Mike Moylan of Sports Endeavors has been named at the Hillsborough/Orange County Chamber of Commerce's Business Person of the Year. Sports Endeavors, which the H/OCC says is the world's largest soccer retailer, is one of Orange County's major employers.

Moylan also sponsors a Relay-for-Life team and teams at several relay events throughout the year. He sometimes assists as a soccer coach at Orange High School.

Sports Endeavors is a strong supporter of many organizations, including Orange County Recreation and Park, the Chamber's announcement said. He and his wife Morgan Moylan spearheaded the drive to create Turnip Patch Park in downtown Hillsborough.

Jaguars and Wildcats on top of conferences

Carrboro and East Chapel Hill are leading their respective conferences after the fall sports were tallied for the 2009-10 Wachovia Conference Cup standings. Carrboro was tied with the N.C. School of Science and Math for the lead in the Carolina-Nine 1-A/2-A, and East Chapel Hill edged out Jordan for the PAC-Six 4-A conference lead after the Wildcats captured league championships in cross-country and women's tennis.

The Wachovia Conference Cup, formerly known as the Wachovia Trophy, is a companion to the Wachovia Cup, the NCHSAA's statewide all-sports competition.

In most conferences, points are awarded based on participation and standings in conference play. Each conference determines its own method of awarding points.

Carrboro finished first in the Carolina-Nine in both men's and women's cross country, while NCSSM led the way in women's tennis to leave both schools with 33 points. Third-place Northwood (31 points) captured the men's soccer championship. Cedar Ridge has 29 points, followed by surprising Raleigh Charter (25), Durham School of the Arts (20), South Granville (15), River Mill (5) and Granville Central (5).

In the Carolina-Six 3-A, Cardinal Gibbons (33.5) is the conference leader, thanks to championships in women's tennis, volleyball, and football. Chapel Hill (31.5) is a close second with conference titles in men's and women's cross country, and a tie for first in men's soccer. Orange (21) is in third place after placing second in football and making good runs in cross country, followed by Southern Vance (17), Oxford Webb (15) and Northern Vance (6).

In the PAC-Six, East Chapel Hill has 31 points to Jordan's 30.5. The Falcons finished first in men's soccer, and second in women's cross country. Riverside (29) is currently in third after taking second in both men's soccer and women's tennis. Roxboro Person has 25.5 points, followed by Northern Durham (24), Hillside (11.5), Southern Durham (10.5).

Honors for Bates

North Carolina junior right-hander Colin Bates earned a spot on the National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association Pro-Line Athletic Preseason All-America team, which was released Wednesday. Bates, who was 4-4 with a 3.14 ERA and six saves last season, was named to the third team as a relief pitcher.

Last season, Bates worked 60 innings over 34 appearances a year ago and struck out 59, while walking only 19. He ranked second in the ACC and eighth nationally in appearances and was eighth in the ACC in saves. Bates, who was named to the 2009 All-ACC Academic Team, will likely transition to the Tar Heels' weekend rotation this season.

Bates and the Tar Heels open the 2010 season Feb. 19 against George Washington.

Best of the decade

Four-time first-team All-America Tyler Hansbrough, who led the University of North Carolina to the 2009 national championship, and Roy Williams, the head coach of the 2005 and 2009 NCAA champions, have been named the "Best College Basketball Player" and "Coach of the Decade", respectively, by Sports Illustrated.

Of Hansbrough, SI wrote: He was not the most talented player this decade, and if some other players had stayed in college for four years, they would have likely earned this honor. Hansbrough, however, kept giving it the old college try, thrice turning down the chance to be a first-round draft pick and compiling one of the most storied careers in history. By the time he left Chapel Hill in the spring of 2009, he was the leading scorer in ACC history, the only league player to be named first team All-America four times, a Naismith and Wooden Award winner as the national player of the year, and of course an NCAA champion. Last but not least, he was a college graduate. That's a pretty good four years.

