The Virginian-Pilot

urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:1234 HamptonRoads.com | PilotOnline.com http://www.pilotonline.com The Virginian-Pilot 2009-11-06T22:08:48-05:00 Copyright The Virginian-Pilot urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:487810 This season in the MEAC 2008-11-13T00:24:43-05:00 2008-11-13T00:21:45-05:00 Copyright The Virginian-Pilot

Ready for tipoff The Mid-Eastern Athletic Conference's unofficial award for best overall job of scheduling goes to Hampton University. The Pirates put together a nice blend of challenging but winnable games, including several on their home court: - vs. George Mason, Nov. 20 - vs. Georgia State, Dec. 3 - vs. Delaware, Dec. 10 - at Virginia, Dec. 23 - at VCU, Dec. 27 - in Great Alaska Shootout,Nov. 26-29 What third-year coach Kevin Nickelberry says: "A big reason this job was attractive to me was the commitment from higher up to try to be a mid-major power, along the likes of VCU, ODU and GMU. It's why I left Clemson for this job. Our philosophy is to do things that help our RPI and to avoid the guarantee games if we can. That way, if we do make the NCAA field, we aren't stuck in the play-in game." By the numbers 3 Consecutive NCAA tournament play-in games in which the MEAC tournament champion has played. 87 Coppin State senior Tywain McKee's free-throw shooting percentage, tops last season in the MEAC and 21st nationally. 55 League-leading steals total last season by Norfolk State's Michael Deloach, who is a junior. 32.5 MEAC's overall 3-point percentage, which ranked last among Division I conferences last season. Over the last five seasons, the MEAC ranked next-to-last in Division I at 33.1 percent. Only the Southwest Athletic Conference, at 31.9 percent, had a lower shooting rate during that span. 1 New head coach in the MEAC: Frankie Allen (UMES). Head coach at Virginia Tech from 1987 to 1991, Allen was most recently an assistant at Maryland-Baltimore County. He has experience in the MEAC, having coached at Howard from 2000 to 2005. 7 Number of road games Delaware State will play in a one-month period against major conference squads in a brutal pay-for-play schedule: Nov. 20 - Ohio State; Nov. 22 - Kentucky; Nov. 25 - West Virginia; Dec. 1 - Connecticut; Dec. 12 - Maryland; Dec. 14 - Rutgers; Dec. 20 - Notre Dame. Did you know? Howard University will open its season with a home game against... Oregon State? Craig Robinson, brother-in-law of Barack Obama, took the head coaching job at Oregon State last spring, after coaching at Brown for two seasons. His Beavers visit Howard on Friday - the only game Oregon State will play east of the Mississippi. And it falls only 10 days removed from Obama's landmark victory. It's part of a home-and-home series in which Howard returns the favor on Dec. 20. So who wants to bet Michelle Robinson Obama might drop by to watch her brother's team in action? How about the president-elect, too? More did you know? A request to talk to Robinson about the scheduling of the Howard game and the prospects of having family/White House dignitaries in attendance was denied. While the request was made through the Oregon State athletic department, the denial was handed down by the Obama for America Oregon campaign headquarters. Super sophomores Three underclassmen who could emerge and do plenty of damage this season: Thomas Coleman, North Carolina A&T The 6-foot-9 Coleman set a school single-game record with nine blocks against Coppin State last season. He finished the year with 57 and also averaged 6.9 points and 5.1 rebounds. Trevor Welcher, Delaware State The 5-10 Welcher led the league in assists-to-turnover ratio (1.84) last season and was seventh in the league in assists at 3.07 a game. He also shot 52.6 percent from the field, almost unheard of for a point guard. Brandon Monroe, Norfolk State Listed as a junior by his school, the 6-foot-7 Monroe has sophomore eligibility and can regain a year if he keeps progressing academically. And if he keeps progressing on the court, look out: He averaged 5 points and 5.9 rebounds for NSU last season while shooting 59 percent from the field. Norfolk, VA Anonymous This season in the MEAC The Virginian-Pilot urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:487810 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:487966 This season for the CAA women 2008-11-13T23:12:17-05:00 2008-11-13T23:07:11-05:00 Copyright The Virginian-Pilot

