Did You Know: Michael Jordan Played His First-Ever College Basketball Game In Charlotte

An interesting piece of video footage has been making the rounds on the 'net this week. It's of Michael Jordan's first-ever college basketball game. The game took place between the North Carolina Tar Heels and Kansas Jayhawks on November 28, 1981 at Charlotte Coliseum. A nine-minute highlight video was posted on YouTube in July 2007, but it's resurfaced on people's radars after some major sports websites "dug it up" this week (I saw it on CBS' Eye On Basketball).

There are several interesting things to note about the first-ever college game played by the greatest basketball player of all-time:

• Many sports fans know this, but it's worth pointing out that Michael Jordan used to go by Mike Jordan.

• The game was held at Charlotte Coliseum, which today is Bojangles' Coliseum. Many of you might think of the arena where the Charlotte Hornets used to play, that used to be located on Tyvola Road, when you hear of Charlotte Coliseum. But Charlotte has had multiple venues named Charlotte Coliseum throughout its sports history. When a new sports and entertainment facility opened on East Independence Boulevard in 1955, it was named Charlotte Coliseum. But when a new, larger, 24,000-seat arena was being built on Tyvola Road in the mid- to late-1980s with the primary intent of hosting college basketball tournaments, and Charlotte was awarded an NBA franchise that began playing in 1988, the Independence Boulevard arena closed, and the Tyvola Road arena took the name Charlotte Coliseum (what's now known as Bojangles' Coliseum reopened in 1993). Charlotte sports fans soon gave it the nickname "The Hive" and proceeded to sell out 364 consecutive Hornets home games and lead the NBA in attendance for several years. And then, of course, as the story goes, Charlotte Hornets owner George Shinn moved the team to New Orleans in 2002 because the city wouldn't build him a new publicly funded arena with the amenities and plethora of luxury suites that had become customary in NBA arenas, the league awarded Charlotte another franchise that would be called the Bobcats that started playing in 2004, with a new Uptown arena, eventually named Time Warner Cable Arena, opening in 2005. Charlotte Coliseum on Tyvola Road, not quite 19 years old, was demolished in June 2007.

• And as the above long-story-short continues with its twists and irony, Jordan would eventually become majority owner of the Charlotte Bobcats in 2010, after spending a few years as a minority owner and front office executive with the team. Then this past May, after the New Orleans Hornets' new owner changed his team's name to the Pelicans, and after plenty of Charlotteans lobbying, Jordan made the decision to rename the Bobcats the Charlotte Hornets, which will take effect for the 2014-15 NBA season.

• Got all that? Good. (Whenever I run through elements of Charlotte's history like this, it's primarily for the many newcomers who move to this city each year. Many of whom don't know much about Charlotte's history, even its recent history and how much things have changed in this growing city in the last decade alone.)

• Now, back to the video of Jordan's first game. During the player introductions, we're reminded that another Tar Heel great and NBA legend, James Worthy, is from nearby Gastonia. This was a true "home" game for him, much closer for his family, friends, and former high school classmates than the Tar Heels' usual home court in Chapel Hill.

• The first shot Jordan took in this game, which he missed, looks a lot like the famous game-winning shot he made four months later during the 1982 NCAA Championship Game against Georgetown.

• Early in the game, one of the television analysts makes these remarks about Jordan: "So many things have been said about him. Comparisons to Walter Davis and David Thompson, in this part of the country. That's pretty heavy metal for a youngster of 18 years old. He is talented, and he really is kind of going against the system. Dean Smith normally doesn't start even the most talented of freshmen." Two things about that. I guess we all tend to compare new talent to more established talent, whether it's in sports, music, or whatever. But it's funny to hear that the players Jordan was being compared to at the time were viewed as sort of big shoes to fill, when he would eventually become the greatest basketball player of all-time (and sell the most popular basketball shoes). Secondly, Dean Smith knew early on the special talent he had with Jordan, hence the reason he started him as a freshman. 

