jabs. It's got wood paneling everywhere with original photos of hunting for trophies and fishing for sharks (really). Great stuff with photos of everyone famous who's ever had a meal there. Go if you ever have a chance.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 1:52 PM | Comments (0)

Simply Green | Create a wildlife Christmas tree

Tony Esposito NewsChannel 36 Production

Hello everyone, I hope you are all doing well this holiday season. I can't believe Christmas is almost here!

During this busy time of year I'd like to ask you to stop for a moment and think about our wildlife friends. When you and your family are setting up and decorating your Christmas tree, why not pick a tree in your yard and decorate it for wildlife.

You will be supplying some much needed food and nesting supplies while providing hours of enjoyment for your family. The way to do this is by decorating a tree with different types of fruits and seeds that birds and other wildlife love.

To start, pick a tree that you can easily see so you can enjoy the action. Decorate the tree like you would any Christmas tree. Here are some ideas to help get you started.

String of Pearls: Using a needle and thread, string together different variety of grapes. To add color, intermix raisins and cranberries.

Popcorn Party: While you have the needle and thread out, string some popcorn together. Use popcorn that is 100% natural with no salt or butter. Again, to add variety add cranberries to the mix.

Peanut Heaven: Another treat created using needle and thread is taking several raw peanuts and string them together.

Apple/Orange Slices: Cut thin slices of apples and oranges. Hang each slice on the tree using colorful ribbons.

Bird Bags: Purchase some net material and fill it with the seed of your choice. A good source for the netting material is a store that has wedding supplies. Use the netting that normally would have rice in it. Add some crushed eggshells to supplement the birds diet with calcium. Use colorful ribbons to hang it on the tree.

Pine Cone Pleasure: This is one of my favorites and have used it in some workshops I have led. Take the family out and collect different size pine cones. Mix peanut butter with oatmeal for a thick consistency. Spread the peanut butter into and onto the pine come. Grab one of our colorful ribbons and hang on the tree.

Peanut Log: Here is another treat using peanut butter. Find a tree limb that has fallen down. The diameter should be around 3-5 inches and the length could be 18-20 inches long. Drill holes all around the limb and press the peanut butter mix into the holes. This treat is especially good for nuthatches and woodpeckers.

In addition to food, place some yarn on the tree. When you groom your pet place some pet hair in netting material like we used for the Bird Bags. Birds will use this material for lining their nests.

By creating your Wildlife Christmas tree you will be helping wildlife survive during the colder months of the year. I am sure, birds and other creatures will respond by providing you and your family many hours of enjoyment.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 2:39 PM | Comments (0)

Ira Cronin | Panthers undefeated at home

Ira Cronin NewsChannel 36 Sports

For just the second time in franchise history, the Carolina Panthers finished their home schedule with perfect record of 8-0. The first time was in the team's second year back in 1996, way before my days covering the Cats.

My first year covering the Panthers was in 2001, the infamous 1 -15 season. So I can appreciate what it's like to go into the locker room, game after game, and try to find a new way to ask the guys how they lost a close game they should have won. Let me tell you it's not fun.

I have been on both sides of this deal, 0-8 at home, and now 8-0 at home. And I can tell you 8-0 at home is a much better deal.

The last time the Panthers were 8-0 at home in 1996. They went all the way to the NFC Championship game. Let's hope this year's edition of 8-0 at home can go just as far, and then take it all the way.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 12:27 PM | Comments (0)

Simply Green | Alternative fuel

Tony Esposito NewsChannel 36 Production

Hello everyone, I hope you are doing well. I hope you are doing better than the US au-tomakers. Boy do they have a problem or what?

The heads of the big three automakers, (at least that's what they want to be called) are in Washington looking for their share of the bail out money. What????? Are they kid-ding?

These guys have driven these companies so far into the ground by refusing to see the changes in the business landscape, refusing to listen to the changing desires of the US consumers and trying to tell the consumers what they should be driving instead of the other way around.

Here is the problem in a nut shell, the US automobile industry is a dinosaur. It's big, it's outdated, it never tried to keep pace with the ongoing technology that the Import car makers have had for a long time. Sure the American cars have all the bells and whistles that the imports have but they have lagged behind in planning for the future.

For years the big three sold the big SUVs that got terrible gas milage. Did they think it could last forever? Do these folks think oil is a renewable resource? When was the de-cision going to be made that hey, maybe we need to start planning for the future and design an alternative fuel/power source? The answer was never. It never entered their minds. Because if it did, we would be the leader in alternative fuel/power technology instead of so far behind that they need help to finance the change. They used up all their resources trying to hold on to customers with 0% financing and other incentives to keep the American public buying their cars.

GM is developing the Volt but it's not ready for the market. Besides, it is a hybrid. GM is still behind the curve.

Now don't get me wrong. I love cars. I was a master technician before coming to work at WCNC. I even love the power and sound of the so-called muscle cars. It's all so neat. But when you are trying to provide vehicles for people who want transportation and good gas mileage, the product has to change.

The downward slide in sales of the cars from the carmakers has been going on for a while. Many folks wanted something different than what the Big Three were offering. They went to Toyota, Honda, Nissan, Hyundai and Mitsubishi for quality cars that were inexpensive to operate.

The recent high price of gas has also made people look into buying cars that got good fuel milage. Spending $50-$80 to fill up their gas tank drove people to sell their big cars and trucks and buy cars that went further on a gallon of gas. Smart people, because the recent lowering of fuel prices is just temporary. It will go up again and when it does, all the crying and yelling about high fuel cost will start again.

I watched an ad on TV from Chevrolet that touted their lineup of cars that get 30-plus miles per gallon. That is great! That is what we need! Cars that get great gas milage. But it is still the old way to fuel a car. But then again, it makes sense. Dinosaur compa-nies using dinosaur juice to fuel the cars they produce.

What kind of alternative fuel would I like to see power cars? There have been many mentioned and each has it positives and negatives. Some are being used right now and some are years away from use.

In my opinion, electric cars are a practical way to go now. Hybrids have shown how electricity can help conserve gas while setting the stage for a future way to power auto-mobiles. All the major auto makers are making hybrids in one form or another. Honda and Toyotas are the leaders in hybrid technology.

In the coming years there will be many choices for electric cars. Next year, electric cars from China, Norway and Mitsubishi will go on sale here in the United States. These vehicles offer a driving range of around 120 miles with speeds of 60 - 70 miles per hour.
Mini is offering an electric version in test markets in New York and California. It is a lease for one year. It is expensive at about $650.00 a month, but it is here and the tech-nology will only improve.

The price will have to come down to be affordable to the masses because most are priced in the $30,000 to $40,000 range. The Think A306 from Norway is priced in the mid $20,000 range.

There will always be a need for pickup trucks, vans and big cars to carry large families on long trips but for getting around town and commuting, these small electric alterna-tives offer an alternative to being tied to gas.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 11:37 AM | Comments (0)

Greg Bailey | They just keep on winning

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

Thoughts for Carolina vs. Tampa week:

It's interesting to me that both coaches have taken the slow and steady approach to preparations for the Monday night showdown.

On Wednesday, the Carolina Panthers do more walk through stuff than real practice. On Thursday, they ramped it up with their normal Wednesday routine, complete with media interviews.

Down in Florida Jon Gruden gave his team days off on Monday and Tuesday with coaches working on next week's game with Atlanta before everyone focuses on Carolina starting Wednesday.

Nice note from Anwar Richardson in the Tampa Tribune: When Tampa wins in Carolina the Bucs win the division. When they lose here they don't. That's held true the last 6 years -- 3 up and 3 down for Tampa.

Jake Delhomme is 33 years old. He's a proven winner and a Pro Bowl quarterback who has always been "too something" to get the respect he deserves. After spending much of the summer convinced Jake was in trouble with that surgically repaired elbow, I now understand he'll keep playing and winning for a few more years. Look no further than 38-year-old Bucs quarterback Jeff Garcia. He's a 4 time Pro Bowl quarterback who has always been "too something," too. They both just keep on winning.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 8:06 PM | Comments (1)

Simply Green | Stopping unwanted catalogs

Tony Esposito NewsChannel 36 Production

Hello everyone, I hope you all had a great Thanksgiving. I'd like to address something that really gets me going. Catalogs in the mail! Once we get past Thanksgiving the mailboxes fill up with catalogs. Catalogs from clothing stores, electronic stores, novelty, lingerie, fruitcake, chocolate, popcorn and everything but the kitchen sink store.

Why do we need all these catalogs sent to us when they are already online? Why not just a card that announces the sale along with a discount coupon that will pique the interest of the consumer?

Each year 19 billion catalogs are mailed to American consumers. A whopping 95% of the catalogs are unwanted! That means almost 8 million tons of trees go directly from forest to landfills making just a short stop in your mailbox as junk mail. 53 million trees are used and 53 billion gallons of water.

What a waste. I am not against catalogs in general. It's just I wish the merchants would make an effort to ask you if you want the catalogs. When you purchase an item from a merchant, whether online or in their retail store, you should be given a choice to receive the catalog or not. Simple right?

Isn't it ironic, today I went to my mailbox and lo and behold there are two catalogs in the box. One is addressed to me and is from Lands' End and the other is addressed to a person who used to live here. This is a perfect opportunity to try one of the "stop un-wanted catalog" websites.

I went to Catalogchoice.org and registered. I searched for the Lands' End catalog and filled out my reasons for not wanting it (I believe this is optional). I check-marked "save the environment", and then clicked submit. A new page came up that said Lands' End does not participate on this website. It went on to say my request is being kept on file and would be resubmitted at future dates to see if Lands' End signed up for their service.

Back to square one. I then called the 800 number for Lands' End and spoke with a very nice person and requested that my name/address be removed off their catalog list. I told her I shop online and didn't need a catalog. Next, I headed back to Cataloghoice.org to stop the Belk catalog that isn't even in my name. I ran into the same situation. Belk is not a registered participant of this service. What??

I decided to check the website so see WHO IS participating! I went to the cool catalogs button and clicked on it. All the catalogs listed participate and honor your mailing re-quests. That is why they are called "Cool Catalogs." Although the two I tried to cancel are not listed, there are many that are. All big name companies and some not so big.

I would give the website a try and see if it works for you and if you have any solutions that have worked for you, please drop me a line, I would love to hear it. E-mail me at tesposito@wcnc.com.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 12:54 PM | Comments (1)

Sonja Gantt | Build your children's 'confidence history'

Sonja Gantt NewsChannel 36 Anchor

Editor's note: Sonja Gantt bloggs each week for The Charlotte Observer's mommy site, MomsCharlotte.com.

Recently, in the middle of a bookstore, my 9-year-old Grant tells me he didn't try out to be the classroom representative for his elementary school's spelling bee. He goes on to say that he's a little mad at himself because it turned out he knew all the words and he thinks he might have had a good shot at representing the class. The thought of speaking in front of the school, he said, just made him too nervous. I had to smile at first because Grant has a way of dropping bits of information on "his" time. I didn't even realize auditions were coming up or that he had a choice about whether to participate.

I was a little disheartened for two reasons. One, I wish he'd shared his concerns so I could, of course, let him know it's natural to feel nervous speaking in front of people. I still do and I give plenty of speeches each year. I explained that there are things he could learn to do to get over the fear. The second reason I was concerned is because I really want my children to be willing and confident enough to try new challenges.

Our bookstore chat later became a family discussion. Mitch and I both shared stories about situations we'd been afraid of, but after being pushed we realized we could overcome those fears and rise to the challenge. It's clear to me that sometimes confidence and self-esteem come from doing, not necessarily succeeding or winning but pushing yourself to go beyond what you think you can do. With every attempt, every effort you add to your "confidence history." When new challenges come along that history of attempts is sometimes all that's needed to help you over a new hurdle.

It's my own history and a good running buddy that recently helped me complete a 10-mile run. I really don't like running but I do it for the exercise and the fellowship with a wonderful group of women. I've officially run three half marathons but I've trained for a few others. Long runs (defined for me as anything over 8 miles) are no longer so intimidating because I rely on the knowledge that I've done it before, so surely I can do it again. It's still not easy for me to complete 10 but it's easy for me to TRY, to BEGIN because I know I've finished before.

I played the game of "I told you so" with Grant. "Remember when you didn't want to try out for the swim team? Now you love it! Remember when I had to force you to go to basketball camp? Now you're playing for a team!" He smiled and I kept recounting all the things he loves now but was afraid to try initially.

I know and believe I can't "build" or "shape" his self-esteem but I can encourage him not to allow fear to keep him from stepping forward and trying, urging him indirectly to add chapters to his own confidence history. Isn't that one of our jobs as parents?

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 1:41 PM | Comments (0)

Ira Cronin | Cardiac Cats are back

Ira Cronin NewsChannel 36 Sports

As much as I hate to admit it, the Panthers are a team that just can't do anything the easy way. That being said, it's good the Cardiac Cats are back. Yes, I wish they were the Blow 'em out Cats, or the Make It Look Easy Cats, but those just wouldn't be our Carolina Panthers.

As I recall, it was the Super Bowl team of 2003 that first coined that dreaded phrase, Cardiac Cats.

They beat Jacksonville in the opener on a game winning catch from Jake Delhomme to Ricky Proehl. They had to go to overtime to beat Tampa on the road in week two, after an un-likely point after was blocked by Kris Jenkins. They would play five overtime games in all, including that miraculous double overtime playoff win at St. Louis. Their largest margin of victory was a 20 point win at home against Atlanta, but other than that, most the games were close and hard fought to the bitter end. The Panthers were blown out by the Titans at home that year.

Bottom line is, they were a team that couldn't do anything to easy way either, but look where the finished. Three points shy of overtime in the Super Bowl.

So that's where we are at with this year's team, and I don't think that's anything to get down about. I actually had a viewer call my voice-mail during the game today, I would guess sometime in the late 3rd, or early 4th quarter while Aaron Rogers was looking like the second coming of Brett Favre, and actually leave me a message bemoaning the Panthers defensive players AND coaching staff.

I think fans this year simply have to get onboard with the idea that this team is simply a team that will fight to the end, and not give up when the chips are down. They are the Cardiac Cats, and as much as I hate to admit that, it may not be a bad thing after all. Just look at where the last version of the Cardiac Cats took the Panthers and their fans.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 11:48 AM | Comments (0)

Sonja Gantt | Enjoy the moments and live gratefully

Sonja Gantt NewsChannel 36 Anchor

Too many of us don't enjoy today because we are so busy worrying about tomorrow or regretting yesterday. The present gets lost. That was the essence of my minister's sermon (Pastor Clifford Jones of Friendship Missionary Baptist Church) this past Sunday. I think it was a great message for Thanksgiving week, a reminder for me of how I want to live -- as someone who appreciates the present. I thought I'd share some wonderful moments from this past week.

First of all, I am a new aunt, again. Don't you love the excitement of a new baby? It's fascinating to watch adults rush to see a child on the day she's born even though we know she's going to be around for awhile! My sister Angie drove from Chapel Hill to Charlotte after working some pretty long hours just to gaze at our new little one for a few hours.

As I was holding little Evan recently I felt like time slowed down and at that moment nothing seemed to matter except her. She looked so marvelously perfect... little fingers, little nose and tiny little mouth. Of course it sent me back down memory lane about my two (now 12 and 9). It's a great thing to be part of a child's life. Right now we have no idea what my niece will do with her life, what her personality will be or what she will even look like, but in that present moment I knew she'd be OK because she's loved.

At 5:00 in the morning on Saturday I was on my way to West Virginia to watch my daughter and her synchronized ice skating team. I packed books, newspapers and magazines for the four hour drive there and ended up reading not a word the entire trip. I don't know if you've driven up I-77 to West Virginia lately but it truly is breathtaking. Recent snow covered the mountains and the sunrise was just spectacular. I love airplanes and flying but sometimes getting there quickly means you miss out on some fabulous sights and conversation. Eight hours in a car on a Saturday doesn't sound appealing but I'm grateful I did it.

And finally as parents we all love to see our kids happy. Grant enjoys soccer and he's not one to wear his emotions on his sleeve. But even he couldn't hold it in earlier this season when he scored the winning goal during a tight match. His look of pure joy was priceless. I saw it on Gabrielle's face this weekend. She was so happy to be on the ice with her teammates. Her smile was contagious and she couldn't stop talking about what a great time she had.

So much of our daily lives can feel routine and unremarkable but I really think my minister has it right. There is beauty in each day we just have to make sure we aren't so focused on what's ahead or what's behind that we miss it. Enjoy the moments and live gratefully. Happy Thanksgiving.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 11:41 AM | Comments (2)

Greg Bailey | Who in the world is Harry Douglas?

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

Who in the world is Harry Douglas?

He's a rookie receiver from Louisville, and if the Panthers didn't know it before they do now. Douglas came into Sunday's game looking for his first NFL touchdown. After scoring twice and adding the key play of the game on a 69-yard catch and run on 3rd and long in the 4th quarter, Douglas talked about how poorly he played the last time the Falcons met the Panthers. Douglas learned from his mistakes -- including two dropped passes at Bank of America Stadium in an Atlanta loss -- and he vowed to get better. Now the Panthers have to hope they can learn as well as Atlanta's rookie did.

Last night on Panthers Gameday Mike Minter explained what the Panthers are in for at today's film sessions. Every mistake is reviewed and dissected in front of your teammates. And then the coaches do it again just to make sure everyone's on the same page. It's not pleasant and it's not fun, but the Panthers sound like a group that knows they need it.

The general feeling in the Carolina locker room was disgust. The Panthers were disgusted in their tackling. They were disgusted in their poor technique. And most of all they were disgusted in their slow start. Hats off for trying to claw back, but it's a mystery to everyone why they've started so slowly the last three weeks. If that doesn't get fixed the Panthers are going nowhere.

After largely denying they had "played down" to their competition against Oakland and Detroit, the Panthers were finally willing to admit it Sunday. Jon Beason led that parade.

Sunday's trip to Green Bay just got a whole lot bigger. The schedule gets tougher for the Panthers and they've lost all margin for error. Win against the Packers and Carolina's right back in great shape. Lose and it's a rugged ride ahead. If the Panthers are who they think they are (sorry, Denny Green) they'll win at Lambeau Field.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 8:42 PM | Comments (0)

Nothing But Nets | The Big Boys

Matthew Mounkes NewsChannel 36 Director

The Big Boys -- It's not an allusion to tall men who play in the paint, but to the five universities, the High Brotherhood of College Basketball.

Quite simply they are UCLA, North Carolina, Kentucky, Indiana and Kansas. Each one makes its resume clear as to why they belong.

UCLA and Wooden. 10 titles. An era of dominance.
Kentucky and Rupp. Legendary status, most wins all time.
Indiana and Knight. Perfect season. Hoosiers.

And then the Brothers who started it all... Kansas, the birthplace of North Carolina Basketball.

I don't mean that as disrespect to North Carolina or to Kansas. But look at the history. Where did Dean Smith win his First National Championship? At Kansas as a player. Where did Roy Williams play and coach before going to Kansas? North Carolina. Larry Brown... yep, he won it all at Kansas and was a Tar Heel. Both schools have had legendary coaches.

Kansas had the inventor of the game as coach. (Trivia. Naismith is the only coach in Kansas history with a career at Kansas losing record. 55-60) Naismith was followed by the "Father of Basketball Coaching" Phog Allen. Under the instruction of Allen included four future hall of fame coaches, including Rupp and Smith.