5 impact newcomers JoNiquia Guilford, 5-10, fr., G, Old Dominion A preseason knee injury was hardly the start to her career she wanted, but given time, the dynamic scorer from Wilson High will add more athleticism to an already athletic Lady Monarch perimeter. Sarah Williams, 6-0 jr., G, James Madison She transferred from Richmond after being part of the Atlantic 10 All-Rookie team in 2005-06. Katrina Wheeler, 6-3, jr., C, Towson Wheeler is a huge addition, having started 51 of 53 games at Georgetown, where she averaged 8.1 points and 8.1 rebounds her sophomore year. Asia Jenkins, 5-9, fr., G, Hofstra The New Jersey native will be eligible in the second semester after transferring from Cincinnati. She was a first-team All-New Jersey selection her senior year in high school. Dana Olsen, 6-1, jr., F, Georgia State Olsen was No. 2 in the nation in scoring with 24.2 points per game in earning first-team All-America honors at Labette (Kan.) Community College. The rest of her line isn't shabby either: 57 percent shooting, 7.1 rebounds and 84 percent accuracy from the foul line. 5 storylines to follow 1 If the Lady Monarchs are to win an 18th straight CAA tournament title, they'll have to win three games in Harrisonburg. The last time they won a game there was in 2005. 2 Last season, Virginia Commonwealth went to the WNIT and finished 26-8, even with center Quanitra Hollingsworth missing the final 11 games with a torn Achilles'. Will the Rams be even better with the Great Bridge High graduate returning for her senior year? 3 After three straight years of recording 20 or more wins and advancing to postseason play, Delaware slumped to 7-24. Can coach Tina Martin regroup with a roster that includes four freshmen and four sophomores? 4 Two years ago, the CAA placed three teams in the NCAA tournament. It was the first time any team from the league received an at-large bid since 1996. Last year, ODU was the only team to make it, and no one other than the Lady Monarchs is in the preseason top 25 or even receiving votes. Is the CAA mediocre again? 5 Elena Della Donne, the nation's top recruit, is playing volleyball at Delaware after saying she was burned out on basketball and reneging on her commitment to UConn. What if she peeks in at a Delaware basketball practice and gets the itch to play again? They said it "At Wilmington." Seahawks coach Ann Hancock when asked if she'd like to see Della Donne playing in the CAA. "She had so many great experiences. She called me one day and said, 'Coach, I just met Usher.' " JMU coach Kenny Brooks on Tamera Young's initial season in the WNBA "Tyne Daly." ODU coach Wendy Larry's response when asked who would play her in a movie "Julia Roberts." Blue Hens coach Tina Martin's response to the same question. By the numbers 70 Blocked shots by ODU's Tiffany Green last year. 51 Consecutive victories by ODU in the CAA tournament. 26 Consecutive victories ODU has on its home court, tied for most in the nation with Hartford. 19 Points averaged by preseason Player of the Year Gabriela Marginean of Drexel last season. 5 Starters returning for Georgia State. 1 New coach in the CAA: Former Radford coach Jeri Porter replaced Debbie Taneyhill at George Mason. 5 who moved on T.J. Jordan The conference's all-time 3-point ace from ODU is playing ball in Slovenia. Britne Rodgers The Princess Anne High graduate left Hofstra last month for unspecified personal reasons. A conference All-Rookie team forward last year, Rodgers was the Pride's third-leading scorer and one of the team's top rebounders. Nikki Moats A Tennessee transfer, Moats was expected to play a huge role for JMU, but personal issues derailed her basketball career, and coach Kenny Brooks said she will not play for the Dukes. Kia Butts The Kellam High graduate who was an assistant coach at William and Mary is the school's new assistant dean of admissions. Kyle DeHaven She started at William and Mary and transferred to Delaware before finishing up second all-time in the CAA in steals. DeHaven now plays in Germany. Vicki L. Friedman, (757) 477-6874, VickiL120@cox.net Norfolk, VA Anonymous This season for the CAA women The Virginian-Pilot urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:487966 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:488120 This season for the CAA men in college basketball 2008-11-15T00:58:56-05:00 2008-11-15T00:50:57-05:00 Copyright The Virginian-Pilot

fhe favorite VCU is coming off back-to-back regular-season CAA titles and features reigning CAA Player of the Year Eric Maynor. PG Maynor and F Larry Sanders, who blocked a league-high 95 shots as a freshman, anchor a team with 10 underclassmen. the top contenders Northeastern welcomes back all five starters from a squad that finished 14-17 last season. Old Dominion is one of the league's youngest teams, but the Monarchs return F Gerald Lee and a host of players who saw significant playing time as freshmen. the darkhorse George Mason, the defending conference tournament champ, has three starters back from a 23-win team. on the rise Georgia State, a ninth-place finisher or worse in its first three years in the CAA, could be ready to move up on the strength of five Division I transfers. on the decline UNC Wilmington lost four starters to graduation, including first-team All-CAA pick T.J. Carter (15.8 ppg, 5.5 rpg). The others - Daniel Fountain, Vladimir Kuljanin and Todd Hendley - averaged 12.5 ppg or more. he said it... "It's just a great, great league, and I think it's going to make for great theater. You don't know where