Note to Self

Tops in Sports Marketing

2012-02-13T06:00:00.001-05:00

We honored the company's top sales people last month. Obviously, revenue generation is a key metric for these awards, but the foundation of this recognition is our customers, aka clients, advertisers and sponsors.

Capitol's best sales people are without peer when it comes to providing effective marketing solutions for our customers. They know how to put our sports platform to work for advertisers. (Lots of moving parts: in-venue, radio, TV, web, mobile, social media, print.) You won't be successful year after year unless you help to make your customers successful.

Here are the best of the best from our Sports Group as they receive congratz from Capitol CEO Jim Goodmon...

Elizabeth Pritchett

Durham Bulls Baseball Club
Elizabeth began as an intern in the box office and moved into the sponsorship department. In 2011 she led the staff in renewals and new business, and she set the pace for cold calling and appointment setting. A high, high achiever!

Joey Powell

99.9 The Fan ~ 620 The Buzz ~ 1550 ESPN Deportes

Impressive stats: 111% of budget, added 25 new accounts, grew his key accounts 200%. Currently enrolled in Leadership Triangle and renowned for his bobble head collection.

Eric Quimby

Wolfpack Sports Marketing ~ NC State University Athletics
He was first to achieve his budget and the new business leader. Also, Eric manages our sports division's largest account. This is a 3-peat for Eric!

Battle of the Blues

2012-02-09T11:18:00.005-05:00

This has not been an especially productive week. A prolonged hangover grips the world of commerce with the Super Bowl and the Carolina-Duke game occurring within three days of one another. If economists measured such things, it would be more bad news.

Here's a local broadcasting tidbit from last night's basketball game: WRAL TV5 logged a 21 rating with its Raycom broadcast. ESPN pulled a 6 in RDU. (Under the ACC's new TV compact ESPN was not blacked out locally; both telecasts were available.) While I'm inclined to give Capitol's mother ship all of the credit, what does it say about the "people's choice" regarding Rayom's Tim Brando vs. ESPN's Dicky V?

The hoops contest was an ACC classic, but my game-day highlight was the promotion we did on 99.9 The Fan. The station gave away a pair of tickets to the game, one to a Duke fan and one to a Carolina Fan. They were required to share dinner and sit together at the game.

Where bitter rivalry is the order of the day, this is our modest contribution to global reconciliation and world peace. The Fan will probably be nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize. (I've booked my flight to Oslo.)

Check out the video...

More on Duke's win over UNC from wralSPORTSfan.com.

A Pillar of the Community

2012-02-02T20:16:00.009-05:00

While baseball hibernates, real estate seems to be the big story these days.

Our CEO, Jim Goodmon, received a significant honor last week from the Triangle Business Journal. The publication recognizes leadership in the commercial real estate biz with its annual Space Awards. Per TBJ's report:

Goodmon was honored for the risk he took in undertaking the renovation of the American Tobacco Campus, adjacent to the Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Mayor Bill Bell presented the Pillar Award, the most prestigious award of the event, to Goodmon for his commitment to community service, real estate industry service and leadership.

My favorite Goodmon mantra:

A company can't claim to be successful unless its community is successful.

That's why he's outspoken on regionalism, education and diversity...

New Neighbors in Left Field

2012-01-26T20:01:00.006-05:00

Capitol Broadcasting Co. will begin construction in April on another office building in our outfield. Diamond View III will be located in the left field corner, and that will complete the office park palisade surrounding the ballpark.

The occupancy rate hovers around 98% at the American Tobacco Campus in downtown Durham. Our real estate division aims to capitalize on the demand.

I'm looking forward to one or two new restaurants...but that will have to wait until the 2013 season.

More info at wral.com and check out the video at the DV3 website.

Clubhouse Rehab

2012-01-20T20:37:00.007-05:00

We’re renovating our home clubhouse this winter. After seventeen seasons of men behaving badly the Durham Bulls' locker room was in need of some rehab.

And our team has earned the upgrade: ten division titles since we moved up to Triple A ball in ’98, three International League titles and a National Championship.

We’re knocking down walls to improve the coaches’ quarters, staff offices, weight room and player lounge.

Our staff joined in the demo work for some stress relief Friday afternoon. GM Mike Birling takes the first kick…

Lend Lease is our contractor. (They did not sanction our participation in the demo work.) Belk Architecture of Durham and BridgePoint Construction Services are on the job, too.

David Price - off season update

2012-01-18T12:24:00.004-05:00

I'm not a celebrity stalker, but...

Our former colleague at 99.9 The Fan, Dave Shore, is now with ESPN in LA. He produces the Lakers' radio broadcasts. Dave was working in the Triangle when Rays' pitcher David Price was playing for the Bulls. Dave spotted Price at a Lakers' game earlier this month...nabbed him from the crowd, gave him a headset and put him to work!

Lids for the Kids

2012-01-12T21:33:00.008-05:00

Our retail manager, Bryan Wilson, was out of control at the Baseball Winter Meetings trade show. His 2012 apparel purchases are arriving daily on the UPS truck, and the Ballpark Corner Store looked like a warehouse earlier this week.

Here's a preview of the fashion forward lids for 2012...

Bryan has unpacked the boxes and filled the shelves. Drop by the store and get a head start (great pun!!!) on the 2012 season.

~ Shop on-line ~

The Blue Monster bares it all!

2012-01-10T20:18:00.006-05:00

With the exception of the LED video screen, our venerated outfield wall is decidedly low-tech. The facade is plywood, and it deteriorates over time. This past season a well hit ball would actually penetrate the surface. (And even when the ball disappears, that doesn't count as a home run!)

We weren't especially proud of the divots...so the Blue Monster is getting a facelift for the 2012 season.

Maybe we should experiment with Kevlar or that secret coating they use on stealth fighter jets?

College Hoops - time to get serious

2012-01-08T15:58:00.004-05:00

The Atlantic Coast Conference basketball season began in earnest this weekend. That's how we get through the long, hard winter in these parts...even though it was 72 degrees on Saturday!

If you have an iPhone, I highly recommend our new wralSPORTSfan.com app for scores and news. You can listen to 99.9 The Fan and 620 The Buzz, too. It's the multipurpose Swiss army knife of sports apps...free at iTunes; click here.

Adam Gold, my trusty - or should I say crusty - colleague at 99.9 The Fan, penned a prospectus on each ACC basketball team. Check it out. He doesn't share my enthusiasm for conference play, but he's a smart guy...and you can hear him on 99.9 The Fan every afternoon from 3-7 with his sidekick Joe Ovies.

More on the DAP...

2012-01-05T11:57:00.003-05:00

Aaron Schoonmaker at wralSPORTSfan.com added to the story with this post on Wednesday: CLICK HERE.

Tim Robbins and Kevin Costner, nose to nose, at the DAP.

The movie classic Bull Durham was filmed here in 1987.

The DAP "under new management"

2011-12-27T19:34:00.008-05:00

The historic Durham Athletic Park will be managed by the Bulls as the new year begins. Durham City Council gave its approval last Tuesday. We will be assuming the operating agreement from Minor League Baseball. MiLB had been running the ballpark since it was renovated in 2009.

The primary motivation is to assist our two partners, Minor League Baseball and the City of Durham.

MiLB sought an early exit from its operating agreement with the City which we are able to facilitate. There’s a seamless hand-off from MiLB to the Bulls, and the City maintains consistency with the Bulls as operator.

The Bulls will honor existing commitments to the baseball teams at North Carolina Central University and Durham School of the Arts. The same holds true for American Legion baseball, and we will continue the Long Ball program for inner city youth funded by MiLB Charities.

Ray Gronberg writes about this in the Herald-Sun. Click here for the story.

The DAP website, click here

DAP history at Wikipedia

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays!

2011-12-24T12:24:00.004-05:00

Best Wishes for the Holiday Season and New Year

from the Durham Bulls front office.

Have voice. Will travel.

2011-12-16T20:33:00.008-05:00

This is an unusual player move...

Bulls play-by-play announcer Neil Solondz has been called up...added to the Rays' radio roster for the 2012 season.

This is a big loss for the Bulls, but we are delighted for Neil as he takes a big step toward his career goal.

In addition to his radio/tv work for the Bulls, Neil has been our top account executive. It will probably take two people to replace him! Neil is conscientious, meticulous, hard-working, dedicated to improving his skills...a consummate professional...and a darned good broadcaster.

This is a great tech-oriented company and a great brand to be involved with, and I'm very appreciative that they'll never stand in the way of an opportunity.

That's a quote from Neil in a prescient story that ran two weeks ago on the MiLB website. Click here for Benjamin Hill's article on the the Major League aspirations of Minor League broadcasters.

Here's the Rays' Friday news release:

ST. PETERSBURG, FL—The Tampa Bay Rays announced today that Neil Solondz (SO-lahnz) has been named the team’s new pre- and postgame radio host.

Solondz has been with Tampa Bay’s Triple-A affiliate, the Durham Bulls, since 2004 and for the last two seasons has filled in on the Rays pre- and postgame show. During his tenure with Durham, Solondz broadcast the Triple-A All-Star Game and the Triple-A National Championship game to a nationwide audience. Over the last two seasons, he did play-by-play for 11 games that aired on MLB Network.

“I’m thrilled the Rays are giving me such a great opportunity,” said Solondz. “I’ve certainly enjoyed the past eight years with the Bulls a great deal, and I’m excited about the chance to join the tremendous broadcast team of Andy Freed and Dave Wills.”

“Neil will be a great addition to our radio team,” said Rays Senior Vice President Mark Fernandez. “Not only is he an accomplished broadcaster, his tenure as the voice of the Durham Bulls will allow him to offer Rays fans unique and in-depth commentary throughout the season.”

“Neil has been an invaluable member of the Bulls staff for the past eight years as both a salesperson and more notably as our play-by-play announcer,” said Bulls General Manager Mike Birling. “Many of his radio calls will forever be part of our rich history.”

In addition to the pre- and postgame show, Solondz will contribute to the “This Week in Rays Baseball” radio show during the regular season and will host Rays Watch Parties and community appearances throughout the year.

Prior to his tenure with the Bulls, Solondz broadcast minor league games for the Lakewood BlueClaws (Philadelphia Phillies) and Quad City River Bandits (Minnesota Twins). He also has done freelance play-by-play of college football for ESPN3 and has worked for the North Carolina State University, Rutgers University and Delaware State University radio networks.

66 Days Until Pitchers & Catchers Report to Spring Training

—RAYS—

For more information please contact the Rays Communications Dept., (727) 825-3242.

The Tampa Bay Rays have proudly represented Major League Baseball in the Tampa Bay region since 1998. The organization and its foundation are committed to building a strong community bond through meaningful interaction and charitable contributions.

Going Green on I-40

2011-12-10T09:33:00.003-05:00

Capitol Broadcasting Co. is adding several electric-powered vehicles to its fleet. This Nissan Leaf is the first to arrive. (There's a waiting list.) It's stationed at the American Tobacco Campus where a charging station has been installed. ATC is a bastion of hi tech, and we are promoting this alternative to the internal combustion engine.

I commandeered the Leaf for a day last week, drove it to a meeting in downtown Raleigh and returned to Durham. It's really quiet. An electric motor and batteries. No transmission. Cruising along on I-40, I was surprised to see 70 mph on the speedometer.

If your driving style alternates between jack rabbit starts and hard braking, you're not suited to this car. The Leaf is for patient, mature drivers. (I'm working on that.)

The Leaf gets hooked up for an overnight charge...that provides enough juice for about 100 miles. The car's range and the charging routine would be the big adjustment for me. The upside: electricity is a lot cheaper than gasoline, and your commute is pollution free.

The Nutcracker. It's Magic!

