As It Should Be

For the better part of 20 something years, I have lived and breathed with the North Carolina Tar Heels. Tonight “the boy” and I watched as another snapshot went into my mental scrapbook of why we love being a Tar Heel fans. This image was the final shot that sent North Carolina to the win and a head to head match up with Duke for the ACC Championship on Saturday night. We both calmly raised arms in the air as the three pointer sank into the net.

Ball game.

Heels win.

Harrison Barnes delivers.

Earlier this week my lovely bride said she wanted to have a “date night” this weekend. She said “I was thinking about Saturday night”. I think my response was “Really?”. Realizing what Saturday night is, she quickly made plans for Friday night instead. If you think that is odd or funny, I have some Nashville friends (also Tar Heel fans) that did the same thing.

That’s what it’s like.

That’s what we do.

As nice as running away with an ACC Title is, I bet a straw poll of both sides would show that most Duke and Carolina fans would rather have it come down to this. The over-under would depend on where the game is being played (this one’s in Chapel Hill). This is what this rivalry so often comes down to. It’s what makes college basketball so fun. Saturday night aligns the stars for a winner-take-all shootout. It is as it should be.

GO HEELS!!!

Happy Birthday Dean Smith

To love Carolina Basketball is to love Dean Smith. To know college basketball is to respect Dean Smith. Though his health is beginning to fade he still represents all that is North Carolina Basketball. Happy Birthday Dean Smith.

What Not To Wear

Yesterday I opened my Google Reader and, like the rest of the “Tar Heel Family” was shocked to read that David and Travis Wear have decided to transfer from North Carolina to a destination which has yet to be announced. Because I am obsessed with North Carolina Basketball, I went looking for answers last night. Since you can believe everything you read on the internet, that was my source of information. It is a bad source. Something is wrong. People don’t transfer out of the Mecca of College Basketball (insert your lame NIT jokes here). After a season that was one new rock bottom after another, this announcement found another way to go just a little deeper.

Bullock Calls Coach K "A Rat"

Clearly Roy Williams hasn’t gotten in touch with Reggie Bullock yet. While I am not disagreeing with Mr. Bullock, I would say that he needs to learn to keep his thoughts and comments to himself. The Carolina Duke Rivalry has enough sauce already. Big words coming from a guy that hasn’t stepped on campus yet. Hope his play is as strong as his opinions and I mean that sincerely. At least Barnes and Marshall know better. Dean Smith would have a fit if he heard incoming freshman saying this. On behalf of all Tar Heel fans, I would tell Reggie to let his play do the talking. Act like you’ve been there. Respect the rivalry. Call Tyler Hansbrough if you have any questions.

Clip #2

Tar Heel Blues

Image via Wikipedia

Much has been made this season about the fall from grace of my beloved Tar Heels. I’m okay with that. One reason is that until Monday night when they crown a new champion, North Carolina is still NCAA Champ. The Tar Heels have also been the punchline of many jokes this season. It’s all a part of being the best. When you fall they will line up to point it out.

Tonight the Tar Heels will play Dayton for the NIT Championship. You know the “Not In Tournament”? The one that wins can lay claim to “We’re number 67″! Like I said on twitter earlier today, it’s feels kind of like when you take a walk in softball. It’s helpful, but just not the way it was meant to be. All that to say that I’m proud of my Heels. They could have mailed it in or worse yet, decline the invite to the NIT (which many recommended they do). They have actually won 7 of 9 and 4 in a row. They have also won all but one of those games on the road in hostile environments. It is all going to help next season when they return to “Elite” status.