• Jordan made his second shot attempt in this game, on his way to scoring 12 points, on 5 for 10 shooting, as the Tar Heels defeated the Jayhawks 74-67 in front of a sold-out crowd of 11,666 fans at Charlotte Coliseum.

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Gastonia (and N.C. BBQ) Featured on HBO's 'Veep'

If you were watching last night's episode of Veep on HBO, then you surely noticed that Gastonia played a large role in the comedy starring Julia Louis-Dreyfus. It was episode 10 of the show (season two, episode two), and Julia's character, Selina Meyer, the first female vice president of the United States, received orders from POTUS to attend a North Carolina pig-pickin' as part of their new Listen to Rural America Program, "U.S. Hey!" The pig-pickin' was in Gastonia.

Around these parts, we love for our cities and towns to get TV time, even if in fictional shows (Showtime's Homeland and Cinemax's Banshee, for example), but I'm not sure how Gastonian's feel about their portrayal in Veep. In one scene, while aboard Air Force Two on her way to Gastonia, the fictional vice president says she doesn't want to get "stuck talking pig sh*t with people who use hay as furniture." You had to laugh at that.

Another portrayal the show embarks on is the long-running, heated debate on North Carolina barbecue, by choosing a pig roast in Gastonia to attend. N.C. BBQ got thrust into the national spotlight when the real First Lady of the United States, Michelle Obama, announced that Charlotte had been awarded the 2012 Democratic National Convention, saying that: "Charlotte is a city marked by its southern charm, warm hospitality, and an "up by the bootstraps" mentality that has propelled the city forward as one of the fastest-growing in the South. Vibrant, diverse, and full of opportunity, the Queen City is home to innovative, hardworking folks with big hearts and open minds. And of course, great barbecue."

I wrote extensively about the DNC for a year, so I saw how often N.C. barbecue was brought into political circles and conversations. Veep does a good job of mimicking things politicians actually do, but with more of a hilarious exaggeration. Like, politicians really do go campaigning at North Carolina barbecue events: read my past DNC blog post, which includes a recap of the annual Mallard Creek Barbecue; and last June I begged national media to stop talking about N.C. BBQ; and even more fitting, in October 2010, a New York Times reporter visited a Pig Pickin’ and Politickin’ rally in Huntersville, hosted by a Republican women’s club.

At a recent Levine Museum of the New South event, the Uptown museum featured an Eastern vs. Western North Carolina barbecue tasting and competition.

We take our barbecue seriously around here. Veep got that much right.

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My First Time: Hiking Crowders Mountain, Dining at Azteca Mexican Restaurant

Even though we're less than one month into the winter season, over the weekend you would've thought it was spring in Charlotte. Saturday and Sunday each surpassed 70 degrees, and I know a lot of people took advantage of the great weather.

Personally, Andrea and I went hiking at Crowders Mountain State Park in Kings Mountain on Saturday. She'd gone a few times before, but this was my first time. It was obvious that the unseasonably warm weather had brought out plenty of hikers, as the trails were busy with people of all ages, including many with their children and dogs. But if you're going to climb to the top of the mountain, which we did, prepare for a workout. It was worth the burn in my legs to enjoy the fresh air and to be able to look out over several surrounding cities and towns from the mountaintop.

After about two hours on the trail, we'd certainly worked up an appetite. Crowders Mountain is just outside of Gastonia and since we'd have to pass through Gastonia en route back to Charlotte, we decided to find a place there for a late lunch/early dinner. Franklin Boulevard in Gastonia is home to a lot of retail stores and restaurants--you'll actually find some locations of franchises we don't have in Charlotte. But if I was going to eat in Gastonia on a rare occasion, I didn't want it to be at some big chain restaurant.

