SAM ROSENTHAL

Sports

Gone in (less than) 9.7 seconds

By SAM ROSENTHAL | August 27

Mind-boggling. What a terrific term. Makes you smile just to say it. In the sports world, we seldom encounter true mind-bogglers - feats stupendous enough to flummox you worse than Paris Hilton holding a paper that reads "turn over" on both sides. At the Beijing Olympics, we encountered one such diamond in the rough: the number 9.69. As in 9.69 seconds, or the time it took Jamaica's Usain Bolt to run the 100-meter dash. Nine-point-six-nine. Turned that sucker over in my head a million times (felt just like Paris). Nine-point-six-effing-nine!

Sports

Athletes can be at home in class, too

By SAM ROSENTHAL | April 25

Once upon a freshman or sophomore year, Kelly Davies approached me, her mind ill-at-ease. Davies, a volleyball player, needed to vent about a former Sports Desker's article, which struck her as, um, a teensy bit insensitive. "There was some opinion piece about what student-athletes should be taking at Carolina," Davies rehashed with me last week. "And it said that they should be taking a modified - what does modified mean? - exercise and sports science curriculum.

Sports

A 21st-century miracle on ice

By SAM ROSENTHAL | April 18

How aboot this: It's hockey time. The NHL Stanley Cup Playoffs commenced last week, and with it the indelible image of the toothless grin is brought into our living rooms once again. Hockey, old friend, how we missed thee. After the NHL's 2004-2005 lockout and ESPN's decision not to renew its contract with the league, professional American hockey skated - pardon the pun - on thin ice.

Sports

Roy's sticky little situation

By SAM ROSENTHAL | April 10

So you may have noticed that North Carolina coach Roy Williams donned a garish sticker during the NCAA title game that bore an uncanny resemblance to the Kansas Jayhawks' logo. OK, it was a Kansas Jayhawks' logo, and you definitely noticed. And you strongly disapproved. In the days following the game, the sticker covering Williams' breast became the subject of almost as much discussion as the one that didn't cover Janet Jackson's during that Super Bowl halftime show. Take a chill pill, Tar Heel fans. Williams erred, for sure, but cut the man a break.

Sports

Shooting star of Davidson

By SAM ROSENTHAL | March 26

North Carolina opened its 2007-2008 men's basketball season with a nonconference game against the Davidson Wildcats on Nov. 14. That night the Southern Conference juggernaut, located near Charlotte and boasting a student body of about 1,700, gave the nation's top-ranked squad a tremendous scare. The back-and-forth game stayed close throughout, and Davidson led for much of the second half before UNC eked out a 72-68 win. After the game, one obnoxiously loud bar patron at Four Corners said to his buddies, "I told you North Carolina isn't that good - they almost lost to Davidson."

Sports

Root for the Patriots; It's the American way

By SAM ROSENTHAL | January 25

Few things resonate with Americans' sense of core values as much as rooting for the underdog. After all, this nation derives its principles from the American Revolution, "The Little Engine That Could" and "Fievel Goes West." This year, especially, people love the underdog - aka all of the New England Patriots' opponents. Millions of Americans loathe the Pats, thanks to years of pent-up jealousy and a video-taping scandal that many claim "taints" their perfect regular season. Want some cheese with that whine?

Sports

Story lines abound in new sports year

By SAM ROSENTHAL | January 16

Hey there, sports fans, and welcome back. Glad to provide you with in-class reading material once again. It's a new year, and a promising one for the sports world. Assuredly, a number of incredible things will occur, ranging from the remarkable to the reprehensible. With an eye turned toward the future, here is a list of predictions for 2008:

Sports

UNC basketball is the real reason to celebrate

By SAM ROSENTHAL | November 28

It's the most wonderful time of the year: Not the holiday season. College basketball season. In hoops heaven. Home of the most professional team North Carolina offers to fans - or the state's most professional fan base offered to a team.

Sports

Miller could be out for season

By SAM ROSENTHAL | November 16

Late in the second-half of the North Carolina women's basketball team's 92-63 victory against Coppin State on Friday night, senior point guard Alex Miller suffered a serious knee injury. Although Miller must undergo medical examinations before anything is certain, head coach Sylvia Hatchell said it's possible Miller might miss the rest of the season.

Sports

Your guide to the Fall Classic

By SAM ROSENTHAL | October 24

Welcome, members of the Church of Baseball. The World Series airs tonight on Fox, and that means no more Dane Cook "There's only one October" commercials on TBS. Hallelujah! More cause to rejoice: The Boston Red Sox vs. Colorado Rockies matchup blesses baseball fans like Sunday mass (first, eat the Tostito, then drink the Bud Light). If you missed the early playoff action, thank the heavens for this World Series breakdown, complete with a revelation of who should win - on (news)paper. Please rise.