Concerning Dean Smith ...

[Whitechapel]

I know BC has a little history with Coach Smith, going back to the somewhat controversial 1994 tournament game, so I thought I'd share this post I found while skimming the ACC boards. This was posted by a UVA fan, who encountered Dean at a movie theater recently. Y'all have been in the ACC long enough to know that everybody hates UNC, and UVA fans are no different. But then rivalries sometimes get put in their place when stood next to reality ...

The post follows:

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Kinda wondered how his condition was, since my Dad's alzheimers is
moving rapid ( He could be in a home w/in the year unfortunately.
disappeared twice last week )

Anyways, not sure what type dementia Dean has, but I was standing in
small lobby waiting on the wife, and he came in with I think his wife
and either daughter or grand daughter. --
They were getting him something at concessions & I wasn't going to
bother him but we were just standing there alone together waiting on
women. He kept looking at me, so I shook his hand, and said 'Glad to
meet you Dean, but gotta tell you I am a Virginia man. Virginia
Cavaliers. He just smiled, nodded and said thats great and then
rambled 3 sentences that I could understand, (something about parking
and eating, but made no real sense). -- He pointed at his wife and
said something I couldnt understand, and she just smiled at me. -- As
they walked off towards the movie he looked back and waved. Noticed he
was shuffling.

I ended up sitting behind him, and he sort of looked lost through the
flick, didnt laugh as much as the rest of the audience.

I was thinking how much I couldnt stand him when he was coaching
against us, 4 corners etc etc etc. --
On the way home I was thinking how petty it all is. Its just a game,
and we all love it. I know he did, and his family did too.
But they'd give it all up just for him to have his health back and
to have a few more meaningful conversations with Dean.

Tomorrow heading to Bedford for funeral of one of Dad's best friends.
Dad will be there, he'll cry, but he won't know why.

I will too. -- and I'll know why.

Hang in there Dean.

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[EagleDave]

Alzheimers is tough, and it's a shame that such a great basketball mind is fading...

ps- there's no controversy re: the '94 game...Billy Curley raped Eric Montross

[EagleNYC]

As trite as it is to write "that's terrible," what else can be written? He's a true giant of the game.

[EagleManiac66]

As much as the "Dean" was always our enemy on the court, it's sad to see him slowly succumb to such a cruel disease. Having seen others fall victim to Alzheimers, I wish him and his family well. His excellence as a coach made the 1994 victory all the more glorious.

[branchinator]

Wait, "somewhat controversial"? What is that even supposed to mean?

[Whitechapel]

^
Hard foul on Derrick Phelps by, I believe a player named Curley (correct me if I'm wrong, BC fans). It was called flagrant by the official and tempers were pretty heated from that point on as I recall.

I'm a State fan, so naturally I thought the flagrant call was bogus. It was an aggressive foul for sure, but I didn't think at the time that it should have been called as anything but a simple personal foul. I was soooooo happy UNC's season ended that day.

[chuckfrombc]

"Take that Tarheels"

[NotoriousOrange]

^
Hard foul on Derrick Phelps by, I believe a player named Curley (correct me if I'm wrong, BC fans). It was called flagrant by the official and tempers were pretty heated from that point on as I recall.
I'm a State fan, so naturally I thought the flagrant call was bogus. It was an aggressive foul for sure, but I didn't think at the time that it should have been called as anything but a simple personal foul. I was soooooo happy UNC's season ended that day.

The foul was committed by Danya Abrams, I was sitting first row close to the UNC bench and while they were going nuts I agree that it was just a foul as well. We got into a shouting match with some of the UNC trainers and players over that foul . What you are remembering with Curley is that he and Montross almost fought over a Montross elbow that caught Curley in the head. Great game for BC!

[Whitechapel]

Right, I didn't mean to steer the conversation into a discussion of that game. I only remembered it to be extremely contentious and that's why I referred to it as "somewhat controversial".

[NotoriousOrange]

You're right it was a very chippy game

[chuckfrombc]

Having lived in both the Greensboro and Charlotte areas for a time, I was always in awe of Dean Smith and the Tar Heels, but I lost much respect for him because of the totally unprofessional way he acted during and after that game. His team was outplayed and he was totally out-coached and his response was to personally attack Dana Abrams and BC. I will always treasure the Sports Illustrated Cover labeled: "Take that, North Carolina." Sports Illustrated changed the cover -- you may recall that its senior editor was a BC.

[chuckfrombc]

I meant to say, BC Grad, Mark Mulvoy, (1964).

[footer20]

Having lived in both the Greensboro and Charlotte areas for a time, I was always in awe of Dean Smith and the Tar Heels, but I lost much respect for him because of the totally unprofessional way he acted during and after that game. His team was outplayed and he was totally out-coached and his response was to personally attack Dana Abrams and BC. I will always treasure the Sports Illustrated Cover labeled: "Take that, North Carolina." Sports Illustrated changed the cover -- you may recall that its senior editor was a BC.

The cover said "Take That, tar Heels" not North Carolina.