There are several Mexican restaurants along Franklin Boulevard, and we sort of picked one out of the hat and went to Azteca Mexican Restaurant (1863 W. Franklin Blvd.). It was a good choice, as we encountered good food, good margaritas, and friendly service. To elaborate, I had the largest margarita I'd ever been served (that's the normal size, and it costs only $7.25) followed by one of the largest dinner plates I'd ever seen.

A margarita fit for an Aztec king.

Complimentary chips and salsa.

Two tacos and an enchilada with rice and re-fried beans.

This cool painting was on the wall above our booth.

There are three other locations of Azteca Mexican Restaurant in the area: two in Charlotte--one on Woodlawn Road and one in north Charlotte--and a Matthews location. Visit aztecarestaurantcharlotte.com for more details.

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'Banshee' Premieres Friday on Cinemax, Look for Charlotte

I added Cinemax to my premium cable TV lineup last week, so for the last several days I've seen previews for the network's new series Banshee, which premieres this Friday, January 11 at 10 p.m. The show is described as: "From the creator of True Blood, Banshee stars Antony Starr as Lucas Hood, an ex-con and master thief who assumes the identity of the sheriff of Banshee, Pennsylvania, where he continues his criminal activities, even as he’s hunted by the shadowy gangsters he betrayed years earlier." The series also stars Ivana Milicevic, Ben Cross, Frankie Faison, Ulrich Thomsen, and Lili Simmons.

Sometimes these action-crime dramas become television hits, and sometimes they only last one season. But I'm tuning in each week specifically to see if and when I spot scenes of Charlotte, and hopefully I become a fan of the show in the process. That's one of the things I enjoy about watching Homeland, in addition to it being one of the best shows on TV. Banshee began production in the Charlotte area last spring and, according to its local casting Facebook page, looks like filming continued here throughout the summer. Similar to Homeland where Charlotte plays the role of Washington, D.C., in Banshee the Charlotte area plays the fictional small town of Banshee, Pennsylvania.

In the trailer for Banshee, I spotted the Levine Avenue of the Arts in Uptown at the 1:24 mark. It's a quick snippet of a police shootout scene, and you can see the Mint Museum sign on the right and the historic St. Peter's Catholic Church across the street.

Screenshot.

For more details on Banshee, visit www.cinemax.com/banshee, and also check out the cool Gif Shop.

UPDATE
Small towns in the Charlotte area are more prominently used than the Queen City itself in this season of Banshee. "Five towns make Banshee: Monroe, Mooresville, Lincolnton, Gastonia, and Waxhaw," Banshee directing show runner Greg Yaitanes told The Charlotte Observer. "No one town captured everything that Banshee was, but everything existed in that area, and it allowed us to go to a lot of different places and make that town." Additionally, a local watering hole on Old Statesville Road in north Charlotte is used, and sets for select interiors were built on a sound stage in warehouses along Reames Road in Charlotte.

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North Carolina Is a Gas-Guzzling State

In North Carolina, as if we don't pay some of the highest gas taxes in the nation, which is why gas here is consistently about 20 cents higher than a few miles south of the state line, we're also some gas-guzzling people. In a recent study by Forbes, they ranked "America's Most And Least Gas-Guzzling Cities." Some of the cities ranked are listed as metropolitan areas, and topping the list as burning up the most gas is Raleigh-Durham-Chapel Hill. Coming in second place: Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill. And not to be left out, in sixth place is Greensboro-Winston Salem-High Point. So North Carolina cities take three of the top six slots.

Time to start carpooling again.

"The cities and suburbs of 'The Triangle' are close enough that people don’t think twice about driving from one to the other. Yet in doing so, the average household racks up 21,800 miles per year. Assuming an average 20.3 miles per gallon, that means burning through 1,074 gallons per year, about $4,200 at current prices," Forbes writer Christopher Helman says.