2011-12-09T20:18:00.007-05:00

What do I know about ballet? Nada. Zip.

...but undeterred, I heartily recommend Carolina Ballet's Nutcracker.

I was privileged to attend a preview Friday at the Durham Performing Arts Center - along with 2000 school kids. They were enraptured. Me, too.

I'm thinking that they especially enjoyed two things: watching other children (in really fancy costumes dance) and THE MAGIC.

Carolina Ballet - with sponsorship from Capitol Broadcasting Co. and WRAL TV - has infused the production with illusions developed by Rick Thomas. He's best known for plying his craft in Las Vegas stage shows.

This is a wonderful way to introduce your kids to the performing arts. Click here for info on performances in Durham and Raleigh.

...and check out this report from TV5 News:

...received a backstage tour. I can't reveal what I learned about the magic props, but the costumes are impressive:

www.carolinaballet.com

Winter Wonderland

2011-12-05T21:25:00.010-05:00

It was sixty-seven degrees as I drove home this evening, but we're in winterfest mode nonetheless.

The Lucky Strike tower on the American Tobacco Campus is aglow for the Holidays, and the 2nd Annual Triangle Christmas Tree Challenge is underway.

Downtown Durham is merry and bright. Come and see!

Click here for info on the Christmas Tree Challenge and check out the slide show from the Friday night tower lighting at American Tobacco.

The United Way of the Greater Triangle is participating in the competition, but they donated their fir to a needy family. It's been replaced with this Charlie Brown tree - bearing a single ornament and a wimpy string of lights - to make a point from the 2011 United Way Campaign...

Visit the United Way website. Consider an on-line Holiday contribution...in support of 82 human services agencies and their 149 programs in the Triangle. Make 2012 merry and bright for someone else. It's the perfect gift!

...and here's how you can vote for the United Way's scrawny tree. They could win $5,000. Ready - Set - Text:

Holiday Hoops

2011-11-29T13:23:00.013-05:00

Breaking news from our sports division...

Capitol Broadcasting Co. has signed on as the new title sponsor of the Holiday Invitational High School Basketball Tournament in Raleigh. This is a nationally recognized event, and in its 40th year the tourney gets a new moniker, the HighSchoolOT.com Holiday Invitational, to promote our website that specializes in high school sports coverage. CLICK HERE for more info.

If you are the parent of a teenager, you undoubtedly have an appreciation for high school sports. We have come to understand that it's not a niche. There's broad interest in high school athletics.

It touches all demographics, especially young families. Compared to pro and college sports it's uncorrupted. Nationwide, it's popularity is within a few percentage points of college basketball, and it has more fans than the PGA Tour, NASCAR and the NHL. (Scarborough Sports Marketing, Fan Rankings, Oct. 2011)

Those are just a few reasons that high school athletics is important content for our audience and a significant platform for our advertisers.

This isn't a total revelation. TV5's Football Friday is renowned (and beloved) in this region and our HighSchoolOT.com website is an authoritative 24/7 source of multimedia news and all-important scores.

...and today we are expanding our involvement with prep sports as the new title sponsor of the HighSchoolOT.com Holiday Invitational.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

News Release:

CAPITOL BROADCASTING ACQUIRES RIGHTS TO POPULAR HOLIDAY BASKETBALL TOURNAMENT IN RALEIGH

Name changes to HighSchoolOT.com Holiday Invitational Tournament

RALEIGH – The popular holiday basketball tournament that showcases some of the nation’s top college recruits will get a new name and sponsor starting this year and running through 2016, tournament organizers announced today.

Capitol Broadcasting Company of Raleigh has acquired the naming, marketing and broadcasting rights to the Holiday Invitational Tournament for six years under a deal with the Triangle Educational Advancement Foundation, the nonprofit group that has organized the annual tournament at Broughton High School and other local venues for 40 years.

The tournament will be called the HighSchoolOT.com Holiday Invitational Tournament, named after the popular high school sports website started by Capitol’s CBC New Media Group in 2008. The tournament previously was called the Glaxo Holiday Invitational Tournament.

In addition to offering extensive web coverage, CBC will promote and provide coverage of the tournament on WRAL-TV and on its two sports radio stations, 99.9 FM The Fan ESPN Radio and 62O AM The Buzz.

"We continue to expand our coverage of high school sports. It's important to our audience and sponsors," said James F. Goodmon Jr., vice president of CBC and general manager of CBC New Media Group. "The tournament is nationally recognized and has evolved into a significant community event over four decades. It's a good fit, and we are enthusiastic about supporting the tournament's very meaningful scholarship program."

Students from 39 public schools in the Triangle are eligible to receive one of the ten annual scholarships in the amount of $5,000 that goes towards their college education during their freshman year of college. All totaled, including next spring’s scholarship program, the Triangle Educational Advancement Foundation will have awarded over $1,000,000 in scholarships to Triangle-area students since its inception.

“We could not ask for a better partner than Capitol Broadcasting Company as we continue this community tradition,” said Clayton Somers, President of the Triangle Educational Advancement Foundation. “One of the reasons the Triangle is one of the best places to live is because of corporate citizens like Capitol – their support will have a lasting impact both on the court and in the lives of young people and their families." Bill Sewell, the Foundation’s Executive Director, added “We are committed to further enhancing the HighSchoolOT.com Holiday Invitational Tournament’s local and national reputation as one of the top high school tournaments in the country for teams and spectators alike.”

Capitol’s coverage plans include radio play-by-play coverage of some games and video streaming of daily pre- and post-game shows and press conferences on the HighSchoolOT.com website and iPhone and Android mobile apps.

The 2011 HighSchoolOT.com Holiday Invitational features 20 boys teams and 12 girls teams, making it the largest field in tournament history.

The tournament will feature recruits committed to Duke, NC State, Wake Forest, Florida, Arizona, Florida State, Indiana, Missouri and Michigan alongside more of the top 100 players in the classes of 2012 through 2014.

The four-day event will be held at historic Broughton High School Dec. 27-30. The girls tournament tips off on Dec 26 at Cary Academy.

HighSchoolOT.com is produced by the CBC New Media Group. The site reaches as many as 250,000 unique visitors a month and delivers up to 2.5 million page views a month. The site provides extensive coverage of high school sports in and beyond the WRAL-TV viewing area.

About Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc.
Capitol Broadcasting Company, Inc. is a diversified communications company which owns and/or operates WRAL-TV, WRAL Digital, WRAL-FM, WRAL-HD2, WCMC-FM, WDNC-AM, WCLY-AM, Microspace, CBC New Media Group and Wolfpack Sports Marketing in Raleigh, NC; WJZY-TV and WMYT-TV in Charlotte, NC; WILM-TV and Sunrise Broadcasting in Wilmington, NC; WRAZ-TV and The Durham Bulls in Durham, NC; and real estate interests including the American Tobacco Project and Diamond View office buildings in Durham, NC.

About the Triangle Educational Advancement Foundation
The Triangle Educational Advancement Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization that was established in 1994 to oversee the Holiday invitational basketball tournament and to provide scholarships to Triangle area high school students. The tournament has become a holiday tradition for the Triangle community and has provided lifelong athletic experiences for players, coaches and fans.

Shop 'til You Drop

2011-11-23T22:09:00.009-05:00

Happy Thanksgiving! While I prefer food, family and football, we’re jumping on the retail bandwagon.

Attention shopaholics: Our team store is open Friday from 9-2 featuring 25-50% savings. Check out our new line of Nike gear for the 2012 National Championship Game at the DBAP.

On Monday, November 28th, the savings continue on-line. Get 25% off with this couponcode: cybermonday

Include tickets with your textiles. 2012 miniplans are on sale now.

I’m very proud of the Bulls’ retail operation. We won a season long contest among Minor League Baseball team stores.

Our manager, Bryan Wilson, and his able assistant, Casey Wasserman, received a VIP trip to games three and four of the World Series. That included tickets to the MLB World Series Gala at the Ft. Worth Zoo where they met Rangers’ manager Ron Washington and dined on beef from Nolan Ryan’s ranch.

"Both games were amazing to witness. At game three, we were there to see Albert Pujols make history with his triple homer performance. 51,000 fans were pleading with the Rangers to just walk him!

We jumped on the Rangers bandwagon, and cheered for Josh Hamilton and Matt Harrison, our hometown connection on the Rangers.

When you hear sportscasters talk about the “electricity” surrounding a big game, I always thought it was embellished, but I had chills for both games. The stadium literally shook when the crowd was cheering.

Bryan's pix: Josh Hamilton takes BP

Pujols in legendary form

I was able to live out a baseball fan’s dream thanks to my Ballpark Corner staff. They are the best I have ever had the pleasure to work with, and they deserved to go far more than I did."

Bryan Wilson, Bulls Retail Manager

Backstage at the DBAP

2011-11-18T20:27:00.005-05:00

The most gifted photographers, in their viewfinders, see things that go unnoticed by others. A fleeting moment can be frozen in time. That's the enduring power of still images.

Chicago based photographer, Kate Joyce, visited the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in August. She publishes a monthly portfolio on her website and continues to add great shots from that summer assignment, Bull City Summer.

This November submission is a classic. Our canine mascot, Lucky Jr., rests between innings next to the upended head of Yogi Bear. I assume Yogi's alter ego is taking a bathroom break. Lucky Jr. enjoys a respite in the tunnel from August's heatwave. It's not so glamorous for these popular entertainers behind the scenes.

College Hoops Milestone: 903K

2011-11-16T14:55:00.005-05:00

Congratz to Duke head coach Mike Krzyzewksi. He achieved 903 wins Tuesday night on the floor of Madison Square Garden and became the winningest coach in NCAA Men's Division I history. The Blue Devils beat Michigan State 74-69.

That's Coach K on the ESPN set at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park in 2005. Way back then he had won a mere three National Championships. Since then he added Olympic Gold an another March Madness crown.

wralSPORTSfan.com is all over this. Click here for the story, video clips and Duke announcer Bob Harris' historic call...of the historic accomplishment...on the historic evening...

Bullish on Regional Rail

2011-11-14T21:51:00.008-05:00

In this lean, mean economy, it’s hard to tell which way the political winds are blowing.

You may be surprised to learn that Durham voters approved a sales tax last week. Some of the proceeds are designated for mass transit. And the transit tax was championed by the Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce, an unlikely proponent of taxation.

It turns out the Chamber was in sync with the voters - looking ahead to better times with a vision for improved bus service and the possibility of commuter rail. Congratz to Durham voters, our political leaders and the Chamber. They’re setting the pace for RDU.

Durham and neighboring Wake County share the same roads - lots of sharing on Interstate 40 - but we don’t share a vision for regional transpo at present. There is a worthwhile story in the News & Observer today about this challenge; CLICK HERE.

I suppose that I’m part of the Triangle’s traffic problem. I log over 25,000 automobile miles per year between the Durham ballpark and our three Raleigh locations. There must be a better way!?!

The DBAP is on the proposed rail line. All aboard!

Fill 'er up...at 22,000'

2011-11-11T21:43:00.013-05:00

I've been saving these October photos for the Veterans Day holiday.

If you are active duty military or a vet, please know...

We deeply appreciate your commitment to our country and your service.

The Armed Forces are a major presence in our region, and the Bulls support our military personnel each summer with several promotions and events.

The favor was repaid last month.

Our staff was invited aboard a KC-135R Stratotanker based at Seymour Johnson Air Force Base in Goldsboro. The Bulls front office went airborne with the 916th Air Refueling Wing.

Business Class for the staff.

Bulls' Assistant GM Jon Bishop in First Class.

They cruised up to Kentucky for a midair refueling mission at 22,000 feet. Very cool.

Read more about the 916th Air Refueling Wing at Seymour Johnson AFB.