the top begins and where the bottom ends. It's all scrambled up, and I think it's going to be a very exciting year." - Delaware coach Monte Ross 3 to watch VCU's Eric Maynor, a 6-3 point guard, mulled turning pro after last season, but he decided to return for his senior season. Maynor's a clutch player who led the conference in assists (5.5 apg) and was second in scoring (17.9 ppg) as a junior. Old Dominion's Gerald Lee, a 6-10 junior, established himself as one of the conference's dominant post players last season, averaging 12.9 points and 5.9 rebounds per game. Northeastern's Matt Janning was third in the CAA in scoring last season, averaging 16.1 points a game. The 6-4 junior is one of the league's top 3-point shooters. trey, trey chic The NCAA moved back the 3-point line for this season, so players will launch treys from 20 feet, 9 inches - a foot longer than previously. Reaction to the move by a couple of CAA coaches: Towson's Pat Kennedy "For the guys who are marginal shooters to begin with, they'll go in that category 'Don't shoot it.' " VCU's Anthony Grant "Guys that can really shoot the basketball, I don't think that they're going to be affected by it." On the schedule Some of the more intriguing non-conference match-ups: James Madison plays Nov. 16 against Davidson in the NIT Tip-Off in Oklahoma. The Dukes face NCAA darling Davidson and sharpshooter Stephen Curry. UNC Wilmington is at Wake Forest on Nov. 17. The Seahawks visit a team picked to finish third in the ACC. Georgia State's schedule features games against two ACC teams in a five-day stretch: at home vs. Florida State on Dec. 13 and at Georgia Tech on Dec. 17. * VCU plays Oklahoma - and former coach Jeff Capel - in Oklahoma City on Dec. 20. transfer of power Eleven players are eligible to play this season in the CAA after transferring in from major Division I programs. Georgia State's roster has five transfers, followed by Towson with three, and Delaware, UNC Wilmington and William and Mary with one each. Georgia (State) on my mind The Panthers' transfers include forwards Trey Hampton and Xavier Hansbro, who left the University of Mississippi; guard Joe Dukes, who exited Wake Forest; and guard Dante Curry, who left South Florida. Hansbro and Hampton played for Ole Miss under Rod Barnes, who is in his second season as Georgia State's coach. by the numbers 4 CAA teams (VCU, Old Dominion, Hofstra and George Mason) rank among the nation's top 56 winningest programs over the past four seasons. VCU's .703 winning percentage is 25th. 11 Seasons Jim Larranaga has coached at George Mason, making him the CAA's elder statesman. 12 All 12 CAA members are slated to participate in the ESPNU Bracketbusters Feb. 20-21. 1,110 Approximate miles Northeastern will travel to play at Georgia State on Jan. 7, the conference's longest road trip. The Huskies play at non-conference foe South Florida (1,356 miles) on Nov. 29. coach on the hot seat Drexel's Bruiser Flint is coming off a 12-20 finish, his worst record in 12 seasons as a college head coach and the Dragons' lowest win total since 1991. super sophs Four players who are coming off big freshman seasons: Old Dominion's Ben Finney started 17 games, and an improved jump shot could make him more dangerous. Hofstra's Charles Jenkins scored in double figures 27 times and averaged 15 ppg. UNC Wilmington's Chad Tomko started all 33 games at point guard and averaged 8.6 ppg. VCU's Larry Sanders led the Rams in rebounding (5.1 per game) and was an All-CAA defensive selction. don't I know you? Two players from South Hampton Roads who are expected to have an impact around the CAA: George Mason F Darryl Monroe, a 6-7 senior from Virginia Beach, returns after missing last season with a foot injury. Monroe started 19 games two seasons ago. William and Mary G Kendrix Brown, a 6-3 freshman, averaged 17.5 ppg and was second-team all-state as a senior at Norview High in Norfolk. Tribe-ulations William and Mary had its winningest season in a decade last season, finishing 17-16 and reaching its first CAA tournament championship game. Three starters, including PG David Schneider (10.9 ppg), return. "The best change is that our guys approach the season with a lot of confidence," coach Tony Shaver said. NKOTB Forget the reunion tour of Jordan, Jonathan, Joey, Danny and Donnie. The CAA's only New Kid on the Block is baby-faced coach Matt Brady, who replaces Dean Keener. Brady coached four seasons at Marist, guiding the Red Foxes to a 73-50 record and their first MAAC regular-season title. Jami Frankenberry, (757) 446-2295, jami.frankenberry@pilotonline.com Norfolk, VA Anonymous This season for the CAA men in college basketball The Virginian-Pilot urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:488120 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:529905 Veteran's Day in Chesapeake 2009-11-06T19:13:44-05:00 2009-11-06T19:07:22-05:00 Copyright The Virginian-Pilot

