Are you ready for the CIAA Tournament? The “C-I” is in town Feb. 24-28. Many think it’s the best sporting/entertainment in town all year. Still not convinced? Here are five reasons you should get tickets now.
Johnson C. Smith’s offense: The Bulls, located right here in Charlotte, lead the league in scoring, averaging 77.1 points per game. The Bulls make nearly 50 percent of their shots as a team and really run up and down the floor, playing ball the way Roy Williams would like.
Cheerleaders: These aren’t what you’ll find in the ACC or SEC. CIAA cheerleaders do battle with each other all game, much like the pep bands do. It’s high-level choreography as well suited to basketball as a Janet Jackson video.
Anthony Hilliard: Elizabeth City’s star player is the league's top scorer at 23.2 points per game and its leading rebounder (11.1). He’s clearly the league’s best player this year and the 6-4 senior from Fayetteville is the second player in school history to get 1,000 career rebounds. Oscar Smith was the first -- way back in 1961.
Mr CIAA: There’s this guy who wears these sharp, bright colored suits and strolls down the aisles with a matching cane, changing several times a game. He gets some of the biggest cheers of the week and is one of my all-time favorites.
The Parties: The basketball, on the men’s and women’s side, is great, but there’s no social event like the CIAA. Alumni from these 10 NCAA Division II historically black colleges annually get together and catch up in one big family reunion. And they invite everyone to come join them, too.
-- Langston Wertz Jr.
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28 comments:
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You REALLY should headline this that many BLACK people think this is the best sporting event in town all year. The attendance I have seen from photos is basically 100% black. Is the segregation what makes it better? Why have these schools not seen fit to keep up with the times and expand their offerings to ALL people instead of attempting to maintain a basic black face presented to the world?
Maybe you should attend. Not segeration, PRIDE!
And the best reason. you don't have to tip!!!
I am white and I have to say that I went last year to a CIAA party and had one of the best times. At first, I was hesitant because evry(white) person I spoke with said "Stay away". But in reality, The people that attend most of the CIAA functions are well educated, professional people that have contributed to society in a positive way. It's a shame that many people view this week of festivities as a negative thing. At the party I went to last year, I was one of a handful of white people there and not once did I feel I was not welcomed. I will be attending the CIAA again this year. Congrats to the city for keeping the tournament in Charlotte.
Isn't that the time NOT to go into the city? Scary. It's "OK" when they segregate. There are black channels, black associations, etc, but if there were a white entertainment channel or a white mens association "aw h.e.l.l. no", that's racist.
I almost got attacked by a car full of black females last year....literally. I was walking down the street with my girlfriend to get dinner and without reason got showered with obscenities. I can't say for sure if this is a common theme but I can say for sure, I wont be uptown to find out.
I am an African-American male who graduated from UNC-CH in the late 80's and have been attending the CIAA Tournament with relatives and friends. I have really enjoyed Raleigh & Charlotte and look forward to the festivities this year.....
Charlotte... You disappoint me... It's 2009, not 1909...
9:46 AM You have the Speed channel, CMT, FOX News, a hooded all white men's association I prefer not to name, etc.
an obnoxious night, and most people realize this. It's not a "young professional" evening.
It is a Racist event.
rac⋅ism Pronunciation [rey-siz-uhm]
–noun 1. a belief or doctrine that inherent differences among the various human races determine cultural or individual achievement. Now that we have a half black president, these gathering should end.
it's a basketball tournament...no one says it's racist when the ACC tournament is around...
who said that everyone can't go out and enjoy themselves? Grow up
"Alumni from these 10 NCAA Division II historically black colleges..."
Historically black colleges??
Sorry, but if these historical colleges are now no longer all-black, ...isn't that called a 'college' now?? Shouldn't we be referring to it as a 'college', dropping the example of segregation, and warmly welcoming their decision for desegregation?
It makes no sense!!
Can we not just call these colleges..."colleges"? and leave it like that? Is it really that important to remind people that these colleges were once exclusively for one race?
I guarantee you if any college institution is referred to as "historically white college", Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton and company would be on the first flight to Charlotte packing as many protesting signs as they can.
It's a shame no one else can see this as reverse racism, and there is always some weak rationale for it.
