Showing posts tagged “schedule”
David Fellerath ·
8 Feb 2010, 10:34 PM ·
3 Comments
The roster updates from the Cary offices of the Carolina RailHawks have been trickling in. There have been heartening re-signings, most notably that of quicksilver Guyanese winger Gregory Richardson. Also back for another season: stalwart defensive midfielder Amir Lowery, goalkeeper Eric Reed, the aggressive midfielders Brian Plotkin and Joseph Kabwe, and defenders Caleb Norkus and Mark Schulte. Right back Greg Shields—currently on loan to Partick Thistle of the Scottish second division (according to the gratifyingly transparent Web site of the Glaswegian club, we know that his loan expires March 31)—seems to be slated for a return, as well.
Today brought two pieces of news. First was the surprising retirement of 2009 team defender of the year Jeremy Tolleson. Only 27 years old, the Atlanta native has elected to hang up his boots and become a missionary in Honduras. Tolleson began last season on the sidelines, recuperating from a foot injury. His return came at a fortuitous time, however, when central defender Jack Stewart was lost for the season with a broken leg. Tolleson subsequently partnered with Schulte to anchor the league’s best defense; despite being only 5-foot-9, he effectively positioned himself to snuff out attack after attack, and also proved to be a dangerous attacking weapon with his long balls forward (3:18).
It’s disappointing to lose a player of his caliber, but one can’t help but be impressed by his willingness to walk away from a sport that has surely dominated his life for 20 years. Although it’s true that Division 2 soccer players in America are paid little more than missionaries (and perhaps D2 soccer players are secular missionaries, spreading love for a game that pays them less than they could make doing almost anything else), it still comes as a start to fans that an athlete could have a calling above playing sports for a living. Our hat is off to you, Mr. Tolleson, and Godspeed.
Tolleson’s departure will intensify interest in whether Stewart will return to the club. Continue reading »
Carolina RailHawks, Soccer AC St. Louis, Amir Lowery, Brian Plotkin, Caleb Norkus, Caleb Patterson Sewell, Claude Anelka, Daniel Paladini, Jeremy Tolleson, Joseph Kabwe, Josh Gardner, Mark Schulte, Martin Rennie, NSC Minnesota Stars, schedule, Steve Ralston
Adam Sobsey ·
29 Aug 2009, 3:46 PM ·
1 Comment
DBAP/ DURHAM—Old-school friends of mine will sometimes show their age by betraying surprise at discovering that the Durham Bulls are no longer an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves. I can sort of forgive them that outdated conception; after all, the Bulls-Braves partnership lasted 18 years.
But this afternoon at the DBAP, right under the “Hit Bull Win Steak/Hit Grass Win Salad” Bull, a beaming General Manager Mike Birling announced that the Bulls and the Tampa Bay Rays have extended their working agreement, which was set to expire after 2010. The four-year extension will take them through 2014, for a 17-year total—the Rays will have been here almost as long as the Braves were.
With Birling were Chaim Bloom, who is the Rays’ Assistant Director of Minor League Operations, Durham Bulls Vice President George Habel and Durham Athletic Park Manager for Minor League Baseball Jill Rusinko.
When asked what it was about the Durham Bulls that especially appealed to the Rays’ front office, Bloom mentioned the fans and the community. But the first thing out of his mouth was “the playing surface.” It’s a credit to the DBAP grounds crew that they’ve maintained the field so well, despite the meteorological challenges of 2009.
The 2010 schedule was released. As usual, both the beginning and end of the season will pit the Bulls exclusively against the other three teams in the International League South Division. This clustering is done deliberately, and the weather is again a factor: April being the cruelest month, it’s better to stay close to home. And the pennant drive in late summer forces the issue by matching up teams from the same division.
The 2010 home stretch, however, is an extreme version: From August 10 until the last day of the season, September 6, the Bulls play 28 games in a row against Charlotte, Gwinnett and Norfolk, without a single day off. That includes an 11-game road swing to all three cities from August 13-23. The Bulls also have an 11-game roadie June 14-24, when they visit Gwinnett, Louisville and Indianapolis. Their big stand at home runs from June 25-July 5, when they play 11 straight games at the DBAP versus Lehigh Valley, Louisville and Gwinnett. In July, the Bulls play 17 of 28 games at home.
Two red-letter days. On April 2 or 3 (exact date TBD), the Bulls will play an exhibition game against the Tampa Bay Rays. That’s not only a chance to see major-league talent, but also to watch former Bulls who have gone on to stardom, like Carl Crawford (if he hasn’t been traded) and Evan Longoria.