CHESAPEAKE Chesapeake will honor all members of the U.S. armed forces from 11 a.m. to noon Wednesday in observance of Veterans Day. The ceremony, sponsored by the Mayor's Commission on Veterans Affairs, will include a wreath-laying and paver installation at the Veterans' Memorial, 306 Cedar Road in the Municipal Center. The event is free and open to the public. The memorial, a marble structure with more than 1,000 inscribed bricks honors the service and sacrifice of Chesapeake residents and their loved ones who are serving or have served in any branch of the U.S. military. Following the Wednesday ceremony, the public is invited to a reception at the Marine Corps League headquarters, 116 Reservation Road along the Chesapeake & Albermarle Canal near the Great Bridge Bridge. For more details, call 502-7210 or e-mail Geoffrey Briggs at chesapeakemcva@aol.com. In Virginia Beach, Mayor Alan Krasnoff will be the grand marshal for the Tidewater Veterans Day Parade that begins 9 a.m. Wednesday at 16th Street and Atlantic Avenue and will end at the Memorial on 19th Street across from the Virginia Beach Convention Center. Eric Feber, 222-5203, eric.feber@pilotonline.com Norfolk, VA Anonymous Veteran's Day in Chesapeake The Virginian-Pilot urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:529905 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:529918 New NSU spread attack is paying dividends 2009-11-06T20:53:29-05:00 2009-11-06T20:50:16-05:00 Copyright The Virginian-Pilot

NORFOLK The jury is still out on the season. At 4-4, Norfolk State needs to win two of its final three games to finish with a better record than last year's 5-6 mark. But barring an offensive collapse, the verdict is in on NSU's new spread attack: It's an improvement over last year in virtually every statistical category. The Spartans are producing more yards, more first downs and more points than a year ago. Passing yardage is up almost 50 yards a game. Rushing production is about the same. The net result is an offense generating 341 yards per contest, compared with 295 last year. The 2008 offense ranked seventh in the MEAC. This year's unit ranks third. The Spartans were no better than fourth in any offensive category a year ago. This season they rank third in every major category other than rushing offense, where they rank fourth, same as a year ago. "We wanted to make the transition to the spread and we did," coach Pete Adrian said. "I'm happy with that. "Our big thing now is to finish strong." The Spartans (4-4, 3-3 MEAC) begin their attempt today at Morgan State (5-3, 3-2), another team trying to climb from the crowded middle of the conference standings. They face Delaware State next - the only MEAC team NSU has not beaten since Adrian took over in 2005. The Spartans finish at home against Winston-Salem State. NSU begins the home stretch with an offense that has produced at least 40 points in three MEAC games, a first since joining the conference in 1997. Big plays have been a huge part of all three outbursts, particularly pass plays to receivers Chris Bell and P.J. Hayden. Bell, who sat out last season after transferring from Penn State, is averaging 21 yards per catch. Hayden, a sophomore, averages 15.4. "We didn't have the capabilities last year with either guy," Adrian said. Bell and Hayden have stretched the field in a way NSU could not a year ago, opening up opportunities underneath in the short passing game, and in the running game. Quarterback Dennis Brown, who completed just 50.2 percent of his passes last year, is completing 57.4 percent. Brown is also producing with his legs, averaging 44 yards per game. The new system has resulted in fewer opportunities for tailback DeAngelo Branche, however. A workhorse a year ago, Branche is averaging 14.5 carries this season, down from a 19 last season. His per-carry average is up, though, from 4.6 to 5.2. The Spartans say they are bringing a fresh perspective to their final three games. With their hopes of competing for a MEAC title over, they have recalibrated their expectations. "We have a lot to play for," safety Josh Anderson said. Adrian, ever alert for measurable progress in the program, said that if NSU finishes with a winning mark, it will be the third-winningest team in the conference over the past three seasons. "Five years ago, we were the worst," he said. "We have to go in tiers, and if we're able to say we're the third-winningest, that's a big statement for us to make." Ed Miller, (757) 446-2372, ed.miller@pilotonline.com Norfolk, VA Anonymous New NSU spread attack is paying dividends The Virginian-Pilot urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:529918 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:529917 Verica likely to start for ailing Sewell against Miami 2009-11-06T20:49:00-05:00 2009-11-06T20:40:16-05:00 Copyright The Virginian-Pilot

By Doug Doughty The Roanoke Times When he spoke this week about his team's inability to find an offensive identity, Virginia coach Al Groh didn't appear to be foreshadowing a change at quarterback.

