Aaron Schoonmaker

Canes demise found in key injuries, not man-games lost

Mon, 29 Apr 2013 17:08:40 -0400

The Carolina Hurricanes did not fall off the deep end this season because of too many injuries; they landed a couple rungs above the cellar floor (among other reasons) because key players were injured at inopportune times and the fill-ins weren't up to the task.

Raleigh's Hadley writes his way up golf's pro ranks

Sat, 20 Apr 2013 21:10:35 -0400

Raleigh native Chesson Hadley is an expecting father, an impromptu comedian, a frequent blogger and a full-time golfer. He's knocking on the door of the PGA Tour and he can tell you all about it.

Bulls get fundamental to win home opener

Tue, 09 Apr 2013 00:37:40 -0400

The Durham Bulls defeated the Gwinnett Braves Monday night in a baseball fan's baseball game. A 2-1 Bulls win on opening night at Durham Bulls Athletic Park was defined by patience, strategy, good pitching and timely offense.

Led by youth, guided by experience, Bulls ready for 2013

Thu, 04 Apr 2013 12:29:57 -0400

A host of top prospects are joined by a handful of veterans this year on the Durham Bulls roster led by mainstay Charlie Montoyo.

A 9-minute guide to the 2013 MLB season

Fri, 29 Mar 2013 14:06:16 -0400

This weekend is the start of the MLB season and for those with fantasy teams, favorite teams or at least a half-hearted interest, I have a nine minute breakdown of what you missed during the offseason and what to expect over the next eight-plus months.

Immaturity, inconsistency doom NC State

Sat, 23 Mar 2013 03:25:10 -0400

NC State struggled with consistency and maturity on Friday, and all year long. Ultimately, the Wolfpack were an early exit in the NCAA tournament.

NC State's focus centers on one

Fri, 22 Mar 2013 08:39:01 -0400

In a game of five-on-five, North Carolina State will be concerned with stopping one when they open up NCAA tournament play Friday against Temple (1:40 p.m. TBS / 99.9 FM The Fan).

ACC tourney seeds set; where do advantages lie?

Sun, 10 Mar 2013 22:14:55 -0400

The seeds for the ACC Tournament were not written in pen until overtime expired of the final game of the regular season. After an unpredictable year, it seems only appropriate.

Duke, Campbell turning heads on the diamond

Wed, 27 Feb 2013 20:30:07 -0500

In years past, a scout at a Devils-Camels game in February meant there was an outstanding talent on the diamond. This year, however, it simply signifies two promising programs with talent to go around.

Expectations high for Triangle baseball teams

Tue, 12 Feb 2013 12:06:43 -0500

While baseball fans across the country are rejoicing the unofficial start of the baseball season this week with spring training camps opening up, devotees to America's Pastime in the Triangle should be excited for the summer ahead as well.

Ellis making decisions tough for Muller

Sat, 02 Feb 2013 01:02:23 -0500

It would be foolish to think that there is a goalie controversy in Carolina. Then again, Dan Ellis has been making a case to usurp incumbent Cam Ward altogether as the Hurricanes' go-to netminder.

An identity crisis at UNC

Sat, 15 Dec 2012 16:30:40 -0500

The expression "they need to find their identity" is very played out. For North Carolina, they just need to get better according to head coach Roy Williams

Bowl-bound Duke can learn a lot from Miami loss

Sat, 24 Nov 2012 19:06:45 -0500

The adage, whether you buy into it or not, states that, 'More can be learned from a loss than a win.' I don't know if Saturday is entirely at that level, but many things were visible for Duke that should help them in their impending bowl game and into the future.

Wolfpack speed up to top the Turtles

Sat, 20 Oct 2012 21:38:23 -0400

Contrary to the mold for North Carolina State, the Wolfpack were at their best Saturday when they were going fast at the line in a 20-18 win over Maryland.

Duke balanced, efficient in win at Wake

Sat, 29 Sep 2012 17:42:26 -0400

Duke walked into Winston-Salem Saturday with a game plan and never strayed from it. The result was a well-balanced, highly-efficient, well-deserved, program win.

Season closes at DBAP with classic evening

Wed, 19 Sep 2012 01:48:33 -0400

Everything that is right with the game of baseball was on full display at Durham Bulls Athletic Park Tuesday for the Triple-A National Championship won by the Reno Aces, 10-3.

WAC falls and nobody cares, but should

Wed, 22 Aug 2012 14:09:01 -0400

The pillars rapidly weakened in past years with mass conference realignment, and on Monday, one of the pillars that supports Division I college football fell.

Harrison a deserved All-Star as baseball errs

Tue, 10 Jul 2012 12:49:08 -0400

Before I digress into the down-sloping direction of Major League Baseball, let me first give credit where credit is due. Matt Harrison.