Rockettes Rock Durham

2011-11-10T23:05:00.008-05:00

I got a triple shot of holiday cheer Thursday night as the Radio City Christmas Spectacular opened at the Durham Performing Arts Center.

This is another coup for the DPAC as Radio City comes to the Bull City through November 27th. Click here for the DPAC website and ticket info. (The Rockettes are appearing in Boston and Nashville, too.)

I know it's cliche, but this show is a feast for the eyes and ears. It's a big, rich production. Prior to Halloween twenty-two tractor trailers rolled into town with the sets and costumes.

Eighteen Rockettes kick and tap their way to the North Pole. It's exuberant, precise and impressive. A Herald-Sun story provides background on the dancing and WRAL TV5 has video:

In addition to the Rockettes I counted two camels, four sheep and a donkey - live critters!

...and I'm convinced the Radio City Christmas Spectacular features the REAL Santa Claus. Get your tickets, and I'm sure you'll agree.

Haircut and a Shave

2011-11-09T21:52:00.002-05:00

Across the street from our very traditional ballpark you will find a very traditional barber shop.

The American Tobacco Barber Shop in the Crowe building lobby is a time machine - except for the two HDTV monitors permanently tuned to ESPN. It's a popular stop for players from visiting teams during the season.

The Herald-Sun recently discovered the shop. Read about our friends, Joyce and Scott Roberts, and their straight razor wielding sidekick, Tony Braswell.

Hangin' with Aaron Rodgers

2011-11-06T21:15:00.012-05:00

I was pulling for Phillip Rivers and the Chargers Sunday, but Green Bay prevailed 45-38. Aaron Rodgers and the Packers seem unstoppable. At 8-0 they are the only undefeated team in the NFL.

I’m sure you’ve seen the QB’s State Farm commercial. The backstory on that ad has a Triangle connection. Raleigh State Farm agent Mike Sollie appears in the spot with Aaron Rodgers.

Cheeseheads worship Rodgers, but I’m a fan of Mike Sollie! He’s a loyal advertiser on 99.9 The Fan/620 The Buzz, and he played baseball at NC State.

So, how did Mike end up on national television?

Twenty-five high performers were nominated to audition for the commercial from State Farm’s mid-Atlantic zone. The try-outs were done via a video conference. Mike got a call-back and ultimately landed the role.

He went to Green Bay in September for the shoot. It was on a Saturday - all day - seven hours and 150 takes. Mike says Rodgers was “unbelievable...a fantastic, funny guy.”

On the set, Rodgers had a trailer befitting his superstar status. Mike got a lawn chair...and his thirty seconds of fame!

Brain Game

2011-11-05T01:00:00.002-04:00

Today's NC State-UNC football game is not necessarily the zenith (or nadir?) of the week's competition.

Thursday evening we gathered 'round the TV for WRAL's Brain Game Celebrity Edition. It was an inter-company beat down between teams from the TV5 newsroom, MIX 101.5 and 99.9 The Fan/620 The Buzz.

My sports radio peeps claimed second place. I was relieved...and ultimately impressed. Remarkably, they cleaned up well and looked just fine in hi def.

Faces made for radio!

Left to right: Mark Thomas, Mike Maniscalco, Adam Gold, Joe Ovies

and Brain Game host Mark Roberts.

Caniacs @ Capitol

2011-11-03T20:31:00.004-04:00

An announcement from the Canes today is getting some attention…

Ten investors have bought into the Carolina Hurricanes, and that includes Capitol Broadcasting Co. Nine of the ten are local individuals/firms. That speaks to the intent: Canes owner, Pete Karmanos (who is based in Detroit) has long wanted some Triangle-based partners. That's our motivation - another way to support the market's only major league sports franchise, especially in the business community.

The local owners have a small percentage of the hockey club. The management of the team is unaffected by this announcement.

Capitol has been a big supporter of the Canes since their inaugural season in ’98 at the Greensboro Coliseum. Back then, we helped with their television package and broadcast their very first game on TV5. Today, 99.9 The Fan is the Canes’ flagship radio station.

In an interview on The Fan this afternoon, Capitol CEO Jim Goodmon reminisced about his first meeting with Pete Karmanos. The team owner got an aerial tour of the Triangle in TV5's chopper, but Jim wouldn't let them land until Karmanos committed to locate his hockey team here.

Jim was asked about the major benefit of investing in the team. His favorite perquisite: a 50% discount at the team store!

Click here for the full story, Jim's radio interview and comments from Mr. Karmanos.

Let's Go Canes!

United we give. United we live.

2011-10-31T21:46:00.007-04:00

Companies across the Triangle are rolling out their fall United Way campaigns. The 2011 effort began Monday at Capitol Broadcasting Co.

We are not a huge employer, but our staff has a big heart. CBC was ranked #12 on the United Way’s Impact 100 last year.

United Way is part of our corporate DNA.

CBC United Way boosters: Amy Baker, Wolfpack Sports Marketing;

Luanne Lane, 99.9 The Fan/620 The Buzz & Wool E. Bull

I’ve been involved with United Way campaigns for over a decade. We began with the slogan GIVE UNITED and that has morphed into LIVE UNITED…which combines giving, volunteerism and advocacy. Working with other companies in Durham and the RTP, I have recently seen a great example of that at Syngenta.

The biotech firm surpassed its goal ringing the bell at 103%. That’s the GIVE UNITED part - but hold on - there’s more:

According to Syngenta’s campaign leader Katie Seguin, their staff donated 753 pounds of food to the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, and 60 of employees volunteered at eight United Way agencies for Syngenta in Action.

That, Ladies and Gentlemen, is an impressive commitment to LIVE UNITED!

Halloween Hilarity

2011-10-30T19:41:00.004-04:00

Happy Halloween!

...from the Bulls' front office.

There's nothing frightening about our staff. No tricks. It's all about the treats with this group.

Yet another "casual Friday" at the DBAP. They claim to be hard at work during the off-season. I'm still searching for evidence...

Dance Fever @ the World Series

2011-10-26T14:10:00.007-04:00

It's an unwritten rule in the sports biz that you don't reveal the identity of your mascot.

Yes, there is a human being inside that costume. Don't tell the kids!!!

This video clip (below) is a former Wool E. Bull - who shall remain nameless - entertaining at the World Series.

BTW, before serving as Wool E. Bull he was Mr. Wuf at NCSU. What a pedigree!

Our current Wool E. Bull isn't put out to pasture for the fall and winter. He is loitering around the ballpark - a mascot without purpose and direction. He's available for festivals, corporate/non-profit events, even for your kid's birthday party. Send his executive assistant an e-mail; click here. His people will call your people.

And consider inviting Wool E. to your house for Thanksgiving. He needs something to do.

Project Homeless Connect

2011-10-15T22:27:00.012-04:00

"...the genius of Project Homeless Connect is that it remembers that people need more than material incentives, and that having a community and a network of personal connections is the strongest defense against homelessness."

(Herald-Sun Editorial)

We hosted Project Homeless Connect last Thursday. While Durham has made a civic pledge to end homelessness, the problem is a BIG one. (Durham's Ten Year Plan to End Homelessness) According to an HUD study last fall, almost 3500 people sought emergency shelter or transitional housing in Durham during a 12-month period.

12% of the homeless in Durham are children
18% of homeless adults are veterans
34% of homeless Durham adults indicate that unemployment is the primary cause
14% of Durham’s homeless people are employed
76% of homeless adults in Durham report having been diagnosed with a disability or long-term illness

The Herald-Sun provided detailed (and thought-provoking) coverage of the DBAP event. Check it out:

Herald-Sun coverage
Herald-Sun editorial

Pink Friday

2011-10-14T20:41:00.007-04:00

I didn't read the memo, so I hope to atone with this post...

It was PINK FRIDAY in the Durham Bulls front office as the staff observed Breast Cancer Awareness Month.

How 'bout those Bulls' jerseys trimmed in pink!?!

And GM Mike Birling - our resident slave to fashion - wore his pink bedroom slippers. I'm pretty sure that color is "sweet pea pink."

The Bulls staff | Durham's answer to Dunder Mifflin

Occupy DBAP

2011-10-10T15:13:00.010-04:00

Occupy Wall Street is grabbing headlines. There was even an Occupy Durham this past weekend, but the Durham Bulls Athletic Park was occupied by the World Beer Festival on Saturday.

It was revelry rather than revolution in our house.

The afternoon and evening sessions of the 16th annual event drew over 8,000 beer enthusiasts - a sell-out.

The Herald-Sun did a preview; click here. The festival is

a production of All About Beer magazine.

A very nice sunset for the evening session. Photo by Bulls GM Mike Birling.

Towing Enforced

2011-10-09T21:00:00.001-04:00

Great Moments in Sports Promotion!

This happened a few weeks ago when 99.9 FM - The Fan was doing a remote broadcast from the Wolfpack Fan Zone. It was not a case or predatory towing. We parked the station SUV in the wrong space. (I'm sure an intern took the blame!?!)

A loyal listener e-mailed the photo...so we would have this highlight of our parking lot fumble.

Rubber duckies = $30K

2011-10-09T20:09:00.008-04:00

We're on sports overload this time of year: football, MLB play-offs, the NASCAR chase, Hurricanes opener and...

The Great American Tobacco Duck Race!

The duck race is an annual feature of the Fox 50 Family Fest on the American Tobacco campus.

Duck sponsorships totaled $30,000 for three of our favorite non-profits: Durham Literacy Center, Durham Bulls Explorer Post 50 and the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle. The event was October 1st.

The Bulls' Explorer Post 50 raised $7500 for its scholarship fund at the Triangle Community Foundation.

Post 50 advisors: Ken Bland of SAS and post alumnae Charlotte Claypoole are loyal volunteers. Charlotte is a video tech for the Durham Public Schools. We appreciate your commitment to Post 50...and schlepping all those ducks!

Inside Baseball...with Mike Birling

2011-10-04T23:35:00.008-04:00

You must be a passionate, determined and competitive person to succeed in this business. Durham Bulls GM Mike Birling

Here's a great interview with Mike. Check it out at seamheads.com. It was posted on Monday while Mike was in St. Pete watching the Rays vs. Rangers. Was he hounded by autograph seekers at the Trop?

NCG @ ABQ

2011-09-24T21:48:00.010-04:00

We ventured west last week for the Triple-A National Championship Game in Albuquerque. The Columbus Clippers claimed the title for the second consecutive year beating the Omaha Storm Chasers, 8-3.

The Albuquerque Isotopes (LA Dodgers affiliate) hosted the game, and they rolled out the red carpet at their ballpark and the Sandia Resort and Casino. In addition to the baseball, there was southwest music and cuisine, a tequila tasting (solely to appreciate the local culture), casino gaming, golf and a hot air balloon excursion.

Molly Boyce, the Bulls' Sponsorship Services Coordinator, shares her photos...

The Isotopes owe their name to the region's renown

for nuclear research - the Los Alamos and Sandia National Labs.

The ballpark is framed by the Sandia Mountains.

(It reminded me of July's Triple-A All-Star Game in Salt Lake City.)

Albuquerque Isotopes web site; click here.

Columbus became the second team to claim back-to-back titles

in the six-year history of the Triple-A National Championship Game.

Game story; click here.

Something you don't normally see at the ballpark - Bananas Foster.

Bulls' GM Mike Birling couldn't get enough.

Molly did the hot air balloon ride.

Nice view of the Rio Grande. (I wimped out.)

The Bulls are hosting the Triple-A Championship next year. It's quite an honor. The event hasn't been held on the east coast, and we're looking forward to entertaining the International and Pacific Coast League team executives in the Bull City. I'm hoping it's a home game for the Bulls!?!