By Doug Doughty The Roanoke Times When he spoke this week about his team's inability to find an offensive identity, Virginia coach Al Groh didn't appear to be foreshadowing a change at quarterback. Groh did discuss the injuries that have dogged Jameel Sewell and their possible effect on his play. However, it was something of a surprise Thursday night when Sewell was declared "doubtful" for the Cavaliers' noon kickoff today at Miami. Doubtful, according to ACC guidelines, means there is a 75 percent chance that Sewell will not play. "He's got a few things he's working through," Groh said in a teleconference before the release of the injury report. "Jameel's a very tough kid. He's a very physical player for a quarterback. He takes a pretty good licking, but he keeps coming back." Sewell was plagued by an ankle injury for most of October. Additionally, a report on U.Va.'s Web site Friday said Sewell injured a shoulder in the Duke game. In any case, it looks as if Marc Verica, who started nine games in 2008, will get the start for the Cavaliers (3-5 overall, 2-2 ACC) against the Hurricanes (6-2, 3-2). Redshirt freshman Riko Smalls has served as U.Va.'s No. 3 quarterback for most of the season, but Smalls has not played in a game. Groh said wide receiver Vic Hall could return to quarterback in an emergency. Hall was the starter in the final game last season and in this year's opener, when Virginia was running the spread offense installed by new coordinator Gregg Brandon. Hall suffered a hip injury that caused him to miss two games. By the time he returned, Sewell was directing an offense that included some of the spread but was more multi-dimensional. In an early game against TCU, Virginia ran the ball on 33 of 51 plays (64.7 percent). In a 34-9 loss to Georgia Tech on Oct. 17, U.Va. passed on 32 of 44 plays (72.7 percent). While there's something to be said for unpredictability, Groh would prefer to have an identity. "If you can have one, it's a very beneficial thing," he said. "Most teams work to have that. Georgia Tech has an identity, singular as it is. Duke has got an identity, singular as that is." Georgia Tech is second in the nation in rushing; Duke is fifth in passing. It was felt that the spread would fit Hall and Sewell because of the running threat they presented, but U.Va.'s line simply could not provide the openings they needed. Even when the line splits were narrowed, the blocking wasn't great and a young receiving corps hasn't always helped the Cavs' veteran passers. "What players can do best has a great deal to do with the establishment of an identity," Groh said. "To try to force an identity on an offense or defense without the skills matching it would be foolhardy." Ah, skills. Maybe that's the root of the Cavaliers' problems. Norfolk, VA Anonymous Verica likely to start for ailing Sewell against Miami The Virginian-Pilot urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:529917 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:529923 Newman: Changes needed before return to Talladega 2009-11-06T21:07:08-05:00 2009-11-06T21:03:36-05:00 Copyright The Virginian-Pilot

FORT WORTH, Texas Ryan Newman continues to insist that to limit the chance of drivers going airborne, the car NASCAR uses in Sprint Cup needs to be changed before the series returns to Talladega next April. Newman met Wednesday with Robin Pemberton, NASCAR's vice president of competition, and John Darby, Sprint Cup series director, to discuss his accident in Sunday's race at Talladega. Newman also talked to them about the emergency crew's job in tipping his car back over so he could exit it. Newman was vocal about the perils of restrictor-plate racing after his accident and criticized series officials, saying, "It is a shame that not more is getting done. I guess maybe I expect NASCAR to call me. I am the only (driver) out there with an engineering degree. I would like to have a little respect on my end." He said in their meeting, Pemberton and Darby told him about testing that's been done with the cars. "But I don't know that they have tested everything," Newman said. "I don't know that you can test everything. But obviously, more testing needs to be done in order to make it safer for everybody." Pemberton said series officials are studying the accident and noted the roof flaps - designed to slow the cars and keep them from lifting off the ground - deployed properly. "The car didn't scrub enough speed off," Pemberton said. "We'll just have to take that and the video and see what we can do. We have to make every effort to make it better." Newman isn't convinced replacing the wing with a spoiler would