Summer Headlines

13-14 Basketball ACC Big Four Rivals Coaches College Basketball Football Recruiting Mark Gottfried Multimedia Pro Sports UNC Scandal25

Hey fellow Wolfpackers, it’s July so that means it’s the slowest sports news cycle of the year but there have been a few headlines across the web over the past few days that I’d like to post just so we don’t let the news pass us by.

First we’ll start off with a little NC State basketball news. Mark Gottfried held his summer press conference and to say expectations are 180 out from last year would be an understatement not to mention ton of questions for next year’s squad. You can watch the PC here.

Brett Friedlander (starnewsonline.com)
No matter what, Wolfpack won’t have to worry about being underachievers in 2013-14

“I go to the grocery store and the guy (there) says ‘hang in coach. It’s going to be a long year,’” Gottfried said earlier this week at his annual summer press conference. “I hear it everywhere I go.”

Can sophomore forward T.J. Warren become a consistently dominant force while learning, in his coach’s words, to be “as interested in his defensive and rebounding as he is scoring?”

Will Turner live up to his advance billing as a potential star on the wing?

How long will it take Lee to adjust to the higher level of competition?

Who will emerge as the team’s leaders?

Will this year’s team learn to play defense better than their predecessors?

Can point guards Tyler Lewis and Cat Barber learn to coexist in the same backcourt?

Will fifth-year center Jordan Vandenberg finally be able to make a significant contribution? And if not, can one of three untested big men – Beejay Anya, Lennard Freeman and Kyle Washington – develop fast enough to fill the void?

GoPack.com also did all the legwork for the local papers and the write-ups from Gott’s PC.

To carry on with the theme of basketball here’s a list of ACC players on NBA Summer League Teams. Of note are:

Celtics: Nolan Smith, guard, Duke; Courtney Fells, forward, N.C. State

Knicks: C.J. Leslie, forward, N.C. State; Iman Shumpert, guard, Georgia Tech

Nuggets: Erick Green, guard, Virginia Tech; Richard Howell, forward, N.C. State; C.J. Harris, guard, Wake Forest

Timberwolves: Lorenzo Brown, guard, N.C. State

Clippers: Reggie Bullock, guard, UNC; Scott Wood, forward, N.C. State

Wizards: Devin Booker, forward, Clemson; Dennis Horner, forward, N.C. State; Glen Rice Jr,, guard, Georgia Tech; Chris Singleton, forward, Florida State;

Let’s also take the time to recognize what an amazing year the Wolfpack Baseball team had and what a job Avent did. NC State’s Elliott Avent earned recognition as the ABCA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year.

NC State head coach Elliott Avent has been named the 2013 ABCA Atlantic Region Coach of the Year, the American Baseball Coaches Association announced Wednesday.

In 2013, Avent guided the Wolfpack to its first 50-win season in program history and took NC State to its first College World Series since 1968. The Pack finished the year ranked No. 5 nationally, the highest final ranking for the baseball team since 1968.

On to the gridiron. With the Red Light practically burned out from all the football commitments I’m sure it’s hard to keep track of who is currently part of #Pack14. You’re in luck, accsports.com has an update for you.

Finally I wanted to point out a few headlines that have hit the street over the past few days concerning the “fine and upstanding” university a few miles to the west of Raleigh.

Eric Prisbell (USA Today)
N.C. man says he rented car P.J. Hairston was driving

The 2013 GMC Yukon rental car that North Carolina leading scorer P.J. Hairston was driving at the time of his June 5 arrest had been rented by a man named Haydn Thomas, according to the rental receipt obtained by USA TODAY Sports.

Thomas, 39, of Durham, said he rented the car for himself and that a friend, Miykael Faulcon of Durham, had borrowed the car to go to a store when the arrest occurred.

“I don’t know P.J. Hairston,” Thomas told USA TODAY Sports. “I know Miykael, his friend. I don’t know anyone at Carolina. I don’t even like the Carolina team. Look at the age disparity between me and those boys. I could be their father.”

Thomas rented the car at 10 p.m. June 2 at the Hertz location at Raleigh Durham International Airport, and the car was returned at 10:30 p.m. June 5. Thomas was charged $1261.64, according to the receipt. The license plate number on the rental receipt matches the one listed on the Durham (N.C.) police report of Hairston’s arrest, as does the year, make and model of the vehicle.