The amount of ties the two schools have could fill more than one blog. These two schools are brothers... and brothers occasionally fight. Refer to previous "Nothing But Nets" for more info.

These are the five schools where coaching changes are lateral moves. Maybe you make like Brown and Pitino and bolt for the NBA. Maybe you go from one great program to another. But there is a kinship among these five, something that goes beyond one coach, one era, one anything.

Week in Review. Heels were good against a decent Penn team even without Hans. Davidson looked good even in their third game a defeat at Oklahoma. Kansas did well against cupcakes. Duke looked weak squeaking out their second win and Kentucky might need another year before they can compete. All in all no real surprises and no upsets, but the season is young.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 1:08 PM | Comments (0)

Brad's Winter Forecast for the Southeast

Brad Panovich Meteorologist

2008-2009 Winter Forecast for the Southeast

Let's face it; if you like cold and snow in the southeast the last 6 years have been very inconsistent to say the least. We have had bouts of very cold weather only to be interrupted by very mild weather for weeks on end in the December-March time frame. With the exception of the 2004 winter where we had a major snowfall in February the winters since 2000 have lacked major snowstorms. Most of the snow has been thanks to "long range lake effect" along with northwest flow snows. This has been beneficially to the Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia resorts, but has done little for the North Carolina Mountains. Northwest flow snows are the primary source of snow for the southern Appalachian Mountains and recurring events help bring cold and snow to most of the southeast ski resorts. These events usually bring small amount of snows but are great for snowmaking operations and creating bases on the slopes.

Locations of snow when we have northwest cold and moist flow during the winter

Well after the past few years with La Nina and weak El Niño's in the equatorial Pacific Ocean there are many climate signals for a colder winter then the past 6 winters. Snowfall will be below the long term averages but a huge improvement over last year is very likely. It would appear that the Eastern United States may get back to a more typical winter, the kind that people around here often lament about when, "we use to have real winters"

Of course what is average snowfall? Let's looks at nationally then locally for the southeast using these average snowfall maps that follow.

U.S. average Snowfall

Southeast Snowfall Averages

The number of winter events either ice or snow in an average winter season

Total number of snow events per season below

Last year's forecast re-cap

Before we look forward it's always nice to look back. Last year's forecast panned out almost as good as I could expect for the Virginias with lots of snow and cold. The North Carolinas resorts I had a worse forecast, especially temperatures. While I nailed the December cold the January into February thaw was a killer. Snow forecast verification in West Virginia last season was around 83% but a measly 60% for the Carolinas. The one big highlight for me was my forecast of the December 7-10 cold and snow which I forecasted more than a month in advance. The actual storm started on the 9th but was a nice start to the season.

Snapshot from last year's Winter Forecast! This was posted Nov 6th 2007.

I hit the March storm and came close to February storm but overall not bad, but it can better and I will try again this year!

The Forecast tools, things I base the forecast on!

There will be 5 indicators that I use to base my December 2008 through March 2009 winter forecast on. Let's remember we are just now coming out of a drought in the southeast and coming out of a moderate La Nina within the past 12 months.

#1 La Nina / El Nino a.k.a. ENSO

ENSO is currently in a neutral phase after a strong La Nina last year which meant dry and warm weather for the southeast. Now El Nino would be better for snow fans but ENSO neutral is a huge improvement over last year and means cold for the east coast. ENSO neutral years are usually an anything goes kind of winter, but neutral is better than the strong La Nina we saw last year.

Current ENSO Phase

What La Nina and El Nino usually mean weather-wise in the U.S.

So with a neutral ENSO and a slight lean towards LA Nina things are looking cooler than last year, but any indication in the next few months of a return to La Nina would spell warm and dry for the southeast. The good news is that we have seen a reversal of the strong La Nina of last year and already this year has been much cooler than average for the whole.

#2 North Atlantic Oscillation a.k.a NAO

For my money this might be the best and most closely correlated oscillation for cold and snowy winters on the east coast. When the NAO is in the negative phase the east coast is snowy and cold, when it's positive it's warm and dry. A good example of who this works is the period from the winter of 1979-1980 until the winter of 94-95 the NAO stayed positive except for 1984/85 and 1985/86. What we would like to see is a winter similar to the very strong negative phase of the winters of 1995-99 when we had a east coast snow storm just about once a week.

Here is an historical look back at NAO during the winter months notice the negative phase from 1995-1999 compares to recent winters since 02.

The forecast for the NAO is going negative for the month of end of November and early December meaning cold weather for the East coast. Notice already we are seeing a forecast of negative for the end of the November into December.

#3 The Arctic Oscillation a.k.a AO

This oscillation is correlated closely with the NAO and it too goes negative when cold air is building in the Arctic and is likely to spill south and east into the East coast of the U.S.

It's important to note that these oscillations...well they oscillate but the more negative they go and the more frequent they persist negative the colder and usually snowier it is on the east coast.

# 4 Sunspot activity

I talked about this last year that we were going into a solar minimum and that the amount of solar activity continues to be lower than average. This continues this year and the forecast is for the solar minimum to continue. The weaker the sun the less heat the earth absorbs and the cooler we will get

# 5 Arctic Ice Coverage

Last year the arctic ice recovered from a record low which is amazing. The problem for the southeast was all the cold air was working in the arctic to re-freeze that ice pack and not moving south to cool off the southeast. This year that has changed dramatically, the ice coverage is back big time. Contrary to some erroneous media reports the ice coverage is increasing at record rates in October and is on the verge of being the biggest extend of ice to date since 2002. This means larges domes of cold air can and have been building in the polar regions of the Northern Hemisphere.

Images from a year ago to this week show a much bigger and deeper snow and ice pack in the Northern Hemisphere. These leads to an early cold air mass building over the arctic region.

To back this up Alaska had a near record cold summer and the 4th coldest October on record, setting the stage for lots of cold air to build early this fall in northwest Canada and Alaska the source region of most of our cold air outbreaks. You can read about the cold more at this article.

http://newsminer.com/news/2008/nov/03/winters-chill-comes-early-fairbanks-records-fourth/

Needless to say our source region for cold air up north is in the best shape it's seen in several years.

Conclusion and forecast for Winter 2008-2009 in the Southeast United States

All signals point to a better winter for skiers than the past winter, but natural snow maybe hard to come by further south. While I do see colder temperatures building in Canada and the arctic this fall into the winter the storm track appears to want to set up similar to last winters. This means Northern plains to Ohio valley then a New England storm track. This will bring heavy snow for the Virginia and West Virginia resorts. Snowshoe should have another bumper year with lots of cold and snow. This storm track will bring Northwest flows snows and cold further south into the Carolina resorts but big natural snow in the southern Appalachians come from the Gulf of Mexico as low pressure systems move to the Carolina coast. This would be a favorable storm track for the Carolinas. We see these tracks typically during El Nino winters. This kind of storm track has been noticeable absent in the last 6 winters. Though one or even two per winter are possible just about any winter, we just haven't seen the persistent storm track from Texas to north Florida to the Outer banks. These dump snow on the North Carolina Mountains. The one saving grace is that temperatures should remain colder then the past few winters especially in December, February and March with our usually January thaw.

In the short term I already see the cold air and snow for this weekend Nov 15-16 and even better cold air and a major storm possible next week Nov 21-23. This weekend it's just a very cold air mass and front that will bring 1-2" of northwest flow snows to the whole Appalachian chain with 4-6" possible at Snowshoe. It appears to be a very cold pattern next week which could allow numerous resorts to open very early.

This weekend's storm below

Next weekend the models point to an awesome set-up for big snows in the North Carolina Mountains and the kind of pattern I'd like to see all winter. You get both the cold air and the moisture in place for major snows next weekend!

Next weekend's storm

In the model chart the purple line in the snow line and the colored contours are precipitation.

So on my scale of winter forecast I'll split the southeast into two distinct regions because the weather truly is different in these 2 areas. Looks pretty good early on and I think that will be the case this late November and all of December cold and snowy

Forecast for the Southeast

Temperatures DEC 08 - Mar 09

Snowfall DEC 08 - Mar 09

FORECAST SUMMARY

We need to split the area into two parts the "Northern South East Resorts" Snowshoe, Wisp, Canaan Valley and Winter Place.

Area #1 Virginia, West Virginia and Maryland resorts

Temperatures forecast colder than average (scale warm-cold 1-10)

8.5

Snow forecast near average with potential for above average ( scale light-heavy 1-10)

9.0

Area #2 North Carolina Resorts the "Southern Southeast" Beech, Sugar, App and the Cat!

Temperatures forecast near average to slightly below

7.2

Snowfall forecast average to slightly below average but better then the past few years!

6.0

So stay tuned for weekly updates again this is just a seasonal forecast and no way indicates a specific forecast for any particular date. Just the overall pattern trends for the upcoming winter season in the southeastern U.S.

For more information, comments or a specific forecast for upcoming storms please contact Chief Meteorologist Brad Panovich at bpanovich@wcnc.com

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 2:44 PM | Comments (2)

Bobby Sisk | Children helping children: It's a cool thing!

Bobby Sisk NewsChannel 36 Anchor

The countdown is on to the Holidays of 2008. Can you believe it? Another year has almost come and gone. And this year is different than the last. We're in an economy that is shaky at best. Each day we sift through the negative financial news to figure out what impacts you the most, all the while hopeful of something positive to tell you about.

This falls into the positive category for sure. Today, my co-anchor Jennifer Copeland and I had the distinct privilege of visiting Carmel Middle School in Charlotte. We were there to kick off the Salvation Army Magical Toy Drive, and more specifically the competition among schools to see who can gather the most new, unwrapped toys.

Yes, it's fun for middle school students to compete, but this year what they collect is more important than ever. Major Todd Hawks with the Salvation Army says the drive will help more than 11,000 children get a Christmas they might not otherwise have. That breaks down to more than 4,800 families. Major Hawks told the story of a mother with two toddlers who is expecting her third child. Without the agency's help, she said her children would go without.

The current economy underscores the reason we're so excited about this year's drive. Yes, there are more people who need our help, your help! And we realize it is difficult sometimes, just to put presents under your own tree. But this community always comes through. If you can spare an extra $5 or $10 to pick up an extra gift, you can make a difference for a deserving child. That's all it takes.

Back to the students at Carmel Middle, each year they've set an example among schools, taking pride in collecting as many toys as possible. As Jennifer and I talked about the mission, these kids listened intently. They are touched by the stories of need, and they realize the impact their efforts can have.

Thanks for taking time to read this blog! And I hope you can help the Magical Toy Drive be the biggest yet! If you're asked by a student to help out, please say yes! If you're not, there are other ways you can donate. We've put collection bins at our station at 1001 Wood Ridge Center Drive and also at Southpark Mall.

Happy Holidays... a little early!

Click here for the school competition guidelines.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 1:44 PM | Comments (0)

Sonja Gantt | An average Joe

Sonja Gantt NewsChannel 36 Anchor

Editor's note: Sonja Gantt bloggs each week for The Charlotte Observer's mommy site, MomsCharlotte.com.

Food drives are pretty common this time of year. I didn't think much about the two shopping carts in the lobby of the Extreme Ice Center in Indian Trail until I heard about how this collection started.

If you're hanging out at Extreme then you are either a lover of figure skating, hockey or the parent of someone who loves skating. Mark Diamond was a member of a hockey team called the Average Joes. He came to the rink for a pickup game on Oct. 24. While he was in the lobby a woman came in looking for a food pantry that is less than a mile from the ice rink. Someone gave her directions and then Mark led her to the door and handed her $20 just in case the pantry was closed.

He went on to play hockey and a little while later died there of a massive heart attack. Mark Diamond was 43 and leaves behind a wife and two young sons.

As it turns out, for the first time in eight years the nearby pantry (With Love from Jesus) WAS out of food that day. Mark's friends thought a fitting tribute would be to restock the pantry's shelves. In their minds they say Mark actually started the food drive that day with his $20.

People are spreading the word with flyers, e-mails and word of mouth around the rink. One 14-year-old figure skater took it upon herself to put flyers in her neighborhood and then collected nearly 200 items from her neighbors. In just 11 days more than 1,700 cans, boxes and jars of food have been brought in.

If you live in Union County and are planning on dropping by the rink to skate sometime before Thanksgiving please drop off some food. If that's too far, don't worry, I'm sure there are plenty of places that can use your help right now.

We all hope that we will do something that makes a difference and improves the life of someone else. Sometimes we see the impact. Sometimes we don't. But it really doesn't matter. What matters is that we take the time to help.

I never had the chance to meet Mark Diamond but his act of kindness is inspiring and a powerful reminder that we are all average Joes capable of making a difference. It doesn't have to be on a grand scale. Look what Mark started with $20.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 1:39 PM | Comments (3)

Glenn Counts | Talking with Sallie Saxon

Glenn Counts NewsChannel 36 Reporter

It takes a lot of relationship building to get an interview like this. I was never really sure that moment would happen. Like the other reporters in this town, I had followed the story of SouthPark madam Sallie Saxon for months.

I stayed in contact with her attorneys knowing that if she talked, they would be the gatekeepers. It looked like all of us media types would get our chance the day she was sentenced, but then the judge sent her to prison early because she had been arrested for shoplifting.

What seemed like an opportunity dashed became a golden opportunity for me. First I was able to learn where she would go before anyone else in this town. That allowed me to write a letter to prison officials at the Federal Medical Center in Lexington, Ky., that was ready even before Sallie arrived. The second she got there that letter was on the way.

Being first was no guarantee she would talk. Through my conversations with her lawyers I learned that Sallie had a beef with me. Fifteen years ago I did a series of stories on Charlotte escort services called "Dial S for Sex." In the process I contacted Sallie. At the time I didn't have a clue as to who she was, and had completely forgotten about the conversation. She thought I was about to expose her service. We didn't. Our story was about the business in general.

In the letter I addressed the issue head on; I wasn't sure how she would react. When she said yes I was ready to do a fist pump.

We drove to Lexington Thursday, Oct. 2, and met with Sallie the next day. The Federal Medical Center does not look like a prison. It reminded me of a building on an older college campus. There is no fence and you see inmates walking the grounds.

I must admit I was a bit nervous before meeting Sallie. I had been looking forward to it for a long time and now the moment had arrived. Prison officials took us to a room and allowed us to set up our recording equipment and then Sallie walked in. I was struck by how pleasant she was. She shook my hand and told me hello. Even though I had just met her, it felt like I had known her a long time.

Sallie's career in the escort business started as a call girl. She talked about her rotten first marriage. Her first husband was a Vietnam vet. She claims he had severe psychological issues and that he physically abused her and her son. She told us she knew she needed to leave, but only had $25 to her name. That's when she says a prominent Charlotte businessman made her an indecent proposal. She accepted and that path ultimately led her to where she is today.

Sallie talked about some things that would be painful to anyone, but I didn't hear pain in her voice. I heard peace. She seemed to be at peace with her life and she gave all the credit to her newfound faith in God. She asked me to allow her to talk about her faith and I told her I would. Sallie expressed sorrow for having helped numerous men violate their marital vows; she also acknowledged that she exploited the girls who worked for her, even though they were highly paid.

Sallie would not talk about her clients. I knew they were wealthy men and powerful, but it surprised me to learn that some of them were Washington politicians. As she put it they are the "men that you see on television, who make laws." She claimed her client list was national with many names we would recognize. She declined to name them, saying that her and Donald, her current husband and co-conspirator, had prayed about it and they did not want to hurt the families of the men. Was she telling the truth about who was using the service? I have no way of knowing for sure. Throughout the interview I got the feeling she was leveling with me.

I think a lot of people look at this woman and what she has done and see some kind of a sleazy lowlife. I will never think of her that way. She is one of the smartest women I have ever met.

If you had the chance to talk to her I think you would be as impressed as I was. Sallie claims that she has gotten her life together and that she is ready to start over with Donald after she gets out of prison. She says she is thankful that she is out of the escort business and free to enjoy her life without looking over her shoulder, even though she made millions. Once again, is she telling the truth? I can't see into another person's soul to answer that, but as one human being to another, I hope she makes the best of her second chance.

(Watch Wednesday night at 6 and 11 to hear the jailhouse interviews with Sallie Saxon.)

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 10:07 AM | Comments (3)

Does your bra make you itch?

Kelly Rice NewsChannel 36 Investigative Producer

Ladies, we all know how uncomfortable wearing a bra can be. But could you ever imagine getting a rash or a welt from wearing a bra?

I think this is a fascinating story and wanted to blog about it and by chance see if anyone in the Carolinas has had this problem.

I just read a story about how women are reporting getting rashes and hives from their Victoria's Secret bras. I just called the law firm in Ohio that is representing a woman who is suing the company after her Angels Secret Embrace and Very Sexy Extreme Me Push-Up bra gave her welts and blisters. The firm believes the itchy culprit could be formaldehyde.

They purchased some of the same bras and had them tested and the lab found formaldehyde. The firm says they are getting bombarded with emails and voicemails since the news broke. Victoria's Secret denies using formaldehyde in their bras. A class action lawsuit is in the works.

Do you have an itchy bra story to share? Email me at krice@wcnc.com.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 7:07 PM | Comments (1)

Nothing but nets

Matthew Mounkes NewsChannel 36 Director

A Brief History and Preview

I grew up a Kansas Jayhawks fan, and I will not apologize for it. Even after beating two local favorites in the NCAA tournament last year, I never felt the need to apologize for backing a team I loved for as long as I can remember.

Now that's not to say there haven't been internal conflicts in the last decade or so. Between the Guthridge and Doherty eras at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill, I was tense towards the Heels since they wanted Roy. But Roy had recruited a great class and wanted to see where it would go, he stuck it out in Kansas.

Then the Doherty era ended in catastrophe... Not because of the players he recruited, but due to his ability as a coach. He lost the team and ended up leaving a talented nucleus missing maybe one piece besides a great coach.

Well, Roy put it all together and took the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill to a National Championship win over Illinois; effectively ending the Illini's chance of moving up to big boy division of NCAA basketball. More on that later.

Before Roy bolted and bashed the Illini, he led Kansas to a National Championship Game appearance against Syracuse... I still have nightmares about Hakim Warrick swatting Michael Lee's three point attempt that would have forced overtime. But that wasn't the year for Kansas and they lost to a talented Carmelo Anthony led Syracuse team.

Immediately following the game we had Coach Roy stating he couldn't give a blankety-blank about Carolina and being introduced as the new coach later that week. Well, that didn't go over well in Jayhawk Nation. But after playing with perhaps the deepest, most balanced team in the entire NCAA last season, Kansas went on to the Elite Eight where they barely beat out one of the better teams in the NCAA Tourney.

I'm not going to cheapen Davidson by calling them a Cinderella. They were much better that a 10 seed. They were a balanced team with several shooting threats other than the biggest threat named Stephen Curry. The Jayhawks played in a close game but eventually beat the Wildcats of Davidson in one of the top 3 games of the tournament.

Next up the Jayhawks looked for revenge against Roy Williams. That statement is for the most part inaccurate. Only one Jayhawk on the team was actually recruited by Coach Roy... Jeremy Case, a 5th year senior, non starter for the Jayhawks. Coach Self was new, and Assistant Coach Danny Manning wasn't coached by Williams back in his days at Kansas.

But Kansas fans wanted revenge against North Carolina and its fans. We wanted the team to show they didn't need Roy. And they showed in an opening 15 minutes of the most one-sided basketball I can remember seeing at an NCAA tournament game that didn't match a 1-seed against a 16-seed, that they didn't need anyone or anything.