Church at the Ballpark

2011-09-19T19:00:00.003-04:00

Another post-season event at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park...

The Summit Church meets at five different locations in the Triangle, and the entire RDU congregation - with guests - were invited to the DBAP on Sunday morning. 6700 people attended the outdoor service!

The Summit's Church at the Ballpark website

Live United - 2011

2011-09-15T21:53:00.004-04:00

The Triangle’s United Way campaign for 2011 officially began last Thursday with a kick-off at the State Fairgrounds in Raleigh.

I’m a volunteer (a crusader, actually) in Durham County, and I visited this week with three RTP companies that have exemplary campaigns.

At BASF their effort got a jump-start today with a ping-pong and foosball tournament. Campaign leader Scott Dominy brings great enthusiasm to the cause. The BASF staff is a strong supporter of the Give United Fund.

United Way is part of the culture at GENBAND and DuPont Electronics and Communications. DuPont’s Division President David Miller sets a strong example, as is the case with Jeff Townley, President of Operations at GENBAND. Janet Perry at GENBAND and Kay Long at DuPont lead the campaigns.

Eighty-two United Way partner agencies and their 149 programs touch one in every three citizens of our community, Durham, Johnston, Orange and Wake counties. I’ve been involved with the campaign for a decade, and we used to say one in four people received services. Obviously, with high unemployment the demand is greater than ever - about 490,000 people last year.

You probably saw the story this week that America’s poverty rate is 15%, the highest it’s been since 1993. People are struggling, and the United Way is on the case!

The Neverending Om

2011-09-10T12:32:00.013-04:00

The playoffs and our season came to an end Friday night in Columbus. It was a three-game sweep for Clippers, the defending National Champs. (Click here for the game story.)

However, the Durham Bulls Athletic Park is not closed for the season. 350 yoga enthusiasts filled the outfield Saturday morning.

lululemon athletica stores across North America, Canada, Australia and the UK hosted a complimentary, outdoor, all-levels yoga practice to celebrate the global yoga community. The event was dubbed The Neverending Om.

I must confess to sleeping in Saturday, but I did check in via our web cam...

Yoga...wedding...children's party...reception...team building...even church. Plan your next event at the DBAP with help from Mary Beth Warfford. And click here for more info.

Playoffs Wednesday and Thursday

2011-09-06T14:50:00.009-04:00

Durham Bulls vs. Columbus Clippers (defending National Champions)
Wednesday & Thursday, 7:05
Team & ticket info

Tampa Bay Online took note of our successful season on Monday...

There is nothing small about Tampa Bay's minor-league system.

The Triple A-Durham Bulls clinched its fifth consecutive title with a 4-1 win against Norfolk (Orioles) on Friday night. Durham's recent success can be attributed to Charlie Montoyo, who has managed the team for five consecutive seasons.

In addition, Durham has won 10 division titles in its 14 years as a Rays affiliate.

"That's our life blood between scouting and the minor-league developmental process," Rays manager Joe Maddon said. "It's what we need to be all about. Having been a minor-league grunt for so many years, I really appreciate all that. I understand that, I get it and I think it's great.

"We've been able to homogenize what we've been doing here the last couple of years. We've had some really severe meetings, not this spring training, but the one before, and had everybody involved. We tried to unify our base running, our outfield, our middle infield, our hitting and really try to get on the same page throughout the organization."

The results were evident this season.

Tampa Bay called up 14 players from Durham this season, while four others started on the major roster before being sent down. Click here for more.

Visit durhambulls.com for ticket info.

Division Champs! Playoffs begin Wednesday.

2011-09-02T22:57:00.001-04:00

The Bulls have won the South Division Championship for the fifth straight year in the International League. The clincher up in Virginia Friday night: Six solid innings from pitcher Matt Moore and a two-run homer from Dan Johnson as the Bulls beat the Tides 4-1 on the Norfolk waterfront. Click here for the game story.

The play-offs begin at home on Wednesday, presented by Sport Durst Automotive Group. Visit our website for ticket info. We play the Columbus Clippers. There's work to do. They have the best record in the IL.

Join us on Wednesday at the DBAP. The season isn't over. I'm hoping we can extend it for two more weeks!

Note-a-BULL

2011-08-29T22:24:00.010-04:00

Hurricane Irene moved on, the sun came out and the DBAP filled with fans on Sunday afternoon. I know how relieved and elated Noah felt as the flood waters subsided!

As the Bulls' final homestand winds down, we awarded scholarships to graduating Post 50 seniors, and we announced the Goodmon Award winners:

Team Spirit goes to infielder Ray Olmedo. Pitcher of the Year is right-hander Rob Delaney. The MVP Community Service Award winner and Fan Favorite is Russ Canzler. (Read more; click here.)

$7500 in scholarship aid was awarded to members of our Post 50 program - the high school and college students that produce our TV broadcasts.

Left to right: Ken Bland, advisor; Charlotte Claypoole, advisor; Casey Ellis;

Rob Rowe; Joe Duren; Mike Birling, Bulls GM; your blogger; Eric Spencer, advisor.

Casey Ellis - graduated from Northern High with a 4.8 GPA, and he's headed to High Point University to study Communications/Electronic Media.

Rob Rowe - graduated from Kestrel Heights School and will be attending Durham Technical Community College studying Arts and Communications.

Joe Duren - is attending South Carolina State University and studying Sports Broadcasting.

Nick Makansi (not pictured) a Cary Academy grad attending Elon University studying Communications.

Katie McGinnis (not pictured) graduated from Jordan High with a 4.4 GPA and started classes last week at Appalachian State University in Boone studying Communications.

Congratulations!!! ...to these aspiring communicators.

Irene's aftermath: Play Ball!

2011-08-27T11:45:00.005-04:00

The coast is takin' a beatin', but we should be OK by nightfall in the Bull City...good to go with Bulls vs. Knights at 7:05.

(The radar image to the left is from 11:30am)

Clayton's Chris Archer makes his Triple-A debut tonight, and the game will conclude with fireworks.

Get our groundskeeper's perspective on this weather at Bull City Summer; click here.

Hurricane nears. Are you prepared?

2011-08-25T22:26:00.005-04:00

I’m switching caps for this post…from baseball to broadcasting. Send this to ten friends. It should go viral. Do it before Hurricane Irene visits NC!

We have a false sense of security with our social media and communications technology. How do you stay in touch and informed? Cell phone…voice or text? Radio? TV? Websites? Twitter? Facebook?

I noticed after the April tornado that the reliability of all this stuff - that we take for granted - is a serious concern.

TV, radio and your PC are useless when you lose your electricity. If there’s a major storm, cable and landlines - that deliver your Internet service - could be down and dead.

Cell phones are likely to be unreliable, too…due to system overload. That happened after the earthquake on Tuesday. There was no damage, but the cell towers were maxed out due to call volume.

My advice is old school: make sure you have a portable radio w/fresh batteries.

WRAL TV5 News and MIX 101.5 have generators at their studio and transmitter sites. Even if your power and cable are out, you can still listen to the TV5 News audio on Mix 101.5. We always simulcast during emergencies.

We’ll fire up our generators. You supply the radio and fresh batteries.

The trusty Caterpillar generator at the MIX 101.5 studios in North Raleigh.

Bull City Summer

2011-08-25T09:08:00.004-04:00

Some of the best writing about Bulls baseball emanates from the notepad and keyboard of Adam Sobsey of the Independent Weekly and indyweek.com. He's always insightful and often artful.

Sam Stephenson (of the Jazz Loft Project) has corralled Adam and a group of outstanding photographers for his latest endeavor: Bull City Summer | A Season at the Ballpark.

They are chronicling our last homestand in print and pictures. It's a test run for an in-depth look at the team across the 2012 season...that will hopefully become a book and exhibition.

You can get a taste of it now at indyweek.com; click here. This photo was contributed by Chicago photographer Kate Joyce as she roams the DBAP this week...

At some point in the middle of the game I realized that every walk of life within a 30-mile radius was represented in the stadium that day. White people, African-American, Latino, Asian, and seemingly every income level, and all ages. I wondered, what other buildings in the Triangle see this mix of people passing through and sticking around? The mall, perhaps, but the mall is a chaotic and crass commercial environment. This was different. There's a retreat quality to baseball; its home is called a park for a reason. The game on the field is untimed, offering a more natural rhythm than other team sports. (Sam Stephenson writing about the DBAP.)

Save the Date(s)

2011-08-22T11:24:00.015-04:00

Yes, we are optimistically selling play-off tickets...but our last regular season homestand is upon us: August 23rd-30th.

Make your plans now. You're running out of time!

Take a look at our website, and here are some recommendations from your Blackwell St. concierge:

Tuesday - two tickets for $9.00 thanks to Whole Foods.

Wednesday - get a free ticket from Wells Fargo when you bring school supplies for Operation Military Kids.

Thursday - $1.00 concessions, College Night and Bark in the Park. Bring your pup to the DBAP...seriously!

Friday - Girl Scouts Night, Yogi Bear and FIREWORKS!

Saturday - a day/night double header. The 1pm game is Kids Day (kids eat free!) Yogi Bear and the Looney Tunes characters are in the house for the 7pm game. The evening concludes with FIREWORKS!

Sunday - More Yogi Bear and Kids Run the Bases after the 5pm game.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Recommended reading...

"In the heart of basketball country, where legendary names like Dean Smith and Mike Krzyzewski are commonplace, stands a minor league baseball gem. The Bulls have been a staple in Durham since 1913 and have been rather infamous ever since the release of the 1988 feature film Bull Durham. Although you won’t find Crash Davis and Nuke Laloosh here, you will find a baseball experience that will rival any other in Triple A Baseball."

That's from the Stadium Journey blog. The Bulls received at 4.4 overall Fanfare Score out of 5, and we notched high fives in atmosphere, access, neighborhood and return on investment. Check it out; click here.

Bark in the Park is Thursday night; the Herald-Sun posted this article on Bulls' canine mascot Lucky Jr .

HD Radio (for dummies)

2011-08-17T20:32:00.011-04:00

This is going to be geeky, but I want to report on our progress with HD Radio at 99.9 The Fan/ESPN Radio. It's another communications and entertainment advance thanks to digital technology.

While our engineers wince at this description, HD Radio allows us to insert additional stations into our existing FM frequency. With an HD Radio you can receive FOUR channels on The Fan's signal:

WCMC 99.9 fm - The Fan's traditional analog station
WCMC HD1 - The Fan's digital signal
WCMC HD2 - ESPN News
WCMC HD3 - WDNC 620/The Buzz

The latest development is that HD3 channel. We've put the audio of our Durham AM station on the FM band via HD Radio. If you live in the Raleigh area - with an HD Radio - you can listen to Durham Bulls baseball, Duke sports, Mark & Mike, Dan Patrick and Jim Rome...on the FM band...with digital sound. That's a serious upgrade for The Buzz.

Yes, you need the HD Radio, but otherwise, it's free! No subscription required.

Satellite radio had thwarted the roll-out of HD Radio, but auto makers are now installing radios with HD capability as standard equipment. It began with hi-end cars like the BMW and Benz, but Ford is on board...with more manufacturers in the pipeline.

This is our current HD Radio coverage area. Click the map to enlarge.

Here's a video explanation of HD Radio...

Click here for the HD Radio website.

Scorched earth at Durham radio towers

2011-08-09T22:20:00.007-04:00

I've got that "snake bit" feeling with our sports radio station towers. An April tornado in Raleigh felled the antenna at our Hispanic sports station, WCLY/1550 ESPN Deportes. Last Wednesday in Durham, a brush and woods fire threatened the towers at WDNC/620 The Buzz. That's the flagship station for the Durham Bulls and Duke University sports.

