Sports & Recreation

Checkers hold Wheels for Forest fundraiser

Friday, March 30th, 2012, 4:02pm

CHARLOTTE - Hey Checkers fans - the team is getting behind another great cause and this is your chance to help out another very deserving family.

Do yourself a favor - take the three minutes to watch the video attached above.

The Checkers will be holding a special “Wheels for Forest” fundraiser prior to their April 7 game (12 p.m.) to benefit Hickory Ridge High School student Forest Walton, who suffers from Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.

Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy is a progressive disease which eventually affects all voluntary muscles and involves the heart and breathing muscles in later stages. Forest was diagnosed at birth and was able to walk, run and play until he was 12, but, due to the progressive nature of the disease, is now confined to a wheelchair.

Forest’s mother transports him in a wheelchair-accessible van, which is currently deteriorating, and his classmates have formed “Wheels for Forest” to help him get new means of transportation.

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Criterium promises to be one of the most exciting sports events in Charlotte

Submitted by Donna Lepre on Monday, March 26th, 4:11 pm

On April 14th, 2012, the Men's 50-mile twilight criterium and the Women's 25-mile criterium will be held on the streets of center city Charlotte. The Women's event starts at 6:00pm followed by the Men's event at 7:30pm, pre race festivities begin 1 hour before the women's event. The event is part of the USA Cycling's National Criterium Calendar (NCC) the USA CRITS National Series and attracts Professional riders from around the world.

The event will be spectator friendly and will be held on a 1.2 mile course in center city Charlotte.

Be sure to look for the official race guide at the Criterium featuring information on racers and sponsors of the event. Find a copy at the Expo area and bins throughout the course. Race photographs in the guide are courtesy of Weldon Weaver

The most elite cycling teams will be invited to participate in the criterium.

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‘Dads Announce Official Team Hospital

Submitted by Donna Lepre on Wednesday, March 21st, 2:31 pm

The Hickory Crawdads, South Atlantic League Affiliate of the Texas Rangers, are excited to welcome Frye Regional Medical Center as the Official Hospital of the Crawdads. Frye will serve as the official team hospital from the 2012 season through the 2014 campaign.

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NCAA Tourney to air on WBTV this week!

Submitted by Nick Needham on Tuesday, March 20th, 12:19 pm

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - Below is a list of NCAA Basketball Tournament games that will air on WBTV on Thursday, March 22nd and Friday, March 23rd.

THURSDAY (3/22) GAMES ON WBTV:

7:15 PM - Wisconsin vs. Syracuse
after conclusion of 7:15 game - Cincinnati vs. Ohio State

FRIDAY (3/23) GAMES ON WBTV:

7:15 PM - Baylor vs. Xavier
after conclusion of 7:15 game - Kentucky vs. Indiana

Click here for full March Madness coverage | Check your Hoops 3 bracket

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WBTV's coverage of the ACC Tournament

Submitted by Nick Needham on Friday, March 9th, 11:56 am

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - WBTV will carry the ACC Basketball Tournament beginning Friday, March 9 at 12N.

WBTV will have coverage of the ACC Tournament:

· Friday afternoon (12N-4:30 p.m.) and Friday evening (7 p.m.-12:30 a.m.)

· Saturday 1-5:30 p.m.

· Sunday 12:30-3:30 p.m.

Friday afternoon CBS Soaps (Young & The Restless and Bold & Beautiful) can be seen Sunday, 3/11 beginning at 12:35 a.m.

Friday Prime Time programs that are pre-empted:

Undercover Boss – will air Saturday, 3/10 @ 2:07 a.m.

The Mentalist – will air Saturday, 3/10 @ 3:07 a.m.

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Study: Sports industry has $2.1 billion economic impact on region

Submitted by Nick Needham on Wednesday, February 29th, 11:19 am

CHARLOTTE, NC (WBTV) - The Charlotte Sports Commission says that the sports industry produces more than $2 billion in economic impact across the Charlotte region annually.

The commission released its findings in a study conducted by UNC-Charlotte.

According to the study entitled "The Economic Impact of Sports and Sports Events on the Charlotte MSA Economy," the Charlotte sports industry generated an economic impact of $2,188,207,639 and supported 23,136 jobs in 2011 for the Charlotte Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA).

This study was conducted on behalf of the Charlotte Sports Commission by Dr. John E. Connaughton, Professor of Economics in the Belk College of Business at the University of North Carolina, Charlotte.

The study was done in order to offer public and private sector partners' insight and analysis to use to achieve their missions and goals of recreation and sport throughout the region.

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Race to honor fallen police officers

Submitted by Alison Hill, Community Web Producer

Tuesday, February 14th, 2012, 5:22pm

ALBEMARLE - The 2nd annual "Run For Their Lives" 5K race is Sunday, February 19 at 3 p.m in downtown Albemarle.

The race is in memory of fall Charlotte Mecklenburg Police Department officer Jeff Shelton, who was killed in the line of duty with his partner Officer Sean Clark on March 31, 2007.

Camden Lambert launched the race last year as her Senior Service Project for Gray Stone Day School. This year the race will be hosted by her sister, Karlen Lambert.

Karlen's goal for the race is to pay tribute to and raise awareness of fallen police officers and their families.

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