The game got close again before Kansas put it away for good. Exorcising the demons of Roy Williams' bitter departure and starting a process of healing. That healing came for most every Kansas fan I know after Roy Williams was spotted in the stands of the national championship game wearing a Kansas Jayhawk sticker on his shirt.

Kansas went on to beat Memphis in an Epic game that ended in overtime. I know some people say that Memphis choked, and gave the game to the Jayhawks. I disagree not just because I'm a fan of the Jayhawks, but I watched the game. I saw the hustle. The basket, followed by a steal and a three pointer that cut a 9 point lead to 4. Kansas took the game from Memphis. Maybe the Tigers could have put up a better fight, but they didn't. They were out of steam, but the depth of Kansas and the endurance of playing in a tough big XII conference was enough for them to make the proper fouls, and hit the shots when they needed to (namely Mario Chalmers dramatic 3-pointer) force an OT.

From there on it was all Rock Chalk Jayhawk.

Thus ended a great year of basketball for one team and a very good year for another, not to mention the surprise year for everyone but the team that knew it had the ability to breakthrough. So where do we stand this year?

Big East
While the Big East is big, and will probably get another 7-9 teams in the NCAA tourney, the ACC is, and will remain the home of great basketball. Only a few are on the level of the Duke and North Carolina teams and the ACC ilk. My surprise Big East team is Syracuse. They might not win the Big East, but they will make the tourney (if healthy) and surprise a few people. I figure they are an Elite Eight team potentially. But we will see what shakes out over the next few months.

Big East Winner: Connecticut
Surprise: Syracuse

Big 10
Just like in football, the BIG eleven is overrated in basketball too. If you like games where the first to 60 wins the Big Eleven and the Pac 10 are for you. Someone has to win the Conference and others will get in to keep the status quo. There really is too much of a point to waste time trying to come with something insightful for you to read about the Big Eleven.

Winner: Michigan State
Surprise: That they will get more than one bid for the NCAA tourney.

Pac 10
See above
Winner: UCLA
Surprise: Arizona misses the Tourney

SEC
Finally, something to help Tennessee Fans forget Phillip Fulmer; A sweaty Guy Dressed in Orange who wins games; Bruce Pearl! He should take the Vols to the top in the Conference and Florida will be a close follower. Kentucky should improve and for a surprise I'd advise you to keep your eyes on Vandy who will be better than some may expect.

Winner: Tennessee
Surprise: Vanderbilt

Big XII
Ah, the home conference of the defending national Champions. I relish that now, because the young new look Jayhawks lost nearly everyone who scored last year. What remains of the players who saw significant time is Cole Aldrich and Sherron Collins. Kansas won't be Big 11 bad, but they won't be national title contenders either. A trip to the sweet sixteen will be enough for the Jayhawks this year. That said, they won't beat Texas in the Big XII tourney for the 4th straight year either. But Texas will win the Conference.

Winner: Texas
Surprise: Missouri

ACC
North Carolina is my pick to win it all this year. They are loaded, deep and have a bitter taste in their mouths after the loss to Kansas in the Final Four. They will play with a fiery passion and have the potential to go undefeated this year. Even while playing against the tough foes in the ACC. Duke will finish not second as they are accustomed, but in 4th place, behind Wake and Maryland, my surprise ACC team.

Winner: University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill
Surprise: Maryland

Southern
This is easy. Davidson. They are a team to watch all year and for different reasons from last. Curry is transitioning to point guard and will flourish and grow, but there will be periods of uncertainty and excitement as it goes. While there may be teams in the Socon to challenge Davidson this year, by the time the tournament rolls around, Curry will be playing point like he was born into it. And the rest of the Conference will fall. (That is hard for me to admit being an Appalachian State Grad, but it doesn't change the facts)

Winner: Davidson
Long, Long, Long, Long Shot: Appalachian State (a little Homerism is not a bad thing, right?)

I mentioned earlier the Big Boys, and I do want to talk about them, but in my next posting, since this one has gone on far far longer than I expected when I sat down.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 12:41 PM | Comments (0)

Helping you find a job

Rachel Clapp WCNC

I am excited about our Back to Work series that continues this week. It is a topic I feel passionate about. I was laid off shortly after graduating college - right after 9/11. I was living in Kentucky, no family around, no savings and bills to pay! It was a shock to the system and it taught me a lot. More importantly, I learned how to survive without a job. Maybe what I learned can help you too. Take these tips to heart they worked for me - hopefully they'll work for you.

1. Unemployment office. It is hard to go in there. My unemployment office was in Fayette County KY. I can sum up the whole experience using an abridged quote from Harlan, the man who signed me up: "I'm going to have to tell your company to stop sending all the pretty ladies down here." I also got asked out on a date there, once. It was an experience and will be the first chapter of any book I ever write...BUT I couldn't have survived my year without it. It helped me bridge the gap between paychecks. It's insurance money. You paid for it. Don't be shy. Go in there and claim it. Just be careful about looking cute. You may get hit on.

2. Get Out of the House - I noticed I would get a little stir crazy and well depressed, it I sat in the house too long. So get out of the house, it will make you feel like you have a purpose. I would go to the library, research stuff on the Internet. My friend Lisa was gracious enough to let me use the office in her house throughout the day, which was a lifesaver. I thought of it as my own "job search office"
I'm sure you've got a gracious friend who wouldn't mind doing the same for you. Just to have a place to go for the day helped a lot.
Find yourself a place to go.

3. Limit Daytime TV References - A funny tip, but there's some truth to it! Don't talk too much - hey did you see that on The View? What about Regis and Kelly? That hurts your image at the cocktail party. People will be like, why are you watching so much daytime TV, you need to find a job. Trust me.

4. Set daily/weekly goals - I networked every day. I set mini goals for myself. Today I'm going to send out three networking emails and apply for two jobs. Something like that. It makes you feel accomplished and encouraged, especially when you make contact with someone who offers to help. THIS IS A MUST DO, especially when the rejection letters come pouring in.

5. Find something to do - When I think back to the things I got myself into when I got laid off, I laugh every time. I temped at a company where I was supposed to answer phones, but ended up doing their monthly sales forecasts. My bosses were Bambi and Tillie. Tillie got mad because she thought I jammed the copier on purpose. Um. No. I also ended up teaching at a business school. That was so much fun and rewarding (wow! People actually think I'm an expert in my field, even if I DON'T have a job!). I also pitched a project for the Girl Scouts. They strung me along for months and finally said no to the project, but they sent me a CASE of cookies. Hello!

6. Get Humble - You've lost your job. You are not independently wealthy. You've got to pay the bills. Figure out how to make your situation work and get to it. Potato Chips and your coach will NOT solve your problems and in this economy a job is not going to fall out of the sky. How'd I get back on my feet? I took a major pay cut and accepted my next job. Why? I needed a job. I needed insurance. I needed a paycheck. I couldn't take one more rejection letter. In the end it was worth it because it got my foot in the door. I'm now in a great place career wise. I wouldn't have gotten here, if I didn't take that first humbling pay cutting step.

Remember this: Don't always think about what your next step is, think about where that step will lead you. If it is in the direction where you eventually want to go, push ahead and don't look back. Happy Hunting! Watch our Back to work Series Monday at 6!

Do you have any job search tips? Email me. rclapp@wcnc.com

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 10:54 AM | Comments (1)

Greg Bailey | Willing Bobcats

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

A couple of things aren't going to go away any time soon for the Bobcats:

1) Larry Brown's frank assessment of what he doesn't like about Charlotte's roster
2) The Bobcats (relative) youth

Charlotte's Hall of Fame coach was at it again after Monday's loss to the Pistons telling us that he had "told us before" what his roster lacked. Based on Brown's track record I don't think he'll ever stop with the grousing about what he needs to win big. It's a great trait to have as long as what you're after is a great quote.

His team was also at it again, making silly mistakes and settling for long jump shots that were exactly the shots that a veteran Detroit team wanted them to take. Brown shook his head like the parent and teacher that he is. He's seen it all so many times before.

What gives this team a chance? Brown likes his players. I get the sense that he knows exactly what he has. A great group of good people. Make that really good people.

You've heard me rant about the "me first" culture of the NBA. The Bobcats are an exception. Jason Richardson, Gerald Wallace, Emeka Okafor and Raymond Felton start a long list of good guys in that locker room. I hope they'll listen enough and understand enough to make their move soon.

Time Warner Cable arena was way too empty Monday. Charlotte loves it's "good citizen" athletes, but Charlotte loves winners even more.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 10:59 AM | Comments (0)

Sonja Gantt | Your vote counts

Sonja Gantt NewsChannel 36 Anchor

Editor's note: Sonja Gantt bloggs each week for The Charlotte Observer's mommy site, MomsCharlotte.com.

"I know you must be ready for the election to be over". I can't tell you how many times I've heard some form of that statement in the last few weeks.

I'll go out on a limb and say I believe it is of course not democracy that we are tired of but the campaigning. Many are turned off by the amount of money raised, the commercials, the polls and the overall feeling of "division" when you're in the company of people who are not supporting your candidate. We haven't yet all learned how to disagree without demonizing the other person. It is tiring. So I certainly understand when people express a wish that it all ends soon.

We have to teach our children that while parts of the campaigning can be frustrating, democracy is pretty amazing. In this country leadership can change hands and there's no fear of a military uprising or civil war and best of all every citizen who is of age can take part in elections. One of the tragedies of our system, particularly during non-presidential years, is how few people take advantage of their right to vote. This year turnout is predicted to be 70 percent of registered voters. Seventy percent. The ballot is the great equalizer. It doesn't matter if you are rich or poor, white or black, have a job or unemployed, have a doctorate or a didn't finish high school. If you are a citizen your vote counts just as much as the next guy. That truly is wonderful.

There's no doubt there are problems. The system isn't perfect but the foundation is solid. And if we continue to teach our children to understand what a great opportunity it is and to value the right to vote they'll be motivated to fix what isn't working. Who knows what changes they may design for the process . One of us could be raising a lawmaker who introduces a ban on campaign commercials. The only way to learn about a candidate would be from their speeches and reading their position statements on issues.

North Carolinians certainly know what it means to be a battleground state this year. We've seen the candidates more, we've seen more ads, we've gotten more calls. Some would say they could have done without the attention. Maybe so. But at least we can say while intense campaigning can sometimes be ugly it's beautiful that on Inauguration Day the entrance of the successor and the exit of a president happens peacefully. Democracy does work.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 11:41 AM | Comments (0)

Panthers: Still better than Dallas

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

Alright, Dallas fans. Fire away. I'll pretend like I deserve it. Tell me your 'Boys showed heart and toughness and grit in the thrilling win over the Bucs. Tell me leaders stepped up. Tell me you could just tell from the sofa how much they wanted it. Tell me Jerry Jones wore the exact same sideline ensemble that he was going to wear to the Super Bowl last year.

And in 30 seconds I'll tell you exactly why the Panthers are still light years ahead of the Cowboys:

1) Good teams beat the Cardinals. Always have. Always will. It was true when Jim Hart played quarterback for the Cards and its true now.

2) Brett Basanez is better than Brad Johnson. The Panthers practice squad quarterback is familiar with the term "forward pass." That's more than we can say for Johnson. The 40 year old back up took a picture with his family after "throwing" for 122 yards in the win over Tampa. We assume the caption in Johnson's trophy room will read:"10/26/08 The day I defied mathematics."

3) Is this Irving, Texas or is this Philly, circa 1972? (I tried to pick an angry year in Philadelphia.) Cowboys' fans rallied behind their back up quarterback by booing him all day. (I know. I know. Most Dallas fans watched in bars and you can't really hear the sound from the TV anyway.) If you're struggling to scrounge up a prom date do you boo your last chance to save face? In Dallas the answer is a loud, lusty, booing "yes."

4) Steve Smith is MUCH BETTER than T.O. Last year with My Cousin Vinny, rookie Matt Moore, and white glove service from David Carr, Smitty churned out another 1,000 yard season. Stunningly remarkable. In 2 games with the back up QB in Dallas, T.O. has averaged 3 1/2 catches for 32 yards. The true greats don't always need rhythm or reps or that "he knows what I'm gonna do before I do it" connection. They just make plays. Smith does that. T.O.? Apparently not.

5) DeAngelo Williams is better than Brad Johnson as a quarterback. Williams lined up in the Wildcat formation Sunday the Panthers offense moved the ball crisply. Johnson and the Dallas offense staggered around, staying upright just long enough to watch the defense escape late. And don't give me the "Brad Johnson played mistake free football that allowed us to win" deal. When DeAngelo took over the offense as the desperation quarterback against Atlanta back in 2006, Carolina ran for 183 yards in a convincing 10-3 win.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 8:45 AM | Comments (2)

Sonja Gantt | Navigating the changing economic climate

Sonja Gantt NewsChannel 36 Anchor

Editor's note: Sonja Gantt bloggs each week for The Charlotte Observer's mommy site, MomsCharlotte.com.

News is at its best when it not only informs but also is relevant and helps you in some way live better. With that thought in mind, and because I know moms are among the most resourceful people I know, I'm asking for your help for one of my colleagues.

Beth Shayne will be tackling a number of different financial issues in the coming weeks. It's our effort at NewsChannel 36 to help you navigate through the changing economic climate. Recently, Beth helped coordinate a live e-mail chat between our viewers and a representative from a staffing agency. The idea was to help those who are entering the job market get some help with everything from the "hot" fields to how to handle certain situations on their resume.

Here's where we could use your help. Are you one of those people who's a big do-it-yourselfer? How much money have you saved by tackling projects that would send the rest of us running for the yellow pages? What about household products? Do you make your own soap, cleaning products or lotion? We want to hear about it.

Recently we did a story about the new popularity of Goodwill stores. People who once donated have now discovered it's a good place to shop when money is "tight." On Saturday mornings lots of "Goodwill" stores open all over the county -- we call them yard sales. If you consider yourself or someone you know to be an expert in finding bargains at yard sales, invite us along to shop. We'd love to join you.

And finally let's not forget about the kids. Are yours helping you through these changing economic times? Have they volunteered to cut back in some areas? We'd love to talk with some thrifty kids!

If you can help us with any of these stories please be sure to e-mail me at sgantt@wcnc.com or Beth Shayne at bshayne@wcnc.com.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 2:54 PM | Comments (0)

Greg Bailey | Panthers crush Cowboys

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

"Panthers crush Cowboys"

That's the headline that Panthers fans love more than any other. Sure, there are Steelers fans and Redskins fans in Charlotte, but Cowboys fans outnumber all the others in numbers and in all the annoying ways that count.

Covered in blue and silver, with stars in places they don't belong, America's fans showed up on Jerry Jones' bandwagon last December at Bank of America Stadium. We should have known then that Carolina's future prospects would dominate the fortunes of the paper Cowboys.

This is slow and steady vs. instant gratification. Blue collar vs. Hollywood (not old Hollywood like Paul Newman, but new Hollywood like Paris Hilton. Famous for being pathetic or crazy or something.) Work ethic vs. work release program. And the Panthers lead by five or six touchdowns.

It all starts with the men who fashioned the franchises. Panthers owner Jerry Richardson worries about Jake Delhomme's elbow surgery. Jerry Jones is already planning his next round of plastic surgery. Richardson challenges his players to lead (that looks a whole lot better with Julius Peppers this year than it did last year) while Jones tries to lead in loafers. If that means crowding the sidelines on game day, then great. If that means rolling into the locker room to address your team after Sunday's embarrassment in St. Louis then all the better. I'll take Richardson and his millions versus Jones and his billions.

Panthers fans love to gripe about John Fox a little bit too much. Anybody want to trade for Cowboys interim coach, Wade Phillips, now? Anybody want to trade Steve Smith for Terrell Owens tonight? The difference there is that Smith hit rock bottom at training camp and his teammates stood up to let him know how they felt about it. The next time someone stands up to T.O. in Dallas will be the first time.

Carolina has a team. Dallas has a soap opera cast. Maybe it all starts because Jerry is simply too good as the aging leader of the family empire. Maybe T.O. likes life as a diva more than he likes catching passes. Or maybe they're all just spoiled enough to turn on each other starting as soon as everyone is looking. As long as they're acting like children, why not see who can throw the best tantrum?

Best leader? Jake Delhomme over Tony Romo in a landslide. Best offensive line? Carolina, even with a couple of backups nobody really knows. Best safety? Chris Harris over Roy Williams even before Williams broke his arm twice this year. Best defensive player? The Julius Peppers who smiles a lot this year is better than almost everybody else in the league.

Go ahead and tell me that it's a long season. Anything can happen. And I'll tell you to call me after the Panthers play their next three games against Arizona, Oakland and Detroit. Dallas has to line up against Tampa, the Giants and the Redskins. I grew up 20 miles from Texas Stadium rooting for Roger Staubach. The star he wore looks nothing like that silver piece of scrap metal Dallas wears now.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 8:27 PM | Comments (0)

Ira Cronin | What a difference a week makes

Ira Cronin NewsChannel 36 Sports

Often it seems to me that Panther fans are critical of John Fox because he is so bland and vanilla in what he says to us. In my mind it all gets back to the fact that he practices what he preaches.

After that horrible loss Tampa he didn't act like the sky was falling because of one really bad game. I think the performance by the team against New Orleans is a product of his vanilla talking points week in and week out. I have to imagine that what he gives us in the media, is only a watered down version of what he tells his team in private. John Fox is a guy who doesn't get too high after a win, and doesn't get too low after a loss.

It's something I need to buy into a little more in my personal life. I was thinking before kick off this was going to be a dog fight of a game, and it didn't help me feel any better that an hour before kick off I was trying to put in my contact lenses at my seat, and I lost a contact. Luckily I didn't have to try and watch the game with one eye, I just had to put my glasses back on.

From my seat in the press box the Panthers were dominant. It was great to see the defensive line getting pressure on Drew Brees. It was the difference in the game.

It was even better to be back in a locker room where the guys were feeling a sense of pride and accomplishment at what they had just did.

Sunday, on my walk into the stadium, owner Jerry Richardson and his wife passed me on their way in. They were kind enough to stop and say hello. The Richardson's said they would try and give us something good to report on, and boy did they ever come through!

Finally I think it's important to sit back and take a look at where this team has come. Seven games in, the Panthers have only lost twice, and while you can never count the wins before they come, Arizona is a team the Panthers should beat next week, especially the way they have been playing at home, which means they could enter the bye week with a six and two record. That would put them among the best teams in the NFL with a great chance at making some magic down the stretch.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 9:35 PM | Comments (0)

Simply Green | Leopold Project Part 2

Tony Esposito NewsChannel 36 Production

Hello all, in last week's blog I wrote about my upcoming trip to Missouri to attend a meeting for state coordinators of the Leopold Education Project. This week I will share some of the highlights of the workshop.

At the airport, I met up with the rest of the workshop participants who had flown into Springfield from around the country. We loaded ourselves into the van, provided by the University of Missouri, and headed to the Bull Shoals Field Station. The Bull Shoals Field Station was about an hour's drive and located in Kirbyville, Missouri.

The workshop would showcase new lessons and activities for the Leopold Education Project and train the educators and facilitators. As State Coordinators, we are the ones who will hold the workshops to teach the new lessons to others.