prevent a similar occurrence. He mentioned Matt Kenseth's flip in a spoiler-equipped Nationwide car at Talladega in the spring, although that accident and Newman's weren't similar in how the cars got airborne. "Can it be a part of the fix?" Newman said. "Yeah, potentially. Is it a better alternative in conjunction with other things you can do to the car? Maybe. Those are the things that NASCAR and the teams have to test collectively so that we can make it safer and better for the drivers and, like I said, more importantly, the fans." Pemberton said series officials are looking to schedule wind tunnel time, which often has to be done well in advance because of the demand. Thing is, Newman wasn't the only car to go upside down at Talladega. Mark Martin's car rolled over at the finish. "My car turned over so fast, it makes me wonder if the nose of (Martin Truex's) car didn't go under the rear frame rail behind the rear tire and tip my car over," Martin said. "I know they do tend to turn over when they go sideways that way because they are heavy (on the) left side." Martin called Newman's accident a "horrible thing" and said "we need to try to fix it." Even Martin admits that isn't easy. "It is really hard to stop the cars from doing that when they get around like that," he said. "I think that we need to work on it, but we did keep the cars out of the grandstands." Newman also said he wasn't dissatisfied with how crews tipped his upside-down car right-side up - a process Newman estimated took 10 minutes - but he said things could be done better by the emergency crews. "That's my responsibility because the next guy might be me again," Newman said. Norfolk, VA Anonymous Newman: Changes needed before return to Talladega The Virginian-Pilot urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:529923 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:529926 Epic postseason gives Rodriguez the last laugh 2009-11-06T21:46:47-05:00 2009-11-06T21:44:43-05:00 Copyright The Virginian-Pilot

A-plus: Nobody came further and changed more opinions during the baseball season than Alex Rodriguez. In the spring, his name was leaked from the secret list of steroids users - remember his televised pity parties? - while a book portrayed him as a narcissistic phony and helped make him an even bigger butt of jokes on late-night TV. His health was in question, too. He missed the first month of the season after hip surgery, yet still drove in 100 runs. But it's A-Rod's postseason production this year that has changed perceptions of him forever. You think anybody cares now about his previous chokes and off-field nonsense? Not a chance. He's no longer a punch line. Turnabout Another of baseball's big comebacks was the one made by the World Series. It was just a year ago that people were discussing the need to move the Fall Classic to a neutral site to avoid nasty playing conditions. This year, the weather wasn't ideal, but thanks to the Yankees and Phillies, ratings spiked and all is well in Bud Selig's world. Dialed in Baseball can't do any better than Joe Buck as the TV voice of the World Series. Next Now on to really important baseball business - like who's going to sign free agent Matt Holliday. Yankees? Or Red Sox? Quick hit Doesn't matter what the football rankings say, nobody wants to play Oregon right now. Floored San Antonio Spurs guard Manu Ginobili has driven PETA batty by slapping a dive-bombing winged mammal out of the air during a recent game. When PETA issued a formal protest, it was further proof for a lot of people that the animal-rights activists have bats in their belfry Old news Virtual lame duck Bobby Bowden, who turns 80 on Sunday, shouldn't be allowed to make the final decision on the replacement for retiring Florida State defensive coordinator Mickey Andrews. It's time to take the keys to the car away from grandpa. Predictable Cowboys receiver Roy Williams publicly whines about Tony Romo failing to throw him catchable balls, yet Williams leads the team in drops. That's just like a diva. Hoops du jour Allen Iverson's already complaining about coming off the bench for the Memphis Grizzlies. Never saw that coming. A.I. says, "I'm not a sixth man." His complaints, like Iverson himself, are getting old. Stocking stuffer When I read that former Duke star and Orlando Magic sub J.J. Redick was releasing a rap CD I thought it must be a joke. Maybe it is, but we'll have to listen to the music - is that what you call it? - before deciding. The CD is for real and drops later this year. Missing Wondering why Bill Walton hasn't assumed his NBA courtside duties for TV? You probably aren't, but I'll tell