"North Carolina does not fare well in the rankings. Close on the Triangle’s (Tar)heels comes the Charlotte-Gastonia-Rock Hill region, with an average household gasoline demand of 1,061 gallons. In sixth place, the average household in North Carolina’s Greensboro-Winston Salem-High Point metroplex spends $4,000 for 1,017 gallons per year," Helman continues.

If our state government and department of transportation ever needed any more reasons to complete Interstate 485 in Charlotte and to build the proposed high-speed rail between Charlotte and Raleigh, they have it.

Rounding out the top-five Most Gas-Guzzling Cities is Atlanta in third place, Nashville in fourth, and Monmouth-Ocean Counties, N.J. is fifth. Meanwhile, the least gas-guzzling city, unsurprisingly, is New York, where many households don't even own cars. Click here to see the full list.

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RichGirl Finds Their 'Swagger' With Help From Fabolous and Rick Ross

Much of this year has been relatively quiet for R&B group RichGirl. I first blogged about the sexy foursome nearly a year and a half ago after seeing them perform in Charlotte and discovering that one of the group members, Lyndriette, is from Gastonia ("One 'Richgirl' Is From Gastonia"). My first impressions of them were that they were an attractive, well-assembled group, and, most importantly, they can really sing. Plus, factor in that they're being produced and singing songs written by Rich Harrison, it should be a recipe for musical success.

But the music biz is tough to break through, perhaps more so now than ever. I'm guessing the record label pulled RichGirl off the road from their promotional tour--they also opened for Beyoncé on tour for several dates last year--to get back to working on their album and finding songs that will lead to chart success at radio and retail i.e. iTunes. Last year's "24" and "He Ain't Wit Me Now Tho" were pretty good songs to introduce the group, but didn't stick the way I'm sure the group and their backers would've liked, especially since they're trying to set the climate to release their debut album.

Now they're back with a new single, assisted by some heavy hitters. RichGirl's "Swagger Right" features Fabolous and Rick Ross, two of the hottest rappers in the game. That cosign alone will garner the song a second look, and if the label decides to shoot a video for it, it could introduce RichGirl to a larger fan base. The song is good--and catchy--and Fabolous, whose the king of batting leadoff on R&B tracks, starts the song with an array of witty punchlines: "Swagger opposite of left, money opposite of small. / If being fly is a crime, then the cops should get a call."

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Charlotte's a 'Healthiest Housing Market.' Or Is It?

Lists come out all the time, ranking cities in everything from best places to live to those with the fattest people. But when it comes to cities lists that involve financial and economic data, people really take notice, especially in an economy like this. Yesterday, an AOL News article listed the Top 10 Healthiest Housing Markets for 2010. The Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord metro area ranks third on the list.

Yay! Hooray! But before you alert the boosters and the city leaders send out press releases, read the brief description it stated about our market.

"Last year housing prices in this financial center (Wachovia and Bank of America) were already stable, incomes were up and new household formation was among the highest in the nation. With an unemployment rate around 5 percent, the area is projected to add 2 percent more jobs this year."

Wrong! "With an unemployment rate around 5 percent..." Uhh, maybe that was our unemployment rate in 2000 because it's certainly not in 2010. The latest report from the N.C. Employment Security Commission states that the unemployment rate in the Charlotte-Gastonia-Concord area is 12.8 percent (109,789 residents were unemployed in January).

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Gamecocks Upset #1 Wildcats; Now I'm too Excited to Go to Sleep

The Kentucky Wildcats got to enjoy being the number-one ranked team in the country for less than two days because the South Carolina Gamecocks (my alma mater) knocked them off tonight, 68-62, in Columbia. This is the first time the Gamecocks have ever defeated a number-one ranked team in basketball. But I'm going to act like we've been here before. I bet things are crazy tonight in Columbia--outside Colonial Life Arena, around the Russell House, in Five Points, and even in The Vista. Devan Downey (from Chester) outplayed John Wall as he and Brandis Raley-Ross (from Gastonia) helped seal the win in the final minutes.