The Leopold Project is involved with the No Child Left Inside Bill that was recently passed by Congress. This bill will offer opportunities to get children outside and away from the tv and computers. It will help eliminate "Nature Deficit Disorder", a term that Richard Louv uses in his book "Last Child In the Woods". Kids of today are not con-nected to nature and the outdoor experience. They stay inside spending up to six hours a day watching TV and playing on computers.

The Leopold Project has developed activities and lesson plans that will encourage chil-dren to spend time outside, be active, and have fun and learn about nature.

One of the new lessons is based on a GPS activity called Geo-Caching. Geo-Cashing is an activity where an item is placed somewhere in the world and the location is recorded with the GPS device. The coordinates are then published on the web or in books. It is one big scavenger hunt using the electronic device to find the item. There are thou-sands of Caches around the country and the world but many are located right in your home town.

The lesson plan I followed on my trip had me go out on a property and find an interest-ing object. On a piece of paper, ask a question about the object, then record the loca-tion with the GPS and leave the paper as a cache. I did the same thing for three objects. Then swapped the GPS units with the other teams and tried to find their objects using the GPS coordinates. This activity will get the children outside, create observational skills, and teach them about navigation. I am sure this activity will be popular with both children and adults.

Not all the new activities involved electronics or moving around. We learned about one exercise that will have the child go outside and be still and listen. They will write what they saw and heard. This activity, as simple as it is, raises the child's awareness of things around him and hopefully look at the world a little differently.

There are many more activities in the new program. All of them aim to get the children outside. Hopefully if they have a good time and they will want to be outside more.
If you are a teacher or a home educator and want more information about the Leopold Education Project, write to me at the station. I would be happy to tell you more about the program. My email address at the station is TEsposit@WCNC.com. I look forward to hearing from you.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 1:39 PM | Comments (0)

Sonja Gantt | Juror number 1234567

Sonja Gantt NewsChannel 36 Anchor

Editor's note: Sonja Gantt bloggs each week for The Charlotte Observer's mommy site, MomsCharlotte.com.

Somber, sad and proud. That's how I felt when I left the Mecklenburg County Courthouse after jury duty last week. I'd been excited about going because our legal system has always fascinated me. I even considered becoming a lawyer. But that excitement changed when I officially became juror no. 7.

It is sobering to look at a stranger and realize you're going to be asked to make a decision that affects their future.

The defendant in my case was accused of breaking and entering and larceny after breaking and entering. He and two others were found with some stolen computer equipment. After hearing the evidence we all believed he was with the group, though we were unsure of his specific role in the crime. The law says if two or more are gathered for the purpose of committing a crime you don't have to take part in every part of the crime to be found guilty. That speaks volumes for why we need to remind our children to choose their friends carefully and help them realize that they must always be accountable for their actions.

After the conviction we learned his attorney had questions about his mental capacity. The defendant is in his late 20s. The other two suspects are in their mid 30s and early 40s. Given the questions about his mental capacity, I wondered if he is one of those people we often call "slow" who is able to function but may be easily swayed by others.

When he addressed the court after his sentencing his tone wasn't angry but more resolute. He said he'd take the punishment like a man, he'd done time before and could handle it and he hoped it would be better when he got out.

Throughout the trial no family or friends showed up to support him. I wondered what kind of life he might have led with solid support...surrounded by people who pushed him in a positive direction. Maybe he wouldn't be facing a minimum of 10 years in prison.

His case was sad but other parts of the experience left me feeling hopeful and impressed.

When you arrive at the courthouse it feels a little like a cattle call. Jury coordinators Vanessa Glass Harris and Mary Poston help personalize the experience. I'm sure they get tired of answering the same question over and over again and no doubt they've heard every excuse in the book for why people can't serve but they were always polite and helpful.

Every jury has its own deputy. Ours was Karen Cherry. She was fabulous. She knew how to inject just enough humor to coax a smile and put a group of 12 strangers at ease.

Judge Albert Diaz put our service in perspective by reminding us that just as the men and the women in the military are doing their jobs overseas jury duty is the ordinary citizens chance to serve and keep our legal system functioning. He was a wonderful example of fairness during the trial.

But I was most proud of my fellow jurors. Our panel was made up of teachers, a nurse, a stay at home mom, a bartender, a bus driver, a college student and business men and women. Ethnically we represented several groups. And our ages ranged from late 20s to 60s. We were diverse in every way except that the women outnumbered men by 10 to 2.

I'm one of those people who wants everyone to get along . Sometimes, especially during election season, the divisions among us seem magnified. But last week on that Wednesday afternoon during deliberations we proved once again that a diverse group of people can listen, discuss respectfully and make a decision.

At the end of the day despite the imperfections, and any system that relies on people will be imperfect, for me I left feeling hopeful because of the people. While we can be at the center of the worst of things...we also have the ability to be at the center of the best.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 9:35 AM | Comments (1)

Greg Bailey | Garinger's winning streak

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

Garinger football owns a winning streak. Think about that. About six years of on the field frustration the Wildcats have won back to back games. As much as any championship has ever belonged to "the teams that came before" this achievement belongs to everyone who suited up during the tough times for the Wildcats. Everyone who believed and everyone who worked and everyone who supported a program that needed something good to happen.

Congratulations to Coach Chris Carter. He told me this week that he came from a high school that had 41 straight winning seasons in Georgia. People told Coach he was nuts to take the job, but he just told himself "to be great you have to take a chance." His enthusiasm bubbles over when he talks about his players. His belief is something that you can feel and almost touch. He deserves a great deal of credit and so do his seniors. They will forever be "the ones who broke the streak." Great, great stuff. This really is what high school sports is all about.

It was so much fun to get e-mails and phone calls from the Garinger community this week. Keep 'em coming and know we have a great time telling this great story.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 11:08 AM | Comments (2)

Simply Green | Leopold Project

Tony Esposito NewsChannel 36 Production

Hello everyone, I hope all is well. This weekend I am taking on a new challenge. I will be attending the Leopold Project State Coordinators Meeting in Missouri.

Several months ago I was asked by Jane Falkenstein if I would be interested in becoming the State Coordinator for the Leopold Project. Jane is the current State Coordinator for the Project and an Environmental Educator in Rock Hill.

In order to be the State Coordinator I would have to become a certified instructor as well as certified facilitator of the Leopold Project. I went to Atlanta in June for training and became certified as both an instructor and facilitator.

I have always been interested in The Leopold Project and the teaching of Aldo Leopold. His teachings and writings fit in very nicely with the Habitat programs I have been giving for many years.

Who is Aldo Leopold and what is the Leopold Project? I will give you a short history of both and will finish up next week.

The Leopold Project is based on the thoughts and writing of Aldo Leopold. Leopold was considered the father of wildlife management and the wilderness system. He was also a conservationist, forester, teacher, family man, writer, philosopher, and outdoor enthusiast. There were others who were also considered him an ecologist, but Aldo introduced the human element into the mix. How does man and his actions affect the environment?

As a professor, Aldo encouraged students to get outside and study nature up close. He encouraged his students to ask the tough questions on why things are the way they are.

Many of the lessons in the program are based on the essays from a book Aldo wrote titled "A Sand County Almanac." The book talked about the seasons on the farm he and his family purchased on the Wisconsin River. The essays help people "read" the land through outdoor explorations. Students learned about tracking animals in the snow, predator/prey relationships, local history correlated with the growth of a tree, river floods, spring flowers, trout fishing, the arrival of daybreak, and many other outdoor explorations.

Aldo's ideas on all things in nature as well as his style of teaching became the basis for the Leopold Project.

With the recent passage of the No Child Left Inside Bill in Congress, the Leopold Project will make being outside fun and educational. It complements the Backyard Habitat/Schoolyard Habitat programs, both of which I have been involved with for a long time. This is why I feel it is a perfect fit for a complete outdoor educational learning experience.

Next week, I will write about my trip and the things we learned while in Missouri.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 3:14 PM | Comments (0)

Ira Cronin | Big rivalry Sunday for Panthers

Ira Cronin NewsChannel 36 Sports

I'm just back from the Panthers locker room media session as they get ready to face Tampa Bay this Sunday in a key game for them, and I have to say I like what I see from them. Everyone we talked to today was in good spirits and optimistic with out seeming overconfident about the game.

Talking with some of the veterans, like Jake Delhomme and Muhsin Muhammad, you can tell that there is something special in their eyes when you ask them about a game against Tampa. This series may be a better rivalry than what they have going with Atlanta in my opinion, but the players will tell you every division opponent is a rival. But when I think of the Bucc's I remember the blocked extra point, overtime win at Tampa in 03. I remember the Panthers rupturing Chris Simms spleen two years ago. These are the kinds of elements that make for a real rivalry. No love lost between these two teams. Moose said this was the kind of game you get nervous for in a good way. For a guy like him to say that, that lets you know for sure it's game time and it will be on big time on Sunday.

I was sad to see the team put Ryne Robinson on the injured reserve ending his season. I'm sure he's disappointed but it will give him time to heal up fully. I played golf with Ryne last summer and he's a great guy and will be a very successful player in the league. Injuries are just part of the deal as this is evidence to. One silver lining is that the Panthers pulled the trigger on a Charlotte kid in Kenneth Moore to fill his spot on the roster. Moore played at Wake Forest and Butler high school and told me today that signing in Carolina is like a dream come true. Now he say's he is going to work as hard as he can to make sure he try and stick the team long term.

It's going to be a great game on Sunday. Coach Fox and the players are fond of telling us in the media that every game is important, and they certainly are but some games are bigger than others, and this is one of them!

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 8:41 AM | Comments (1)

Stuart Watson | What would YOU do?

Stuart Watson NewsChannel 36 I-Team

Someone is sending an anonymous letter to Charlotte newsrooms including NewsChannel 36 and our news partners at the Charlotte Observer saying a local politician was photographed at a strip club while out of state on official business.

No photo included, sorry.

It turns out the information is apparently wrong.

I called the politician. He said the anonymous writer had him confused with someone else and no way was he in the strip club.

The letter-writer makes mention that he or she thinks reporters are squelching the story. So if you don't report it, you're part of the cover-up conspiracy.

You can't respond directly to the letter writer. There's no direct return address.

And if you name names, you're spreading rumors just to quash them.

So you be the reporter. What would you do?

A) Trash the letter. Who cares if a politician went to a strip club anyway?

B) Ignore the letter. You'd just be spreading rumors.

C) Report the letter and the denial. That way the public can see what the politician is up against.

D) Ask the boss for an expense allowance and three weeks to check out strip clubs. (Not happening. My bosses Mary and Allison take a dim view of such exploits.)

E) Cop out. Write a blog entry like this one and ask others what they would do.

F) None of the above, dummy. Instead I would... (fill in the blank.)

I await your response.

If you want to mail or e-mail me privately, to give advice or tips that are preferably both newsworthy and demonstrably true, my address is below.

Stuart Watson
Investigative Reporter
WCNC-TV
1001 Wood Ridge Center Drive
Charlotte, NC 28217-1901
(704) 329-3619
swatson@wcnc.com

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 1:58 PM | Comments (0)

Stuart Watson | Confessions of a Vandy grad

Stuart Watson NewsChannel 36 I-Team

I can confess now.

My name is Stuart and I went to Vanderbilt.

For 25 years I have hidden this secret. People would ask, "Where'd you go to school?" I would dissemble. Nashville. In the SEC. Both true, so far as they went.

But now Vanderbilt's football team has done what it does once every generation, once every quarter century, whether it needs to or not. Vanderbilt is winning. More than winning, Vanderbilt is undefeated. More than undefeated, Vanderbilt is RANKED in the top 20! So far. For now.

This is the tepid cheer of a fan whose football hopes have been trounced on for decades. The feeling of a fan who has felt for the very same decades his team belonged in another league, like one that included Duke and Northwestern and I dunno who else. Because the mark of every good Vanderbilt fan is an air of defeatism and fatefulness that would rival any Cubs fan. And Cubbies, I feel your pain.

But not even the Cubbies have to go back a quarter century to find a winning record. Ronald Reagan was in the White House. I was in my third senior year. I actually graduated that time. You can look it up.

The old saying was that Vanderbilt tries to be Harvard five days a week and Alabama on Saturday. It's true. And you're hearing from a guy who stayed till the end of the game when Bear Bryant beat us 66-3. For you math whizzes, that's three TOUCHDOWNS for every POINT Vandy scored. I'll never forget it.

Back then we wore wool suits to the games. It was Nashville in September and we sweated like horses under blankets. But damn it we were preppies and we looked smart. In reality the shirtless undergrads painted black and gold on Saturday night looked like they were having a lot better time. Good to know some things have changed for the better.

So there's only one thing a Vanderbilt fan can do when his team beats a ranked Auburn for the first time in 53 years. Enjoy. Drink it up. Savor the feeling. Cause it's been a long time coming. And there's no guarantee it'll last.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 1:02 PM | Comments (0)

Ira Cronin | Impressive Panthers win

Ira Cronin NewsChannel 36 Sports

Every week when I go into the Panthers locker room to ask questions as the guys get ready for the upcoming game there are really times when I want to ask things you just shouldn't ask. This past week was one of those weeks as the Panthers were getting ready for the Chiefs.

What I wanted to ask, was something like the Chiefs are sorry, you guys should really beat them shouldn't you? A question like that would get almost any reporter horse laughed. I give the guys credit. Even those who believe going in, that they will win a game, will almost never say it. I think it's bad luck, or bad karma or something like that.

Last Wednesday, everyone in the locker room said that they had to watch out for the Chiefs, the Chiefs are a dangerous team, a young team with plenty of talent. While the last statement may be true, Sunday was proof that the Chiefs are terrible, and I should have had the courage to ask the question, even if I would have been horse laughed.

I have been covering the Panthers since 2001, that infamous 1-15 season. Sunday was a day that I enjoyed from beginning to end. Nice job Panthers!

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 6:56 AM | Comments (0)

John Wendel | 2008 Hurricane Season Review

John Wendel Meteorologist

There are still two months left in the 2008 hurricane season. The peak of the season passed back on Sept. 10 and the chance for more storms diminishes as every day goes by. It is still possible we could have a landfall hurricane in the United States but they would be more likely to occur in the Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean. But, considering this has been a very odd season, nothing would surprise me. And it all started with the oddball storm Arthur.

Storm tracks during 2008 Hurricane Season

Alma/Arthur

At the end of May, a tropical storm formed in the Eastern Pacific Ocean and it was named Alma. What made this storm interesting is that it moved to the east and moved out of the Pacific basin into the Atlantic basin, making it the first storm in the Pacific and Atlantic. Alma's named then changed to Arthur. So basically, the storm had a gender or sex change. The storm never became a hurricane but it did dump heavy rain over Central America.

Bertha

The second storm of the season was Bertha, which developed in early July. The odd part about this hurricane was where it developed. On July 3, a tropical wave moved off the West African coast and formed a circulation. The storm formed near the Cape Verde Islands and storms typically don't develop in the area until the middle of August. It developed about 5 weeks early and the last time a storm formed in that area five weeks early was another Bertha back in 1996. That's the same Bertha that hit the Carolina coast with winds close to 100 mph. This Bertha tracked into the Central Atlantic and then curved to the north becoming what we call a fish storm.

Cristobal

The third storm of the season was Cristobal. This storm formed miles off the South Carolina coast on July 19 and then tracked along the North Carolina coast and then moved out to seas. The peak winds were as high as 55mph but those winds remained off shore. The coastal communities had winds up to 35mph. The biggest effect on the state from Cristobal was the 1 to 3 inches of rain that fell over the large forest fires in the eastern part of the state near Greenville.

Dolly

Dolly was the forth storm of the season to develop and even though it developed in the Caribbean and made landfall near the southern Texas town of Brownsville, it still had some effect on the weather in Charlotte. After the storm weakened and tracked across Texas, it finally wound up spinning over Colorado as a weak low pressure center. The low then got caught in the westerly winds and moved into Missouri and Iowa. The thunderstorm produced by this storm kicked-off tornadoes in the Midwest. The weather system then moved east into the Carolinas spreading rain into the area. This was the first widespread rain of the summer and just what the doctor ordered for our drought.

Edouard

Tropical Storm Edouard was the next storm of the season. Edouard formed in the Gulf of Mexico and moved off the coast near Louisiana and made landfall in Texas. Even though Edouard was not a major storm it was responsible for gas prices going up 5 to 10 cents. Just like Dolly, Edouard moved west into Texas and weakened. The storm stalled and started to move back to the east. As the storm moved across the southern states it spread rain as far north as the Charlotte area with a half-inch to 1 inch of rain.

At this point of the year you may be thinking we have had a wild hurricane season so far. Well folks, we are just getting started and it is going to get worse with the next storm giving us one of the craziest storm tracks I have seen in a long time.

Fay

Tropical Storm Fay formed near the Dominican Republic and Haiti on August 16, producing heavy rain and flooding. After tracking across Cuba it moved toward Florida. The peak winds with Fay were up to 55mph but the biggest problem that Fay will be noted for is its flooding rain. As Fay moved up the Florida Peninsula it made a stop near Cape Canaveral. Almost 20 inches of rain fell in Melbourne, Fla., over a two-day period. During the next couple of days the remnants if Fay moved slowly to the west into Mississippi causing localized flooding.

After a short stay in Mississippi, the track took the storm toward Charlotte more than a week after it made landfall in Florida. We all remember the pictures of Brier Creek over its banks and flooding homes near the Mint Museum in Charlotte, or the flooded roads along the Rocky River in Cabarrus County. Six to 8 inches of rain fell, giving the entire piedmont hope that the drought may be over or at least we were catching up in a big way. I would talk more about this storm except there is so much more to go.

Gustav

On August 25, a strong low pressure system developed in the Caribbean and turned into the next named storm, which was Gustav. Gustav hit western Cuba as a Category 4 storm with winds near 135 mph and it was heading toward New Orleans. This year there were no problems evacuating the city days before the predicted landfall. Of course oil platforms were evacuated and the price of oil went up. Many of the evacuees went to Baton Rogue, La.

Gustav tracked farther to the west and spared New Orleans from the worse winds and the levees held. Unfortunately, Baton Rogue was hit hard with winds over 90 mph trapping the evacuees in a city without power for several days to a week. The remnants of Gustav then tracked to the north across the Ohio River valley and stayed west and north of Charlotte.

Hanna

As Gustav was slamming into Louisiana, the next in a series of storms was spinning around near Haiti in the Caribbean. After sitting over the same area off the Haitian coast for three days, Hanna started moving quickly northward. Hanna made landfall near Wrightsville Beach, N.C., on Sept. 6. Because of the fast forward speed of Hanna, the storm didn't last very long in North Carolina.

The west edge of the rain made it to the Mecklenburg/Union County line. The Rockingham area received almost 4 inches of rain while no rain fell at the airport in Charlotte. The storm struck early in the morning but moved quickly into Virginia by noon. Because of its speed, if you were in Charlotte on that Saturday morning and got up late you would never had known there was even a tropical storm hitting the state. Skies were sunny in the afternoon and it was a bit breezy.

Ike

The biggest and most devastating storm of the season was now developing in the eastern Atlantic to the east of the Bahamas and once again, Haiti. Ike became a Category 4 storm with winds over 140 mph. Ike tracked almost the full length of Cuba with strong winds and heavy rain but it also weakened just a little bit.