you anyway: He retired from broadcasting because of a bad back. Marketplace Once Danica Patrick and Dale Jr. officially become business partners, the race is on to see whose face appears on more beer cozies. It's not as if either one of them has to, like, actually win a race ever again to command major endorsements. Say what? Quite modest of Nancy Lieberman to compare her stab at coaching a men's minor league basketball team to Barack Obama breaking the White House color barrier. But then, Nancy has always been the shy, retiring type. Bob Molinaro, (757) 446-2373, bob.molinaro@pilotonline.com Norfolk, VA Anonymous Epic postseason gives Rodriguez the last laugh The Virginian-Pilot urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:529926 Change 0 Usable urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:529928 Clang of streetcars still echoes for ex-driver 2009-11-06T22:08:48-05:00 2009-11-06T21:50:17-05:00 Copyright The Virginian-Pilot

NORFOLK The steel rails are the same. So are the overhead electric lines. But the vehicle? Randall Pike, who, at 91, might be the oldest living Norfolk streetcar driver, said the city's new light-rail vehicles feel like an airplane compared to the "box" he operated in the 1940s. "There's no comparison," Pike said Friday as he sat in the driver's seat of one of the light-rail cars parked near Norfolk State University. "It's beautiful." Although the control panel, with its computer screen and an array of colored buttons, appears more like it belongs in a cockpit than a transit car, Pike was eager to take it for a spin. "Oh, yeah," Pike said with a boyish grin. "I think I could go. Everything's labeled." Not so fast, said W. Randy Wright, Norfolk councilman and Hampton Roads Transit commissioner who offered Pike a sneak peek Friday. The Tide will not start running for another year - 62 years after the brakes were put on Norfolk's elaborate network of trolleys. Sixty-seven miles of track connected downtown, Ocean View, Willoughby, Norfolk Naval Station, South Norfolk and many neighborhoods in between. From 1941 until the street car's demise in 1948, Pike was one of the men behind the wheel. He was behind the wheel Dec. 7, 1941, when Pearl Harbor was attacked. He worked a double shift, ferrying sailors from the downtown entertainment district back to the Navy base for duty. "All day long, I carried men back," Pike said. He was behind the wheel Sept. 2, 1945, when World War II ended, stuck at the corner of Brambleton Avenue and Granby Street for hours because the street revelers were too thick for him to pass. "I just watched and enjoyed it," Pike said. Streetcars were the most popular mode of transportation at that time. It was wartime, and few people had personal cars. Tickets cost 10 cents each or three for a quarter. Fares were dependent on the length of the trip - it took two tickets to go from downtown to Ocean View. "We got so full sometimes we couldn't get anybody else on," Pike said. But things started changing after the war, he said. People clamored for more modern transportation such as buses. With no tracks, Pike said, "y ou could go anywhere on a bus." It was the end of an era that began in 1870, with horse- drawn carts that ran on a track between the west end of Main Street and fairgrounds on Church Street, according to city historian Peggy Haile McPhillips. The fare: 7 cents. Over the decades, there were highs and lows. In 1872, all but two of the railway's 35 horses were stricken by an illness, and workers had to be hired to pull the cars until the horses could resume their duties, McPhillips said. The horses were retired in 1894 with the advent of the first electric cars. The final streetcar run went from downtown to Ocean View at midnight on July 10, 1948. The riot squad had to be called because souvenir hunters smashed windows and looted the car. Pike made the switch to driving buses until he retired in 1975. He is amused that public transportation in Norfolk is coming full circle with the return of a modern version of the street car - light rail. Also promising is the possible return of high -speed passenger rail, which is proposed to run from Richmond into Norfolk at Harbor Park, where work is under way on a light-rail station. Pike once shuttled train passengers from what's now Harbor Park in his streetcar. "I'm all for the light-rail service," said Pike, a Virginia Beach resident. "I hope to see it go all the way to the Beach." Debbie Messina, (757) 446-2588, debbie.messina@pilotonline.com Norfolk, VA Anonymous Clang of streetcars still echoes for ex-driver The Virginian-Pilot urn:publicid:pilotonline.com:529928 Change 0 Usable