Despite thirty-one acres of scorched earth, The Buzz was OK and the Bulls vs. Knights game aired as scheduled on August 3rd. Buried transmission cables weren't damaged. The larger concern was nearby homes, but they were protected, too.

The credit goes to forty-three firefighters who worked to contain and extinguish the blaze for over five hours on a searingly hot summer day. We appreciate the good work of the NC Forestry Service, Durham Fire Dept. and volunteers from the Lebanon, Eno and New Hope companies.

The cause of the fire remains under investigation. Here are a couple of aerial shots of the site in northwest Durham just off I-85...

WRAL TV's Sky5 was overhead. Here's some unedited video of the fire...

Russian acrobat on the Durham diamond

2011-08-07T13:55:00.006-04:00

Remarkable entertainment Saturday night at the DBAP: The Russian Bar Trio performed.

It's a combination of the acrobatic and gymnastic skills required for a balance beam, trampoline and parallel bars...rolled into one!

Still photos don't do this justice, so enjoy their video from America's Got Talent. Jerry Springer was blown away and that guy has seen just about everything!

Hall of Famer in the house

2011-08-06T16:12:00.007-04:00

We're playing the Phillies' farm club - the Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs - through Sunday. While that brings a few transplanted Philly fanatics to downtown Durham the real draw has been Lehigh Valley's manager, Ryne Sandberg. Cubs great. 2nd base standout. 2005 Hall of Fame inductee.

...and now he's working his way through the Minor Leagues hoping to become a Major League manager. He's doing well. Sandberg was voted Manager of the Year in the Pacific Coast League in 2010, and his east coast Iron Pigs are currently leading the North Division of our International League.

Ken Medlin of WRAL TV5 Sports (and his colleagues) talked to Sandberg in the dugout for about twenty minutes. He posted the raw video. Take a look...

Clearly, Sandberg loves the game of baseball, and he's been most gracious with the fans who have lined up for his autograph each evening.

Lee Montgomery of the Herald-Sun wrote about "Ryno" in Friday's edition. Click here for the story.

A Milestone: 6,000 Victories

2011-08-03T21:50:00.008-04:00

The North Carolina League was formed in March 1902, and the Durham baseball club was a founding member. Official record-keeping began that spring, and here we are 109 years later celebrating 6000 wins.

Unfortunately for our fans, #6K happened on the road vs. Charlotte Tuesday night. The game was a real spanking, though. The Bulls won 18-3 with stellar pitching from top prospect Matt Moore. Click here for the game story.

Still, the revelry is subdued with the road win. We hoped to hit the milestone last week in the DBAP when we played the Gwinnett Braves, but the Bulls suffered consecutive losses and a rain-out. So much for our big promotional plans, but consider the magnitude of 6,000 wins.

Here is the list of teams that have won 6,000 games (in the same city) in any American sport:

1) Chicago Cubs
2) St. Louis Cardinals
3) Cincinnati Reds
4) Pittsburgh Pirates
5) New York Yankees
6) Philadelphia Phillies
7) Boston Red Sox
8) Cleveland Indians
9) Detroit Tigers
10) Chicago White Sox
11) Baltimore Orioles
12) Buffalo Bisons
13) Birmingham Barons
14) Cedar Rapids Kernels
15) Indianapolis Indians
16) Rochester Red Wings
17) Toledo Mud Hens
18) Durham Bulls

I agree with our Director of Media Relations, Matt DeMargel, who says this is a story of durability. The Bulls reflect Durham's history and durability. From mill town to City of Medicine and its high tech transformation. Less than 20 cities in the country can brag on a team that has lasted across the decades, spanning two centuries, to post 6,000 victories.

El Toro Park

Durham Athletic Park

I recommend Aaron Schoonmaker's post on the milestone at wralSPORTSfan.com. Click here for a concise, thoughtful history lesson.

Airborne in Utah

2011-07-24T22:32:00.010-04:00

Indulge me, please, as I share travel photos. We were in Salt Lake City earlier this month for the Triple A All-Star Game, and we visited the Utah Olympic Park, site of the 2002 Winter Olympics.

I was surprised to learn that (snow) skiers practice their aerial routines during the summertime in a pool. Here's how it works...

Here's what ski jumping looks like in the summer. The ramp is carpeted with artificial turf and a sprinkler system keeps it slick.

I'm sure this looks a lot better when the landscape is covered with snow, but it's remarkable to watch in July!

The Bull Moon Ride

2011-07-19T21:23:00.010-04:00

When you stage an annual event, the challenge is year-over-year growth, and we're very pleased with the results of Saturday night's Bull Moon bike ride for Habitat of Durham. 653 cyclists meandered through dusky downtown Durham. That's about 80 more riders than last year. They raised over $30K. We're headed in the right direction!

Cycling begins at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park.

Bull Riders (and Bulls' managers) Mary Beth Warfford and Matt DeMargel.

They helped organize and promote the Bull Moon Ride
alongside Molly Boyce who was too busy to pose for a photo.

This is not a competitive cycling event. It has a greater purpose! Registration and sponsorship fees support Habitat for Humanity's home building, home ownership and neighborhood improvement efforts. I lifted this from their website:

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF DURHAM IS A NON-PROFIT, CHRISTIAN HOUSING MINISTRY THAT BUILDS, REPAIRS AND SELLS DECENT, AFFORDABLE AND SUSTAINABLE HOMES IN PARTNERSHIP WITH PEOPLE IN NEED AND COMMUNITIES THAT CARE. WE ARE A NON-PROFIT HOUSING ORGANIZATION THAT BELIEVES DECENT HOUSING IS A MATTER OF CONSCIENCE AND ACTION.

Founded in 1985, we have broken ground on more than 250 homes for working families in Durham whose housing is unsound, unsafe or overcrowded. We are the banker and the builder. We build, repair and sell new homes at no interest. The no-interest loans, as well as donations of time and money, allow us to offer an affordable mortgage payment to families who don't qualify for traditional mortgages.

In addition to new homes, we repair homes and beautifying neighborhoods through A Brush With Kindness. Through these efforts we transform and stabilize neighborhoods.

Supporting Durham Public Schools

2011-07-17T22:23:00.008-04:00

The Durham Bulls are great partners.

They are recognizing and rewarding our employees.

They are providing our students with opportunities to learn skills that can't be taught in the classroom.

Eric Becoats, Superintendent, Durham Public Schools

Generous words from the leader of DPS. Dr. Becoats hosts a monthly video report on the school system's progress - Bulls Eye - and the latest installment features two programs at the Durham Bulls Athletic Park:

DPS staff recognition
Post 50 television production training

The video (4.5 min) is posted on the DPS Facebook page. Click here. Check it out...

Wool E., we're not in Durham anymore.

2011-07-13T18:41:00.005-04:00

We find ourselves in Salt Lake City for the Triple A All-Star Game. The Salt Lake Bees of the Pacific Coast League are marvelous hosts.

Your intrepid blogger is far more impressed with the Wasatch Range (of the Rocky Mountains) vs. the city's namesake lake.

This was my view across the outfield at Monday's Home Run Derby...

Tuesday night, the Bees hosted a gala at the University of Utah's football stadium. The MLB All-Star Game was on the video screen, but my eyes were drawn to the scenery...

All-Star Break, Chipper Jones...

2011-07-10T21:15:00.006-04:00

The baseball tribe is in All-Star mode this week. The MLB game is in Phoenix on Tuesday. Bulls Manager Charlie Montoyo was conspicuous on ESPN2 Sunday for the first event of the All-Star festivities. He was tapped to coach top prospects in the Futures Game.

The Triple A All-Star Game is Wednesday in Salt Lake City. The Bulls are sending three players to Utah: shortstop Ray Olmedo replaces injured outfielder Desmond Jennings. Also, the Bulls will be represented by outfielders Brandon Guyer and Russ Canzler.

Our very own Neil Solondz will call the game on the nationwide Triple A radio network. Listen to Neil on 620 The Buzz at 9pm eastern. You can catch the game on the MLB Network, too.

Chipper Jones from the WRAL TV5 Video Vault

The All-Star Game had TV5’s Jeff Gravley rattling around in the archives last week. He discovered a great story on 19 year old Chipper Jones playing for the Bulls - in 1992 - when we were the Atlanta Braves Single A affiliate.

Chipper was selected for the 2011 All-Star game, but arthroscopic knee surgery upset those plans.

More artifacts...

Bobble heads from our 100th anniversary in 2002: Chipper and David Justice.

Independence Day Rain Check

2011-07-06T19:49:00.006-04:00

USA-USA-USA the crowd chanted as America's college all-stars beat Japan Tuesday evening 4-3...but the Bull City crowd gave a standing ovation to the Japanese players. Baseball brings out the best in us!

Our Independence Day "rain check" was a big success. We had about seven thousand folks show up on a work night to watch Team USA vs. Japan and a fantastic fireworks display. (The City of Durham won a grant from Liberty Mutual for extra pyrotechnics and Bulls' GM Mike Birling worked some magic with his insider knowledge of fireworks procurement.)

It was the best fireworks show I've ever seen at the ballpark. Keep in mind that we don't have Boston Harbor to work with when staging fireworks. We're launching them from the field, and there are altitude restrictions imposed on our downtown site. It's remarkable that we're able to set the Durham sky ablaze in breathtaking fashion!

Here's how the game ended for Team USA - a victory lap with the American flag and the All American Cupid Shuffle...

WRAL TV5 Sports talked with Team USA's closer - from Duke University - Marcus Stroman who consistently throws in the mid-nineties...

July 4th Do-over

2011-07-04T22:47:00.007-04:00

Let's take another swing at Independence Day...on July 5th.

Rain washed out USA vs. Japan and the post-game City of Durham fireworks extravaganza, so we will try again Tuesday evening. Gates open at 5pm for the 6:05 game. Bring your Monday night ticket for admission, and click here for more info.

A highlight of the holiday weekend was the Bright Leaf Hot Dog Eating Contest on Sunday. The News & Observer was all over the story...like mustard and chili on a hot dog. Check out the article and Takaaki Iwabu's photo essay.

Our contest had a five-minute time limit and Bulls' manager Matt DeMargel consumed the most hot dogs - nine. But compare that to the legendary Nathan's contest in NYC Monday. It's a ten-minute engorgement, and the winner swallowed sixty-two hot dogs! Isn't gluttony one of the seven deadly sins!?!

Meet me @ the DBFP: Durham Bulls FIREWORKS Park

2011-06-30T22:04:00.009-04:00

We know how to celebrate the 4th of July. Indeed, 4 is the critical integer: 4 days of baseball and 4 days of fireworks.

Maximum holiday flexibility! You can do your Independence Day celebration Friday, Saturday, Sunday or Monday.

I’ll hit some of the highlights:

Friday night (7pm) is USA Baseball’s first-ever Prospect Classic. America’s top college players take on the nation’s best 18 and under prospects. (Buy a ticket behind home plate and watch yourself on the MLB Network Saturday when they replay the game.) Miss North Carolina is in the house, there's a Back Porch Music concert on the American Tobacco Lawn from 6-8pm and the evening concludes with fireworks.

Saturday the Bulls return to the DBAP to play the Gwinnett Braves (7pm) and the game is followed by another pyrotechnics show. Note: the day begins with the Blue Points 5K on the American Tobacco Trail. The run is staged by Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC and benefits Drug Free NC and Urban Ministries.

Sunday is a double header. At 3pm it’s USA Baseball. In this game, America’s top amateurs play Japan. Next up: the Bright Leaf Hot Dog Eating Contest. Then, at 7pm the Bulls play Gwinnett followed by fireworks.

