A Brief History of Triangle Sports

Oh, what a difference a year makes! One year after the surprise failure in the House, sports gambling passes both chambers of the NC Legislature. What happens next? It takes another nine months before anyone can legally bet on sports. Brian Murphy from WRAL News and Tim Donnelly from 99.9 The Fan look at where the tax money goes, who stands to gain and what this means for the future of sports and sports fans in North Carolina. 

For more coverage from WRAL News on sports betting in NC, go to https://www.wral.com/sports-betting/ 

To reach the NC Problem Gambling Helpline call 877-718-5543. 

The votes on legal sports betting in NC did not happen like most things in the legislature. There aren’t usually surprises by the time a bill reaches a vote in the Senate or the House. Brian Murphy from WRAL News and Tim Donnelly from 99.9 The Fan take us back to June 2022 when nothing was certain about legal sports gambling in North Carolina.  

For more coverage from WRAL News on sports betting in NC, go to https://www.wral.com/sports-betting/ 

To reach the NC Problem Gambling Helpline call 877-718-5543. 

In May 2018, a US Supreme Court ruling opened the floodgates for all states to move forward with legal sports betting. But being “allowed” to move forward and convincing the NC legislature to move forward are two very different things. In episode two, Brian Murphy from WRAL News and Tim Donnelly from 99.9 The Fan talk to the major players working for and against legal sports betting in North Carolina. 

For more coverage from WRAL News on sports betting in NC, go to https://www.wral.com/sports-betting/ 

To reach the NC Problem Gambling Helpline call 877-718-5543. 

From the scandal of the Dixie Classic in the early 60’s to the “senate shenanigans” of the lottery vote in 2006, North Carolina’s history with gambling has been contentious. The state has had an anti-gambling law on the books since 1764. So, how on earth did we get to a point where mobile sports betting is legal? In episode one, Brian Murphy from WRAL News and Tim Donnelly from 99.9 The Fan recount NC’s sordid history on gambling. 

For more coverage from WRAL News on sports betting in NC, go to https://www.wral.com/sports-betting/ 

To reach the NC Problem Gambling Helpline call 877-718-5543. 

Starting March 11, sports betting will be legal in North Carolina, but getting to this point was not an easy path. From the scandal of the Dixie Classic in the early 60's to the controversial vote for the NC Lottery, the state has a contentious history with gambling. 

Brian Murphy from WRAL News and Tim Donnelly from 99.9 The Fan explore the history of sports betting in North Carolina. What did it take to get to this point, and how will it change sports and sports fans going forward.

Season 3 of A Brief History of Triangle Sports will be available March 11, 2024. (That's the same day you can place your bets...legally of course.)

The Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks only lasted one season, but the World League of American Football carried on until 2007. At the end, it was known as NFL Europa. Though newly elected NFL commissioner Roger Goodell was quick to shut it down, the European league was a great incubator for football coaches and talent. In this episode we hear from former Carolina Panthers quarterback Jake Delhomme and former East Carolina head coach Steve Logan, both alumni of NFL Europe, on their memories of the league.

Michael Kennedy was the equipment manager for the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks. Not a glamourous role, but  there wasn't much that was glamourous about the World League of American Football. Kennedy, like the players and head coach Roman Gabriel, simply wanted to be part of this sports world. He had a front row seat for the one and only season of the Skyhawks. He shares what it was like to travel with the team, and what happened to all that glorious Skyhawks gear.

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Until a few years ago, alcohol at college sporting events was a delicate dance in hypocrisy. Back in 1991 without a special exemption, the sale of alcohol was not allowed at public university facilities. You could always tailgate with your own booze before the game and universities would hold private events where alcohol was available, but there was no public sale. The Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks played at NC State's Carter-Finley arena. The prohibition of beer sales presented a loss of revenue for the team and frankly a lack of fun for fans. It was yet another loss for a team that was already having a terrible season.

Losing ain't easy. Losing for a whole season, well that's another level of pain. It wasn't just hard on players and coaches. As a broadcaster, Tony Haynes had a front row seat to the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks' losing season. Tony talks with Joe Ovies about the challenge of covering a team with an 0-10 record, and the toll of the season on everyone involved.

For one disappointing season, the Raleigh-Durham Skyhawks didn't give fans much to cheer for. But the team did give hope to the men on the field. For Wilson Hoyle (former kicker from Wake Forest) and Mark Maye (former UNC QB), being part of the Skyhawks gave them the chance to keep their football careers alive for one more season. Hoyle and Maye look back on their experience as Skyhawks, and despite their dismal 0-10 record, they actually do have happy memories of being on the team.