Charlotte Coliseum

TONIGHT AT CHARLOTTE, 3 P.M. Site--Charlotte Coliseum. Radio--KPLS (830). Records--Sparks 2-0, Sting 0-0. Sparks vs. Sting--(2000) 1-0. Update--The Sparks can come home with a 3-0 mark with a win.

Cheers erupted in the athletic ticket office at Davidson College when the NCAA tournament's Charlotte subregional field was revealed. The host school's ticket staff expected one of North Carolina's four Atlantic Coast Conference teams to play at the Charlotte Coliseum in games beginning today, but Duke and North Carolina both being at the site stirred even more excitement. Then reality hit.

vs. Charlotte Sting 4:30 p.m., PDT Site--Charlotte Coliseum. Radio--KLAC (570 AM). Records--Sparks 10-16, Sting 17-10. Update--The Sparks conclude their longest trip of the summer today. Lugging a three-game losing streak, they play the Eastern Conference leader and near-certain playoff participant. Charlotte has lost six of its last nine but still has the WNBA's second-best record.

TONIGHT AT CHARLOTTE, 3 P.M. Site--Charlotte Coliseum. Radio--KPLS (830). Records--Sparks 2-0, Sting 0-0. Sparks vs. Sting--(2000) 1-0. Update--The Sparks can come home with a 3-0 mark with a win.

Andrea Stinson upstaged WNBA scoring leader Cynthia Cooper with 25 points and the Charlotte Sting (13-10) enhanced its bid to secure the league's fourth and final playoff spot with an 80-71 victory over the Houston Comets (16-8) in front of 18,937 at the Charlotte Coliseum, the largest crowd in the history of women's pro basketball. Houston's Sheryl Swoopes scored 20 points in the second half on nine-for-10 shooting.

Detroit won at Charlotte for the first time in nearly four years Thursday night as Grant Hill scored 20 of his 21 points in the final 18 1/2 minutes to rally the Pistons to a 95-93 victory over the Hornets. Hill, who made his final nine field-goal attempts, added 12 rebounds and seven assists as the Pistons won at the Charlotte Coliseum for the first time in nine tries since Jan. 28, 1992. Allan Houston had 26 points for Detroit, which got its ninth victory in 12 games.

Cheers erupted in the athletic ticket office at Davidson College when the NCAA tournament's Charlotte subregional field was revealed. The host school's ticket staff expected one of North Carolina's four Atlantic Coast Conference teams to play at the Charlotte Coliseum in games beginning today, but Duke and North Carolina both being at the site stirred even more excitement. Then reality hit.

So much for Southern hospitality. But then again, the guest was pretty rude. For three seasons, Alonzo Mourning had been revered in Charlotte, but on Wednesday night he stood in the way of the Hornets getting a little closer to the playoffs. Instead, at night's end, the Miami Heat was a little closer to Charlotte.

For the NBA, opening night in the spiffy new Charlotte Coliseum last November was exceedingly upbeat. The launching of the expansion Charlotte Hornets was conducted in a party atmosphere, the event celebrated by people in tuxedoes and the building festooned with balloons, bands, whistles, all the appropriate trimmings for the new team's debut. And then they almost spoiled everything by playing the game.

vs. Charlotte Sting 4:30 p.m., PDT Site--Charlotte Coliseum. Radio--KLAC (570 AM). Records--Sparks 10-16, Sting 17-10. Update--The Sparks conclude their longest trip of the summer today. Lugging a three-game losing streak, they play the Eastern Conference leader and near-certain playoff participant. Charlotte has lost six of its last nine but still has the WNBA's second-best record.

Andrea Stinson upstaged WNBA scoring leader Cynthia Cooper with 25 points and the Charlotte Sting (13-10) enhanced its bid to secure the league's fourth and final playoff spot with an 80-71 victory over the Houston Comets (16-8) in front of 18,937 at the Charlotte Coliseum, the largest crowd in the history of women's pro basketball. Houston's Sheryl Swoopes scored 20 points in the second half on nine-for-10 shooting.

So much for Southern hospitality. But then again, the guest was pretty rude. For three seasons, Alonzo Mourning had been revered in Charlotte, but on Wednesday night he stood in the way of the Hornets getting a little closer to the playoffs. Instead, at night's end, the Miami Heat was a little closer to Charlotte.

Detroit won at Charlotte for the first time in nearly four years Thursday night as Grant Hill scored 20 of his 21 points in the final 18 1/2 minutes to rally the Pistons to a 95-93 victory over the Hornets. Hill, who made his final nine field-goal attempts, added 12 rebounds and seven assists as the Pistons won at the Charlotte Coliseum for the first time in nine tries since Jan. 28, 1992. Allan Houston had 26 points for Detroit, which got its ninth victory in 12 games.

The honeymoon would appear to be over. They still sell out every game at the Charlotte Coliseum, where the Hornets drew the second-most fans in NBA history last season, and long ago proved that concerns of this being strictly college basketball country were unfounded. But in the second season, people now want wins, not just the novelty of the NBA in their city. In other words, the fans have gotten sophisticated.

The honeymoon would appear to be over. They still sell out every game at the Charlotte Coliseum, where the Hornets drew the second-most fans in NBA history last season, and long ago proved that concerns of this being strictly college basketball country were unfounded. But in the second season, people now want wins, not just the novelty of the NBA in their city. In other words, the fans have gotten sophisticated.

A look at the NBA lockout through Sunday: * Games lost Sunday: Five. * Total games missed: 237. * Negotiations: Nothing scheduled. * Earliest estimated date season can start: Jan. 8. * Today's best canceled game: Charlotte at Utah. The Jazz would have looked to avenge their worst loss of last season (excluding Game 3 of the finals), a 26-point defeat at Charlotte Coliseum.

For the NBA, opening night in the spiffy new Charlotte Coliseum last November was exceedingly upbeat. The launching of the expansion Charlotte Hornets was conducted in a party atmosphere, the event celebrated by people in tuxedoes and the building festooned with balloons, bands, whistles, all the appropriate trimmings for the new team's debut. And then they almost spoiled everything by playing the game.