Once the storm moved back over the warm waters of the Gulf of Mexico it regained its strength and was heading toward the oil rich area of Houston and Galveston, Texas. One thing hurricane forecasters noticed about Ike was the size of the tropical storm-force and hurricane-force wind field. Tropical storm force winds extend from the center by 270 miles and hurricane force winds were out 120 miles.

Ike came on shore near Galveston with a 10- to 12-foot storm surge, which covered the island in many places. Buildings were destroyed and life there will never be the same. Ike then passed over Houston, knocking out power to more than 5 million people in the region. Large office builds in the downtown area were ravaged with broken glass everywhere. A week later there were still a million people with out power.

The biggest effect Ike had on the Carolinas has been the gas shortage. Refineries were shut down and even though it took more than a week or two to get them up and running, many places in the Southeast still have gas problems. Here again, I could go on talking about this storm but there are more out there to talk about.

Josephine

At one point in early September there were four storms out there, from the mid-Atlantic to the United States. There were the remnants of Gustav, Hanna moving up the coast, Ike moving into the Caribbean and now Josephine forming in the central Atlantic. Luckily, Josephine stayed a tropical storm and stayed in the middle of the Atlantic. This one was just a fish storm.

Kyle

A low pressure system developing over Puerto Rico dropped more than 2 feet of rain over parts of the island. This low eventually developed into Hurricane Kyle and it moved northward off the east coast of the United States. It was far enough away that no rain hit the Carolinas but the waves at the coast were very high. What made Kyle an interesting storm is that it made landfall as a category 1 hurricane in Nova Scotia, Canada. Even though landfall hurricanes are rare along the Canadian coast they do happen -- 144 mph wind gusts and 100 mph sustained winds hit Halifax Harbour when Hurricane Juan moved onshore in 2003.

Laura

The last of the season's storms as of writing this article is Extra Tropical Storm Laura. I don't have a lot of information about Laura because it developed in the Atlantic and is tracking into the North Atlantic. The track could take the remnants of Laura to the east and England bringing wind and rain there.

All I can say at this point of the hurricane season is "wow." Three weeks after Hurricane Ike, we still have lines of cars looking for gas and the power is finally back on in Houston. One place that was hit hard several times this season was Haiti. Hundreds of people have died and tens of thousands have been looking for food. Food has been getting there but it has been a slow process. One good thing that has come out of the active hurricane season is that it has gotten us out of the drought. Almost every one of the 12 tropical systems had some interesting features to them and the season is not over yet.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 8:09 AM | Comments (0)

Greg Bailey | DeAngelo Fires Back

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

If you saw our Tuesday sportscast at 6 p.m. you'll remember linebacker Jon Beason putting teammate DeAngelo Williams in the cross hairs. Basically, DeAngelo loves his Memphis Tigers and he wears that affection on his sleeve. Memphis football is an easy target in the always ready to feast, no holds barred world of an NFL locker room. Beason basically told the cameras that once Memphis lost to Rice that they were such an easy target that it wasn't fun to needle his buddy anymore. Ouch.

Today, it's DeAngelo's turn to fire back. He has a great thing going with Julius Peppers, and last year's Final 4 is the main topic. Heels fans will recall that Memphis played in the national title game after Carolina lost in the semifinals. Williams mentions it to Peppers a lot. And the beat goes on.

This is how it's supposed to work in the NFL. You spend more time with your teammates than your family during the season. Maybe you don't have to get along, but it is a huge help. Right now, the Panthers are having a great time showing up to work every day. It's the same thing everybody else knows -- when you like showing up to work, chances are you work well. The Panthers are doing that and more in their 3-1 start.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 7:23 AM | Comments (0)

Greg Bailey | Sean May's smashed TV

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

Media days are great for this reason: you never know what you'll learn if you ask. When I asked Charlotte forward Sean May about his beloved alma mater, North Carolina, May admitted that he gets so angry watching UNC hoops sometimes that he breaks his remotes AND his TV. Sometimes they go together when May throws the remote at the screen, smashing both at once. Notice I say "sometimes" because I sense strongly that May has demolished his TV more than once.

The great thing is that Sean said it without hesitation and without remorse. It's just kinda what happens. May is so geeked out about Carolina winning it all this year that he's already worried about it and we're only 6 months away from the Final Four. I suggested the last time any team was this loaded with experienced talent and this heavily favored to win it all was the UNLV team of the early 90s with Larry Johnson, Stacy Augmon and company. Knowing full well that the Rebels lost to Duke, May said he has to go all the way back to John Wooden's dynasty at UCLA to find such a prohibitive favorite. Every Carolina fan should know that seasons with such heavy expectations are tough from day 1. Maybe it helps to know that Sean May will jump, shout, cheer and suffer every bit as much as you will.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 8:22 AM | Comments (0)

Greg Bailey | A crazy mix from Bobcats basketball

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

We got it all on Bobcats media day: New coach Larry Brown frankly discussing his team's shortcomings. Sean May promising his surgically repaired knee (again) really is better this time. Gerald Wallace promising that his feelings aren't hurt after Charlotte tried to trade him in the off-season. And Adam Morrison at his long haired, quiet best. All before training camp even starts.

Add those delicious pieces up and I'm crazy enough to like this basketball team for one reason: they have hope and they're happy for the first time in a long time. The Bobcats have a coach they believe in, and they didn't have that last year with Sam Vincent. NBA players don't gush about anything, but one by one they gushed about playing for Larry Brown. They delighted in talking about playing for a coach who constantly breaks them down and lets them get away with nothing. And the veterans quietly admit this is a team that needed a strong leader.

It all sounds great but how long will it last? I'm guessing that the answer is long enough. The Bobcats are still one big scorer and a defender away from making any kind of a serious run. But they also have players who are smart enough to understand that they need one another to succeed. And they have good people. Good people are in short supply in the NBA, a.k.a. the most selfish culture in all of professional sports. Charlotte's players promise they're willing to break that mode. Willing to work and willing to listen. If they do that, this will be a fun season. This franchise needs that.

If you really want to dream, I'll leave you with this from Clippers guard Baron Davis. After working out in Charlotte this summer, Davis told Charlotte's Jason Richardson that the Bobcats are dangerous and ready to turn the corner. Here's hoping the Bobcats are willing to work and listen, before they forget some of what Larry Brown is hounding them about. It's a delicate balance, but at least the players are happy a day before training camp starts.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 8:53 AM | Comments (0)

Sonja Gantt | My crazy life is not unique

Sonja Gantt NewsChannel 36 Anchor

Years from now when my children are grown I will have special memories of several families and particularly the moms in those families. We've been raising our children together for many years now. I am grateful for their friendship, fellowship and wisdom. Most of the time I walk away from our conversations feeling reassured ... that the craziness of my house, my children or my life is not unique. That is comforting on many days.

I hope by writing a weekly blog I will widen my network of "mom friends". I'm looking forward to hearing how you handle some situations (Do you eat lunch with your middle schooler? Are your children allowed to text? Has anyone figured out how to divide chores adequately?)

I also am looking forward to sharing with you the story behind the stories we cover on NewsChannel 36. Often when I meet viewers in the grocery store or at Target or Walmart many of you want to know how and why we choose to cover what we do or you want to know more about an issue. I hope this blog gives me the chance to share what we sometimes don't have the time to do in the newscast. And I'll be sharing with you my thoughts on some stories. Didn't you find your perspective changed when you became a parent? I know mine did.

I have two children. Gabrielle is 12 and Grant is 9. There would be no way to adequately describe how important they are to me and how much of an impact they've had on my life. If I had a parenting philosophy I think it's summarized pretty well by a quote I keep in the kitchen ... "Prepare the child for the path not the path for the child." I want them to grow up to be loving, thoughtful, self sufficient and responsible people. Isn't that the goal of every parent? I'm looking forward to hearing from you and hoping that we can not only share but have some fun while we're doing it.

Read more about Sonja and her blog ideas from The Charlotte Observer.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 11:24 PM | Comments (3)

Greg Bailey | Interviewing Paul Newman

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

Back when I was a college student at Texas A&M I interned at the CBS station in College Station, Texas. One day we got a call that Paul Newman and Mario Andretti had rented out the old Texas World Speedway to run tests for their race team. A couple of calls yielded this polite response from the Newman camp, "Mr. Newman does not do television interviews while he's running his race team." My sports director understood, but he told me that we needed to go to the track to ask again.

I was scared to death as we pulled into the track. It was the first time I had ever seen an open wheel car and I couldn't believe how fast they ran. I'll never forget seeing the car sizzle past us, only to hear the high pitched whir a couple of seconds later. Back then test sessions included only a few people. Michael Andretti was there with his dad and both men were taking laps. We looked for Paul Newman but didn't see him.

We were about to give up when he walked from the pits to talk with Mario.

It was the first time in my life that I had ever understood what people meant by the term "presence." Paul Newman had it and then some. He was smaller than I had imagined when I grew up watching reruns of his old movies with my mom and my grandmother. He was thin and dressed in blue jeans, but he stood out in a way that few people can.

I walked with my sports director as he approached. I really was afraid that we were going to offend this giant of American movies. "Mr. Newman, I understand that you don't do many interviews, but I would love to ask a couple of quick questions, and we'll focus on racing only." The response was professional but warm. Paul Newman turned and told us that he understood. His stop in our small community was a huge story for us. His passion for racing was obvious. It wasn't just something that he did; it was something that was a part of him.

I've always hoped that people understood that Paul Newman was a professional racer, both as a driver and as an owner. You don't win 8 CART/Champ Car championships without a tremendous commitment, passion and a great understanding of racing. He was also a nice man. He didn't have to take time for us, but he did and I'll never forget that.

So many people have lined up to say the same thing in different ways after Newman died this weekend. "We have lost a great human being." Beyond the racing and the incredible charity work Paul Newman was a racer and a nice person, too.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 7:19 AM | Comments (0)

Simply Green | Are you prepared?

Tony Esposito NewsChannel 36 Production

Hello everyone, I would like to offer you some food for thought.

With the collapse of the housing market, along with the mortgage companies, invest-ment companies going under. Banks are going bankrupt. High fuel prices are coupled with random fuel shortages. Is this a sign of things to come?

I hope not. But as I write this, (Thursday, September 25) we have just finished the 11 PM newscast and things appear pretty bleak. Oh, I know I know it's really not that bad but as I watched on the studio monitors and heard Dave Wagner and Sonja Gantt tell of long lines at gas stations and threats being made on customers when they confront people cutting in the line for gas. I am amazed at the situation and wonder why this is happening here and in other parts of the Southeast.

Man, does this sound like a movie plot? Oh wait, it is "Mad Max The Road Warrior". It was a movie set in the future where citizens of a country had no gas. People were rob-bing other people of whatever gas they could get their hands on.

We have not gotten to that point yet and I know everything will work itself out, but it does make you think, what would I do if we were faced with severe fuel shortages for a long period of time?

I was never a Boy Scout but I do believe in their motto, "Be Prepared"!

I sat down and thought about what actions I could take to make life as normal as possi-ble in the event of little or no gas at the stations.

Ok, let's take this one step further. What would I do if there was a food shortage due to little or no fuel to power the trucks that bring the food to the store or a major natural dis-aster that would cause other shortages. How well would I be able to survive without the normal comforts of life?

My friend Michelle has been reading a lot about living a self-sustaining lifestyle and the books address steps you could take to be self sufficient. Some of the topics of the books are: grow your own food, create a stocked pantry, ride your bike, car pool or take public transportation.

Here are some things I am doing to help me handle a shortage situation:

As for a food shortage I have set aside a small part of my already small yard to grow some vegetables. This is something we should all be doing already but very few people do. They say it's cheaper and easier to buy the produce at the store. But if there was a food shortage, there would be no food at the store and at least we could eat salads and other homegrown foods when the situation arises.

I am learning to love peanut butter because peanut butter has a shelf life of one year and doesn't require refrigeration unless you get the all-natural kind in which case you would need refrigeration which means you would need electricity. Therefore you are still dependent on some kind of energy production.

The concept of having a stocked pantry is not new. Our mothers and grandmothers did it all the time. They would buy extra canned items and store them. The canning of vegetables that they grew in their garden was another way to have food and not have to go to the store to get it. No power is required for this type of food storage.

It's true I would have to learn new skills but that is ok. I am always learning new things. It is especially good when the skills you learn will help you grow stronger as a person and not have to rely on other people and their services.

All the things I have written about are not that hard to do. We just have to change our mind set and realize we have to do them so we have an easier time dealing with ad-verse situations such as the shortage of gas we are experiencing now.

This situation has pushed the panic button of many people. The people I am talking about are the ones who had three quarters of a tank of gas and still had to run out to the gas station just to top it off. They were afraid of not having their share of gas and God forbid, they might have to change their lifestyle for a short period of time. If these folks would have just gotten fuel when they normally do, the effects of the shortage would have been a lot less. Yes they would have to change their driving habits and travel plans but they wouldn't be spending the night in their cars waiting for the fuel delivery truck to arrive.

I am not an alarmist or a pessimist. As I have said earlier I believe in being prepared. It could be a natural disaster such as a hurricane or tornado that would create the situa-tion where we would need to be self-sufficient. Take a look at the Gulf Coast of Texas during the recent visit of Hurricane Ike. The people who were prepared are fairing a lot better than those waiting on assistance from some agency.

What about you? Do you think you could prepare for times of hardship? What would you do to get by in such times? What have you done to cope with this situation we are ex-periencing now?

Write me and tell me what you would or could do to offset problems in the future.
The world as we know it has changed and things will be different. If we are prepared, both mentally and physically, we will be better able to cope with any situation that comes our way.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 9:18 PM | Comments (0)

Colleen Odegaard | An 'Office' I'd like to work in

Colleen Odegaard NewsChannel 36 Anchor

"The Office" is my favorite show on TV. It's one of my favorite shows of all time. So I was so excited to find I'd be talking to the cast on my trip to LA for the NBC fall lineup party. I'll get this part out of the way ... there was no Steve Carell. There was also no Jim or Pam or Dwight. But I did get to talk to everyone else and they didn't disappoint.

I'll just use the characters names to keep things simple. Oscar and Meredith were hilarious. They didn't stop cutting up. Phyllis, Stanley, Creed and Kevin were all great, too. Every single one of them seemed so sincerely grateful to be working on a show that's so funny and has such a loyal audience.

To be in Hollywood where egos are abundant, it was so refreshing to talk to actors who are just happy to be working. They seemed like regular people, they just happen to be on a hit TV show. They all told me that Steve Carell keeps everyone in stitches on the set ... everyone but Oscar. Apparently, he doesn't crack. Meredith told me it's because he has no sense of humor (she was kidding). They all seemed to enjoy each other's company, too. It's an "office" I'd love to work in, dysfunction and all.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 8:15 AM | Comments (1)

Is the media responsible for the gas panic?

Jeremy Markovich NewsChannel 36 Producer

Sometimes, people knock the media. They say we hold things back. But every once in a while, we get e-mails like the one we got today:

"PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE STOP SAYING THERE IS A GAS SHORTAGE REGARDLESS IF THERE IS ONE."

Or this one:

"I really feel that if the news media STOPS TALKING ABOUT THE GAS SITUATION, all these long lines would STOP!!!!"

That got me wondering. I took a count of all of the e-mails we've received on the gas story since 10 p.m. Wednesday, and arranged them by general topic:

7.5% - Please look into this story deeper
22.5% - Man, I can't believe this!
52.5% - I know where gas is (or isn't)
17.5% - Shame on you, media!

OK, we're not always the most popular people. Surveys of respectable jobs often rank journalists just above car salesmen and members of Congress. You don't always like us. We know.

But is the media responsible for panic here? "These reports are only fueling the fire and causing additional panic and rush to the pumps," writes viewer Josh Osburn. "Lines at the pumps didn't start until yesterday after all the local news channels started reporting that 'gas stations are running out of gas.'"

I could give one of those standard media lines: We report what people in the know are telling us. We didn't force those people to get into their cars and line up around the block. We just showed up with our cameras when they did.

Instead, I'm going to defer to an expert.

"The current situation is that, when you pass gas stations, as far as I can tell personally, about four out of five have no gas," says Dr. Joe Whitmeyer, a sociology professor at UNC Charlotte. "Maybe some people are informed about that from the media, but I think people find that out anyway."

We didn't tell him to say that. Seriously.

Whitmeyer says it's the lack of information that can cause a panic. "We don't know where we're going to be able to get gas or when we're going to be able to get gas, but we're looking for information wherever we can get it," he says. "And so, we look to see what other people are doing, and if we see people line up, we think 'well, this is telling me something.' Maybe I won't be able to find gas somewhere else."

And so, we wait in line. Because everybody else is doing it.

"Individually, these things make sense, but collectively, they don't," Dr. Whitmeyer says. "What's good for me is causing trouble for everyone else. You can't expect any one person to say 'Well, I'm not going to top [off my tank] because that's what creates the line.' Everybody thinks in terms of themselves."

Panic, then, is really what happens when we all begin to worry about the future at the same time. "If we knew what it was going to be like tomorrow and the day after," says Whitmeyer, "then I don't think there'd be nearly as much of a tendency to panic."

You may not be able to stop a panic in its tracks, but Dr. Whitmeyer says you can do things to slow it down. Here's the key: you have to be some sort of trusted public figure.

If you are, tell people to remain calm, rational, and patient. Tell them when this crisis will be over. Be honest. Get information out there. Thursday afternoon, Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory said a large shipment of gas should be coming in by Friday. North Carolina Governor Mike Easley says in a few days, this, too, shall pass.

The problem, according to Dr. Whitmeyer, is that people in power are always telling us to remain calm, rational and patient. "I think that the problem is [that many people] don't believe it," he says. "It doesn't even count as information because you think it's probably not true."

And that's the problem with the future. We know what will happen, sort of. But we can never tell with exact certainty what tomorrow will bring. So we worry about it today.

Sociologists, for the record, don't really tap their fingers together in nefarious glee when things like this happen. Besides, Dr. Whitmeyer says, he can't do a precise study on this sort of thing anyway. There are just too many variables. "We can go out and study them under more controlled situations. And when one actually rolls around then we can understand it better."

He stops and chuckles. "Of course, we can't prevent it very well, but we can understand it."

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 7:23 PM | Comments (17)

Greg Bailey | Jimmie Johnson's cool confidence

Greg Bailey NewsChannel 36 Sports Director

Got the chance to talk with two-time defending Sprint Cup champ Jimmie Johnson today during a break from testing at Lowe's Motor Speedway. I'll touch on a few things Jimmie said later. But it's the way he said it that made me believe I was talking to the three-time defending Cup champion.

Johnson wears the pressure of the Chase like an old t-shirt. What? This old thing? The 33-year-old exudes the kind of calm that can unnerve everybody else. Like he knows something that nobody else does. He knows the secret, and he knows that you don't. On top of that he understands that a thousand different variables will creep up between now and title time in Homestead. He'll leave the ones he can't control and embrace the ones he can.

That control comes from a team that's bonded like never before. Crew Chief Chad Knaus was already the best in the business before this season's early struggles. The painstaking process of re-evaluating everything they had emphasized (they got it all wrong early) in the new car brought Johnson, Knaus and the rest of the 48 team closer. People got angry, but no one pointed fingers. They worked, tested and worked some more to figure it out. Now that group that failed a little bit together believes more than ever. Jimmie knows that, too.

Other thoughts from Johnson:

1) He loves the way Roush Fenway teammates Biffle, Edwards and Kenseth raced hard in the final laps at Dover. But Jimmie adds that's as close as three teammates can come to wrecking each other without actually piling into one other.

