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RALEIGH, N.C. -- The NCAAs decision to pull seven championships out of North Carolina ratchets up the pressure on this college sports-crazy state to repeal its law on bathroom use by transgender people.Unlike the recent one-time cancellations by the NBA and various rock stars, the move by college sports governing body could make moderate and conservative voters question whether the price tag for the law has finally become too high.Economic development officials said the effect of the NCAAs action goes well beyond the projected $20 million in lost revenue from the cancellation of the 2016-17 basketball, baseball, soccer, tennis, lacrosse and golf events.College sports is part of the fabric of North Carolina. Its part of the culture. I can say with confidence that theres no other state in the country that loves its college sports more than North Carolina. Thats why it hits so hard and feels so personal, said Scott Dupree, executive director of the Greater Raleigh Sports Alliance, which was coordinating four of the events being moved.The law passed in March requires transgender people to use restrooms in schools and state government buildings that correspond to the gender on their birth certificate. It also excludes gender identity and sexual orientation from statewide antidiscrimination protections.The Obama administration is suing the state over the measure, calling it discriminatory. Republican Gov. Pat McCrory and GOP leaders are defending it as a means of protecting the privacy and safety of women and girls.On Tuesday, Democratic lawmakers urged McCrory and leaders of the GOP-controlled legislature to call a special session to repeal the law.This General Assembly and its extremist leadership are playing with peoples livelihoods and the well-being of communities all across our state, said Sen. Mike Woodard of Durham.But with weeks to go before Election Day, legislators in campaign mode and no regularly scheduled session until January, chances are slim the Republicans will act. GOP legislative leaders, who have veto-proof majorities in both chambers, are committed to costly court fights over the law and contend passing it was the right thing to do.GOP House Speaker Tim Moore didnt respond to messages seeking comment, and the office of Republican Senate leader Phil Berger said he was traveling and unavailable.McCrory, who is locked in a tight race for re-election, issued a statement decrying the NCAA decision and saying the legal system will ultimately decide the issue.The issue of redefining gender and basic norms of privacy will be resolved in the near future in the United States court system for not only North Carolina, but the entire nation, he said.But in the meantime, Michael Bitzer, a political scientist at Catawba College, said it will be hard for moderate voters who are passionate about sports to ignore the laws repercussions.The blowback may be building up even more with this decision, he said.Mac McCorkle, a Duke University professor and former Democratic consultant, said the NCAAs announcement reinforces the idea that McCrory has allowed the situation to get out of control.Put aside the liberal and conservative arguments about the pros and cons, McCorkle said. Its a mess. Its a continuing mess and governors are held responsible for messes.McCorkle said the removal of mens basketball tournament games from Greensboro hits hard because college basketball is the civic religion in the state thats home to UNC, Duke, N.C. State and Wake Forest.The Greensboro area was expected to receive a $14.5 million infusion from the tournament, as well as $1.6 million from the soccer championships in December that are being moved, said Henri Fourrier, CEO of the Greensboro Area Convention & Visitors Bureau. The soccer, baseball, lacrosse and tennis events taken from Cary will deprive the area of about $2 million, Dupree said.Greensboro, Cary, Raleigh and other North Carolina cities are seeking to host scores of other NCAA events over the next six years that could be worth tens of millions of dollars.The NCAA hasnt decided what to do about any North Carolina events beyond the current academic year. But NCAA President Mark Emmert said Tuesday: It would have been impossible to conduct championship events in the state with that law in place that lived up to the values and expectations of the member universities and colleges.The Atlantic Coast Conference, which has its football championship scheduled for December in Charlotte, could be next to act. The championship game, held in Charlotte since 2010, is the last marquee college sporting event left in North Carolina during the 2016-17 season.The conference has a regularly scheduled meeting this week in South Carolina, and ACC Commissioner John Swofford said the bathroom law is on the agenda.Lt. Gov. Dan Forest, a Christian conservative and strong defender of the law, called the NCAAs decision shameful extortion.Previously, musicians including Bruce Springsteen and Pearl Jam canceled concerts, while the NBA decided to move next years All-Star Game out of Charlotte. The game was expected to generate $100 million.Everybody should be concerned about lost revenue, but I dont put a price tag on our women and girls of any kind, Forest said. He added: Its just unbelievable to me to think that these entities would think that its OK to invade the privacy or security of a woman or a girl in a shower or a locker room.Brandon Smith, who works in risk management for a Charlotte-based bank, said he was against the law when it passed. Once the financial aspect is taken into account, the state will change its stance, he said. Its a matter of time.