http://share.triangle.com/node/30000

My picks:

High School: Chris Leak (runner up: TA Mclendon)

College: Philip Rivers (runners up: JJ Redick, Tyler Hansbrough)

Professional: Steve Smith (runner up: Julius Peppers)

12/11/2009 10:09:24 AM

Quote :

"Athletes of the Decade: North Carolina"

Quote :

"We're looking for someone who participated from 2000 through 2009 and competed in the general Triangle area, which we can expand to include East Carolina and Wake Forest candidates."

huh

12/11/2009 10:10:26 AM

I went with statewide b/c I don't agree with that premise, especially since the Triangle has ONE major professional sports team.

If I was limited to the Triangle I would select AJ Davis and Cam Ward (HS and Pro).

12/11/2009 10:14:03 AM

what I submitted:

High School - T.A. McLendon (really can't deny his high school stats/records)
College - Philip Rivers
Pro - Josh Hamilton (homer vote, and he doesn't play in NC but still...)

really tough to think of a pro that actually has played in NC... Steve Smith? Gerald Wallace lol?

[Edited on December 11, 2009 at 10:19 AM. Reason : c]

12/11/2009 10:15:49 AM

TA was ridiculous, but he was also playing against slow, pudgy white guys in 1A

12/11/2009 10:18:24 AM

true, but that was high school and that's what the category is. he also ran crazy in college.

12/11/2009 10:20:01 AM

Yeah, I've never seen any athlete play so far below their class

TA was the juggernaut

12/11/2009 10:21:34 AM

Quote :

"High School - T.A. McLendon (really can't deny his high school stats/records) "

Umm, are you aware that Toney Baker is from NC and totally destroyed McLendon's rushing record?

12/11/2009 10:28:36 AM

I homered it out

High School: Toney Baker
College: Philip Rivers
Pro: Rod Brind'amour (just cuz he wore a state hat once)

12/11/2009 11:11:46 AM

In yardage, not touchdowns.

My justification for Leak was he led his team to 3 state championships and lost one game in his entire HS career (at the 4-AA level no less). He also set the national HS record for passing TDs, and state records for yards and completions.


TA and Toney did their damage against lower competition (especially TA), albeit with less talent around them.

12/11/2009 11:14:49 AM

I voted P.Riv for all 3

12/11/2009 11:17:57 AM

I would say DeAngelo Williams is Carolina's best player, Steve Smith has had a lousy season, Peppers is overrated.

12/11/2009 11:36:46 AM

Quote :

"of the Decade"

12/11/2009 11:39:13 AM

biased...but how can you not vote for the MVP of a playoff run that resulted in N. Carolina's only major championship

12/11/2009 11:51:05 AM

Cam Fucking Ward.

12/11/2009 11:53:29 AM

I would definitely vote Chris Leak over TA.


the 1a champ and the 4a (it was only 1 division back then ) champ game were both at Kenan their senior years.

TA ran for like 7 touchdowns or something rediculous, but as was said, it looked like he was picking on cripples. TA was definitely the juggernaut.

Chris Leak absolutely took over the championship game in the second half. They were either up or down on Laney by ~7.... and chris Leak threw for ~300 yards and ~5 touchdowns in the second half for them to win by ~35. Plus even in college ... Chris Leak throws the prettiest ball I've ever seen. I've never seen a qb throw such a tight spiral EVERYTIME they throw the ball.

I was much more impressed with Leak that night.

12/11/2009 11:57:50 AM

agreed on Leak throwing the prettiest ball ever

shit was ridiculous

12/11/2009 12:03:00 PM

There was a guy at Cary that was pretty good when I was there but I dont remember his name. it was like 2 years ago? who else when to cary?

12/11/2009 12:03:35 PM

I did. It was Josh Adams

12/11/2009 12:04:20 PM

Quote :

" Umm, are you aware that Toney Baker is from NC and totally destroyed McLendon's rushing record?"

To be fair, he (TA) also never played the 2nd half of a game because we were up 70-0 so it could have been a ridiculous number if they actually let him play.

[Edited on December 11, 2009 at 12:06 PM. Reason : TA]

12/11/2009 12:05:30 PM

There is no reason for the pro choice to be anyone NOT on the Hurricanes. They are the only pro team to do anything real this decade.

As for high school, it must be Leak. He set NATIONAL records and iirc, he started the all-american game his senior year.

college is a huge toss-up depending on which sport you prefer. Unfortunately, I have to say Hansborough. He was the face of NC college sports, more then JJ and P-Riv ever were.


-side note: I saw Leak play a few times back in the day...it amazes me he never made it in the NFL.

[Edited on December 11, 2009 at 12:06 PM. Reason : -]

12/11/2009 12:05:35 PM

to be fair, TA also set national records for TD's in a season and a career.

