A Brief History of Triangle Sports

Oh, what a difference a year makes! One year after the surprise failure in the House, sports gambling passes both chambers of the NC Legislature. What happens next? It takes another nine months before anyone can legally bet on sports. Brian Murphy from WRAL News and Tim Donnelly from 99.9 The Fan look at where the tax money goes, who stands to gain and what this means for the future of sports and sports fans in North Carolina. For more coverage from WRAL News on sports betting in NC, go to https://www.wral.com/sports-betting/ To reach the NC Problem Gambling Helpline call 877-718-5543.

The votes on legal sports betting in NC did not happen like most things in the legislature. There aren’t usually surprises by the time a bill reaches a vote in the Senate or the House. Brian Murphy from WRAL News and Tim Donnelly from 99.9 The Fan take us back to June 2022 when nothing was certain about legal sports gambling in North Carolina. For more coverage from WRAL News on sports betting in NC, go to https://www.wral.com/sports-betting/ To reach the NC Problem Gambling Helpline call 877-718-5543.

In May 2018, a US Supreme Court ruling opened the floodgates for all states to move forward with legal sports betting. But being “allowed” to move forward and convincing the NC legislature to move forward are two very different things. In episode two, Brian Murphy from WRAL News and Tim Donnelly from 99.9 The Fan talk to the major players working for and against legal sports betting in North Carolina. For more coverage from WRAL News on sports betting in NC, go to https://www.wral.com/sports-betting/ To reach the NC Problem Gambling Helpline call 877-718-5543.

From the scandal of the Dixie Classic in the early 60’s to the “senate shenanigans” of the lottery vote in 2006, North Carolina’s history with gambling has been contentious. The state has had an anti-gambling law on the books since 1764. So, how on earth did we get to a point where mobile sports betting is legal? In episode one, Brian Murphy from WRAL News and Tim Donnelly from 99.9 The Fan recount NC’s sordid history on gambling. For more coverage from WRAL News on sports betting in NC, go to https://www.wral.com/sports-betting/ To reach the NC Problem Gambling Helpline call 877-718-5543.

Starting March 11, sports betting will be legal in North Carolina, but getting to this point was not an easy path. From the scandal of the Dixie Classic in the early 60's to the controversial vote for the NC Lottery, the state has a contentious history with gambling. Brian Murphy from WRAL News and Tim Donnelly from 99.9 The Fan explore the history of sports betting in North Carolina. What did it take to get to this point, and how will it change sports and sports fans going forward. Season 3 of A Brief History of Triangle Sports will be available March 11, 2024. (That's the same day you can place your bets...legally of course.)

Two years after retiring, former North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams opens up about his views on the current state of the game, his potential return to coaching, and some of his fondest memories from his illustrious coaching career.

On April 1st, 2021, Roy Williams said he wasn’t the right man to lead North Carolina any longer. Seemingly the last time we might hear from Williams, it turns out he got the proper retirement tour he deserved after a legendary career. Between visiting friends and former players, to witnessing an incredible Final Four run by the ’21-’22 North Carolina Tar Heels lead by his chosen successor, Williams’ next chapter in life got off to a fantastic start. Originally published April 2022.

Favorite ACC official? The one Duke player he wanted to coach? Did the Dream Team purposely lose to a college squad ahead of the ’92 Olympics? In the final episode of “That Dadgum Legend”, Roy Williams answers a series of rapid fire questions. Originally published October 2021.

Roy Williams is the last connection to a time that was on Tobacco Road. Despite modern rivalry dynamics, where North Carolina and Duke dominate the discussion, Williams never lost his passion for beating NC State. However, as much as he enjoyed winning, Williams has always cherished the camaraderie of his coaching peers.

Dadgum. Frick. Frip. Doggone. Blankety-blank. Roy Williams has made a conscious effort not to curse and has famously incorporated substitute words that FCC censors would approve. But when Williams does use an actual “bad word"? He makes it count, including the time he cursed in response to a question about taking the North Carolina job following a loss in the NCAA National Championship in 2003. Williams’ love for that Kansas squad and the pull of coming home to Chapel Hill came through in a very human moment on national television. If only Williams was on social media, maybe he could've promoted this episode of the podcast. Originally published October 2021

The easiest way to pick a fight with former North Carolina head basketball coach Roy Williams is to simply say “Roy knew.” That was a go-to insult for “Anybody But Carolina” fans during an NCAA investigation into a nearly two decade academic irregularity within UNC’s AFAM department. Ultimately, North Carolina avoided any serious punishments for the scandal. Of course, Williams never used the word “scandal”, and would always substitute it with the word “junk” during those years. The junk did take its toll on North Carolina and Williams, but in the aftermath, a special team emerged to win it all in 2017. Originally published October 2021.