---Contributing to this report were Associated Press writers Ralph D. Russo in New York; Aaron Beard in Hillsborough; Joedy McCreary in Raleigh; and Tom Foreman Jr. in Charlotte. Bruce Armstrong Jersey . -- Jonathan Drouin gave Halifax the boost it needed to edge host Sherbrooke Phoenix 3-2 in a shootout in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Tim Rattay Jersey . 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BELO HORIZONTE, Brazil -- The roar of "Tahiti" from 20,000 fans was as inspiring as it was unsettling for a group of footballers who struggle to attract 100 fans to their matches usually. Never before had they played in front of such a big crowd. Never before had they even made it to an international football tournament watched by millions around the world. But this was the tiny island paradise of Tahiti, more accustomed to the isolation of the Pacific Ocean, taking on Nigeria at the Confederations Cup. The record books will show a 6-1 drubbing by Nigeria, the four-time World Cup participants ranked 31 in the FIFA rankings that have Tahiti at 138. But in the Mineirao Stadium, Tahiti not only avoided humiliation by scoring that single goal but provided moments of menace to trouble the African champions. It wasnt even the teams only professional player who scored the Tahiti goal. Jonathan Tehau headed into the net from a corner early in the second half to reduce the teams deficit to 3-1. "Its just huge," Tehau said. "Already, coming here to Brazil, and then scoring the goal, Im very happy for me, for my family, my friends and my teammates." "My first thoughts are for my family and my parents because they give me the opportunity to play football when I was a kid and today I scored," he added. The team then gave its rowing boat "Paddle" celebration its biggest audience yet, with 20,187 in the stadium, and millions watching on television including Tahitis government, which interrupted its weekly cabinet for the game. "Its not easy for us," defender Nicolas Vallar said. "We needed to be supported by all the world and all the supporters in the stadium. "Its very, very exciting to hear Tahiti, Tahiti. Its not usual because in Tahiti we usually play with 100 people and 20,000 today -- thats amazing." Even more amazing is the fact Tahiti landed among the eight teams at the 2014 World Cup warm-up event despite having just one professional player in the squad: striker Marama Vahirua "Weve shown the world theres some real quality in Tahiti," said Vahirua, who is currently at Greek club Panthrakikos.dddddddddddd "Just our presence here is a victory and it was fantastic to be adopted by the Brazilian public." The expectations were that Tahiti would be overawed but it managed to claim the first shot on goal after just two minutes, when defender Vincent Simon struck a low effort. But a mix-up in the defence allowed Nigeria to go in front three minutes later. A shot from Uwa Echiejile from 20 yards pinged off Alvin Tehau, and took a final deflection off Nicolas Vallar which wrong-footed goalkeeper Xavier Samin as the ball landed in the net. A misplaced Tahiti pass allowed Nigeria to double its lead in the 10th, with Nnamdi Oduamadi beating two players before scoring. Oduamadi was on target again in the 26th after Samin spilled Ahmed Musas cross. Nigeria appeared to be taking the game too casually, missing a succession of chances. And although there was never any threat of anything but a Nigeria victory, Tahiti showed adventure throughout, managing five shots. The goal came in the 54th minute when Vahirua floated a corner in and Tehau rose above Efe Ambrose and headed in home at back post. "They came out to fight like lions and it was a little bit difficult to up our game when you know you are playing against them," Nigeria coach Stephen Keshi said. "You think everything is easy but they showed us they can play football and ... I was worried because we had clear chances, 100 per cent chances and you need to bury the goals." But having avoided conceding again, Nigerias nerves were steadied in the 69th when goal-scorer Tehau turned the ball into his own net from Oduamadis cross. Oduamadi completed his hat trick when he turned in the ball from close range from Brown Ideyes cross and Echiejile slammed in the sixth in the 80th. "The last 15 minutes were really difficult for us physically because weve never experienced such a tough game before," Tahiti coach Eddy Etaeta said. It will get even tougher. Tahiti has Spain and Uruguay still to play. ' ' '