2) He says he approaches the rest of the Chase like a driver who's never won a title before. I did get a chuckle out of that one. It's more of a mindset than anything else. Johnson is hungry to match Cale Yarborough's remarkable feat from three decades back.

3) Johnson likes the track surface at Lowe's and how it's meshing with the tires provided by NASCAR. Drivers always try to say nice things at tracks, but everyone really likes the track today for testing.

4) He adds that days like these, testing and working hard far from the limelight, are the ones that turned his season around.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 9:47 PM | Comments (1)

Simply Green | Faith and the environment

Tony Esposito NewsChannel 36 Production

Hello everyone, I am back from my hiatus and ready to write about the many Green subjects that are out there.

If you've read some of my previous blogs you know I am involved with the National Wildlife Federation and its local affiliate, the South Carolina Wildlife Federation. I volunteer with these groups helping with the facilitation of their Schoolyard Habitat program and the Backyard Habitat program. Both of these programs help wildlife by taking plain and sterile backyards/schoolyards and creating a haven for wildlife.

Both programs are based on the principal of offering four components that all wildlife need: Food, water, cover and a place to raise their young.

Even though these two programs are called "Backyard" and "Schoolyard" habitats, the principle of both can be carried over to other facilities. Some of the other properties that have created habitats are businesses, libraries, firehouses, senior citizen facilities, nursing homes and places of worship. This last one, places of worship, is the fastest growing group interested in making a difference in relation to wildlife and the environment.

I spoke this past Saturday at St. Matthias Episcopal Church. The event was to show off their new habitat that church volunteers had worked on over the summer. In May of this year I met with the group from the church and discussed their vision. We planned a work day and 20 members of the church and myself turned the soil and planted the many plants and shrubs they had. It was the start of their vision.

They had worked a couple more times over the summer and when I went back for the celebration on Saturday I couldn't believe how it had grown. It will provide all the components necessary to help wildlife and provide a place for the church members to go and meditate. St. Matthias is reaching out to the neighboring communities to create habitats on their properties, so we have planned another event in the spring.

I have given eight talks this year about the many Habitat programs we offer, and four of them have been at places of worship. These folks are on a mission to take better care of the planet and to ensure a future for their children and the many generations yet to come.

(That's me on the right in the picture below.)

The Sierra Club recently published a report entitled, "Faith In Action: Communities of Faith Bring Hope for the Planet." It reports on the many activities churches, synagogues and mosques are performing and how they all call for increased Stewardship of the planet. It seems the leaders of these groups are greening all areas of religious life, including worship, education, community life, buildings and grounds. Becoming good stewards of the planet is not a new aspiration for the faith-based groups. As far back as 20 years ago, religious leaders and scholars have been working to articulate theological views on the environment.

An example of work done by places of worship around the country is a church in Birmingham, Alabama, that found out it had the third population of the endangered Watercress Darter living in a spring on the church grounds. Bishop Heron Johnson proclaimed "God purposefully placed this little fish here for us to protect." The local media calls Bishop Johnson the "modern-day Noah."

Working with a partner organization, the church is transforming the area around the spring into an educational sanctuary.

In Fairbanks Alaska, the Episcopal Diocese of Alaska is working for the Gwich'in people who live in the northeastern region of Alaska and northwest Canada. Their lifestyle is intertwined with the Porcupine Caribou herd that roams the coastal plain. With the threat of drilling in the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge, the life of the Gwich'in people is sure to change if drilling is allowed. The Episcopal Diocese is one of the first religious organization to oppose the drilling in this sensitive area.

Hazon, a Jewish environmental group in New York City, educates about sustainable living.

St. Marks Presbyterian Church in Tucson promotes water stewardship and conservation.

Wisconsin has an Islamic Environmental Group the helps mosques and Muslim families reduce their carbon footprint.

All of these religious organizations are another way for people to be involved in helping the environment. Because the effort is coming from a place of worship and not an environmental organization, I feel they could add another level of acceptance to the work of environmentalist.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 3:13 PM | Comments (0)

Colleen Odegaard | Meeting the cast of 'Heroes'

Colleen Odegaard NewsChannel 36 Anchor

First of all, let me say I love celebrity news. I love it, love it, LOVE IT! I read People magazine cover to cover. I can tell you the names of every famous person's kid, pet and siblings. So when my news director asked if I could go to Los Angeles to cover NBC's Fall lineup party, work the red carpet and sit down one-on-one with the stars of NBC shows, I said, "Of course!" And of course, I want to give you the dish on the celebs I talked to.

There were so many, but I'll tell you now about the cast of "Heroes" (since the season premiere airs tonight). I was standing on the red carpet, which is an assembly line of media outlets. It was a short red carpet and there were so many of us we were smashed together. I was totally sweating and unlike the famous people I don't have a makeup person to touch up the shine.

Anyway, the celebrities walk the red carpet with their "handlers" who try to figure out who you are and whether you're worth talking to. I saw Masi Oka, who plays Hiro on "Heroes," and flagged him down. He was nice and professional, exactly the way I'd seen him act during interviews on talk shows.

I also talked to Cristine Rose from the show. She was lovely -- very pretty and very chatty. She talked for several minutes (you're lucky to get 30 seconds out of some of these people) about experiencing fall in North Carolina and how beautiful it was.

I also "saw" Hayden Panettiere (she's no bigger than a minute) and Adrian Pasdar (very handsome).

My favorite from "Heroes" was Greg Grunberg. He was being interviewed by Entertainment Weekly right next to me and for some reason grabbed my hand. Then he just kept holding my hand. Then he joked about holding my hand. He was very charming and very funny. He also didn't act like he was just talking to some reporter in Charlotte. A lot of these famous folks seem like they don't want to be bothered. I never got that feeling from Greg Grunberg. He was exactly the way you'd want a celebrity to be... down to earth. He seemed to get that he has a cool job and doing publicity interviews like this comes with the territory. As the red carpet filled with more famous faces and I ooh-ed and aah-ed, I was reminded I have a cool job, too.

More to come later this week. On Thursday I'll give you the scoop on the cast of my favorite show, "The Office."

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 10:03 AM | Comments (0)

Ira Cronin | Will the real Patriots please stand up?

Ira Cronin NewsChannel 36 Sports

This week was my first chance to see the Independence Patriots up close and personal this year. While I was only at the Vance-Independence game for the first half, I have to say I was not impressed. I'm use to being impressed by the Patriots. I think I have been spoiled watching history be made until last year when the streak came crashing to a close.

I have watched Butler play twice this year, and I would say the Bulldogs have impressed me. All season long, Charlotte Observer prep writer Langston Wertz has been saying on our show and on our web roundtable that Independence is the class of the city, and I would not pretend to know more about high school football than Langston, but I'll be watching that prediction closely as the season rolls on.

What I can say about Independence is that even when they look sloppy like they did against Vance, they always have that big play threat that can rise up at any moment. Michael Rhynes is a big receiver who I watched haul in a couple of nice catches, one for a touchdown, and Lawrence Martin made an eye popping one-handed touchdown catch that may be the best play I have seen all season long.

One thing I know for sure, Tom Knotts is one of the best coaches in our area, and he will work these kids until he feels like he's getting out of them, what he feels he can get out them, and I pity them a bit at practice while he works the team through the process. Sooner or later, the real Patriots will show themselves, what remains to be seen is where those Patriots will finish up the season.

See you next week!

See prep football scores and highlights on HSGameTime.com.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 12:31 AM | Comments (0)

Ira Cronin | A very weird Panthers locker room

Ira Cronin NewsChannel 36 Sports

As a reporter who covers the Panthers, you're always on the outside of the team, even when you're in the locker room with the guys. Today was a reminder of that fact. I went up to practice today very excited about the return of Steve Smith. Smith appeared on the field all smiles and looking like the same old Smitty. It was good see. I do know from my contacts that this team and this organization has put the training camp incident behind them. On the field there is no hang over and there will be no problems going forward.

Where there is still a hangover is in the locker room, not for the players or the coaches but for we in the media. Primarily because Steve won't come out and talk to us. Steve wrote in his blog on the Athletes United for Youth Web site that he doesn't see himself doing many interviews in the future, which is certainly his prerogative. Steve wrote that the media won't let the incident go. I agree with him, and on certain milestones such as his first practice since returning, the past is always going to be brought up by certain members of the media. But I'm not one of those people and it sucks being judged and put in a group like that, but I can understand where he's coming from, and being judged is something we all have to learn to deal with at one time or another in our lives.

Open locker room began around 2:15 with Jake Delhomme speaking. That's one thing I love about Jake. He understands that we have a job to do, and for most of us it's not personal, it's just a job. We go, we ask questions, some of them stupid, some not, and they answer. Jake is always there to talk in good times and bad times, after big wins and tough losses.

After we were finished with Jake there was a while where no one was around. I'm thinking to myself this team is 2-0, where is everyone? It's usually only that hard to find guys on Wednesdays when the team is losing on the field. My guess is that because Steve Smith was the topic of the day that most guys didn't want to come in and talk about it because in their minds it's been over and done with for a long time. To his credit Ken Lucas was also at his locker toward the end of open locker room and he spoke. I have covered my share of professional athletes but I have to say Ken is a guy who really has some qualities to look up to. His ability to be poised and honest over the past few weeks has been truly admirable.

Finally things were loosened up when Jeremy Bridges put a shaving cream pie in the face of center Ryan Kalil. Thanks Jeremy, and thanks Ryan for being a good sport. It made for good TV!

I'm anxious for this whole thing to move forward, and Sunday's game at Minnesota can't get here fast enough. I'm liking the sound of 3-0, and I think if the guys play like they have been, they have a real good chance of it.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 11:23 PM | Comments (0)

Mike Redding | Me, myself and more me

Mike Redding The Carolina Traveler

I've discovered something about myself. I'm a loner.

This will come as a shock to anyone who knew me or thinks they want to get to know me. Perhaps it will also surprise viewers who see me happily and comfortably joking around with people in many stories I do.

News that I'm a loner will certainly come as a shock to me. How can this be? I always thought I was a "people person." Not so.

I know and like a lot of people. In fact it's hard for me to find a person in whom I can't see something to like. But (excluding family) I can count my close friends on one hand. And I'm not using my thumb or pinky.

When I was young -in my 20s- I had many, many close friends. I spent quality time with a bunch of different people... and subsequently almost no time alone. I loved hanging with my buds back then. Being alone was for being asleep.

Fast-forward to today and I spend much of my free time alone... by choice. Hard to believe I've just figured this out. I'm almost 48 years old.

Here's how my detective-like brain solved that riddle: My wife is out of town for a week. It's her first extended trip away in our young two-year marriage. I expected that while she was gone I would party with my friends like it was, hmmm not 1999, but maybe 1981. I was cool that year. It was the only somewhat cool year of my life. I was 21. And living in Los Angeles. (Truth be told, my cool years were really only about seven months.)

Fast-forwarding again to 2008... my wife is spending time with family out of state and I'm, well, loving every second of alone time I can get. It's not that I don't love my wife or friends. I adore Anna. She's amazing. A true gift. Despite all that I've screwed up in my past, Anna is proof God loves me. And my friends are absolutely dear to me. I treasure the time I share with them. But apparently I love myself even more! Who knew?

I'm having a blast being alone. I go to work and head home... do some writing, make dinner and relax. Just chilling. Or is that chillin' no "g"? Not sure. I would have known in 1981.

I haven't called anyone to talk. I haven't gone out to dinner. I've done my usual workouts... rock climbing... yoga. That's it.

Is it possible I don't need people as much as I used to? Or maybe I didn't need myself as much years ago as I do now.

I know the older I get the more I enjoy the precious few who are close to me. I guess that includes me.

Okay, I gotta go. All this journaling about me made me miss myself.

Peace,

Mike

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 9:36 AM | Comments (1)

Ira Cronin | My thrilling 2 minutes on the field

Ira Cronin NewsChannel 36 Sports

As television talent (that is what my credential issued by the Panthers says on it, that's not necessarily what I think about myself) I'm only allowed on the field at Bank of America Stadium after the two-minute warning in the 4th quarter. I do it every home game because it's such a different perspective than what I have from my seat in the press.

Today when I arrived on the sidelines the Panthers defense was on the field, and facing a 4th and 1 for the Bears. It was a chance to end the game if they could stop them. Maake Kemoeatu lead the push and the bears were stuffed cold in their tracks.

As I said, I go down on the sidelines every home game, and usually there are quite a few empty seats. Sunday in the home opener against the Bears it was still a packed house and I can't describe how loud the roar was as the defense held their ground, handing the victory to the team, and the fans.

I had huge goose bumps listening to the fans cheer! I was standing next to one of my colleagues Tim Bair and he turned to me and said "I have goose bumps!" I turned my attention from the field, and looked around the stadium, and had the smallest glimpse of what the players must feel when they are cheered by their home crowd. There really is such a thing as a home field advantage and the Panthers haven't exactly had the reputation for having the best in the NFL but I can tell you today, the Panther fans stayed until the bitter end, and they were rewarded. It was amazing to experience first hand.

Ira

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 7:21 AM | Comments (0)

Amy Lehtonen | Weekend buzz in Charlotte

Amy Lehtonen WCNC.com

Albemarle's Kellie Pickler is quickly becoming a household name earning another accolade this week. She's been nominated for a CMA award for best new artist. This comes on the heels of the release of her upcoming album. Her self titled new album is in stores September 30. Click here for a behind the scenes look at her music video for 'Don't You Know You're Beautiful.'

Being from the south Kellie's familiar with barbeque and this weekend you can temp your taste buds Uptown with the annual Blues, Brew and BBQ. The name says it all ... plenty of barbecue and brew and live music from national blues acts. It's on North Tryon Street between Sixth and Eleventh streets until 11 o'clock Saturday night.

If rock music is more your style and you were planning on seeing 3 Doors Down Wednesday in Charlotte, the concert has been postponed. A doctor has advised lead singer Brad Arnold to rest his voice. No word on when the concert will be rescheduled.

You can catch live music all day Saturday at the third annual whitewater festival with rafting trips available.

Put your dancing feet back on dry land and head Uptown for a rockin' good time before the Panthers home opener Sunday. Food and non-alcoholic drinks are free at the Carolina Huddle tailgate with a Toys for Tots donation. Head to the parking lot that borders Church, Poplar and Third streets. Tailgating starts at 7 a.m. with free breakfast for the early birds. Click here for more details.

Enjoy good times, great people and unbelievably great jazz music on Saturday, Sept. 13 at Symphony Park at SouthPark.

The festival begins at 2:30 p.m.

The entertainment lineup includes bassist Ron Brendle with his Freebop Funk-tet, flutist Michael Porter with his band Porterhouse, Sweet Dreams from Durham and The Fuzz Band from Virginia.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 8:22 AM | Comments (0)

Ira Cronin | My amazing round of golf with Nick Price

Ira Cronin NewsChannel 36 Sports

Yes everyone, this is one of those days where I am reminded that my job is pretty cool. Some days I must admit are even way too cool for me, like today. I played a round of golf with golf Hall of Famer Nick Price at the Rock Barn in one of the Pro Am's of the Greater Hickory Classic.

Yes, my day began very early at 4 a.m. when I woke up like a kid on Christmas morning, only this morning there was no one to tell me to go back to bed. I live about an hour and half from the course, and arrived just before 6 a.m. when registration was set to begin. I could see two guys who checked in before me, but I was the first person in the dinning room to eat breakfast, and I was the first person on the range to hit balls. As a high handicap player, you can't imagine the excitement of playing in a Pro Am. If you ever have the invitation or chance to play in one I would highly recommend that you take advantage of it!

Ira Cronin golfs with Nick Price

At 8 a.m., with a light rain falling, we met up with our pro for the day, Nick Price. The rain didn't even matter to me. I'm thinking to myself are you kidding me? Nick Price! Nick Freaking Price! The guy has won the British Open, and two PGA Championships. In the mid 90s he was regarded as the best player in the world, winning the British and the PGA back to back in 1994. It was hard to hit the ball in front of him for the first few holes. My knees were knocking and I was feeling the pressure! After the fourth hole I pulled out my camera to take some pictures of him, and this is when Nick Price really worked his magic, and loosened me up and finally got me to relax. I was going to take a picture of him teeing off and he grabbed my camera from me and said with a big smile in that South African accent, "Let me take a picture of you!" So, I'm standing over my ball getting ready to hit, thinking to myself, "Nice Price is taking pictures with my camera... how cool is this!" He took pictures with us, for us, of us and was cracking us up the whole time!

Over the course of the round we had what turned out to be a fantastic day. While he was hitting amazing golf shots, getting ready for the tournament, he was asking all of us in the group about where we grew up. He wanted to know about our families. He told us about his. I soon forgot he was Nick Price the legendary golfer, and I was just having a good time with Nick Price the great guy. I give him all the credit for setting the fun tone that allowed all of us in the group to focus on having fun, and in the process we all began playing some inspired golf! All of us in the group, myself, my boss Greg Bailey, John (Kent) Hemmings, and Duke Woodlief, all seemed to come up with ridiculously good shots at the just the right time and when all of us amateurs fell off the wagon, Nick was there with a birdie to carry us.

Hard to believe, but we shot 19 under as a group and some how won the thing! I will forever remember what a great guy Nick Price was to play with. That, to me, is far more valuable than the win! We received a plaque that he signed for each of us. On mine he wrote, "Ira, thanks for a great day, and well played!" I'm not a great golfer, but I was part of a great day, and a three-time major winner sincerely told me "well played."

I am going to sleep well, tonight!

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 10:03 PM | Comments (0)

Greg Bailey | My friend, Mike Minter

"Boom!" Mike Minter jumped out of his seat on Sunday as we broadcast Panthers GameDay. Mike swayed and moved, threw his fist in the air and shouted.

"That's the way you play defense!" I could see one of the greatest Panthers of all time going back in time, playing the game against the Chargers from the stools we use on set for the show.

He has great insights and a TON of enthusiasm. He also sandbagged us about his skills on TV.

I thought we were getting a raw rookie. Instead we got a veteran who's not afraid to jump out of his seat. When the Panthers do well, he's happy. When they suffer, their old teammate suffers with them. I can't wait to see what he does next week for the show after the Bears game.

I'll also let you in on a little secret. Mike has started his coaching career with First Assembly High School. On Friday night we showed up to his game against North Stanly. Circumstances dictated we could stay for a little while before driving to another game to shoot highlights. Mike's team fell behind early. We had to leave and use only those highlights. Mike's team roared back after the cameras were gone and won big. Mike watched HS GameTime and was ready with the needle for us on Sunday. Here's the deal: We'll promise to try to time it better next time as long as Mike promises not to fall out of his chair next Sunday night.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 9:26 PM | Comments (0)

Greg Bailey | Scene from Panthers locker room

Greg Bailey WCNC Sports Director

The scene from the Panthers locker room in San Diego tells you all you need to know. (Thanks to Panthers GameDay coming to NewsChannel 36, we got the exclusive video, and it is a blast to watch. We'll show it tonight again at 11 and make sure you get to see it on the air.) John Fox bear hugging Jake Delhomme. Panthers owner Jerry Richardson hugging staff in the background.

Everyone in the locker room was standing and waiting so everyone could gather together, dance and shout. NFL players have seen almost everything, good and bad, and few had seen anything like this.

