A sports name you long mispronounced

Losing the N.C. short tracks (especially The Rock), the gradual disappearance of drivers with N.C. roots (particularly when Richard Petty retired), and the death of Gerald Martin definitely all played huge factors in what Cary-ed NASCAR to the Apex (!) of its popularity in the Triangle. Back in the 1990s, even my wife knew which drivers drove which cars, based on their photos on products in Food Lion or Harris Teeter.

When we moved there, I was totally blindsided by the fact that Raleigh-Durham is the common reference, but the two towns couldn't be less similar. I know many folks in Wake County who have never set foot in Durham or Orange -- and just as many who've never been east of RDU. I had the unique position of interacting professionally with extremely bitter rivals Wolff and Steve Bryant, owner of the Mudcats and staunch Wolfpack alum (I made the mistake of wearing a light blue sweater to a Mudcats game only ONCE, and took it off in the first inning). They'd always ask me how the other was doing.

If there's a commonality now, I credit three things: Research Triangle Park, I-440 and the Hurricanes.

 

Anyone mention Jim Thome or Garth Iorg yet?

 

As I mentioned upthread, that is generally the wheelhouse of news anchors, often female.

 

Is Iorg pronounced like Mulliniks?

 

I was at a breakfast this morning and they spoke about a fundraiser for an ill firefighter where a Golden State Warriors jersey would be raffled that was signed by "Steven" Curry.

Is that Steph and Seth's brother?

And as an aside, I just Googled Curry and learned his full name is Wardell Stephen Curry II.

 

What about Chone Figgins?

 

Not dead on but for about 40 yrs I thought the Expos cap had “ELB” on it not “M”.

 

My guess was "ello"

 

FWIW, Nguyen is the most common last name in Arlington, Texas.

 

I thought it said "elb" as well, then realized it was an M, then realized it "stood for" Expos Baseball within the the M - see also the Canadiens sweaters.

 

Put me down for ELB as well. And while we’re at, I never got the TC on the Twins hats until...wait for it...I read it on this board years ago.

 

Mike Hunt.

Watch out, folks:
That one is dangerous.