Go Cocks!

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Free Stuff for Veterans -- In Charlotte and Beyond

Charlotte (and the nation) is showing love to our military service men and women in honor of Veterans Day. Even though the holiday is this Wednesday, November 11, there are specials going on throughout the week. Here are a few that GPT has learned of, and I got the idea to put this list together after talking to an old friend.

One of my childhood friends from South Carolina visited Charlotte today and he paid me a visit while in town. We were chilling at the crib when he mentioned that after he left my house he was going to the Charlotte Bobcats box office because they're giving away two tickets to tomorrow's (Tuesday) home game against the Orlando Magic. I told Caleb, who served in the Army for a few years after high school, that I hadn't heard anything about the ticket giveaway. But sure enough, at about 5:30 p.m. he was calling me as he was leaving the box office at Time Warner Cable arena saying he'd picked up his two free tickets. And he said "they're pretty good seats."


If you're a veteran or active duty, you can pick up your tickets by showing proof of service (military ID card, DD214 form, military orders, etc.). The box office opens at 10 a.m. Tuesday and will be open through the start of the game, which begins at 7 p.m. Call the box office at 704-688-9000 if you have any questions. I didn't see any info about the giveaway on the Bobcats website, www.bobcats.com.

There are also some sweet food deals for veterans.

Applebee's nationwide is offering a free entree to all veterans and active duty military personnel on Wednesday. There are several ways you can show proof of eligibility to obtain your free meal: U.S. Uniform Services ID card, current leave and earnings statement (LES), veterans organization card (i.e., American Legion and VFW), photograph in uniform, wearing uniform, DD214, citation, or commendation.


There are 12 Applebee's locations in the Charlotte area, including Concord, Matthews, Pineville, Gastonia, and Rock Hill. Click here for more information on the Veterans Day special.

Also on Wednesday:

Wolfman Pizza, a Charlotte-based, California-Style pizza restaurant with four area locations, is offering 50 percent off your meal if you're a veteran or active duty. If you like 'em hot and sweet, Krispy Kreme is giving a free donut to our brave men and women (click here). Veterans and active duty personnel can get a free Bloomin’ Onion and a drink at Outback Steakhouse. Click here for more details.

The food love is even spilling into next week. On Monday, November 16, from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Golden Corral is holding its Military Appreciation Monday Dinner. Get your free meal, and visit www.goldencorral.com/military for more details.

The big-box stores are getting into the spirit as well.

Mooresville-based Lowe's Home Improvement is honoring Veterans Day at its more than 1,600 stores nationwide. Through Saturday, people from the active duty ranks, reservists, honorably discharged, and retired military men and women with valid identification or proof of service are eligible to receive a special 10 percent discount on in-store and special order purchases up to $5,000.

On Veterans Day only, Sam’s Club locations nationwide will be giving away 25,000 Hugo canes free of charge to military veterans in need of mobility assistance. Limited quantities per location and available only while supplies last. You don't have to be a Sam’s Club member, but proof of military service is required. Visit www.hugosalutes.com.

If you know of any special offer that I've missed, feel free to post it in the comments section. And if you go get one of these freebies, come back and post your experience in the comments as well.

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One 'Richgirl' Is From Gastonia

I attended the Teen Summit last evening, a forum for local tweens and teens put on a few times a year by Girl Talk Foundation, Inc. The nonprofit organization is led by Power 98's Janine Davis and they provide programs and outreach to young girls to help build self-esteem and educate them on how to deal with the challenges they face during this very influential time in their lives. The Teen Summit is open to both boys and girls and this edition attracted about 300 of them for a two-hour session at the Albemarle Road Recreation Center.

It was a great event and I commend Davis and her team for the excellent work they do. This is, however, Grown People Talking, so I don't talk much about teens. But the Teen Summit had something we grown people could appreciate. Even though the adults were ushered into a separate room (called CMS Parent University) so the teens could feel comfortable talking without being concerned with their parents' reactions, I managed to duck in for something worth a grown man seeing.