Monday is the All-American real deal. At 5pm there bluegrass music on the Lawn at American Tobacco. Then, we move over to the ballpark for the City of Durham’s official celebration. At 6pm it’s the USA vs. Japan. After the game, we detonate more fireworks, but that’s not all. The night concludes with Kids Run the Bases ‘round the DBAP diamond. I should point out that the City received a grant from Liberty Mutual for extra fireworks. It should be a boffo show, a memorable evening in the Bull City.

For more details, review our complete press release.
For tickets, click here.

Please, leave the fireworks to the professionals. Stay away from those roadside tents. Skip that trip to Tennessee for contraband cherry bombs. Join us this weekend at the DBAP!

Happy Independence Day. God Bless America.

Tour de Fat en Durham

2011-06-27T13:00:00.006-04:00

The Tour de Fat made its first visit to NC Saturday on the American Tobacco campus. This isn't a bike race, rather a cycling parade and festival. It's sponsored by Fat Tire beer from New Belgium Brewing.

Bikes and beer? Actually, it works when you put a little distance between the two key elements.

Valerie Ward, events impresario at American Tobacco, reports 500 participants - a record for a first-time stop on the Tour de Fat.

$10,000 was raised for the event beneficiaries...

- the Durham Bike Co-op, they teach cyclists how to do basic maintenance and repair and distribute used cycles to people who can't afford them.

- Triangle Spokes Group, they raise funds to purchase new bikes for needy children at Christmas.

- N.C. Active Transportation Alliance, they promote cycling, skating, running and walking - activities where you provide the energy and locomotion vs. an internal combustion engine.

The News & Observer covered the Tour. I recommend Chuck Liddy's photography. Click here.

More attention from the New York Times

2011-06-25T11:10:00.007-04:00

More love for the Bull City in the travel section of Friday's New York Times!

It's headlined Durham Dining: Pies, Panini and Barbecue.

"When I lived in Durham in the mid-2000s, downtown’s progress was nascent. It began in the American Tobacco district, an area adjacent to the City Center that was once dominated by a blighted former tobacco factory. Now that district has grown into a full-fledged entertainment complex, bookended by the still-handsome Durham Bulls minor league baseball stadium and, since 2008, the $44 million Durham Performing Arts Center. More recently, the wave of regeneration has spread." Ingrid Williams

Enjoy the complete article; click here.

The year began with a Times' piece on places to visit in 2011. Durham ranked 35th on the list of 41 global destinations, flanked by Iraqi Kurdistan and Kosovo .

Taking Steps...for Crohn's & Colitis

2011-06-18T21:32:00.005-04:00

One in every 200 Americans suffer daily with Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis.

The DBAP hosted a Take Steps walk on Saturday. Beginning at 5pm, it wrapped up just ahead of the thunderstorm that rolled across Durham.

The Take Steps walk enables patient families to join together with the community to build visibility and awareness about these digestive diseases while raising critical funds. More on the subject from an April post.

Very Superstitious

2011-06-15T22:06:00.007-04:00

When you believe in things that you don't understand,

Then you suffer.

Superstition ain't the way.

(Stevie Wonder)

Baseball honors ritual and superstition. It's not confined to the players, and it may be worse among our staff.

We've experienced a lot of rainy weather since the 2011 season began in mid April. This past weekend was dominated by the doppler radar, tarp pulls and rain delays.

Our head groundskeeper, Scott Strickland, volunteered for a head shave...hoping to change the Bulls' meteorological karma. GM Mike Birling wielded the razor like a shaman in this dugout ceremony after Monday night's game.

I have to admit the weather improved immediately. Tuesday was a perfect evening at the DBAP. Still, I would have called a priest.

Taking America's Pulse - at the DBAP

2011-06-13T21:00:00.004-04:00

CBS News - covering President Obama's Durham visit - visited the Durham Bulls Athletic Park to talk with fans about the economy.

The DBAP was featured in the lead story on Monday's CBS Evening News with Scott Pelley. WATCH CBS VIDEO; CLICK HERE.

There is life after the Presidential visit. Moving on...

We're doing a double shot of patriotism on Tuesday.

It's Flag Day and we have teamed up with the 82nd Airborne to celebrate the 236th birthday of the United States Army.

You'll see a 105mm Howitzer and an armored Humvee with a guided missile launcher. Try on a pair of night vision goggles and body armor.

Read more about it, and grab your tickets for Tuesday night at the DBAP. Perfect weather is on tap!

White House to Durham: ROAD TRIP!

2011-06-13T13:25:00.008-04:00

President Obama is in Durham to talk about job creation and the economy. His Council on Jobs and Competitiveness is meeting here today. (Complete coverage at wral.com, click here.)

"Durham and the whole Research Triangle are exactly what we're trying to do across the country..."

That's a quote from the Council's Director interviewed yesterday afternoon at the DBAP by Keith Upchurch for the Herald-Sun. Click here to read the story.

Left to right: Michael Strautmanis, deputy assistant to the President, and Don Graves, executive director of the President's Council on Jobs and Competitiveness, on Goodmon Field for the game ball presentation Sunday afternoon.

POTUS Visits Durham

2011-06-09T19:34:00.012-04:00

President Obama will visit Durham Monday. He's touring Cree, a home-grown company with a global market for its LED lighting.

The President will be accompanied by his Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. These rock stars of American business will be meeting Monday, too.

There’s a reception Sunday evening at the American Tobacco campus and White House staffers are coming to the 5pm Bulls game.

I’m pleased the visitors will get a taste of downtown Durham. The symbolism is significant: tobacco to tech and edu...3,000 people ("the creative class") now working in what was a million square feet of abandoned cigarette factory. Of course, baseball improved the neighborhood, too.

Donning my Greater Durham Chamber of Commerce hat, I have revisited the notes from our May 19th Economic Development Summit in RTP.

We listened to three panel discussions with start-ups, mature tech firms and big manufacturers. The common thread was our talent pool. Certainly, incentives, taxes and lifestyle are important, but “workforce” is our strong suit.

Two entrepreneurs “livin’ the dream” on the coast (Savannah GA and Beaufort SC) relocated to Durham for access to the Bull City's tech talent.

From my conference notes:

We have a wealth of human capital in tech and bio-pharma.
The confluence of higher education in the Triangle creates a “crossroads for interdisciplinary talent.”
Our community college system has effectively re-skilled the workforce from tobacco/textiles to tech.

And there is something special about Tar Heel character: the work ethic of the workforce was cited as an added benefit to doing business here.

These intangibles do matter. Longtime GSK leader (now of Hatteras Venture Partners) Bob Ingram talked about Durham’s warmth, energy and excitement.

I’m confident the visiting CEOs will make note of this on Monday!

AT BAT...for ALS. Post-game report:

2011-06-05T21:58:00.013-04:00

We've been working hard on ALS through the weekend - raising awareness and money.

The disease has close ties to baseball - it claimed the lives of Lou Gehrig and Catfish Hunter - but it needs far more attention.

The cause is unknown. There's no cure, and there are no survivors. Yes, ALS needs far more attention.

To that end, it was ALS Awareness Night at Friday's game and the chapter had a group outing at the DBAP on Sunday.

Angela Murphy, the chapter's Director of Special Events, receives the game ball at Friday's game.

Also, we helped to promote the chapter's eBay auction with 99.9 The Fan and 620 The Buzz. $7,000 was raised.

If you can invest fifteen minutes, here are a couple of notable stories on this topic from last week:

Listen to this Fan/Buzz interview with golf legend Tom Watson. His caddy died of ALS.
Watch this moving video from WRAL TV5 News...

Now, you understand why we're AT BAT...for ALS.

Jim "Catfish" Hunter ALS Association chapter website; click here.

Red Sox Nation Invades Durham - Bid on Schilling!

2011-06-03T08:43:00.010-04:00

EXCELLENT weather for baseball...as the Bulls begin a four-game series with Pawtucket tonight. The Red Sox Triple A affiliate from Rhode Island attracts Boston fans from across the Triangle. Despite our South Division rivalries with the likes of Charlotte and Norfolk, this home stand against New England is our biggest draw.

Expect the headlines to be about pitching this weekend:

Former Tar Heel Andrew Miller will start against the Bulls on Friday night
Eight-year veteran Brandon Duckworth will pitch against us on Sunday
Former Brave Kevin Millwood will start on Monday

Plus, Darnell McDonald is down from Boston on rehab.

Sunday’s game will be televised on NESN in the northeast and Monday’s game will be broadcast on the MLB Network. Regional and national exposure for a baseball battle in the Bull City!

Join us at the DBAP this weekend.

~ ~ ~ ~

Speaking of the Red Sox, the Jim "Catfish" Hunter Chapter of the ALS Association is conducting an on-line auction that features this autographed Curt Schilling jersey and ball. Check it out; click here.

The Bulls donated the Schilling jersey to the auction.

AT BAT...for ALS

2011-06-01T22:55:00.005-04:00

At Bat for ALS is underway!

99.9 The Fan and 620 The Buzz are staging a radiothon on Thursday…raising money to fight this terrible disease. The cause is barely understood and there’s no cure. It may sound crass, but here’s my simple formula: CASH (for research and patient care) = HOPE.

Raleigh-Durham is the test drive for this ALS project. Later this summer other sports stations will follow our lead in Philly, Minneapolis, LA, Tampa, Denver and DC.

So, tune in and make a pledge. The Bulls will join in with an ALS Awareness Night on Friday and there’s an on-line auction in progress through Sunday.

Click here to check out the auction. It features some incredible sports memorabilia and VIP experiences: a Yankees’ game in the Big Apple, an ACC basketball game at Duke with credentials for Coach K’s post game press conference, a private batting practice on Goodmon Field at the DBAP, Late Night with Roy in the Dean Dome.

…and if that doesn’t float your boat, Debra Morgan is offering a personalized tour of WRAL TV5.

Thanks for your support!

Glanville's Baseball Insights

2011-05-31T20:30:00.004-04:00

Doug Glanville doesn't live into the scratchin' and spittin' stereotype. He is a thoughtful, articulate observer of baseball in his retirement.

Doug visited the DBAP a couple of weeks ago. We talked about his tenure with the Cubs, Phillies and Rangers. He was a standout center fielder and hitter, primarily for Philadelphia, leaving the field in 2005. I was equally impressed with the influence of his strong family and a Penn degree in systems engineering.

Today, Glanville is an author, ESPN baseball analyst...and a new resident of the Triangle! On Wednesday evening he will be signing his book The Game From Where I Stand at Quail Ridge Books. The paperback edition has just been released.

www.dougglanville.com

A Most Memorable ACC Baseball Tourney

2011-05-29T18:31:00.006-04:00

The University of Virginia won yet another ACC title Sunday. The finale of the five-day event was uneventful compared to Friday and Saturday.

Friday featured the longest game in tournament history. The contest began Thursday evening between NC State and Ga. Tech and ended Friday at 12:40 am after five hours and 488 pitches. The game lasted fifteen innings! (NCSU lost.)

And the dawn brought more drama on Friday. The schedule was turned upside down by five inches of rain. (Bulls' GM Mike Birling reports five, but groundskeeper Scott Strickland says it was seven inches.)

The Friday monsoon forced a rescheduling for Saturday. Yet another record: Five games played at the DBAP in one day.

Our staff - baseball's warriors - fell on their swords (or bats?) for this one. It was a 100 hour work week.

"We return to our regularly scheduled programming" as they say on TV. The Bulls are at home Memorial Day through June 6th playing Columbus and Pawtucket.

Friday on Lake DBAP. The grounds crew allegedly caught a catfish in the outfield.

The ACC Moves In

2011-05-24T11:19:00.013-04:00

The Atlantic Coast Conference Baseball Tournament begins on Wednesday, and the ACC has taken over the DBAP. The Conference staff is transforming the ballpark into a collegiate championship venue.