I'm sure you saw the last drive. Jake's cool and Dante Rosario's remarkable catch. The great protection from the offensive line. Moose's veteran savvy to call timeout as planned with two seconds left. This is how champions execute with the game on the line. I hope you didn't miss the championship trait that means even more - the Panthers lined up to make sure Steve Smith was included in everything that happened on Sunday. Phone calls and text messages were exchanged with one common theme: you are a part of this and we can't wait to have you back.

That part of the story is even more amazing than the comeback to stun the Chargers. Teams are torn apart when team leaders do far less than what Steve Smith did to Ken Lucas with the training camp punch.

Instead of going that way, the Panthers drew closer. Honest feelings were shared and nothing was held back. I am sure that you saw that pay off on the field in the final drive.

Today this is a team full of players that trust one another, and I can't tell you how rare that is in professional sports. Jake trusts receivers he's never thrown to in a game before (DJ Hackett and Dwayne Jarrett). The defensive backs trust the lineman up front. The starters trust the backups, and you saw that play out with rock solid play from offensive linemen Jeremy Bridges and Geoff Hangartner after injuries forced them into the lineup. That trust allows each player to do his job and not worry that someone else will fail to do his. Carolina made a long shot look easy in the final seconds.

Bring on Chicago in one of the great games for week two in the NFL. The Panthers have earned all the attention they will get this week. They earned all the credit coming their way, too. It all starts with trust and unity. On an amazing Sunday in San Diego, no one was left out.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 8:41 PM | Comments (0)

Ira Cronin | Panthers show promise of big things

Ira Cronin NewsChannel 36 Sports

Panthers show promise of big things!

Don't you know who I am? I usually cringe when people in my line of work say something like that, but I will clarify. I am the guy who can get overly excited about the Panthers season opening win at San Diego!

The last time the Panthers, lead by Jake Delhomme, began the season with Delhomme throwing a game-winning pass was 2003, when he hit Ricky Proehl for the game winning touchdown. Jake entered the game at half time, with the Panthers trailing the Jaguars. Sunday, Jake started for the first time since elbow surgery and looked as good as ever, including that amazing pump fake and throw on the last play of the game, a 14-yard pass to Dante Rosario in the back of the endzone that pushed the Panthers to a thrilling season opening win.

Am I saying the Panthers are headed for the Super Bowl like in 2003? I just might be. What I do know for sure is that everyone on the national scene was picking the Chargers to not only win this game, but win the Super Bowl this year. Following that logic, considering the Panthers played without Steve Smith, I am willing to say they are headed for another magical season that has a good chance to ending in Arizona.

So let me be the one, along with the rest of you fans to say such things. As for the Panthers, they will be at it one game at a time and will be thinking of Chicago, and not Phoenix, for the coming week. Just the way it should be.

Ira

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 6:39 AM | Comments (0)

Greg Bailey | The New Panthers

Greg Bailey WCNC Sports Director

Julius Peppers smiled and talked to the media. Jake Delhomme sounded like a rookie getting his first shot in the NFL. Steve Smith was nowhere to be found.

Maybe a Wednesday afternoon in the locker room is the moment we all realize that the '08 Panthers really are different, just like the players have promised us since training camp got underway.

Peppers' media session was great, highlighted by thoughtful answers that we rarely get a chance to hear simply because Peppers rarely talks to us. It is important that Pep shows that side of himself. But it's not nearly as important as his teammates' faith to vote him captain again. As far as I'm concerned Peppers' lousy 2007 season ended as soon as his teammates saw him working hard in the off-season. Teams rely on that kind of effort from their best players. Whether they'll admit it or not, the Panthers needed to see Peppers dedicate himself and he delivered. Jordan Gross told us in camp Peppers would be "better than ever and set records" this year. I believe every bit of that.

Jake's always enthusiastic. He was off the charts today. Every player says he believes before the season starts, but today the electricity crackled with every word. This is a different team in every way with Delhomme under center. This year we get a different Jake, a better Jake. More thankful after watching from the sidelines in 2007. More enthusiastic after staring down an injury that could have taken his career away. Listen to Delhomme talk about chemistry and accountability that sets this team apart and it's easy to believe.

This is also a different locker room without Steve Smith. I left the facility today understanding that Carolina will miss their best play-maker in San Diego. But I also understand that the Panthers need Smith to find his best side just like Jake and Julius Peppers did. Once that Smitty appears and stays for the long haul, that's when Carolina is on to something special.

More thoughts from the Panthers locker room

I covered DJ Hackett early in his career. Gifted player who has a tough time staying healthy. Carolina needs him desperately in the opener. He will make a ton of plays for the Panthers as long as he's not watching from the bench.

Tough to see Jason Carter in street clothes. A promising season lost on a knee injury that Carter was sure was no big deal. It is a great testament to the Panthers organization that they are standing by Carter instead of pushing for some kind of an injury settlement. That is a huge deal to players and word spreads quickly in the NFL fraternity. Nice move by the organization for a nice man who has worked hard for his shot in the league.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 6:59 AM | Comments (0)

Brad Panovich | Heading to New Orleans

Brad Panovich Meteorologist

Sunday August 31, 2008 - 10 a.m. on the plane from Charlotte to New Orleans

I'm on my way to New Orleans to help our sister station WWL out as it gets ready for the landfall of Hurricane Gustav, which should be Monday morning.

I'm on the plane from Charlotte with many people trying to get home so they can evacuate. It sounds weird but many of my fellow passengers were on vacation, business or visiting family and now must fly home just to pack up and leave again. The city is under a mandatory evacuation and the airport will close at 6 p.m. today (Sunday).

Others on my flight are like me going to help. One woman is from a animal rescue group helping evacuate animals to Folsom, La. Others are doctors and nurses going to help with the evacuation and aftermath. There is also a photographer from Israel who is going to cover the storm for an Israeli newspaper.

I had to give an impromptu weather briefing about the storm to the people seated around me when they found out that I was a meteorologist. I told them the storm had thankfully weakened overnight and I thought it would weaken even more closer to landfall, but that today there was an opportunity for intensification as Gustav travels over the loop current. This is a pocket of very deep warm water.

The good news, I told them, is that wind shear, some dry air and cooler water would deter intensification as the storm approaches the coast and that there was a chance the high pressure system to the north could turn the storm more to the west. The bad news was the storm is still a category 3 and the forward speed of 16 mph would not give it too much time for that ridge to push it west.

When I land the plan is for the weekend meteorologist Jonathan Myers from WWL to pick me up at the airport and we would go to Baton Rouge and set up weather operations for the station there. I'm going to help set up their graphics and weather data system so we can broadcast from there when the rest of the staff leaves New Orleans for safety.

My gut feeling and experience tells me the city may, for the most part, be OK as the track and strength of the storm should keep flooding to a minimum in the city, but areas on the West bank of the Mississippi river and around the lake will see some water for sure. The irony is Baton Rouge where I'm heading may get it worse with wind and rain then New Orleans but not the flooding.

I really feel bad for the people of southeast Louisiana. You can tell by their facial expressions and demeanor that they can't believe this is happening again. I try to let them know that it won't be as bad as Katrina, but just the chance that it could be and so close to the three-year anniversary doesn't help to quell their fears.

It seems so unfair that a city with such great people would even have to think about the possibility of another disaster like Katrina in a time so shortly removed from the last disaster. I'll try to keep you posted on what happens when I'm down here. Please keep the Gulf Coast in your prayers.

Brad

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 8:55 AM | Comments (0)

Buying batteries, and other hurricane compulsions

Kayla Gagnet WCNC.com producer

As I write this, my sister-in-law is cutting short her advanced paramedic classes. Not because she's tired of studying, but because she's already certified as an EMT basic, and her skills are needed elsewhere -- in the nursing homes of south Louisiana, where she'll be helping the elderly to safety should Hurricane Gustav come their way.

My father-in-law is also preparing to evacuate. He's a social worker, and he's charged with getting the patients at his small mental health hospital to safety in north Louisiana. And my mother-in-law? She's getting the gymnasium ready at the high school where she works as assistant principal. It's on higher ground and may be used as a shelter for coastal Louisiana evacuees.

So my service-oriented family has already kicked into high gear -- even with Gustav's landfall location still very fuzzy -- and I'm getting restless.

Sure, I'm worried about them. But Gustav's track is still uncertain, and they've been through this before; we all have. We know the routine, and we learned a few tricks when hurricanes Katrina and Rita hit in 2005.

I'm feeling restless because I feel helpless. I'm 800 miles away from my lifelong home, a world away from what my family and friends are going through. And all day I've been fighting the urge to stand in line at Wal-Mart for bottled water, batteries and granola bars. That's what you do to fight the fear and stress; you prepare. But here I am in North Carolina with nothing to prepare for except a Labor Day barbecue.

It's been almost two years since my husband and I moved to Charlotte, and most days, we love it here. But right now, I wish like hell I were home.

Tomorrow is the third anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and though I suffered no personal losses, facing the memories and emotions from that time is inevitable and always harder than I expect.

I was incredibly blessed compared to many of my friends and family; when the storm hit, I was living two hours west of New Orleans. But I was a reporter, and I was charged with telling some of Katrina's most horrific stories -- of communication failures and homes destroyed, of attic escapes and family left behind, of people left for dead.

And the story of failed infrastructure and the slow pace of recovery is one still being told today by my colleagues in New Orleans.

The storm forever changed my perspective on hurricanes. They're something many of us south Louisiana natives had come to take for granted. Yes, now I'm more jittery when a loosely organized low-pressure system becomes strong enough to deserve a name of its own. Lili, Rita, Katrina. They sound like schoolyard playmates, not forces of nature with the power to destroy lives, or even take them.

And against my better judgment and the advice of my husband, I can't seem to take my eyes off the latest National Hurricane Center forecast map. Not even the excitement of my alma mater LSU's season opener against Appalachian State is enough to distract me from Gustav's slow march toward my home.

So today, as many in the Charlotte region begin the cleanup from flooding here, I'm also thinking of my family -- the state of Louisiana -- as they remember Katrina and prepare for Gustav.

Me? I'll be in line at Wal-Mart, buying batteries.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 2:35 PM | Comments (2)

Panthers show fan appreciation

Trey Harmon NewsChannel 36 Associate Producer

Saturday night the Carolina Panthers accomplished something they hadn't done in a very long time. They completely destroyed another team at Bank of America Stadium.

I know it's only preseason, so it's not the fact that they won that inspired me to write this. What inspired me was what I heard on the elevator inside Bank of America Stadium.

I've worked with the Carolina Panthers for the past two seasons as a Guest Relations team member. My job is mainly to greet the fans and reserve elevator access for disabled people and people with luxury box seats. So I get to hear all sorts of conversations while taking people to their respective floors.

Saturday night I heard enthusiasm from many people and that is what inspired me to write this blog. One group of guys talked about how promising the running game looks, and how improved the offensive line is. Other fans said they couldn't wait for the regular season to start. And one person was even optimistic about playing the first two games with out receiver Steve Smith. That, my friends, was the exact moment I told myself I was going to write a blog.

The atmosphere was in complete contrast to last season when all I heard was...well I won't even attempt to write what I heard last season. Let me tell you, you haven't lived until you're inside an elevator with drunk, highly upset Panthers' fans.

The team only won two home games, and didn't win their first home game until December. But the bad language didn't bother me as much as seeing fans so depressed, angry, and feeling like the players didn't appreciate playing at home. It's no fun sitting in an elevator with people who spend $10,000 on tickets who are leaving in the first quarter.

Some analysts will downplay the 47-3 win saying "it's only preseason, it means nothing." Other experts might say the Panthers have no class running up the score in a pre-season game. But a beat down is exactly what Panthers' fans needed to see, and I think they appreciated it after what they went through last season.

The players showed the fans that Bank of America Stadium is home field no matter what type of game it is, and they want to give us our money's worth.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 10:14 AM | Comments (0)

Ira Cronin | It's time for HS GameTime!

Ira Cronin NewsChannel 36 Sports

Hard to believe it's already here, but as I write this blog we are on the verge of high school football. Friday night opens up with some tremendous matchups and we'll have you covered on HS Gametime right here on Newschannel 36!

Charlotte Catholic and South Meck waste no time kicking off our season as our game of the week and the great match ups don't stop there. West Charlotte at Ashbrook is another game that I can't wait to see what happens in.

Our producer Herman Towe and I are sitting around here tonight chalk full off anticipation. The show is a huge production that takes a whole lot of people to get on the air and make it look as great as our high school fans deserve, and once again Newschannel 36 is throwing all caution to the wind, putting all the chips on the table for another great season of High School Football on HS Gametime!

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 10:39 PM | Comments (0)

Greg Bailey | Great football in the Carolinas

Greg Bailey WCNC Sports Director

When I moved to Charlotte I knew what to expect from the Panthers after covering the Cowboys, Chiefs and Seahawks. I had seen my share of big time college basketball, covering Roy Williams' great teams at Kansas, and later great individual players like NBA rookie of the year Brandon Roy. I had been exposed to the magic world of NASCAR. And I'd seen my share of great golf on the PGA Tour during my 15 years in television.

But I had no idea that high school football was this good in North Carolina. Great coaches, great programs and great speed everywhere. One of the first stories I did last year was the trio of big time, division one recruits at Butler High - all in the same defensive backfield. (And yes, I know they had 11 or 12 players on that team sign scholarship players. That's amazing in its own right.) Last week I asked a veteran college football recruiter if he'd ever heard of anything like Eddie Whitley, Spencer Adams and Robert Blanton enticing recruiters from around the country in the same defensive backfield at the same school.

The answer was quick, "No." The coaches at Michigan didn't believe it. That these 3 great athletes at their summer camp could all possibly play for the same team.

It's true and now we're ready for more.

The offenses here are so much more advanced than what I'd covered before. Speed at every skill position and the understanding of how to attack defenses.

That makes for great stuff on Friday nights. We'll deliver great hi lites, as always, but we'll also keep an eye on defenses this year. We'll crank up our Friday coverage every week at 6 pm with our hit of the week segments from the previous weeks' games. (There's great speed on defense, too.) We'll also add a roundtable discussion on the HS Gametime website to start the conversation about next week's games. Look for that to be posted first thing Monday mornings.

This is the best part of our jobs. Every year great stories and great players emerge. The magic is back on Friday nights and we're ready to rock on HS Gametime.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 10:19 AM | Comments (0)

Ira Cronin | Watch out for Steve Smith

Ira Cronin WCNC Sports

In the wake of the incident at Panthers camp this year, I'm looking for Steve Smith to have one of his best seasons ever. I say this because I'm a student of history. Let me explain.

Whenever Steve has had problems, his track record is that he learns from his mistake and bounces back better than ever. In 2002 when Smith had his incident with Anthony Bright, he was humbled by the experience. He recognized his mistake. He sought help. And, he bounced back better than ever on the football field. In 2003 the Panthers made a trip to the Super Bowl and Smith began to carve out his reputation as one of the best players in the game. There is no question that he has taken a few steps back with this most recent incident. I look at Steve's progression as a man and as a player like a climb up a mountain. Whenever Smith has stumbled or taken a step backward, he always follows it up with several steps forward.

I wrote a blog the night after he hit Ken Lucas saying to hold out judgment on Steve. Wait until all the evidence was in. Turns out it was Smith's fault, and he accepted all the blame for it. He knows that the only way to earn back the respect of his teammates and the fans is to produce on the field, and become a better person in the locker room and in the community.

Let's not forget that perhaps the biggest factor in the Panthers ability to move past this incident has been the ability of Ken Lucas to forgive Smith and move past it.

I did a radio interview today with a station in Richmond, Va. I said to look for the Panthers to be a 10 or 11-win team this season, because they have encountered some serious adversity before they even get to the regular season. It appears that they have moved past the initial incident in the best way possible. If they can survive their first two games of the regular season, at San Diego and at home against Chicago, and win without Smith, they will only be better, once he comes back.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 9:43 PM | Comments (0)

Nerves, sweat and tears at Lady Cat auditions

Michelle Webb NewsChannel36 Associate Producer

My day started at 1:30 in the morning Sunday. I had to be at work by 2:30 for my shift at WCNC. All day I was only thinking about the tryouts and having to stand in front of those judges. I couldn't eat or drink anything. To say my nerves were getting the best of me is an understatement. I've tried out for a team every year since I was 16-years-old and it never seems to get any easier-especially when you have been turned down from a team. But as soon as I got to Time Warner Cable arena I knew it would be smooth sailing from there.

Then came the sweat part. We learned a short, jazz style routine taught by the coach. All 100 plus ladies dancing together on the arena floor-all for the same goal. It was great to feel like this could be the beginning of a dream. We were broken up into groups of eight and performed the routine twice in front of the judges. Then came the most nerve racking experience to date in my dancing career. We had to stand there in front of the judges as the votes were being tallied. Once tallied, the numbers of those advancing to the next round were called out - and those who didn't hear their numbers were sent home - right then. I had been smiling so much my lips were quivering. Then I heard my number: "Number 137".

A quick break to freshen up our make up and hair - then it was time to meet the vets. The returning Lady Cats came back to claim their spots. And I can attest that they wanted their spots back.

The next routine was a more hip-hop style dance - not my forte. But my motto is just pretend you know what you are doing. The groups were smaller this time - only groups of six. You can't hide in a group of six. And I was positioned right in front of what could be my future coach. I got up in front of those judges thinking I was prepared. Then I forgot the first three moves. Thankfully I redeemed myself the second time around.

Next was the most grueling two hours of my life. We waited as the judges deliberated, and deliberated. When they had made their decision on who would be joining them in the next three days into boot camp- we had to line up in a semi circle on the court. Then one by one 32 names were called. It was down to the final two names ... and in a very anti-movie fashion ... my name wasn't called. I stood there with the remaining 20 ladies and watched as those deserving women moved one step closer to being a Lady Cat. This is where the tears came in.

But life as a professional cheerleader isn't over for me yet. I've still got time to get those orange boots. In the meantime, I'll return to my life as a dancer for the Checkers and spend the next 365 days working on my next goal. Until then I'll continue to answer my favorite question about being a Checkmate, "Do you guys really dance on the ice?" (And the answer is yes, we really do dance on the ice.)

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 10:46 AM | Comments (3)

Ira Cronin | Playing Pinehurst a big thrill

Ira Cronin WCNC Sports

Wednesday Aug. 6 was one of the best days of my professional career. At first glance you may wonder why, when my assignment was to cover a press conference. But when I say it was a press conference for the upcoming U.S. Amateur in Pinehurst you may begin to understand.

Yes it was a pretty average press conference, but I have to say the lunch was better than most. The interviews after word were alright, but the post press conference activity -- golf on Pinehurst No. 2 -- was out of this world, but that wasn't my only big thrill of the day!

Anytime I make the drive from Charlotte to Pinehurst to do a story I'm excited. Every time I am in the area, I feel the history and significance of being in a very special place in the annals of golf. I have seen many of the greatest players in the world play on No. 2 and I have only been in Charlotte long enough to cover the 2005 US Open. I clearly remember watching the final round of the 1999 Open when I was working in Salt Lake City, and seeing the late Payne Stewart's miraculous finish to beat Phil Mickelson.

Besides playing golf, a big thrill for me was holding and taking a picture with the actual U.S. Amateur trophy. Trust me, I know holding the trophy is the closest I will ever come to winning anything in golf. I was struck thinking that I was holding the same trophy that has been held by the likes of Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, Scott Verplank, Billy Mayfair, Matt Kuchar and many many others.

