How the Dwight Howard Deal Can Impact Two Former Tar Heels

In the next month NBA teams will begin training camps and preseason games.  In June we watched the NBA Finals that matched the Miami Heat and Oklahoma City Thunder and it seemed like a finals matchup that we would see again this season and many to come.  Then the Los Angeles Lakers landed the best center in the game, Dwight Howard.  My question is: how does this trade impact Antwan Jamison and Mitch Kupchak?

Tar Heels NFL Preseason Week 1 Recap

Kendric Burney, Matt Merletti, Robert Quinn
(Via Kendric Burney's Twitter Page)

Buffalo Bills:

• Johnny White (RB)- Had five carries carries for 25 yards including a nice 17 yard run in the third quarter that helped setup a Buffalo field goal.

Washington Redskins:

• Kentwan Balmer (DE)- After leaving Redskins camp about two weeks ago without telling anyone, Washington was finally able to reach the defensive lineman this weekend.  This is the second time in his short NFL career that he has went AWOL from his teams training camp (2010 with San Francisco). I am not sure how much longer he will remain a Redskin and could be released before I publish this article.

Redskins- 7 Bills- 6

Chicago Bears:

• Julius Peppers (DE): Peppers, along with Jay Cutler, Matt Forte and Brandon Marshall set out the first preseason game to rest.  The absence of these players including Peppers were just precautionary.

Broncos-31 Bears- 3

Green Bay Packers:

• Jeff Saturday (C): Saturday is still protecting an All Pro Quarterback but it is the first time his name is not Peyton Manning.  Saturday decided to move on from the Colts and their rebuilding phase and signed with NFC powerhouse the Green Bay Packers. Saturday is still learning the offense and the Packers "language".

Seeking Writers For UNCPros

UNCPros is looking to add writers who are interested in getting published online to add to their writing portfolios. As we approach the fall and, more importantly, the start of football and basketball season, we are looking to add a writer to cover former Tar Heels in the professional sports world.  

As we are looking to rapidly expand in the near future you will have an opportunity to grow with us.

Writing for us consists of generating page views, creating quality content, building a Twitter following while learning other Digital Media Solutions and getting as much exposure for yourself & your articles while building an online portfolio.

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To apply, send a short writing sample of any recent UNC headlines, along with your contact information (name, phone, email, Twitter) to uncpros@gmail.com 

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Kirk Urso Dies at 22 Years Old

(Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Former Tar Heel Midfielder for the 2011 NCAA Men's Soccer Championship team, Kirk Urso, was pronounced dead at 1:50 am Sunday morning at Grant Medical Center in Columbus, Ohio. The Columbus Dispatch posted the 911 call that led police to the bar Urso was found. The caller said, "Its a very drunk person who fell down and now is unconscious." Police were on the scene immediately. An autopsy performed Monday did not determine the cause of death.  The corner said she would need to wait for the toxicology reports before the cause of death is known. During the autopsy the corner did find a "non-specific cardiac change" that could have resulted in his death. As of right now the corner believes the death is of natural causes.

Sunday morning twitter was filled with many condolences from the Tar Heel family including Mia Hamm, John Henson and Kendall Marshall. After winning the NCAA championship last fall Urso said "My whole college career has been awesome, but there was something extra about this team. To cap it off with this is something I am going to remember the rest of my life." He also played for the United States under-17 team in 2007. 

Carolina Athletic Director Bubba Cunningham issued this statement:

"In the very brief time I spent with Kirk it became evident that he was a natural leader. His enthusiasm was contagious to all who knew him. He had a positive and inspirational impact on his team, and many other student-athletes at Carolina. Our deepest sympathy and condolences go out to Kirk's family and friends. His teammates and fellow students are devastated by the news and we will do all we can to support them and his family in this incredibly tragic and sorrowful time."


It seems for now as we mourn the loss of this tragedy we will have to wait a few weeks before we get answers.

Matt Harvey Rolls In To San Francisco

(Matt York/AP)

Matt Harvey's big league debut last Thursday did not disappoint.  He helped the New York Mets get only their second win since the All Star break by going 5.1 innings, striking out 11 batters and only surrendering three hits. He also provided the Mets with offense by chipping in with two hits becoming the only pitcher to strikeout at least eleven betters and get two hits in his Major League debut.
After the game Mets manager Terry Collins said "I want him to enjoy it and I want people to get excited about it. But I am also careful enough to know that my experience has been the first time you see a guy, the first time he pitches in the league,he can see a lot of success, and the next time he might not be as good".
Tuesday, Harvey will get the chance to build off his impressive debut as he will take the mound against the San Francisco Giants and Tim Lincecum. Harvey showed really good stuff on Thursday and has gave Mets fans a glimpse of hope for the future, which is much needed this summer.

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Tar Heels Represented in the 2012 London Olympics

The start of the 2012 London Summer Olympics are finally here.  Here is a list of the athletes that will represent their respective countries and the University of North Carolina.   Thanks to the ACC for providing the list.

Athlete	Sport	Country	Event
Illse Davids	Field Hockey	South Africa	Athlete
Rachel Dawson	Field Hockey	USA	Athlete
Katelyn Falgowski	Field Hockey	USA	Athlete
Jesse Gey	Field Hockey	USA	Athlete
Jaclyn Kintzer	Field Hockey	USA	Athlete
Amy Swensen	Field Hockey	USA	Athlete
Vikas Gowda	Men's Track & Field	India	Discus
Robyn Gayle	Women's Soccer	Canada	Athlete
Tobin Heath	Women's Soccer	USA	Athlete
Meghan Klingenberg	Women's Soccer	USA	Athlete
Heather O’Reilly	Women's Soccer	USA	Athlete
Shalane Flanagan	Women's Track & Field	USA	Marathon
Alice Schmidt	Women's Track & Field	USA	800m
Katie Bowen	Women's Soccer	New Zealand	Athlete

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New York Mets Promote Top Prospect Matt Harvey

The New York Mets have called up former Tar Heel and current top prospect Matt Harvey from Triple-A Buffalo. In Buffalo this year, Harvey is 7-5 with a 3.68 ERA and 112 strikeouts.  The Mets brought up their top pitching prospect due to Johan Santana going on the DL and growing frustration with the number 5 starter Miguel Batista.  Harvey was selected seventh in the 2010 draft by the Mets.  Harvey is a power pitcher who has K/9 ratio of 9.8 in his minor league career.  He still needs to work on his walk per 9 innings ratio which has increased after every promotion for Harvey.  Baseball America had Harvery ranked as the 54th best prospect in baseball entering the season.  Harvey will get his first Major League start Thursday night in Arizona against the Diamondbacks.  The Mets hope this move will help end their current skid, as they have lost 9 of the last ten and only have one win since the all star break.

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