They bring their flags and banners...

They bring their textiles...

They bring their TV production trucks...

The television crew rolled in Monday. The games are broadcast on regional sports networks from New England to Florida.

The coaches had breakfast in American Tobacco's Bay 7 this morning and teams have begun practice. That's NC State and Clemson on the field today...

CLICK HERE for the Tournament schedule (Wed - Sun)
and ticket info.

PeTA Rates the DBAP...

2011-05-23T21:14:00.007-04:00

PeTA has again recognized the Bulls’ healthy menu choices - especially for fans that abstain from meat.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals released their Minor League ballpark rankings last week: The DBAP was a lean, ripped Number Five in the nation.

A veggie sausage now compliments our veggie dog and black bean veggie burger.

Papa John’s offers a veggie pizza.

Moe’s Southwest Grill came aboard with a tofu burrito and fresh salads.

In the potato realm, we’ve added sweet potato fries, loaded tater tots and Chipstix.

Top that off with fried pickles.

Meatless and mouth waterin'. I'm headed to the concourse food court...

Sounds of Summer

2011-05-22T20:36:00.011-04:00

The term sports marketing evokes classic Super Bowl ads and irreverent beer commercials.

…but there are more meaningful applications of our trade, and that’s what occurred at last Wednesday's afternoon game.

Cochlear Americas - they make hearing implants - sponsored the game and invited their customers (or patients?) to the DBAP to celebrate the Sounds of Summer.

Before their cochlear implant (something I put in the miracle category) these folks couldn’t hear the National Anthem, the crack of the bat or the cotton candy barker. They couldn’t enjoy singing Take Me Out to the Ball Game. The implant was a game changer!

"The greatest thrill is I'm able to talk, understand and be a part of my grandchildren's life."

That’s a quote from Stuart Nelson, a Chapel Hill granddad. Regina Wang captures his story and the event for the News & Observer. Click here for the article.

Bill Law of the Bulls and Mr. Nelson observe the month of May as Better Hearing and Speech Month. The kids led the singing of Take Me Out to the Ball Game during the seventh inning stretch...

71,000 adults and children in the US have received cochlear implants, but that's only 5% of those with hearing loss who might benefit.

Click here for more coverage: Chapel Hill Magazine.

The Hank Aaron Files

2011-05-17T20:31:00.011-04:00

Last week's turn-back-the-clock game at the Durham Athletic Park reminded me of a significant period in Bulls' history - when the Atlanta Braves came to town!

During most of the 1970's, there was no Minor League ball in Durham. An early attempt at "regionalism" featured a team that split its games between Raleigh and Durham. The concept failed to win fans and the team fizzled. No baseball for almost a decade.

In 1979 Miles Wolff enticed the City of Durham to fix up the DAP, he convinced the Braves to provide a team, and the Carolina League single-A Durham Bulls returned to the field in 1980. The rest is (modern) history!

The Braves were represented by Hank Aaron. Hammerin' Hank had retired in 1976 and moved to the Atlanta front office. He was assigned the Durham project.

Durham City Manager Tom Bonfield discovered these letters in his files last year. He shared them with me...and I share them with you. There's nothing earth shattering about these documents, but thirty years later, they are can be viewed as a milestone in the Bulls 109-year legacy. Click here to read more from the Aaron files.

Behind the scenes...

2011-05-15T14:17:00.011-04:00

Our local newspaper, The Herald-Sun, did a wonderful series on some of the unheralded jobs at our ballpark.

They are interesting stories - along with video essays - about unique jobs and off-limits parts of the DBAP.

~ ~ ~

Consider our manual scoreboard. No electronics. There’s a human being behind those numbers.

Chris Ivy is his name, and he resides in the belly of the outfield wall during every game. You gotta love baseball to do that job!

Another off-limits area: the locker room (or the “clubhouse” as it’s distinctly known in baseball.) It’s the players’ private realm of food, fitness club, physical therapy, laundry and video games.

What’s it like for assistant “clubbie” Daniel Jordan to work in this secret world?

Click here for an index to the entire series about the scoreboard, clubhouse, snow cone barker and groundskeeper.

More on the DAP game...

2011-05-13T19:16:00.011-04:00

As the week winds down there's still a lot of buzz surrounding Monday's game at the historic Durham Athletic Park.

We held a fan photo contest on Facebook. Brett Carver is the winner. It's a classic...

...just as the Durham Bulls Athletic Park sparked renovation on the south end of downtown when it opened, the old park's restoration, completed in 2009, is credited with helping to bring its neighborhood back to life.

That's from Martha Quillin writing about the DAP in the News & Observer. Click here for the article - a good story on what the restored ballpark means to the north Durham neighborhood.

Now, punch play and enjoy this video essay by the Bulls' very talented Andrea Roa:

...and one more story from WRAL TV5's Jason Jennings...who camped out at the DAP; click here for the video.

Baseball Time Machine

2011-05-09T14:57:00.010-04:00

The Bulls play at the Durham Athletic Park tonight...our home until 1998...restored by the City of Durham. The DBAP is south of downtown; the DAP is on the north end. The shrine to Bull City baseball and the "on location" site of the 1988 cinema classic Bull Durham is currently operated by Minor League Baseball. The DAP has its own website. Check it out; click here.

The above image (late '80s) comes from the Endangered Durham website. Click here for additional pix. Scroll down to browse through their library.

Join us this evening...should be a beautiful - and memorable - night for baseball! Tickets: www.durhambulls.com.

Extra Innings = Big Finish!

2011-05-08T14:28:00.007-04:00

Our Saturday evening game was an extra innings affair - eleven of them. For the fans that stuck around...they saw a terrific ending...better than fireworks:

Click here for the game story.

ESPN Deportes returns to airwaves

2011-05-07T21:05:00.009-04:00

Our Hispanic sports station returned to the air last week. The April 16th tornado leveled its tower just south of downtown Raleigh and 1550 AM/ESPN Deportes was off-air for 2.5 weeks.

Our engineers, Keith Harrison and Will Patnaud, quickly came up with a plan for a temporary antenna. It smacks of amateur radio – an antenna wire stretched between two poles.

However, their ingenuity was thwarted by the demand for poles. It took a while to get ‘em; demand for utility poles was acute across the south following the tornado outbreak.

…but they got it done: The show must go on! (El programa de radio debe continuar!)

Here's a photo of our science project. Will and Keith get a Blue Ribbon.

The fallen antenna: 285' of steel destined for the recycling yard.

Bulls in Hi Def

2011-05-06T21:44:00.016-04:00

Bulls TV premiers this weekend in hi def! Gather your tribe in the man cave and punch up channel 1151 on Time Warner Cable.

THANKS to Time Warner for slotting us on a hi def channel for the 2011 season.

We're excited to partner with WRAZ to provide not only more HD content but programming that is of particular local interest to our customers in the Raleigh/Fayetteville area.

Dan Santelle, VP

Programming and Product Development

Time Warner Cable

Note the guide below; we have our own channel!

Bulls TV is produced in cooperation with Capitol Broadcasting's WRAZ/Fox50 and its new sister station MeTV. Bulls broadcasts - on MeTV - reside on channel 151 and over-the-air on 50.2 in standard def.

Click here for Bulls broadcast schedule on radio, TV and the web.

Homestand & Cornhole

2011-05-05T01:00:00.003-04:00

The Bulls begin their second home stand of the season tonight. The team will be at the DBAP through next Thursday, May 12th. There’s so much going on. Rattle around on our web site and make your plans.

Fireworks Friday night.
Saturday and Sunday games at 5:05.
SpongeBob SquarePants will be with us Friday, Saturday and Sunday. (This may be more important than baseball?)
On Monday we haul the team over to the revered Durham Athletic Park for an evening of nostalgia vs. the Indianapolis Indians. Clay Aiken will perform the National Anthem.
Next Wednesday is a day game, 11:05. Play hooky!

…and another thing:

Sixty-four teams will compete in the 4th annual Cornhole Cup on Saturday at American Tobacco – sponsored by Capitol’s sports stations, 99.9 The Fan & 620 The Buzz.

Cornhole is a popular tailgating game. It’s a very serious version of a bean bag toss.

And consider its historicity per Wikipedia: scholars confirm that a game of very similar nature was played amongst Native Americans in Midwest America, who filled pigs' bladders with dried beans and competitively tossed them for entertainment, notably, the Blackhawk tribe in Illinois.

Proceeds from the Cornhole Cup will go to the American Cancer Society’s Prostate Cancer Research Division.

The bags start flyin’ at 10am Saturday in the ATC courtyard. Come for Cornhole, and stay for lunch in one of the ATC restaurants.

Russell Wilson - QB or 2B ???

2011-05-02T20:53:00.006-04:00

Russell Wilson’s dream is to play both football and baseball. He refuses to choose one over the other.

…but NC State’s head football coach Tom O’Brien was compelled to take a more decisive approach. Last Friday the Wolfpack released the star QB from his football commitment. Wilson is playing baseball again this this spring in the Colorado Rockies farm system. He’s currently at second base for the Class A Asheville Tourists. O’Brien needs to move on, but Wilson won’t jettison football.

"While my immediate plan includes playing professional baseball, I have not closed the door on football. With one more season of college eligibility remaining, I will continue to explore and consider all my options." Russell Wilson

You have to admire Wilson’s aspirations, but I can’t imagine having it both ways. The path to excellence at the major league level begins with a commitment – an exclusive commitment – that doesn’t accommodate two sports.

In the Rays’ organization a top prospect has little down time. Even though the minor league season ends around Labor Day, a rookie would next report for instructional league play in Florida. That lasts about a month, and then he would play for about six weeks in the Arizona fall league. (Whoops! There goes football season.)

A veteran minor leaguer would probably sharpen his skills in Latin America playing winter ball in Venezuela, Mexico, the Dominican Republic or Puerto Rico. That’s an October to January obligation, and before you know it, it’s time for Spring Training!

If you’re aiming for the majors, it’s a year-round commitment.

Bulls' Hometown Alumni

2011-04-29T01:00:00.003-04:00

I doubt most fans realize that very few Bulls players live in our community. After we won the 2009 Triple A National Championship in Oklahoma City, Durham's City Manager wanted to have a parade. I had to swallow hard and confess that the team wouldn't be returning to Durham, that they dispersed to their individual hometowns after the season-ending game.

That's the way it works in the Minors. It's a nomadic life until you land a Major League contract. Only then - as a Ray rather than a Bull - do you invest in a splendid crib on Tampa Bay.

Why do I draw attention to this? There is a great article in the April/May edition of Durham Magazine about two former Bulls who do, in fact, reside in the Bull City: Chris Richard who retired at the end of the 2010 season and Elliot Johnson who now plays for the Rays.

The article isn't on-line. You need to invest in a copy of the magazine...available at Parker & Otis, Regulator Bookshop, Barnes & Noble, Whole Foods Market, Sam's Quik Shop and Harris Teeter.

Meanwhile, check out the magazine's website and blog. You'll learn a lot about Durham.

Take Steps. Be Heard.

2011-04-26T19:59:00.003-04:00

The DBAP will host an awareness and fund-raising walk June 18th for Crohn's and Colitis. It's a 5pm event...a good idea for that time of year.

GI disease doesn't make for pleasant conversation, but it warrants more attention.

People just don't talk about intestinal disorders...they feel that somehow there's a shame to it. I want to help take away this perceived stigma. There's nothing to be ashamed of.

That's a quote from Dr. Sandra Kim, a pediatric gastroenterologist at the UNC-Chapel Hill School of Medicine. It's from an informative, inspiring story in today's News & Observer. Click here for the newspaper piece. The N&O has slugged it "gut reaction."

...and click here for more info on the Triangle affiliate of the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.