Of Williams, SI wrote: "Besides leading North Carolina to the NCAA championship in 2005 and 2009, Williams took three other teams to the Final Four: Kansas in '02 and '03, and UNC in '08."

Williams led the Jayhawks and Tar Heels to 33 wins in the NCAA Tournament during the decade, eight more than any other coach.

Tar Heel forward Sean May, the Most Outstanding Player of the 2005 NCAA Final Four, was named to SI's All-Decade Team. SI picked Hansbrough as a starter on the All-Decade Team along with Duke's Jason Williams, Shane Battier and JJ Redick and Connecticut's Emeka Okafor.

May scored 26 points and had 10 rebounds to lead UNC past top-ranked Illinois in the 2005 national title game. He joins Texas's Kevin Durant, Syracuse's Carmelo Anthony, Maryland's Juan Dixon, St. Joseph's Jameer Nelson, Gonzaga's Adam Morrison and Florida's Joakim Noah on the second team.

Carolina-Duke was selected as the best team rivalry.

Paulus opts out

North Carolina backup quarterback Mike Paulus says he plans to transfer to William & Mary. Tar Heels coach Butch Davis said Friday that Paulus asked to be released from his scholarship a few weeks ago in search of more playing time. The sophomore says he will not travel with North Carolina to Charlotte for the Meineke Bowl against No. 17 Pittsburgh.

Paulus was a heralded member of Davis' first recruiting class in 2007. He spent the past three years as a backup to T.J. Yates, but hasn't played in a game since 2008 and saw action in only four games during his career. He has two seasons of eligibility remaining.

He is the younger brother of former Duke point guard and Syracuse quarterback Greg Paulus.

Davis on O'Brien's 'naughty' list

N.C. State football coach Tom O'Brien doesn't like North Carolina coach Butch Davis' explanation of defensive end Donte Paige-Moss' suspension. While announcing the one-game suspension for the Meineke Car Care Bowl on Tuesday, Davis said Moss pushed away an N.C. State player who was "kind of taunting him and in his face" on the field after the Wolfpack's 28-27 defeat of North Carolina on Nov. 28 at Carter-Finley Stadium.

O'Brien called a reporter with The Charlotte Observer and The News & Observer on Wednesday afternoon to give a statement.

"Our players know what is expected of them and know how to conduct themselves, win or lose, " O'Brien said. "After carefully reviewing this incident, I can say that in no way, shape or form did I see any of our players exhibit inappropriate behavior."

O'Brien declined to make any further comment. North Carolina football spokesman Kevin Best said Davis would have no further response.

A video of the incident obtained from N.C. State shows Moss crossing paths with Wolfpack linebacker Sterling Lucas after the game. The players may have brushed shoulders, and it was unclear from the video whether words were exchanged.

Moss quickly swung his right arm at the head of Lucas, and then retreated. Lucas tried to give chase but was restrained by teammate Owen Spencer, and the confrontation ended quickly.

Davis told reporters Tuesday about the suspension.

"He [Moss] made a very, very unwise action, pushing a guy away that was kind of taunting him and in his face, " Davis said. "We had a private conversation and talked about it, and as I told him, it's something [where] you've got to have composure. It's frustrating, disappointing to lose a ballgame, but you can't lose your cool and lose your composure."

Davis added that Moss was apologetic and understood the reason for the suspension. Davis called the incident a "teachable moment."

ACC associate commissioner for football operations Michael Kelly said the conference office reviewed the incident and supported the suspension. Kelly said North Carolina, not the ACC, decided to suspend Moss.

-- Ken Tysiac

Montoyo to return

The Durham Bulls have announced that Charlie Montoyo will return as manager for a fourth season after leading the Bulls to their first National Championship in team history. For the first time since 2005, the Bulls entire coaching staff returns as Xavier Hernandez, Dave Myers and Rodger Fleming have all been retained as the Bulls look to defend their title.