So Thomas didn’t know Hairston, but hold on a second what about this….

Eric Prisbell (USA Today)
Second rental links UNC’s P.J. Hairston to Haydn Thomas

North Carolina’s leading scorer last basketball season, P.J. Hairston, was cited for speeding May 13 while driving a Hertz rental car that was paid for by a woman who shares a Durham address with Haydn Thomas, a convicted felon whose rented sports utility vehicle Hairston was driving when he was arrested last month.

Hairston was cited for speeding while driving a 2012 Chevrolet Camaro SS with Virginia license plates, a Durham County District Court clerk said. The Camaro was paid for by a woman named Catinia Farrington, whose Durham address matches that of Thomas, according to the Hertz receipt obtained by USA TODAY Sports.

The license plates on the Camaro that Hairston was driving match the ones on the rental receipt for Farrington, as does the make and model of the vehicle. And the address Farrington lists on the rental receipt matches the address Thomas lists on his voter registration.

Thomas told USA TODAY Sports on Wednesday that he did not know Hairston, who was arrested June 5 on possession of marijuana charges while driving a 2013 GMC Yukon that Thomas rented. Thomas said that he rented the Yukon for himself and that a friend, Miykael Faulcon of Durham, had borrowed the car to go to a store when the arrest occurred. Thomas said in a telephone interview that Hairston followed him on Twitter only because “I promote parties.”

Thomas said Wednesday that neither the NCAA nor officials from North Carolina had reached out to him to talk with him about his relationship with Hairston. He added that he is not a University of North Carolina athletic booster nor is he connected to a sports agent.

Wait, I’m a little confused now. Did he know him or not?

Laura Keeley (N&O)
Felon who rented car in Hairston case clarifies ties to UNC, athletes

Haydn “Fats” Thomas, the convicted felon who rented the SUV that North Carolina basketball player P.J. Hairston was driving at the time of his arrest, has business ties to an adjunct faculty member at the UNC School of Dentistry and is more familiar with UNC athletes than he claimed earlier in the week.

In a July 3 interview with USA Today, Thomas said he didn’t know Hairston or anyone at North Carolina. He clarified that statement in a phone interview Friday.

“We throw parties, for Christ’s sake,” Thomas said when asked how he knew UNC athletes.

“When I said I don’t know them, I meant, I don’t know you, but you’re talking to me now, right? So I guess I met you.”

Oh, well, that clears everything up.

Thomas declined to comment further on his familiarity with UNC athletes. A picture of former UNC and current Milwaukee Bucks basketball player John Henson was sent out in July 2012 from Thomas’ Twitter account, which has since been deleted.

About 1.21 Jigawatts

Class of '98, Mechanical Engineer, State fan since arriving on campus and it's been a painful ride ever since. I live by the Law of NC State Fandom, "For every Elation there is an equal and opposite Frustration."

13-14 Basketball ACC Big Four Rivals Coaches College Basketball Football Recruiting Mark Gottfried Multimedia Pro Sports UNC Scandal

25 Responses to Summer Headlines

  1. Greywolf 07/07/2013 at 2:29 PM #

    Well, at least Hairston wasn’t selling comp tickets and shoes.

  2. redisgood 07/07/2013 at 3:06 PM #

    It’s obvious nobody wants to look to closely into the Hairston / Fats thing. I suspect what they uncovered would damage a lot more people than just PJ.

  3. Jediwolf 07/07/2013 at 5:41 PM #

    Another car story to be swept under the rug. How can the press keep ignoring the $13K worth if parking tickets paid for by a tutor?? It will all be over by Friday. Just pop some corn and enjoy the show.

  4. PackerInRussia 07/07/2013 at 6:48 PM #

    Come on…he’s not even a Carolina fan. Case closed, what more do you want? Everyone knows that argument wins. I’ve known it ever since I used it in elementary school. Besides that, he sounds like a nice upstanding guy: “I throw parties for Christ’s sake.” A religious guy; maybe a little fanatic (I don’t know too many people who throw parties for Christ’s sake), but as long as you don’t go all al-Qaeda, a little passion about religion never hurt anyone.

