Highlights for Sports in the Community

• Dreams of Gold NC Olympic Festival 1987

  After several years of dreaming, North Carolina landed the Olympic Festival for 1987. The opening ceremonies took place on July 17, 1987 in Carter-Finley stadium in Raleigh. Athletic events were held in nearby cities. Greensboro hosted figure and speed skating. Durham was the site for track and field, soccer and wrestling. Chapel Hill hosted basketball, gymnastics, and swimming. Cary was home base for archery. Raleigh was tapped to host diving, boxing, and equestrian. Kerr Lake was the site for yachting.

  WRAL Sports anchors Tom Suiter and Bob Holliday host this special broadcast, Dreams of Gold, leading up to the festival.

  Capitol Broadcasting Company was a Grand Patron sponsor of the Festival.

  Aired: July 11, 1987

• Last UNC Men’s Basketball Game in Carmichael Auditorium

  The last UNC Men’s Basketball game in Carmichael. UNC vs NCSU. January 6, 1985.

  Carmichael was known as one of the loudest arenas in the country while the Tar Heel men played there. The architecture of the building had a low roof and a student section that ringed the court.

  UNC Men’s Basketball coach Dean Smith led North Carolina to its arena-opening 82-68 victory over William & Mary in 1965. UNC player, Bob Lewis, made the first shot in Carmichael.

  On January 6, 1986 North Carolina Coach Dean Smith led his Tar Heels to finish its 20-year stay in Carmichael Auditorium the way it started – with a victory. The No. 1 and undefeated Tar Heels defeated rival North Carolina State 90-79. A few weeks later, January 19, the Tar Heels started playing in the Dean Smith Center, AKA “The Dean Dome.” That first game was against Duke.

  The Tar Heels record Carmichael Auditorium, AKA “Blue Heaven” was 169-20.

  Who made the final basket at Carmichael? *Spoiler Alert*
  NCSU basketball coach Jim Valvano made a lay-up basket after the game. He claimed bragging rights to be the last one to make a basket in Carmichael.

• Extra Effort Award Winner Moses Farmer Western Harnett High School

  WRAL-TV Sports Anchor Tom Suiter started giving out the Extra Effort award on a weekly basis in September 1981 to area high school athletes who excelled in the classroom as well as their chosen sport. The tradition continued until Suiter retired in 2016.

  In this video, Moses Farmer, student at Western Harnett High School is presented the Extra Effort Award circa 1985-1986.

• Extra Effort Award Cory Phillips student at Northern Nash High School

  WRAL-TV Sports Anchor Tom Suiter started giving out the Extra Effort award on a weekly basis in September 1981 to area high school athletes who excelled in the classroom as well as their chosen sport. The tradition continued until Suiter retired in 2016.

  In this video, Cory Phillips, student at Northern Nash High School is presented the Extra Effort Award circa 1985-’86.

• Extra Effort Award Winner Curtis Whitley Smithfield Selma High School

  WRAL-TV Sports Anchor Tom Suiter started giving the Extra Effort award on a weekly basis in September 1981 to area high school athletes who excelled in the classroom as well as their chosen sport. The tradition continued until Suiter retired in 2016.

  In this video, Curtis Whitley, student at Smithfield/Selma High School is presented the Extra Effort Award circa 1985-’86.