The USGA paired every media group with a player from the local area. My group played with Phillip Moica, a rising senior at Clemson. Playing a round with Phillip on No. 2 really gave me an appreciation of how difficult the course is, and how easy good players make it look to negotiate their way around the Donald Ross masterpiece.

In case your wondering, I shot 99 on No. 2. I take great pride in knowing that I needed a Par on the final hole to break 100, and I came through. To tell you the truth I could have shot 120 and still would have been grinning from ear to ear. Playing No. 2 for me isn't about what I shoot, it's simply enjoying the history that seems to echo off the tall pine trees and around every corner of the course.

If you have the chance to play the course, I would highly recommend it. If you have the chance to go out and watch the US amateur the week of Aug. 18-24, I would also recommend that. The players who are out there may not be household names, yet but I can promise that many of them will someday.

Posted by WCNC.com Staff  on 6:30 PM | Comments (0)

Commuting | Don't drive, earn prizes

Jeremy Markovich WCNC Producer

If you have to drive to work by yourself, Wednesday, Aug. 13 is not the day to do it.

That's "Don't Drive Day." As long as you don't do it, you can win stuff from Mecklenburg County -- stuff like an iPod touch, an electric lawnmower, and so on. Riding the bus, the LYNX blue line, carpooling, vanpooling, walking, telecommuting, or riding a bike all count here.

It sounds like I'm giving out a homework assignment.

The county wants you to e-mail details about your August 13 commute to dontdriveday@yahoo.com. That gets you entered for the prizes, provided that you send that e-mail by noon on August 14.

Here's the website for more information on this: www.airquality.charmeck.org.

Good luck, and happy biking/riding/walking/carpooling/telecommuting/bus-riding.

Life in the Fast Lanes

July 21, 2008

In ten years, you could get around Charlotte's already congested traffic. That is, if you're willing to pay for it.

City and state transportation folks are already in the midst of a study on Fast Lanes. When we finally get new lanes on parts on I-77, I-85, I-485 and so on, a few of them would turn exclusively into carpool lanes. If you're driving by yourself, you could just pay to use them instead. The heavier the congestion, the more you'd pay. There wouldn't be any toll booths; rather, you'd have a little EZ-Pass sort of thing on your windshield or dash (Anyone who's been on a turnpike up north knows what this is).

Today, NCDOT told me that we'll find out where those toll/HOV lanes will go in December. CDOT and NCDOT are studying it now. Basically, the busiest areas would have carpool lanes. Areas that aren't quite as slammed with cars could get the toll lanes. NCDOT also wants to make sure it'll be able to bring in enough toll money to help pay for it all. That'll factor in as well.

Important stuff? Yes. Highly boring? Yes.

Here's what's new: versions of Fast Lanes are popping up across the country. In Miami, they haven't even started charging TOLLS yet, and already, people are confused. They're darting in between those white plastic stakes meant to keep carpooling or paying drivers apart from the masses on I-95. That's causing accidents. Miami transportation higher-ups say they'll add more signs. And more stakes.

Seattle added "Good To Go" lanes a few months back. About a thousand people are using them per day. DOT folks out there are expecting that number to grow to 5,000, but it could take a few years to get there. People are complaining that they're being overcharged (the cost is anywhere between $0.50 and $9), and that they're having a hard time getting into and out of the lanes.

Bottom line though, Washington DOT folks say "Good To Go" is good for shaving about 5 to 15 minutes off of a rush hour commute. Doesn't sound like much. But imagine taking an hour long drive on I-77 and knocking 15 minutes off. That's a half hour per day of not listening to your radio, wishing you were at home.

Again, this is still at least ten years off in Charlotte. So for now, have a little patience, because later on, you'll need to have a little extra money to get help get rid of your road rage.

Taking a horse to work

Last week, I wondered aloud whether anyone actually rides a horse to work.

I'm not talking about cowboys or ranch hands or other people for whom a horse is part of the job. I was looking for somebody who, say, lives in the 'burbs and rides a pony to their job in some nondescript office park somewhere.

That same day, our NBC sister station in South Florida did this story on a woman who works as a cashier at an Asian restaurant. She rides her horse Calypso to work every day. She parks him under an oak tree.

"My mom's going back to school," Emily Menendez said, "so we can't even afford the gas, it's just too expensive."

I get it. Fuel for your CAR is too expensive. But remember, you've got to fuel the horse too, and feed prices aren't exactly going down (let's not get started on ethanol). Plus, what happens if your horse breaks down on the side of the highway? I don't think AAA's roadside assistance program covers a tow to the veterinarian.

I'm sorry. I just ruined a fun story.

But here's your chance to make it up: Think you can top a horseback commute? Send your stories to commute@wcnc.com.

Editor's Note: Below are several blog entries from producer Jeremy Markovich about his 5-day experiment in commuting to work. Scroll down to read previous days' accounts, and click here for more about his project.

Summarizing A Long Week

Jeremy's final thoughts on commuting

It's been a long week.

Regardless of how it looks, it's not easy to videotape yourself riding several different modes of transportation. I had a major problem with my audio. My tape editor, Willie, had to edit around possibly 200 utterances of the words "uh" and "um." It was capped off this afternoon by an on-set interview where I explained what I thought worked best.

You can tell I'm not on TV very often. I have no idea what to do with my hands.

What worked for me:

At the end of it all, I decided biking and driving are the best ways for me to get to work. Quite honestly, I don't spend that much money traveling the 5 miles between south Charlotte and WCNC. It's quick. It's effortless. And it keeps me dry. Just ask me how happy I was to have a car handy during this week's thunderstorms.

The bike also works well. I've been pedaling to work for months now. It only takes a little more than a half-hour. It's free. And I get my daily exercise. Thank goodness there's a shower at my station. My co-workers appreciate that more than they know.

What works for you:

That's really up to you to decide.

There are few theories I have: If you live REALLY close, you can walk. Within 15 miles, you could give biking a try. If you live WAY out, you can take an express bus into town and save a lot of cash. Park and Rides make it easier. And if you want to completely leave your car behind, your bike makes it much easier to get to your bus stop, and then on to work. And, of course, carpooling makes a lot of sense. You may have people in your neighborhood who are headed to the exact same place you are. Ask around work. Check some websites.

I'm not the only one who went looking for a better way. Marisa Wheeling works for Pfeiffer University in Misenheimer. She commutes there from her home in Myers Park. Even in her Honda Civic, she pays $60 to $80 a week for gas. "I have cut down significantly on quick trips to the store," she says. "I have to save money and gas for my daily commute."

Marisa says her bosses have cut the work week down to four days over the summer to save on gas money. She's waiting to see what'll happen in the fall.

-----

Paul Carr left his car behind. He says it took six months to do it. While living in Fort Lauderdale, he sold his car. He lost 40 pounds by riding his bike. That was more than two years ago.

When he moved to Charlotte to work for US Airways, Paul rented an apartment near the airport. It's also near a bus line. "I ride my bike to and from work every day," Paul says. "I wave at two gas stations as I pass by."

He's now 53 years old. "I will continue this plan until I am physically unable to do so," he says. "I know this plan isn't for everyone. It works for me."

-----

If you see a guy flying down the Billy Graham Parkway on a 200cc scooter, it may be Al. He didn't tell us his last name. He fills up every week and a half for $5. It used to cost him $50. You may want to say hi. But don't spook him. He's on a scooter, after all.

-----

We even got an e-mail from a guy named Mitchell Mittower, who found the answer to his commute -- in China. He ordered something called an E-bike for a little less than $1,000. It's an electric-powered bike that you can plug in. He says the electricity cost works out to about 2 cents per mile.

-----

So my five days are over. But it doesn't end here. We want to stay committed to the idea of this -- that there's got to be a better and cheaper way to get to work. It may take some planning. You may have to invest some time. Or even money. How much you'll invest is up to you to decide.

So for now, keep sending us emails about your commute, unusual or not, to commute@wcnc.com. Who knows? We may show up along your way to work.

At least you won't have to videotape yourself.

Day 5: Walking

Jeremy's long walk to work

I'm not walking to work again. Ever.

The other four ideas I came up with (biking, bus-riding, biking and carpooling) sounded at least REMOTELY practical to me. This one never did.

Instead, I just wondered how long it would take me to walk the six miles between my condo and our studios. That's the only reason why I did it. My guess was around an hour and a half. It took me two.

One of the things I didn't count on was the boredom. I figured I'd occupy my time with the handheld camera that I was using to videotape my travels. After about ten minutes, I'd shot more than enough footage. A barking dog amused me for a split second. A real estate flyer for a home along my route gave me nearly two minutes of enjoyment. I read it twice and decided I wasn't in the market.

My route took me up sidewalks. Then up more sidewalks. Then up a stretch of Nations Crossing Road where there were no sidewalks. All the while I passed some of Charlotte's most ubiquitous landmarks. A Walgreen's. At least five gas stations. Four Mexican restaurants. Two churches.

I also saw more than my share of beer cans. It's a bit frightening when you stop to think about how they ended up in the gutter along South Boulevard.

I stopped about every ten minutes and checked myself for ticks.

I'm not joking.

See, during day two of my experiment, I had to walk the remaining mile from the closest bus stop to WCNC. During that morning's meeting, I glanced down and saw a tick, head burrowed into my arm and sucking feverishly. Later, I found two more that hadn't burrowed in, but were instead just hanging out, waiting for the party to start. A co-worker suggested that even though I hadn't walked through any woods or tall grass, I had walked under a tree and maybe the ticks had seen me coming and launched an airborne assault. You know, like tiny ninjas.

After my last self-examination, I rounded the corner into the parking lot tick-free, but late for work. I arrived just in time for the general manager to see me. He asked what I was doing. I said I had just walked six miles. "That's great," he replied before walking inside, probably to shake his head and ask human resources if they knew about some weirdo working downstairs named Jeremy.

I knew even before I started my trip that only a weirdo would walk that far to work daily. I'm not alone in the aversion to commuting on two feet. Charlotte ranks near the bottom in a survey of cities where people walk to work.

Three words may change that: mixed use development. The trend lately has been to build homes and offices and shops all in the same spot. That way you can live where you shop where you work. You can have a career and buy the finer things in life without so much as having to walk around the block. Uptown Charlotte is obviously an example. But mixed use developments are popping up everywhere from Ballantyne to Huntersville and beyond. The city is also looking at ways to make Charlotte more walkable. I'd suggest they start with sidewalks on Nations Crossing Road. A guy could twist an ankle out there.

At the end of it all, I suppose I can't complain about my walk to work. It was a nice day. I got some exercise. And I made it in one piece. What more could a guy ask for?

Oh yeah. A ride.

Day 4: Carpooling

Jeremy shares a ride, learns a secret

Believe it or not, it's not usually in my nature to ask for help.

Seriously. At heart, I'm a quiet person. "It's ok," I'll often say to people. "I can do it myself."

Maybe that's why carpooling just seems soooo... not me. My original plan was to go to a carpooling website, find somebody who was headed in my direction and ask them to ride with me. In my mind, that person would then show up at my door. After I explained that I wasn't a creep and the camera was actually for a series of stories on WCNC, that person would then take me to work. Game, set, match.

It didn't quite work like that. I joined one site and sent out one request. It was to a guy who was driving from SouthPark to Billy Graham at Tyvola.

It felt like I was back in fifth grade, asking a girl if she'd want to go to the dance with me. I don't remember exactly what I typed, but it certainly seemed like this: "Sooo.... Are you, uh, going my way? Cause if you're not, uh, that's ok. I'm uh, just wondering if, um, you'd like to, uh, ride with me. It's cool if you don't want to. It's cool. But if YOU'RE not riding with anybody, and I'M not riding with anybody, well, um, you know. We could, like, ride together. If it's cool."

I got no response.

Other routes made it seem like the driver would need to go out of the way to pick me up. There were a lot of people looking to share rides, but nobody was headed my way. It seemed as if everybody was waiting for somebody else to ask them to the dance.

I decided to go another route, and ended up catching a ride with Steve. He's one of our commercial photographers. He also happens to live about a mile away from me.

"How'd you like to take part in my experiment?" I asked him one day last week.

"Uh... ok," he said.

For one thing, since Steve was driving, I was at his mercy. He showed up around 7:30 in the morning. That's an hour before I normally left to drive to work. He told me that I'd need to find another way home, since he had somewhere else to be afterward.

I asked how far Steve would have driven to pick me up. Five miles, he said, after prefacing it with, "Depends on how good of a friend you are."

I did get something out of my carpooling experience. Steve showed me a back way to work that he swears I'm not allowed to reveal. It saves a lot of time, he said. If too many people know about it, Steve will have to wait on more traffic. And then it won't be a short-cut.

I also, quite obviously, saved money. Carpooling cuts your costs in half. Or by a third, if three people share the driving. I don't think I'm saying anything you didn't already learn in second grade math class.

I was going to bring Steve 50 cents to cover the cost of gas. I left in such a hurry, I forgot the quarters.

In the end, you already know the benefits of carpooling. It saves gas. It cuts down on traffic. It can save the environment. This much you know.

Plus, if you can get nine to 14 people together, you can get a van from the Charlotte Area Transportation System. That would be like taking a field trip to work. Every day.

And, if you just need a ride for a few days, sites like Craigslist can help you find that as well.

I'm sure I'll carpool again. But co-workers, be warned: The next time I need a ride, don't be alarmed if I pass a carpooling note to front of the newsroom, asking you to check yes or no.

It's just how I operate.

Related Links:

erideshare.com

Craigslist ride sharing

Mecklenburg carpooling

Share the Ride NC

Day 3: Biking to work

Jeremy's morning commute by bike

Jeremy gets a bike mentor and learns how to plot his route

Admittedly, riding a bike is not the coolest looking thing in the world.

There are some people who make it look good. Lance Armstrong, perhaps. The rest of us tend to wear shirts that are way too tight.

Let's not talk about the shorts.

But don't be afraid of functional fashion. I'm not. Biking to work has become a bit of an obsession for me. When I don't do it, I feel guilty. Hopping in my car feels like a cop-out.

I started riding after I bought my bike from an engineer here at the station. After a few rides around the neighborhood, I wondered if I could take it to work. So I did.

Then I wondered if I could do it two days in a row. I thought maybe it'd be easier if I swapped out my knobby mountain bike tires for slicker street ones. I convinced myself that an athletic, albeit tighter shirt may make my ride more comfortable.

Before long, I'd developed a routine: pack my lunch, pack my clothes, round up shower gear, throw it into a backpack, fill up my water bottle, and start pedaling. A half-hour later, I'd walk in the back door of the station, put up my bike and helmet up, then jump in the shower. Some study I read said 85% of bike commuters in Chicago don't shower after rolling into work. I'm sweaty. I have no earthly idea how they do it.

I began bike commuting mostly by accident. It wasn't a goal that I'd set out to accomplish. I just woke up early one morning and wondered if I could do it. "I bet I'll save money on gas," I thought. Those were the good ol' days of $3.50 a gallon.

Charlotte has quite a few people who ride. A lot of those folks are willing to help out the people who want to try it out, but aren't quite sure where to start.

That's how I met Ed Moyers. He's part of the Bike Commuter Mentor Program, a bunch of guys (and women) who pedal to work and want to share what they've learned. Sometimes they'll even ride with you, if you really feel like a lost puppy out there.

He and fellow bike commuter Joe Frisco invited me uptown to their monthly dinner. We all arrived on bikes. We started throwing stories around. Some were about close calls with cars. Others dealt with slogging it through treacherous weather. Seemingly nothing keeps these guys from biking it to the office.

There are hazards, and nobody's completely comfortable right off the bat. "You're not going to ride twice and say, 'Wow, I'm a biking stud,'" Ed told me during a recent ride. "It's not going to happen."

The more you do it, the more you get it. I'd been riding for months when a co-worker (and fellow biker) suggested a different route -- longer, but shadier and through a neighborhood. My old route featured a ride through a rather foul-smelling stretch of Old Pineville Road. Cars came perilously close to me as I whizzed along in my bike lane.

My new route was a mile longer, but miles apart in comfort.

Sure, you can't use your bike every day. Some days, you just have somewhere to be after work. Maybe there are too many errands to run. And, like me, there are days when the weather is horrible and I just don't feel like it.

But if you're curious, do what Ed suggests: Take a bike ride to the office on the weekend. Test it out without as much traffic. See if you can do it. Ask others for help. Check online for resources.

And forget about the fashion. You can buy better clothes with the money you save.

Helpful Biking Links:

Day 2: Riding the bus

Jeremy's morning commute, by bus and train

Expert helps Jeremy cut his bus commute in half

First thing: Don't exclusively believe anything you read on the Internet.

When I went to plot out my route to work via bus and light rail, I went to ridetransit.org. The best it could do was drop me off a little less than a mile away from work.

The ride was far from direct. The first bus would take me from the end of my street to the light rail line. The train would take me to the last stop before Uptown. Then, a block away, another bus would pick me up and drop me off at an intersection in the middle of an industrial park.

Look at my route. It closely resembles a hairpin.

If you're lucky, VERY lucky, transit will take you directly to your destination. If your destination is Uptown, you're lucky. If you're leaving from the transit center, you're lucky.

If you're in most other places in Charlotte, you've just got to have patience, especially if you're headed crosstown. Ridetransit.org told me it would take an hour and six minute to arrive at my destination. It took me every bit of that.

I was lucky enough to have Larry Kopf from the Charlotte Area Transit System riding along with me in the afternoon. With one simple change, Larry turned a commute of more than an hour into one that took half the time. You'll see what it was when you watch the video.

Taking transit takes thinking. In most cases, you can't just hop on a bus and figure out how to get across town without asking anyone. And if you do stumble upon a route that works, it may not be the best one.

I didn't do that. I figured I'd catch the next bus that came down the road. I naively thought that maybe it'd be early.

I waited 25 minutes at my stop. The bus was on time. I wasn't.

Larry is big on time. As we sat at the first bus stop, he threw a flurry of numbers at me. If we get to this stop at this time, he said, then we can get to that stop at that time, then we can catch the next bus at the next time.

I wish I'd taken notes on that part.

One thing I didn't need notes to remember is this: the farther away you live, the more sense the bus makes. An express bus pass is $1.75 to $2.60 each way ($2 to $3 starting in October). It's cheaper if you get a monthly pass. If you get one of those, CATS will get you back to your home or car in an emergency. They'll get a taxi for you free of charge.

Bottom line though, less than $3 always gets you from point A to point B, no matter what the distance is between. Try that with your car. It won't work.

The problem is always time. Larrry says transit is comparable to taking your car or truck time-wise, but that, of course, depends on where you live. It will probably take longer than you think. But since you're not driving, you can read the paper, or peck away at your computer keyboard. Larry gets work done. He's read more than thirty books on the bus. He rides it nearly every day.

As for more cross town routes, "We still have a long way to go," he told me, "but we have started that part of the network."

CATS won't replace your car. It's not a taxi. But just like everything else, it's worth your time to do more than just a quick check on the internet. You might not believe what you find. But it's worth a ride to try and change your mind.

Helpful links:

Day 1: Driving is easy. Or is it?

Jeremy's commute by car

I like driving to work because it's such a no-brainer.

I like to sleep late. I drive on those days.

I drive on days that I don't pack a lunch (which are usually the days that I sleep late). I figure I'll be able to jump in the car later to go get something to eat.