It's a shame people have to down play a fun event as "racism". It's time to let the politics go and just have fun. I thought racism ended long ago. It's enough of that, just have fun.
The CIAA is a historically black event that is the second largest black event in the nation, behind Essence. I wish that white people would quit taking it out of context. We don't all like the same things, that is not racist, just reality. When nascar is in town, blacks stay away, boogedy boogedy. No we participate and are somewhat accepted, and if white people came downtown to CIAA they would be accepted as well. It is a time to rehash old friendships and have a good time. The biggest thing is the businesses don' t mind, so give us uptown for a weekkk. thanks.
Every once in a blue moon, white america finds its self as a minority and some then want to yell racism. That is a daily event, being the minority for most black americans. We are talking about one week of collegiate entertainment. Would it be an issue if the Ivy league had their tournament here? I think not!
that's fine...give us our athlete's back...oh wait if you do that you would lose money and HBCU would then be you sole source of sport entertainment...
I can't believe that ANYONE would call the CIAA a racist event...Yes there all HBCU's in the tournament however that doesn't mean other races can't attend. I mean can we say RODEO, NASCAR, ACC and other sporting events are majority white events...It's 2009 people...Build a bridge...and get over it...If you are a white person you can get tickets just like anyone else can...What's holding you back???
CIAA FOR LIFE!!!!
During this recession, events like these are welcome stimulus for any city. These events, (ACC tournament,March Madness ect.) Brings money to your city. Do you hear african-americans complain when the ACC was in Charlotte last year. Now the ACC will be in Greensboro from 2010-2015 and Greensboro will welcome that economic engine gladly. Unfortunately some residents of Charlotte really think thier opinion counts when the city is trying to attract more events from all over the world to come and spend money. Get real.
Please note the CIAA is not a racial event.
"The Central Intercollegiate Athletic Association (CIAA) is an athletic conference consisting of ten historically African-American institutions of higher education: Bowie State University, Elizabeth City State University, Fayetteville State University, Johnson C. Smith University, Livingstone College, St. Augustine's College, St. Paul's College, Shaw University, Virginia State University and Virginia Union University, all working together to set an overall standard of excellence." Quote from theciaa.com.
Race should not be an issue. These events are open to the public. If you attend the events you will definitely have a good time.
boooy, there are some ignorant, non-having a clue @$$ people posting on here! you know who you are....
It's a basketball tournament and all b-ball fans are welcome and invited to attend. Money is Money!
While attendance to these schools is majority Black, it's not 100% Black. Tournament attendance is a reflections of the graduates of the participating colleges and universities. New to the CIAA this year Chowan University (which is historically white)
Non-blacks are not excluded from attending these schools. For all of the legacy CIAA schools have non-black students and graduates.
Hopefully the Observer will give the same coverage to the KKK when they have their next racist gathering. The CIAA is NOTHING but a celebration of black seperation which would NOT be tolerated if it were white inspired. Not racism on my part, it is minimally observant.
There is RACISM everywhere. North, South, East, & West. The ACC will be in ATLANTA, GA this year and watch how many Blacks are there. Then, Watch how many whites complain. Traffic, crwding, you name it.
The ACC, SEC, & most major sports are patronized by mostly white crowds. GOLF is probably one the biggest racially divided sports, next to NASCAR.
Was it racism or guilt, that kept Sylvester Croom, the 1st Black SEC HC, who ultimately got hired at Miss State, and was a coach on both NFL and COLLEGE levels, from coaching at Univ. of ALABAMA, who choose to hire Don SHULA's "BOY,.. Jr", who had virtually NO EXPERIENCE. Come on. This can go on and on......
Wake Up people............PLEASE!!!
CIAA Basketball Tournament is a great event for those that attend and know the history of the conference. Newcomers...regardless of age, race, sex, sexual preference, income and social status.. are welcome and guaranteed to enjoy!Racists.....you are not welcome! CIAA Supporters, visitors and civilized Charlotte locals are well above your ignorance, so you definitely would not fit in. Furthermore, with the Wachovia fading away, BofA under fire and people being laid off everyday in Charlotte alone...you should be grateful for the boost in the Queen City's economy. Because of that type of ignorance and arrogance...HBCU's were born.
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