Quote :

"he rushed for 289 yards and a state-record seven touchdowns in leading Albemarle to the Class 1A state championship"

haha I was right .... how the fuck do i remember this dumb bullshit?

[Edited on December 11, 2009 at 12:09 PM. Reason : .]

12/11/2009 12:06:46 PM

TA set national records

12/11/2009 12:07:01 PM

Leak has the NC records for passing yards and completions on top of his national TD passing record

12/11/2009 12:07:51 PM

yes

12/11/2009 12:08:54 PM

Albemarle should be nominated for team of the decade after they pull down their 4th state title this decade on Saturday.

cue the haters

12/11/2009 12:14:42 PM

Do they still have that shady ass coach

12/11/2009 12:15:16 PM

nah he passed away

Baxter Morris is now the coach. He's been with the program since '93

12/11/2009 12:16:03 PM

RIP shady ass coach

12/11/2009 12:16:57 PM

I'd take Joe Cox over Chris Leak.

12/11/2009 12:28:54 PM

I think Tim Duncan should win the Pro award (unless the player has to play on a NC pro team - I did not read any of the rules). College it would probably be Hansdouche (not my pick, but he accomplished more in his four years than Rivers). High school, I do not care, give it to fucking John Wall.




[Edited on December 11, 2009 at 1:05 PM. Reason : sf]

12/11/2009 1:03:45 PM

^^ I wouldn't

12/11/2009 1:15:02 PM

^^
Philip Rivers was arguably the best college football player in North Carolina history (I'd say he was at least top 2 with LT), and certainly the best quarterback. He didn't win national player of the year (we all know that award doesn't go to the most outstanding PLAYER) or a national championship, but individually I'd say he was more impressive.


The Sanford Spurs?

12/11/2009 3:52:12 PM

^^Have you seen both? I've caught passes from both

12/11/2009 3:55:04 PM

TA played against my high school, which was all of 450-500 people and often had to pull people up from JV because Varsity didn't have enough players for a game.

12/11/2009 4:01:43 PM

^^ yes i worked state championships when both played. When it mattered most i was far and away more impressed with Chris Leaks ball and game play.

the independence v laney game was an amazing game.

12/11/2009 4:26:35 PM

^yea it was.

I was there and he was incredible in the second half against a stout Laney D

12/11/2009 4:28:30 PM

Cam Ward wins for pro athletes, because no one else has singlehandedly preserved a championship:

12/11/2009 4:36:46 PM

High School: Toney Baker (broke all kinds of records)
College: Tyler Hansbrough (2 Final Fours, 1 National Championship)
Pro: Rod Brind'Amour (2 Conference Finals, 1 Stanley Cup Championship, Selke Trophy Winner)


I know we all hate Hansbrough and he's as athletic as my big toe but you can't deny what he has done. I didn't even list the ACC Championships, First-Team All-Americas or Player of the Years he's gotten.

[Edited on December 11, 2009 at 5:40 PM. Reason : Ward out, Brindy in]

12/11/2009 5:39:33 PM

TA played against my high school, too.

12/11/2009 5:49:25 PM

^^ I think two Selkes gets partially neutralized by worst +/- in the league for two years running.

12/11/2009 6:09:33 PM

Quote :

"To be fair, he (TA) also never played the 2nd half of a game because we were up 70-0 so it could have been a ridiculous number if they actually let him play."

The fuck he did.....how do you think he got those TDs in 70-6 routs??? They ran it up with him on everyone. Fuck Jack Gaster.

My high school went against him as well...strange I'm the third one in here to say that.

Albemarle had NO competition except Thomasville and now they are 2-A. I'd put more stock in Baker's records considering he was at Ragsdale.

12/11/2009 6:50:13 PM

i would have to say steve smith or peppers for the pros

i just dont think full contact figure skating qualifies


TA ran right through crowds in high school, he did the same in college, but when he came out of the crowd, he didnt have the ball

12/11/2009 9:24:13 PM

How many championships have Peppers or Smith won, let alone singlehandedly making a play that assured a championship?

Oh, right. None.

Fuck a losing football team.

12/11/2009 9:30:53 PM

TIM GLEASON

12/11/2009 9:50:49 PM

that other team that gets paid could win the championship every year

and more people would still watch football

im still counting on the Panthers to bring the first major sports championship to this state, but it isnt looking very hopeful

12/11/2009 9:51:19 PM

so if hockey isn't a major sport then you're saying the panthers are better than the bobcats? i agree..

12/11/2009 9:52:58 PM

^^youre trying too hard

12/11/2009 9:53:37 PM

Quote :

"Cam Fucking Ward."

12/11/2009 9:55:06 PM

the bobcats winning a title is about as likely as NHL tonight being quality programming

12/11/2009 9:55:36 PM