Emily Lassiter

Lloyd Free

Before Dennis Rodman, there was Lloyd Free. Unarguably one of the NBA’s quirkiest personalities, Free brought his exciting style to the league in the late 1970’s. After growing up in Brooklyn (where he earned the nickname “World” for his 360-degree dunks), Lloyd Free attended Guilford College from 1972-1975. As a freshman, he helped lead the Quakers to the 1973 NAIA (National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics) Championship; he was also given MVP honors in the tournament. After three years at Guilford, Free turned professional and was drafted as a second-round pick by the Philadelphia 76ers. During his thirteen-year career, Free averaged 20.3 points per game. In 1980, he was second in the league in scoring; the same year, he legally changed his name to “World B. Free.” Since retiring from basketball, Free has served as the 76ers “ambassador of basketball,” greeting fans at games in his typically flamboyant wardrobe.

More On Archibald “Moonlight” Graham

Every student at UNC knows Frank Porter Graham. Even if they’re unaware of his status as UNC president, or his tumultuous Senate race against Willis Smith in 1950, they’ve heard his name, which was bestowed on the student union. What I didn’t know until recently (and suspect most other students don’t), is that Frank Porter Graham had a sibling who was, in some circles, even more famous.

Archibald “Moonlight” Graham played baseball for three years at UNC, then in the minor leagues with the Charlotte Hornets. During the 1905 season, he joined the New York (now San Francisco) Giants. On June 29, he was put into right field in the eighth inning of a game against the Brooklyn Superbas. While he was on deck, the Giants’ final out was hit, and Graham never went to the plate. That game turned out to be the first, and last, of his major-league career. Graham went on to medical school at the University of Maryland, and spent his career as a physician in Chisholm, Minnesota, where he died in 1965.

Baseball fans will be familiar with Moonlight Graham’s story: it’s featured in W.P. Kinsella’s 1982 novel Shoeless Joe. The film adaptation of the novel, Field of Dreams, also includes Graham as a major character, keeping his real name and much of his biography. Not only did Field of Dreams become a baseball classic, it aired Archibald “Moonlight” Graham’s interesting, if brief, career to the country.

81st Infantry Division

I had an interesting experience while researching the 81st Infantry Division last week. The unit, which was formed during World War I, was made up of recruits from North Carolina, South Carolina, and Florida. Training was held at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, near Wildcat Creek. During training, it was decided that patches could make it easier for the soldiers to identify one another in battle. So the patches were made; naturally, the wildcat was the emblem used. The 81st infantry division’s patches were deemed such a success that the Army implemented them for all units.

If that wasn’t interesting enough, I stumbled across this nugget of information the very same day: former North Carolina Governor William B. Umstead was a member of the 81st Infantry Division–the very same Wildcats! I rarely remember details when it comes to military ranks and divisions, so I was quite surprised (and pleased) to put together those two pieces of information. Serendipitous, you might say.

O. Max Gardner…A Two University Star?

Did you know: O. Max Gardner, former North Carolina governor, captained both the NC State and UNC football teams during his time in higher education? Gardner played football as an undergrad at State; he continued his athletic pursuits while attending law school at UNC. He is still the only person ever to head both teams; I imagine it’ll stay that way, unless TJ Yates develops a taste for Raleigh nightlife.

Charlotte Hornets

Having grown up in the Piedmont, I know little about Charlotte’s revolutionary history, which is, it seems, rather rich. During the American Revolution, General Cornwallis, experiencing staunch resistance from the citizens of Charlotte during his 1780 southern campaign, complained that the city was “a veritable hornet’s nest of rebellion.” This was publicized by proud Charlotteans, who nicknamed the city “The Hornet’s Nest.”

Since then, several sports teams in Charlotte have adopted the moniker. Charlotte’s NBA franchise was not the only team to use the name; baseball fans might remember the minor-league farm team that was connected with the Washington Senators until 1973. And for one brief year, the Charlotte Hornets were a participating team in the short-lived World Football League. I guess it goes to show that there’s a lot more in a mascot than meets the eye–well, maybe not the Phillie Phanatic.