On May 9, the Grand Ballroom of the Hilton North Raleigh was bustling with sports celebrities and fans, all of whom had come for the induction of eight renowned North Carolina sports figures into the North Carolina Sports Hall of Fame.

The inductees join a panoply of sports champions, 281 in all, who have brought fame and honor to North Carolina and continue to do so. Information and mementoes from their careers are on display in the North Carolina Museum of History at 5 East Edenton Street in Raleigh.

M.L. Carr was a star at Guilford College, later a professional with the ABA and NBA. He joined the Boston Celtics and later served as general manager. If one moment can capsulate a long career, that moment came in Game 4 of the 1984 NBA Finals when he made a steal and cashed it in with a thundering dunk that sealed the victory for the Celtics and became the key to the title.