How do you know when it’s over? There are signs, but they aren’t always easy to decipher. Coaches, even the best, get pushed out all the time before they actually want to go. North Carolina head basketball coach Dean Smith was able to leave on his terms, and later admitted he probably had a few more years left in him. The decision for Roy Williams to leave the Tar Heels wasn’t easy, and actually considered shutting it down after the 2019-2020 season and was eventually talked out of it. Williams’ wife, Wanda, tried to convince him to retire after the 2009 NCAA Championship. But all great coaches think they still have one more left in them, and getting North Carolina back to the NCAA Tournament in 2021 was enough for Williams to read the signs and call it a career. Originally published October 2021.

When North Carolina head basketball coach Roy Williams retired on April 1st, 2021, with the third most victories in NCAA history, three NCAA Championships, and nine Final Four trips, he described his career as “OK.” Williams should’ve used a thesaurus when he retired because he did a little more than “OK” in his 33 years as a head coach. Ol’ Roy constantly undersold his savvy and leadership. It’s worth noting Williams’ place in North Carolina history, and that of college basketball. 99.9FM The Fan’s Joe Giglio and Joe Ovies sat down with that dadgum legend in order to tell his story with his own insight in a way only he could tell it. So how did Williams end up going from cut from the UNC varsity squad to title winning coach? Like with all college basketball stories, it began with recruiting. However, in this case, it was Dean Smith trusting an intramural official to help the Tar Heels program catch up on Tobacco Road. Originally published October 2021.

The Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks only lasted one season, but the World League of American Football carried on until 2007. At the end, it was known as NFL Europa. Though newly elected NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was quick to shut it down, the European league was a great incubator for football coaches and talent. In this episode we hear from former Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme and former East Carolina head coach Steve Logan, both alumni of NFL Europe, on their memories of the league.

Michael Kennedy was the equipment manager for the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks. Not a glamourous role, but there wasn't much that was glamourous about the World League of American Football. Kennedy, like the players and head coach Roman Gabriel, simply wanted to be part of this sports world. He had a front row seat for the one and only season of the Skyhawks. He shares what it was like to travel with the team, and what happened to all that glorious Skyhawks gear. arv3bqmd

Until a few years ago, alcohol at college sporting events was a delicate dance in hypocrisy. Back in 1991 without a special exemption, the sale of alcohol was not allowed at public university facilities. You could always tailgate with your own booze before the game and universities would hold private events where alcohol was available, but there was no public sale. The Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks played at NC State's Carter-Finley arena. The prohibition of beer sales presented a loss of revenue for the team and frankly a lack of fun for fans. It was yet another loss for a team that was already having a terrible season.

Losing ain't easy. Losing for a whole season, well that's another level of pain. It wasn't just hard on players and coaches. As a broadcaster, Tony Haynes had a front row seat to the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks' losing season. Tony talks with Joe Ovies about the challenge of covering a team with an 0-10 record, and the toll of the season on everyone involved.

For one disappointing season, the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks didn't give fans much to cheer for. But the team did give hope to the men on the field. For Wilson Hoyle (former kicker from Wake Forest) and Mark Maye (former UNC QB), being part of the Skyhawks gave them the chance to keep their football careers alive for one more season. Hoyle and Maye look back on their experience as Skyhawks, and despite their dismal 0-10 record, they actually do have happy memories of being on the team.

The Carolina Panthers played their first game in 1995. Behind the scenes, there had been years of negotiations over whether or not North Carolina--or the "Carolinas" collectively--could support an NFL team, and exactly where that team should be located. Of course Charlotte is the home of the Panthers today, but it wasn't the only city in contention. How close did Raleigh come to having an NFL team?

The Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks. For some of you, that team will ring a bell. But for most sports fans in the Triangle, they're probably wondering why Joe Ovies is going to devote a few podcast episodes about the defunct World League of American Football franchise that never won a game in their lone season played in 1991. The goal? To highlight how, despite the massive misstep in thinking a minor league football team would work at Carter-Finley Stadium, the Raleigh Durham Skyhawks provide a fascinating jumping off point to a very important time in our area of North Carolina.