Up-and-coming R&B group Richgirl made an appearance, performed a couple of songs, and hung around until the end to sign autographs. I'd heard of this group and their first single "24". They were signed to a record deal and are produced by Rich Harrison, the popular songwriter who has written songs for Amerie (most of her first album and the hit "One Thing" from her second) and Beyonce ("Crazy In Love" and Destiny's Child's "Soldier"). With a talented producer behind them and the looks of supermodels, these girls are destined for stardom.

I now have a favorite girl group: Richgirl.

I was standing in the lobby talking on the phone when they walked in and I was rendered speechless. I wasn't sure who they were at the time but I knew I had to stick around. After seeing them perform, I was even more impress. They have great voices. One of them actually sounds a lot like Beyonce, largely because they sing those fast-paced R&B songs Beyonce has become known for. The four-member group consists of Audra from San Diego, Brave from Baltimore, Seven from Haines City, Florida, and Lyndriette, from Gastonia. That's right, nearby, tiny Gastonia.

You can learn more about Richgirl by visiting their Myspace page and by reading this recent Billboard article.

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National News Puts Spotlight On Small Bank

NBC Nightly News With Brian Williams just aired a story about small town banks succeeding while the big banks are failing. It featured Citizens South bank in Gastonia, which is "an old textiles town in the shadows of Charlotte," and its sharp-minded CEO Kim Price (Kim is a man). Ken Lewis and all the other big-bank CEOs had to be watching this and turning red in the face. Bank of America became a conglomerate by gobbling up little banks like this, but now it's the small community banks that are flourishing. The news story said less than 1 percent of Citizens South's loans are in default. And that Price is "a Boys and Girls Club kind of guy. No chauffeurs. No jets." Obvious dig. See video below.

Visit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy

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I Want My Krispy Kreme!

There are no Krispy Kreme Doughnuts shops in Charlotte and I want to know why. There's one in Matthews and one in Gastonia, according to the store locator on its website, but neither of those are close to where I live.

I need this.

The reason I'm particularly outraged at this moment is because today is National Doughnut Day. And to honor it, Krispy Kreme is giving away free doughnuts all day. Can I enjoy it? No!

What's even more disheartening is that Krispy Kreme is headquartered in Winston-Salem and while there are several locations in North Carolina (and about 450 worldwide), there are none in the home state's largest and most thriving city. I find that completely unacceptable. And those little Krispy Kreme doughnut stands that you find in gas stations and grocery stores don't count. I need a full-fledged doughnut shop, the one that turns on the "Hot" light. K.K. fans know what I'm talking about.

I need these.

Meanwhile, there are about a dozen Dunkin Donuts around here. Fan I am not. Dunkin has great coffee, but the doughnuts pale in comparison to my Krispy. A little over a year ago I wrote a story that profiled the owner of the Dunkin Donuts in uptown, the two-story one on Graham Street. He's from the North (Boston or New York, but I don't remember exactly) and he moved to Charlotte specifically to open a few Dunkins in uptown. He said when he was doing franchise research he was struck that there were no Dunkin Donuts in uptown, despite all of the growth of businesses, condos, and people the area was experiencing. So he opened the one on Graham, then one in the arena, and I think he has plans for at least one more.

See, for that Northerner, Dunkins is a big deal. He said so. And he said it's all about the coffee, while also acknowledging that he realized that Southerners are more about the doughnuts. He said he felt he could convert some of them but more importantly he would tap into the large number of Yankees who live here. Well, I'm a Southern boy and I want Krispy Kreme. Just give me the glazed and I'm happy.

I need a Krispy Kreme to open here before the end of the year. I'm serious. I love Charlotte but this is affecting my quality of life. To get a store going I might just find myself an investor, or start an online petition, or write my local congressman.

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