Then, on Monday, May 10, the Bulls will play a home game at another Durham ballyard: the old Durham Athletic Park, which officially reopened this year. The Bulls last played at the DAP in 1994. The game was scheduled for May 10 for a very deliberate reason, said Mike Birling: “When people think of the most famous minor-league teams, they think of the Durham Bulls, obviously because of [the film] Bull Durham, and they think of the Toledo Mud Hens, because of M*A*S*H*.” (To our younger readers: M*A*S*H* was a television series that ran in the 1970s and 1980s. It was set during the Korean War, and one of the characters, a Toledan named Klinger, was trying to get his discharge from service by cross-dressing—oh, just read this.) Bulls versus Hens at the old farmyard!
It’s easy to take the Bulls-Rays affiliation for granted. But it’s important to appreciate how active and forward-thinking the Tampa brass is when it comes to their player development. We see that in the results. The Bulls are bidding to make the playoffs for the third straight year and the sixth of the last eight. Almost every season brings exciting, big-league-bound talent to the team. Look for more of it next year. And don’t miss the Bulls’ current charge, which resumes in just a few hours at the DBAP.
Baseball, Durham Bulls, Tampa Bay Rays 2010 season, Chaim Bloom, DAP, DBAP, Mike Birling, press conference, schedule, T. S. Eliot, Toledo Mud Hens
Kate Shefte ·
16 Jul 2009, 5:15 AM ·
1 Comment
Note to Andrew Alberts: Now that you're a 'Cane, fighting Scott Walker is a big no-no. Photo courtesy of Flickr.com.
The ‘Canes filled out their roster over the last few days, adding several minor leaguers and a supporting free agent duo that probably won’t make the plays of the week but will add depth for a low price. Tom Kostopoulos (I’m going to nip this one in the bud and call him Tom K-Something) gives the ‘Canes a few options at right wing. He will make $700,000 in 2009-10, $950,000 in 2010-11 and $1.1 million in 2011-12, which is very reasonable.
He played his last two seasons with the Canadiens but found himself without a contract before the firesale that’s still going on up there as we speak. He has scored 22 points four times during his five full NHL seasons, but never more than nine goals in a season. Since Tim Gleason has his old No. 6 and he obviously likes that number so much, perhaps he should adopt Mike Commodore’s recently abandoned No. 22 when he suits up for the ‘Canes?
Continue reading »
Carolina Hurricanes, Hockey Andrew Alberts, Anton Babchuk, free agent, regular season, schedule, Tom Kostopoulos, Tuomo Ruutu
Kate Shefte ·
12 Apr 2009, 3:17 AM ·
Comment
Hours after losing their final game of the regular season, 3-2, to the New Jersey Devils, the Carolina Hurricanes found out that the first round standings were set. Guess who they’ll be playing? The New Jersey Devils. Carolina lost its final two games of the season and the Penguins beat Montreal – an ideal situation for those who didn’t want a first round meeting with rough and tumble (and scary good) Philadelphia. Carolina fell out of fifth place and will now face New Jersey in the first round.
Carolina has faced New Jersey more than any other franchise in the playoffs since relocating, so this series guarantees a little bit of drama. The Devils took the first meeting in 2001, bouncing the ‘Canes in the quarterfinals, but the Hurricanes have taken the two more recent match-ups in 2002 and 2006. Despite New Jersey’s possession of both the best goaltender in the league and a talent-laden offense, the ‘Canes have matched up well against the Devils in recent years. However, New Jersey will have home ice advantage, a benefit the ‘Canes enjoyed during those two successful seasons.
The ‘Canes may have dropped their most recent decision to New Jersey, but they took the series 3-1. That game – or the one before it, for that matter – was not an ideal way to exit the regular season, but it was not indicative of the hockey we should expect to see. Cam Ward was not in net for Carolina, and though the final tally found the net with five minutes left in the game, the ‘Canes did not have their best nor most motivated showing against the Devils. The team just sort of sat back and let Anton Babchuk do his thang. Did they, uh, “not try as hard” these last two games to ensure a better match-up? Whatever. Here at Triangle Offense, we don’t judge.
The first game of the series will take place either Wednesday or Thursday at the Prudential Center in Newark, where the Devils were 27-12-1 this season. Check back here for more coverage during the next few days.
Carolina Hurricanes, Hockey 2009, advantage, Eastern Conference, first round, home ice, New Jersey Devils, playoffs, schedule