Disaster Relief - Amazing Generosity

2011-04-22T17:10:00.010-04:00

I'm not braggin'...but I am saying THANK YOU.

Over $800,000 was raised for disaster relief on Wednesday when every division of Capitol Broadcasting Co. participated in a fund-raiser to assist NC tornado victims.

Amazing generosity...encouragement...and hope for the 439 families who lost their homes last Saturday as 28 tornados tore across the state.

That's the Easter message in our own backyard.

Bulls staffers load donated clothing and canned goods

into the Wool E. Mobile after Wednesday's day game.

It's not too late to help. Click here.

Disaster Relief

2011-04-20T13:24:00.007-04:00

The whole of Capitol Broadcasting Co. is conducting a disaster relief drive today...television, radio, web, mobile and baseball.

The Bulls - playing a day game - are offering a free ticket for a donation of canned goods or clothing.

THANK YOU to our fans! It's piling up on the sidewalk...

Assuming that YOU are not at the ballpark today, punch up WRAL TV5 and join the effort.

Click here to support the Red Cross, Salvation Army, Samaritan's Purse and the NC Baptist Men.

Nuptials at Home Plate

2011-04-19T20:17:00.009-04:00

May I present Mr. & Mrs Dan Redfield...

Suezette Cowles and Daniel Redfield were married at the DBAP Saturday. I feel badly. We had to roll out the tarp instead of the red carpet as that infamous storm system was bearing down on Durham.

Still, a good and memorable time was had by all. Suzi and Dan were flexible...willing to improvise. That's an outstanding way to begin a marriage!

Check out the wedding planner's blog; click here.

The Durham Bulls Athletic Park is available for memorable special events. Mary Beth Warfford stands ready to roll out the red carpet...or tarp...on our Field of Dreams. Send her an e-mail.

Raleigh tornado takes out a radio station

2011-04-16T23:28:00.012-04:00

Capitol's Hispanic sports-talk station, 1550 AM/ESPN Deportes, was a casualty of the tornado Saturday afternoon.

WCLY is located on Maywood Ave. in south Raleigh near the NC Farmers Market. No one injured; it's a satellite-delivered format and the transmitter site is monitored remotely.

It appears that the tornado winds severed the guy wires, and the 285' tower fell over. Engineers hope to begin repairs Sunday using a generator and a temporary low-power antenna.

The tower collapse impacted another station, too. We share that antenna with Curtis Media's WQDR AM which plays classic country music.

Photos - Rob Truitt, Sunrise Broadcasting

The storm affected our sports group across the board: NC State's spring football game was cut short as the storm approached, and in Durham, the start of the Bulls baseball game was delayed for an hour. Our radio stations are located at Highwoods in north Raleigh...pretty close to the tornado's path, but everything was intact there. We did lose power. Fortunately, we have an industrial strength generator.

The DBAP Comes Alive!

2011-04-15T23:49:00.006-04:00

We're back in business! Team mascot Wool E. Bull arrived on Duke's Life Flight helicopter and the Bulls won their home opener Thursday night...beating the Norfolk Tides 4-0.

Not only was it a win, but the game seemed gift-wrapped, with a 70-degree temperature reading at first pitch, a cloudy sky splashed with blue and a sunset that reflected off downtown buildings before the glow of the lights took over.

That's a nice piece of writing by Javier Serna in the News and Observer. Click here for the story.

WRAL TV5 swept into the DBAP with team coverage of our grounds crew, the new Bull Dog and sumo wrestling. Check out these videos...

We're at home through April 22nd, and that includes day games on Monday and Wednesday. See ya at the ballpark!

www.durhambulls.com

A Culinary Tour of the DBAP

2011-04-13T09:00:00.000-04:00

Visiting MBA students want to know about our business model, and I’m quick to explain that it’s pretty simple: Each patron purchases a ticket, a cap or t-shirt - and here’s the critical element - each patron should visit our food court or concession stand between EVERY inning. If a half million people do that from April to August, we'll have a good season.

Tammy Scott, the manager of Centerplate, has been working on our menu offerings during the off-season. Here’s her new and improved “eat between every inning” concessions strategy for the 2011 season:

We have a new purveyor of hot dogs - Brightleaf pork and beef dawgs from Carolina Packers in Smithfield NC.

At the Carolina Brewery concession stand you will find Johnsonville brats plus Italian, Polish and veggie sausages. We’ve added a Texas toast grilled cheese sandwich and a Philly cheesesteak. There’s a chicken version, too. Finally, look for the new Chipstix, a ribbon cut, fried potato on a stick with a variety of seasonings.

Our gourmet barbecue is new this season…shipped over from the renowned Pit in Raleigh. At the Pit’s stand you will find two new offerings - fried pickles and loaded tater tots.

We’ve also added tacos and wings at several stands.

Pizza: Papa John’s has come to the DBAP! And you will find a hot meatball sub at the Papa John’s stand.

Another big brand with a new stand - Moe’s Southwest Grill...featuring burritos, nachos and salads.

That's a recap of our new offerings, but I assure you that Chick-fil-A is returning along with Rita's Italian Ice and Frozen Custard. Rita's is expanding to handle the demand.

Words are inadequate to describe our menu. This is really about smell and taste - so eat your way around the DBAP - beginning Thursday, April 14th. Gates and food court open at 6:00 PM.

The Home Opener Approaches...

2011-04-12T09:00:00.000-04:00

The excitement is palpable. We are closing in on our 2011 home opener. (And it was enjoyable watching the Rays clobber Boston last night on ESPN, 16-5.)

Meanwhile, the DBAP seems like a construction equipment showroom. Boom lifts, scissor lifts, forklifts are around every corner...as we prepare for Opening Night on Thursday.

The City of Durham is wrapping up a major maintenance project, and the Bulls are installing new awnings and signs. Painters and masons have been on the job during the off-season. There's new carpet and cabinetwork in the suites. Now, the power-washing and landscaping begins in earnest. It's down to the wire. That's how we roll.

...but our dedicated staff will be ready - at 5:59:59 PM on Thursday - just before the gates open at 6:00!

A benefit of my team sports vocation is the opportunity to start fresh each season. Join us Thursday (or this weekend) for our annual do-over...as we embark on 5.5 months of Durham Bulls baseball.

The WRAL TV5 WEATHER CENTER extended forecast is outstanding for the beginning of our nine-game home stand...

Tickets: www.durhambulls.com

East Durham Update: The NCDC VOICE

2011-04-10T16:16:00.007-04:00

www.durhamvoice.org

Capitol Broadcasting Co. is supporting this community newspaper and website that's "narrowcasting" to the Northeast Central Durham neighborhood.

VOICE is staffed by teens from the NCDC, and they are mentored by journalism students from UNC-CH and NC Central Univ. Read more about it; click here.

This project has been nurtured by Jock Lauterer, Director of the Carolina Community Media Project at UNC's J-school.

We have UNC and NCCU students working together...with kids from a high poverty neighborhood...giving the young folks career direction...and creating a sense of community in Northeast Central Durham.

I'm delighted to give VOICE to this excellent collaboration!

East Durham Update: Meals on Wheels

2011-04-10T10:10:00.003-04:00

Meals on Wheels of Durham has completed a renovation of its "depot" in east Durham. It's on Ross Rd. a few blocks off Highway 98. The MOW HQ has convenient access to I-85 and the US 70 bypass. That's good for the volunteers who trek all over Durham County delivering hot meals - about 280 daily across 25 routes.

Durham MOW has a volunteer cadre of 200, and the Durham Bulls host an annual outing for that group and provide tickets for the vols throughout the season. MORE VOLUNTEERS ARE NEEDED! Visit their website.

Durham County’s aging population is among the fastest growing in the state, and seniors - as they become more senior - are a vulnerable group. Currently, 30% of Durham County's seniors over 65 years live alone, 21% live below the poverty level, and 25% have a disability.

MOW is attacking those stats with a hot meal and vital daily contact. Executive Director Gail Singer Adland believes MOW could be delivering 400 meals per day...the need is that great!

I've been helping out for about eight years. Join me!?!

The 2011 season begins...almost.

2011-04-05T22:01:00.011-04:00

We have good players. We’ve got a great manager, good assistant coaches, and we’ve always got talent here in Durham.

Top prospect & outfielder Desmond Jennings, Tuesday in Durham

We welcomed the 2011 squad to Durham Tuesday with a luncheon at American Tobacco's Bay 7, and the team held its first practice that evening.

The Bulls open on the road this year. That's Thursday night in the Atlanta suburb of Gwinnett. (Follow us on the road via radio - WDNC AM 620/The Buzz.)

TV5's Jason Jennings covered the team luncheon and assembled a complete Bulls prospectus, including this interview with manager Charlie Montoyo:

Click here for more including several player interviews from wralSPORTSfan.com.

Check out the interview with Dirk Hayhurst, new to the pitching staff. He's a blogger, author and celebrity in the making. His book - The Bullpen Gospels - has been a New York Times bestseller.

Click here for Dirk's website

The Walk to Defeat ALS

2011-04-03T13:40:00.001-04:00

Saturday's Triangle walk was a humongous success for the Jim "Catfish" Hunter ALSA Chapter. $250,000 was raised!!!!

THANKS to my supporters. We accounted for 1% of that total.

...and there was another walk in Winston-Salem where 1000 ambulatory volunteers raised over $70K. It was a record day for the chapter!

2500 participants walked to defeat ALS at the Credit Suisse campus in Morrisville.

Wool E. Bull dances to defeat ALS.

It's a busy month for the dedicated chapter staff as they fan out across the state for these events in Chapel Hill, Greenville, Greensboro, Lancaster SC, Wilmington and Charlotte:

www.catfishchapter.org

Final Four: GO RAMS!

2011-04-02T13:06:00.005-04:00

Our attention turns to hoops. I'm pulling for the Rams of Virginia Commonwealth University - my alma mater.

Confession: I’ve been a lousy alum. I graduated from VCU in May of ’75 and immediately moved to Charlottesville where I was soon involved with the radio broadcasts at UVA. Capitol bought that company in ’82, and I was introduced to sports marketing at Duke and NC State. The Wolfpack connection has held steady for close to three decades.

...but I’m totally on the Rams’ bandwagon this week, and I've told all of my Facebook friends:

(I guess I’ll have to join the alumni association to avoid being a complete hypocrite.)

Baseball Blackout

2011-04-01T20:03:00.004-04:00

After touting MLB.TV in the last post, I have egg on my face - a three-egg omelette w/a side of grits.

I fired up the iPad, downloaded the new app, and as fate would have it, the Rays vs. Orioles game is blacked out on MLB.TV. Major bummer.

This part of NC is considered to be in the Orioles television market. We're supposed to watch the Orioles telecast when the Rays and Orioles play. Well and good, but the O's games are not available on cable here.

It's not a blackout as much as it is a deep, dark, black hole. Crazy.

Rays Open Tonight!

2011-04-01T07:40:00.009-04:00

And so it begins: the Tampa Bay Rays play the Baltimore Orioles tonight at 7:10. Former Durham Bull David Price will pitch before a sell-out crowd at the Trop in St. Pete. How sweet it is!

I'm not getting a kick-back or commission for this; still, I'm compelled to recommend some hardware and software that will profoundly enhance one's baseball fandom. It does require an investment, about $615 total: an iPad ($500), with the At Bat app ($15) and MLB.TV's video streaming subscription ($100).

This stuff will work on a computer or smart phone, but the iPad takes it to another level. It becomes an amazing portable television with impressive video quality.You can watch games from every MLB team and geek out on stats.

Disclaimer: There's a hidden cost to this mobile, multimedia investment - HOURS OF YOUR TIME WATCHING BASEBALL. How sweet it is!