Bobcats Clinch Playoff Spot

It took six years as the doormat of the NBA, but the Charlotte Bobcats victory last night gave them two things that they have never had before - a winning season and a playoff spot. It looks like they will finish seventh in the NBA's Eastern Conference.

Less than three years after taking over the Demon Deacons with the death of Skip Prosser, Wake Forest has fired Dino Gaudio as their basketball coach. It seemed that Wake was a fast-starting team every year and limped home in February and March. Wake Forest joins Boston College and Clemson in looking for new coaches.

As Gomer Pyle would say, "surprise, surprise, surprise." John Wall declared for the NBA Draft last night and so did four other Kentucky Wildcats. It is possible that all five could go in the first round of the NBA draft.

Now that they are gone, the one-and-done players only help their schools if they win the championship. I would hope the NBA and the NCAA could come to some agreement like it has with Major League Baseball. Take'm right our of high school or leave them alone until after their junior year. Can you honestly say John Wall is better today for staying in college for one year over going pro right out of high school?

Three local teams are in the semifinals of the Tarboro Baseball Classic. The homestanding Tarboro Vikings, Rocky Mount Academy and Nash Central. I do like having a tournament where the private schools compete with the public schools. Baseball is one sport where it doesn't matter what size school you are if you have good pitchers, you are in every game.

Alex Pearce, the former Nash Central Bulldog who as a sophomore at UNC-Pembroke, has won the starting catcher's job hit his first college home run last weekend for the Braves. Alex has played in 27 games and started 22 for the 26-9 Braves, who are in the Top 20 in their division.

Xavier Macklin continues his torrid pace for the Aggies of N.C. A&T. X has hit seven home runs and driven in 30 runs and is still hitting .343. Overall, the Aggies are 12-16, but are 6-0 in the MEAC play.

Brian Goodwin is having a solid season in Chapel Hill. Brian has started all 31 games for the Tar Heels collecting 35 hits and driving in 33 runs, which is the team high. His average is right now .310.

Tomorrow, we will look at more locals and their baseball years at their respective colleges.