This piece is dedicated to my friend, Durham, NC native Michael Paul Smith. He was the biggest UNC fan I have ever met. I left a special collector’s issue of Sports Illustrated that highlighted UNC’s 2005 NCAA tournament championship in his casket. I know that he watched this year’s tournament from the other side and cheered on his beloved Tarheels with the childlike exuberance he was known for. R.I.P. my friend.
Born: February 27th, 1986 - Durham, NC
Died: December 17th, 2005 - Asheville, NC
Cape Fear. Sweet BBQ. Smoky Mountains. Moonshine. Piedmont. Tobacco Road. When people hear these words, they cannot help but think about the great state of North Carolina. From the breathtaking views of the Blue Ridge Mountains to the coastal attractions of Wilmington, the Tarheel State has something for everybody. I was born and raised in the Sunshine State, but I lived in North Carolina for 8 years (from age 16 to 24). While living there, I became enamored with Tarheel basketball. Basketball has always been a passion of mine, and nowhere on Earth is basketball taken more seriously than in North Carolina.
The University of North Carolina men’s basketball team made quite the run in this year’s NCAA tournament. Their record in the six tournament games they played was 5-1. They beat the defending champion Baylor Bears and their biggest rival Duke on their way to the championship game. Most people would say they lost the most important game of the year (the championship game), and to some extent that is true. For me, however, this season was a HUGE success, nevertheless. Bay Flavor is all about looking at the positive aspects of a given situation, so that is exactly what I will be doing.
Duke University and the University of North Carolina have one of hottest (if not THE hottest) rivalries in all of sports. The intensity of the rivalry is augmented for many reasons. One reason is by the proximity of the two universities—they are located only ten miles apart along U.S. Highway 15–501 (also known as Tobacco Road) or eight miles apart in straight-line distance. In addition, Duke is a private university whereas Carolina is a public school; the vastly different funding structures and cultures between the two further contribute to the intensity of the rivalry1. Now, I was aware of this rivalry while growing up in Florida, but I did not conceptualize the intensity of it until I lived in North Carolina.
Meetings total: 258
All-time series: North Carolina leads, 143–115
Largest victory: North Carolina: 37 points (1921)
Duke: 35 points (1964)Longest win streak: North Carolina, 16 (1921–28)
Current win streak: UNC, 2
Born in 1986, I grew up watching the original GOAT (Greatest Of All Time) dominate the NBA. This man participated in SIX NBA Championship Series, and never lost in said series. By all accounts, Michael Jeffrey Jordan is the best basketball player to have ever lived. MJ’s dominance did not stop on the court, however. Basketball was merely a game before Michael. This rang true for the other major sports in North America: football, baseball, and hockey. A transition from “just a game” to a pop culture phenomenon happened under Michael’s watch. His Airness facilitated this conversion by becoming a marketing MACHINE! He has been a major spokesman for such brands as Nike, Coca-Cola, Chevrolet, Gatorade, McDonald's, Ball Park Franks, Rayovac, Wheaties, Hanes, and MCI2.
Michael is the reason that I leaned more in the favor of the UNC Tarheels as a young boy. Another reason for my Tarheel inclination was the team COLORS. It is tough to determine what your favorite color is as it can sometimes depend on your mood. Most days sky/Carolina blue is my favorite. It is calming and oh so smooth. In reference to the Duke-UNC rivalry, Carolina blue gives me a “power to the people” feel. I am big on the underdog, the quote-unquote “common man.” Duke is a prestigious, private school that some call “the Ivy League of the South.” The shade of blue they wear is more of a royal blue, denoting a sense of elite entitlement. Carolina blue represents hard work, confidence, determination, and perseverance. It represents the story of a poor kid from Wilmington becoming the most influential, ubiquitous, and successful athlete in history.
Last night’s NCAA Championship game was one to remember! First year head coach Hubert Davis lead his Tarheels on an improbable path to the championship game. Waiting for him was long tenured coach Bill Self and the Kansas Jayhawks. Although the Tarheels came up short, I can appreciate the game for what it was: a tale of two halves. The Tarheels dominated the first half in what resulted in a 15-point lead at halftime. The Jayhawks of Kansas obviously made the necessary adjustments, as they came out roaring in the second half of play. During the first half, I commented to my father that Kansas looked like “junior varsity out there.” That was a classic example of “open mouth, insert foot,” as Kansas outscored the Heels 47-29 in the second half. The Jayhawks won by three in a thriller of a game.
Even though my team did not win the big game, I am grateful that I was able to witness a tremendous game and tournament. March Madness is so special. I enjoy it even more than the Super Bowl because it happens for an entire month! It is my hope that the Tarheels of UNC feel a sense of pride & accomplishment today. I am sure head coach Hubert Davis would share my sentiment in that his boys should hold their heads high. There are two ways to look at what happened to them last night: they LOST, or they LEARNED. I do my best to keep the word “lose” out of my vocabulary. You either win or you learn. And those of us who learn will NEVER be considered “losers.”
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