  5. cWOhLFrPAiCKs 07/07/2013 at 7:53 PM #

    PackerInRussia, thanks for the good laugh 🙂

    “Besides that, he sounds like a nice upstanding guy: “I throw parties for Christ’s sake.” A religious guy; maybe a little fanatic (I don’t know too many people who throw parties for Christ’s sake)”

  6. supernova 07/07/2013 at 8:01 PM #

    There would appear to be a LOT of meat on this bone. Thus far there hasn’t been a ton of media coverage on it, despite the article on Saturday from the N&O. And of course, we then learned from USAToday about the 2nd rental car tied to Hairston’s speeding ticket in May, rented by Fat’s live-in friend (trend anyone?)

    I suspect the media – particularly the N&O – will be taking a much deeper dive on this in the days/weeks to come. Clearly there is much more to this story. We have to remember that the last week has been dominated by the July 4th Holiday period, which is sort of a summer down time in the news cycle. Tomorrow, however, its back to business as normal. And with July being a slow period for Sports, this story is perfect to fill the gap until August begins with its Fall camps for football. Plus….. on TOS our hero Manalishi has hinted that more details are forthcoming, probably this week. When that guy speaks….I listen. And I believe the media has learned to follow suit.

  7. Wufpacker 07/07/2013 at 8:56 PM #

    LOL PIR. That was nicely played.

  8. JeremyH 07/07/2013 at 10:55 PM #

    Saw Fells play for the Celitcs tonight, tends to hang out on the wing beyond the arc. Went 3/7. Saw him finish a fast break score nicely. Hope he gets a legit shot to make theirs or another roster.

  9. Adventuroo 07/07/2013 at 11:27 PM #

    This whole story just gets better and better (well, depending on your viewpoint).

    PJ has done racked up TWO moving violations, a drug (Controlled Substance) charge and a potential Firearms charge. As my hero, Viper of Top Gun fame would say, “you boy(s) have had a Hell of a day”….in this case it would be a month.

    So, PJ picked up two “pinks” and a few other minor (well maybe not minor) citations.

    I really am interested in how the whole “Fats” or maybe, Fatz plays out. A convicted felon (Controlled Substances) that throws “parties” that the FB and BB players salivate over and tweet about (gotta be some hot mama’s in the fray somewhere) and Fatz does NOT like UNC.

    Then, there are Fatz’s “connections”. First to a cousin who is a dentist in partnership with another dentist (UNC grads of course). They make Ice Guards and Fatz and his “arch enemies” in light blue sport them for their FB and Tweets….well they did, but NOW they are deleting them.

    Next comes Fatz’s lawyer buddy….a small time lawyer that did the usual things….but was a BUD of Fatz (maybe partied with him or knew him professionally). The UNC lawyer is NOW an assistant DA in Durham….HMMM….wonder is there is any move afoot to “squash” or put the charges on the back burner.
    WAIT A MINUTE….did I say DENTIST as in Dental School? Why I’ve heard these lads and lassies are PRO UNC JOCK. Why they even funded a job for Tami (whatshername….it keeps changing) so she could travel with her married (for the time being) BF…..Yes, THAT dental school

    I have offered a suggest to New Ch Folt. Call on our SAINT….Lawrence Monteith. Bring HIM in as a consultant. HE will know HOW to clean up this mess. If she did that, then the faculty might put busts of her (clothed of course) on the dashes of their Prius’ or the handlebars of their environmentally friendly bicycles.

    AH YES…the days of Summer. And we thought that Tweetin’ Marvin opened a can of worms…..his tweets will pale in comparison.

    One DOES wonder HOW the three Males in this will fare. I speak of course of Roy, Bubba and Larry (Larry’s boys were PARTY GOERS). If I were Ms. Folt, I would have a come to (is Jesus OK to say here) meeting with those esteemed and overpaid folks and read them the “New Sheriff in Town” riot act.

    BUT, nobody solicited me for the job….

  10. JeremyH 07/08/2013 at 1:28 AM #

    If I was Hertz, I’d be upset with this guy for breaking the rules. Also, why doesn’t the basketball program just have a car service to drive the players around? Would avoid all this car rental business. And is there any rules against have friends buy you stuff?

  11. Gowolves 07/08/2013 at 9:46 AM #

    What needs to be done is to investigate those tickets and license plate switching that was discovered three years ago. Nothing was ever done. Yes they discovered some tickets paid by others but they never followed the plates being changed and who owned those cars. Its about time don’t you think? Not getting my hopes up though. They will brush this under the rug and continue to cheat.

