Rocky Rivero

Sports

Looking at life after UNC

By Rocky Rivero | June 30

While Marvin Williams posed for a USA Today photographer Friday afternoon, the former Tar Heel basketball player was greeted by UNC athletic trainer Marc Davis in the Smith Center. “How are you doing?” Davis asked. “I’m a model now,” Williams replied with a wry smile. All kidding aside, he was partially right. Williams also posed for photos at the 2005 NBA Draft in Madison Square Garden on Tuesday when he was selected by the Atlanta Hawks with the second overall pick.

Sports

Carolina's finest: Scoring on hoop dreams

By Rocky Rivero | June 23

The Milwaukee Bucks might present two former UNC players with jerseys at the 2005 NBA Draft that have the last name Williams on them. If the Bucks select Marvin Williams with the first overall pick, he could be reunited with Jawad Williams as an NBA teammate June 28 at Madison Square Garden. Dave Babcock, director of player personnel for the Milwaukee Bucks, said Jawad Williams is a likely choice for the team if he’s still available in the second round. “He’s someone on our list for our 36th pick,” Babcock said.

Sports

Running back awaits start of football season

By Rocky Rivero | June 23

After transferring to UNC last year, running back Barrington Edwards became ineligible for the 2004 season and could only play football as a member of the scout team. “On Tuesdays and Wednesdays and Thursdays, it was game day for him against our defense,” UNC football coach John Bunting said. Now it’s likely that Edwards will become the starter for the Tar Heels on Saturdays — the real game days — after Ronnie McGill tore his left pectoral muscle while lifting weights last week.

Sports

Track and field competitors break records

By Rocky Rivero | June 16

During the opening day of the NCAA Outdoor Track and Field Championships, North Carolina hammer thrower Nick Owens wasn’t practicing for his event at Sacramento State University. Owens was on a plane instead after a delayed flight from Raleigh kept him from arriving in California until an hour before he was scheduled to compete on the field. It didn’t stop the sophomore from breaking the school record by 14 feet with a 218-foot, 4-inch throw that earned him a qualification for Friday’s final competition.

Sports

UNC finishes at home with record 32nd win

By Rocky Rivero | May 26

UNC’s baseball team finished a season of rarities last weekend with a series victory (2-1) over Georgia Tech and the No. 5 seed in the ACC tournament. After the Tar Heels (40-15-1, 17-10-1 ACC) won the second of three games against the ACC’s top-ranked team, a new record was established at Boshamer Stadium with 32 wins at home. The previous record for home wins, achieved in both 1993 and 2000, was 30.

Sports

Banquet honors UNC sports elite

By Rocky Rivero | May 26

Most of the people inducted into the N.C. Sports Hall of Fame are retired from athletics by the time they’re honored. At the annual banquet Thursday in Raleigh, an exception was made for the “Voice of the Tar Heels” and one of the University’s most successful coaches. Radio announcer Woody Durham and UNC women’s soccer coach Anson Dorrance were inducted for their prevailing contributions to sports in North Carolina.

Sports

Tar Heels survive late rally

By Rocky Rivero | May 19

Although North Carolina’s baseball team was facing East Carolina at home on Tuesday, the ninth inning was accompanied by the Seminole chant and traditional tomahawk chop associated with Florida State University. Pirates fans, eager to remind the No. 15 Tar Heels (38-14-1) of the series sweep they suffered at FSU last weekend, began heckling as ECU (32-21) rallied late in the game. However, it wasn’t enough as the Tar Heels won 8-5 and tied a school record with their 30th home win of the season.