Buy a book, support the troops

Fri, 06 Jul 2012 12:00:29 -0400

James Bailey is pledging $1 to Books For Troops for every copy of his book, The Greatest Show on Dirt, sold in July - paperback and e-book.

North Carolinians back the Tar Heels ... unless NC State is playing

Fri, 15 Jun 2012 18:33:30 -0400

Public Policy Polling released a report Friday comparing the fan support of UNC, Duke and NC State. The numbers can paint some interesting pictures.

'The Greatest Show on Dirt' is a grand-slam must-read

Tue, 22 May 2012 13:09:17 -0400

If you like baseball, the Durham Bulls, the Triangle, fiction novels, coming-of-age tales, embedded love stories or any sort of naturally-flowing literature - this book is a must-read.

A view from the stands

Fri, 18 May 2012 17:24:08 -0400

One of the best ways to cover a game is to be a fan at the game. Don't hide in the press box, sit in the seats.

Life's highs and lows played out in sports Wednesday

Fri, 04 May 2012 00:13:17 -0400

Elation and sadness; young and old; goats and heroes; comebacks and blow-outs; life and death: Wednesday in sports was a microcosm of existence.

The post-draft madness is underway

Sat, 28 Apr 2012 23:41:06 -0400

The local players that sat without reward Saturday were fielding phone calls soon after the telecast that was the NFL Draft shut down.

Greenberg's firing a matter of culture, not coaching

Tue, 24 Apr 2012 13:25:56 -0400

The resume is not what led to Seth Greenberg's firing. Virginia Tech basketball has had a revolving door at the assistant coach position and that instability was not conducive to success.

Archer finds comfort close to home with Durham

Mon, 09 Apr 2012 12:10:07 -0400

Call it comfort, but the soft-spoken Chris Archer is right where he wants to be with the Durham Bulls.

Statistically finding the upsets of the 2012 Tourney

Tue, 03 Apr 2012 11:52:43 -0400

Using StatSheet.com's computed spread on every NCAA Tournament game played this year, there were 21 underdogs to win in 67 games (31 percent).

The 13-mile dribble

Mon, 02 Apr 2012 15:33:36 -0400

On Sunday, Leeds wasn't soliciting any funds. He wasn't approaching anybody for donations or forcing his cause on anybody. Leeds was simply in search of people who were interested enough to ask 'why?'

Coach K praises 'the better team'

Mon, 05 Mar 2012 10:44:00 -0500

Mike Krzyzewski said that the better team won Saturday night and the Tar Heels played "great."

Career nights, disappearing acts and repetition

Wed, 22 Feb 2012 00:42:23 -0500

Round two of this year's UNC-NC State court encounter was one of career highs, disappearing acts and the same-old, same-old all rolled into one.

Davis looking to double-dip on compensation

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 10:03:40 -0500

Butch Davis will assume a role as an advisor on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers staff according to multiple news outlets both in the Tampa Bay area and nationally.

The tournament discussion is now open

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:10:57 -0500

With just 33 days until selection Sunday and rivalry week starting up, I believe now is the time to open up the bubble discussion.

Canes need to be a team that nobody wants to play

Fri, 03 Feb 2012 11:36:18 -0500

The Canes can - and need to - become the team that nobody wants to play.

Gurley the latest in-state recruit to spurn local schools

Fri, 13 Jan 2012 17:12:30 -0500

With Todd Gurley's decision to go to Georgia over both UNC and NC State, North Carolina lost yet another top prospect to an out-of-state university.

Hardship waivers in the ACC and a troubled fullback class

Sat, 07 Jan 2012 21:34:22 -0500

UNC fullback Devon Ramsay was granted a hardship waiver by the NCAA Saturday giving him a sixth year of eligibility.

Is the ACC headed for just four bids again?

Mon, 02 Jan 2012 20:32:42 -0500

Just days away from the start of the 2012 ACC season, there is a lot that needs to be proven if they are to get to the form of years past when they sent six and even seven teams to the tournament.

Canes Murphy makes statistical history in debut

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 10:45:29 -0500

Rookie goaltender Mike Murphy, who was making his NHL debut, was hit with the loss in relief of Cam Ward while not surrendering a goal.

Oklahoma State got robbed but Tigers are champs regardless

Mon, 05 Dec 2011 14:46:19 -0500

I know a one-man protest against a cash-cow of a game featuring an LSU team that would be climbing the NFL power rankings won't mean much, but it's a matter of principle. I'm under the belief that even if they lose, LSU will still be national champions

Carrier game will be the best neutral site game ever

Wed, 09 Nov 2011 21:29:26 -0500

Friday's game between UNC and Michigan State, two elite college basketball programs, on a military aircraft carrier to open a season will go down as one of the best neutral-site regular-season contests in sports to date.

Off-field headlines steal the weekend (and Monday)

Tue, 01 Nov 2011 15:31:11 -0400

All of the four major sports had a leading headline this weekend and Monday that had little to do with competition.