UNC Tar Heels: NCAA men's basketball, 2009

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76ers' Brand puts injuries behind him

Elton Brand is ready to give the Philadelphia 76ers what they paid for.

When the oft-injured power forward arrives at training camp in late September, Brand will be healthy and eager to put the last two abbreviated seasons way behind him. Quickly labeled a bust in his first season in Philly, Brand believes he can return to form and be the double-double presence in the post that earned him two All-Star berths and an $80 million contract from the Sixers.

"It's been an insane two years," the former Duke All-American said. "It all pushes you to be better. I want to show the fans. They don't know. I'm excited to really show them what kind of player they really have and what kind of team they really have."

Panthers keep Peppers

The five-month Julius Peppers saga is over for the Carolina Panthers -- at least for this season.

Peppers, the team's franchised all-pro defensive tackle, signed an offer sheet Wednesday, locking him up with the Panthers for at least one more season after saying in January he wanted to be elsewhere. The deal makes Peppers perhaps the highest-paid player in the NFL with a one-year contract that could pay him up to $19.183 million this season.

"I've had positive and productive discussions with the organization," Peppers said in a statement. "I am optimistic and focused as I look forward to the upcoming NFL season."

Team tries to bear loss of Yow

Anchored by fond memories and funny stories, current members of the N.C. State women's basketball program spoke for the first time on Tuesday about the loss of coach Kay Yow.

Yow, who spent 34 years at the head of the State program, died on Saturday after a long-time battle with breast cancer. She was 66.

Associate head coach Stephanie Glance, senior Shayla Fields and sophomore Tia Bell expressed their sadness during a news conference at State's Weisiger-Brown athletic facility. They gave voice to the difficult period the grieving team and all those associated with the program have experienced over the past five days, revealing how their network of support, the family Yow insisted they were, had helped them cope.

Yao will have surgery on foot

The Houston Rockets thought they had become championship contenders last summer when they acquired Ron Artest to join Tracy McGrady and Yao Ming, a pair of perennial All-Stars.

Less than a year later, the Rockets are rebuilding from scratch with no Artest and no idea when McGrady or Yao will play again.

The final blow came Friday, when Yao announced he would have surgery next week on his broken left foot, a decision that will likely keep him out all of next season. The team said there is no timetable set for the return of the 7-foot-6 Yao, a seven-time All-Star, but that he is "expected to be available for the team's training camp in 2010."

RailHawks keep players moving

Carolina RailHawks coach Martin Rennie knew he had too many strikers on his roster to give them all the playing time they needed.

So in late April, Rennie struck a deal with the Wilmington Hammerheads and sent one of his forwards, Aaron King, to the team for a month.

When King netted a goal in his first appearance for the United Soccer Leagues' second division squad, the Hammerheads -- and Rennie -- saw exactly the level of play the coach hopes to get now that King is back in Cary.