The best teen free-thrower in the US!!!

Zeb Alford, a fourteen year old from Raleigh, NC can claim that title. He has been shooting at hoops since he was 3 years old, his father says, and the practice has finally paid off.

Alford, an eighth grader at Martin Middle School, hit an unbelievable 97 out of 100 shots, to win the Elks Hoop Shoot in Springfield, Massachusetts. That's not bad, considering that the professionals only average about ninety percent.

When asked about his future plans, Alford hinted at perhaps college ball, maybe even playing for North Carolina. I hope so. We'd love to have him.

Carolina Hurricanes Victorious !!

In what will be remembered as one of the great comebacks in the NHL, the Carolina Hurricanes rallied late in the third period to snatch a win in the final game of the Eastern Conference series from the New Jersey Devils.

Trailing 3-2, with under two minutes left in the game, Jussi Joniken tied it up with a score. (Also the hero in week 4, Joniken scored to beat the Devils with only 0.2 seconds left.) Eric Staal scored with only 32 seconds left to make it a 4-3 game in New Jersey.

Carolina will now face the formidable Boston Bruins, and the Washington Capitals will battle the Pittsburgh Penguins for the Eastern title. In the meantime, the Detroit Red Wings and the Anaheim (mighty) Ducks will compete, while the Vancouver Canucks and the Chicago Blackhawks vie to own the Western Conference title.

Go Canes !!!

Spring into Arts Invitational, May 2nd.

This Saturday, May 2 from 10:00am to 5:00pm, the historic district in downtown Concord, NC will be hosting the all day arts event. Past events have been a huge success, and we are sure that this year's will be no exception.

Artists of all types will be displaying their wares, such as metal work, pottery, jewelry, paintings, and more, all available for purchase.

The Thistledown Tinkers, an energetic duo who incorporate traditional Scottish and Irish flavors into their original music, will be performing from 11:00am to 1:00pm. The inspirational Robin Rogers will take the stage until 3:00pm, performing her rhythym and blues/jazz tracks, followed by Freeport Jazz from 3:00pm until 5:00pm.

There is also a kid's zone, which will host live performances, professional storytellers, and other activities geared toward children. Many food vendors will also be displaying their creations along 'gourmet lane'.

Admission is free. More details can be found at springintoarts.com.

Charlotte suburbs in the top 10 !!

According to Businessweek.com's Top 10 "Best Affordable Suburbs" for 2009, Cornelius and Fort Mill are among the nation's finest. Determining factors include local economy, schools, cost of living, population and distance to the nearby large city.

We are all proud of beautiful Lake Norman, the Carolina Panthers, the Charlotte Knights ( who play in Fort Mill ), and our beautiful golf courses. We are especially proud to have Cornelius ranked at #7, and Fort Mill ranked at #10 as part of our surrounding suburbs.

Go Charlotte!!!

Unbeatable weather here in Charlotte, NC !!!

This week, we have seen great weather, and anyone here in the Charlotte area will tell you that it's been long overdue.

Today we will see sunny skies with a high around 84, just like yesterday. Even better, the forecast for the next five days or so is more of the same!

Whether you plan on spring cleaning, doing yardwork, or taking the family out for the weekend, this is definitely the weekend to do so!!

Charlotte is ready for the Quail Hollow Championship

Phil Mickelson and Trevor Immelman have recently announced that they will compete in the Quail Hollow Championship, which will be held from April 27 through May 3, in Charlotte, NC. Vijay Singh, Sergio Garcia, Angel Cabrera, and Jim Furyk are among the top players who have already committed. Last year's champion, Anthony Kim will also attend.

Since 2003, Charlotte, NC has been one of the most popular stops on the tour. Many professional golfers as well as dedicated fans have traveled long distances exclusively for this event. Tickets usually sell out, and the spectators pack themselves in to watch their favorites compete for the title.

Many fans comment on the friendly and considerate staff and the level of quality at Quail Hollow, and we in the Charlotte area are proud to have this local, beautiful golf course so close to home. We are certain that this event will no doubt be as impressive as the last.

We are still waiting for Tiger Woods to announce his commitment, but he usually waits until the last minute.

UNC in final four of NCAA Tournament

The Tar Heels (32-4) are in the final four for the 18th time. This is no surprise to anyone keeping up with the NCAA Tournament, and certainly no surprise to North Carolinians.

Here in Charlotte, NC, we have been reading the scores, following the games and picking our favorites. We have watched our local team move through the brackets, and now they're packing up and heading to Detroit.

It's always great to talk to our customers about common interests, and when our local college team goes the distance, it's even better. It's easy to get sidetracked when all of Charlotte is buzzing with the notion that North Carolina could go all the way. There is a certain satisfaction in knowing that they are the current favorite, after all.

If you haven't been keeping up, it's time to pull that jersey out of storage, put it on, and get behind our team. Go Tar Heels!