Our Field of Dreams
It’s true that the real name of the game in these parts is basketball — people take their hoops mighty seriously around here.
But thousands of locals and tourists continue to fill the stands each summer as the Durham Bulls play a full season in the Class A Carolina League as an affiliate of the Atlanta Braves.
The Bulls shot to fame on the shoulders of Kevin Costner catching for hotshot rookie pitcher Tim Robbins in the 1988 flick Bull Durham. Famous alums of the Bulls include Joe Morgan, Mark Lemke, Steve Avery, Ryan Klesko, David Justice, and Rusty Staub. The season runs early April through early September. Details: (tel. 919/956-2855; www.dbulls.com.
Duke Blue Devils Men’s Basketball
Duke’s men’s basketball team] is one the nation’s most successful basketball programs in the country. The team has captured three National Championships, while attending 14 Final Fours and nine Championship games. Seventy-one players have been selected in the NBA Draft, while 55 players have been honored as All-Americans. The program’s home facility is historic Cameron Indoor Stadium, considered one of the top venues in the nation.
The team’s success has been particularly outstanding over the past 25 years under coach Mike Krzyzewski (often simply called “Coach K”). Their successes include becoming the only team to win three national championships since the NCAA Tournament field was expanded to 64 teams in 1985.
Carolina Hurricanes
The Carolina Hurricanes are a professional ice hockey team based in Raleigh-Durham, North Carolina. They are members of the Southeast Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League (NHL).
They won their first Stanley Cup during the 2005–06 season, beating the Edmonton Oilers four games to three. Prior to 1997, the team was known as the Hartford Whalers. They play their home games at the RBC Center.
The Hurricanes play in the RBC Center, Oct.-April. Web site: www.carolinahurricanes.com.
Carolina RailHawks
Carolina RailHawks is an American professional soccer team, founded in 2006. The team is a member of the USL First Division, the second tier of the American Soccer Pyramid. They currently play at WakeMed Soccer Park in Cary, North Carolina. The team is currently coached by Scott Schweitzer. The team’s colors are orange, white and blue.
The team has a development team, Cary Railhawks U23’s, which plays in the USL Premier Development League, and a sister organization, Carolina RailHawks Women, who play in the women’s USL W-League. Located at http://www.carolinarailhawks.com/.
Carolina Rollergirls (CRG)
Founded in January 2004, the Carolina Rollergirls (CRG) is an all-women, flat-track roller derby league with a stated mission to foster an alternative sport in North Carolina while training for national competition. Operating as a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the league promotes the physical and mental strength and independent spirit of women. The league is run for the skaters, by the skaters with the help and support of many sponsors and volunteers.
Located in Raleigh, North Carolina, CRG is a member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association (WFTDA) and is currently ranked third in the nation. More information about the Carolina Rollergirls.