  12. packof81 07/08/2013 at 10:17 AM #

    And don’t forget the FB player who rolled his SUV, had alcohol on his breath and did not get a breathalyzer. Then the security officer got fired for changing the report. Why wasn’t MADD raising hell about this?

  13. DC_wolf 07/08/2013 at 10:43 AM #

    “…Thomas said Wednesday that neither the NCAA nor officials from North Carolina had reached out to him to talk with him about his relationship with Hairston.”

    But wouldn’t that take effort?? Ahh, the NCAA – continuing to put integrity first.

  14. MrPlywood 07/08/2013 at 1:01 PM #

    I have no faith that anyone “in charge” will follow up on any of the uNX BS.

  15. wolffpride 07/08/2013 at 1:06 PM #

    In regards to the basketball rosters, did Seth Curry get picked up by anybody?

  16. MrPlywood 07/08/2013 at 2:01 PM #

    PJ finally makes the ESPN headlines:

    http://espn.go.com/mens-college-basketball/story/_/id/9459287/report-links-rental-cars-north-carolina-tar-heels-pj-hairston-ex-con

    EDIT: The rolling comments on the ESPN story are great. A few deluded uNX diehards are trying to defend the Public Ivy castle against a surly, sarcastic mob with pitchforks and torches.

  17. BJD95 07/08/2013 at 3:11 PM #

    Unless he really knows where a sh-t ton of bodies are buried…I can’t see the flagship doing anything but casting him adrift and crying “rogue!!! OMG!!!” Again.

  18. bill.onthebeach 07/08/2013 at 4:41 PM #

    …rumor is that FATS is …. a pro at working both sides of the table … so to speak…. is in too deep and too well connected not to know where *all the bodies are buried….

    Rock and hard place are on a collision course of epic proportions….

    Too late for the UNx housecleaners….
    http://www.wralsportsfan.com/man-linked-to-hairston-arrest-has-athlete-ties/12626598/

    Too late for the witness protection program…

    Too late to give FATS…. BFMD’s , Dickie’s B. , Tammy’s or Hold’em’s deal….

    This ain’t going away….
    Some body needs to find…TRACY CLINE… and ask her what she knows about FATS….

    Welcome to Chapel Hill…. Dr. Folt….

  19. bill.onthebeach 07/08/2013 at 4:51 PM #

    … now that I think about what’s listed in the WRAL article…

    We might need to send ‘our housecleaners’ out…

    How does FATS have a major party one mile from our campus and not invite our atheletes ???

  20. MrPlywood 07/08/2013 at 6:13 PM #

    Here’s a pic link that popped up in the ESPN comments… looks like Henson on the left and Hairston on the right. Fatz is to the far right. The fat guy who KNOWS NOTHINK!.

    http://s1302.photobucket.com/user/Theredjacket123/media/image_zps35a82ddb.jpg.html

  21. john of sparta 07/08/2013 at 7:05 PM #

    in the USofA,
    next week is the worst week in sports.
    no football.
    no basketball.
    4-day MLB all-star break.
    one pitiful race somewhere.
    bring on bashing our rival.

  22. lawful 07/08/2013 at 8:50 PM #

    I’m absolutely amazed at just how stupid these UNX athletes really are. Not only do they waste almost no time in repeating history, which isn’t even history at this point, but they advertise it openly and blatantly for anyone with a fifth grade intelligence to dissect.

  23. 13OT 07/08/2013 at 9:46 PM #

    A little Prayer Judgement?

    Hell, I still support Butch.

  24. JohnGalt78 07/08/2013 at 10:44 PM #

    Anyboby else notice he’s wearing his jersey for the mug shot?

    http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/07/08/3017635/hairston-speeding-ticket-tied.html

  25. lawful 07/09/2013 at 6:57 AM #

    You’re right. If it was Butch’s fault, it wasn’t really Butch’s fault. I told a friend of mine from the outset of that scandal that not only would Butch go, but so would Baddour and probably Thorpe. This time, I don’t know. At this point, I say Williams is safe but if this turns into something bigger or if academics ever seriously gets tied to the program, I’ll have to rethink that.

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