RIP Dean

Eggcelsior

One of the greatest basketball coaches ever. RIP Dean Smith. There is a reason the sky is Carolina Blue.

JohnInCarolina

One of the greats, no doubt, and by all accounts an incredibly decent human being. 

Probably a blessing he passed.  There was a piece a few weeks ago - the only thing that was making him smile was the Carolina fight song.  

theyolksonyou

Wow. I missed this today. No doubt one of the greatest.

tarheelmatt

That disease really played havoc on him.  I have read he was very intelligent and sharp in his day.  He definitely was one of the best, though other coaches have more wins now than him, he still shines in my book.  I never got to meet him, but my mom did, and that personal connection holds a special place within her.  

DoubleEgger

Flags should be at half mast in the Tarheel State. RIP

tarheelmatt

DoubleEgger said:

Flags should be at half mast in the Tarheel State. RIP

They are!  

tarheelmatt

I have posted this before, but not sure if you guys have noticed it.  This was my mom getting a basketball award (she was a baller) from the Dean Smith.  One of the many reasons our family are die hard UNC fans, though none of us attended UNC.  

My mother said Dean ate with all the folks and talked to everyone.  She said, though he was young at the time, he was very respectful and a very nice person.  It appears he kept that all these years!  

Acn

I thought Charles Pierce had a really nice piece on Grantland:  http://grantland.com/the-triangle/dean-smith-1931-2015-obituary-north-carolina/

RIP to a great coach, and by all accounts an even better man (which is really what is important).

Foghorn

Acn said:

I thought Charles Pierce had a really nice piece on Grantland:  http://grantland.com/the-triangle/dean-smith-1931-2015-obituary-north-carolina/

RIP to a great coach, and by all accounts an even better man (which is really what is important).

That is a nice article. 

As a Duke undergrad from 1980-84 I naturally saw him as the devil during those years.  He was a closet smoker (therefore a hypocrite to those who opposed UNC) and he was the godfather of the ACC so his teams got reverential treatment from the officials (therefore he was a cheater - again, to UNC opponents).  He harped about how education was more important for his players than basketball, but senior Al Wood was asked after a 1981 Duke game about how all the balls seemed to fall into Duke hands during overtime and he said "Sometimes it just bees that way".  So, it may not have been easy for opposing fans to demonize him, but it was definitely possible.

Over the ensuing years I came to realize that Dean did stand for education being more important than basketball.  Not every player embraced that, but it wasn't for a lack of conviction on his part.  He didn't cheat so much as he advocated for his players - just like every other coach (although he was more effective than most).  They got the benefit of a lot of calls because they were largely known for being class acts who played good, clean basketball.  And while he may have smoked, we all have our flaws.  He came from another era where it was more accepted and did what he could to hide it so he did not appear to be an advocate for smoking. 

But, the two things I remember him for most are 1) teaching his players to point to the assist-maker to thank him for the pass and 2) teaching his players to respect seniority on the team.   Some of his criitics feel that by granting so much respect and playing time to the seniors he may have slowed the development of some of the freshmen and sophomores who could have been superstars earlier.  I always thought that his players probably did better in the long run (in the NBA or wherever) because they learned patience and respect. 

HIs deterioration and death are a big loss for the sporting world. 

Thanks for starting this thread.

 

 

bboulier

I went to NC State, a bitter rival of UNC.  But, I always respected Dean Smith as a coach.  He was innovative (i.e., the dreaded 4 corners), honest, and made sure that his students graduated.

BYS1981

The other sad news for UNC, 3 UNC students gunned down yesterday. One was a basketball player.

tarheelmatt

Dean left money to every UNC letterman.  How awesome is that!  

http://ftw.usatoday.com/2015/03/dean-smith-unc-will-trust 

Eggcelsior

@tarheelmatt I am just now reading this on Deadspin. Best coach ever.

cazzy

Dinner on him...what a person!  

However, that would probably only MJ's appetizer.  

tarheelmatt

Eggcelsior said:

@tarheelmatt I am just now reading this on Deadspin. Best coach ever.

I agree with you on that.  Truly a great person just as much as a coach.  

 

nolaegghead

Eggcelsior said:

One of the greatest basketball coaches ever. RIP Dean Smith. There is a reason the sky is Carolina Blue.

Sh*t that's too bad.  And I thought the blue sky was from air scattering light.