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The sports world lost a giant last night. And my community lost a dear friend and favorite son. I baby sat his children many years ago. I remember his driving me home and he was a very kind man. He was so much more than a basketball coach.
Location: By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea
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School sports in general could use more coaches who as Michael Jordan said "The education he tried to give to the players was more as a person and not so much as a basketball (or any other sport) player, which I think has a lot more bearing and meaning to individuals"
It's a beautiful warm today in N.C. and the sky is definitely Carolina Blue. Dean Smith's light is shining through. With some very negative news about N.C. lately it surely is time to praise the man who made us all proud to be Tar Heels.
We remember Dean Smith as not only a great basketball coach, but also as a good man, a trail blazer in civil rights, and as a man his community could be very proud of.
We have lost some good people lately, and they will be hard to replace-----thank you for your wonderful contributions to mankind, society, basketball, and just plain decency------R.I.P Mr. Smith.
Be it college sports, pro sports, a president of a huge corporation, or just your next door neighbor--I wish there were more Dean Smith's in this world. There is an old saying that "coaching is teaching." He not only had a huge impact on his own players and NC fans, he reached other players, other coaches, other fans. For that matter people who weren't really into sports. Coaching-teaching-and most important mentoring was what Dean Smith will always be remembered for.
Something that says a lot to me these days is an award ceremony he attended at the White House last year. He along with a number of esteemed Americans was presented the Presidential Medal Of Freedom Award. It's the highest honor a citizen of this country can attain. The life that he led, the example that he set, set him apart. There are a number of quotes from numerous players, coaches, and fans that I've read online (too many people to name here) and they all share the same quote: "He taught me more than just the game of basketball. He taught me about life-and how to live it the right way."
Location: By the sea, by the sea, by the beautiful sea
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A great racing driver died in a crash 20 years ago and I thought the greatest tribute paid him at the time was by his team owner who said he was a better man than he was a driver and he was a GREAT driver.
I'd say the same could be said about Mr. Smith: He was a better man than he was a coach and he was a GREAT coach.
Even Jordan, a man with a huge ego, seemed to be humbled by Dean Smith. I don't recall reading Jordan referring Jordan to Dean Smith by name, he always referred to him as "coach." Jordan would even refer to Phil Jackson as Phil and he was the man who Jordan won 6 NBA championships with. To me, that's an amazing sign of respect towards Dean Smith not only as a basketball coach but as a life coach as well.
Be it college sports, pro sports, a president of a huge corporation, or just your next door neighbor--I wish there were more Dean Smith's in this world. There is an old saying that "coaching is teaching." He not only had a huge impact on his own players and NC fans, he reached other players, other coaches, other fans. For that matter people who weren't really into sports. Coaching-teaching-and most important mentoring was what Dean Smith will always be remembered for.
Something that says a lot to me these days is an award ceremony he attended at the White House last year. He along with a number of esteemed Americans was presented the Presidential Medal Of Freedom Award. It's the highest honor a citizen of this country can attain. The life that he led, the example that he set, set him apart. There are a number of quotes from numerous players, coaches, and fans that I've read online (too many people to name here) and they all share the same quote: "He taught me more than just the game of basketball. He taught me about life-and how to live it the right way."
Sadly his dementia kept him from attending that ceremony but Mrs. Smith accepted the Medal for him.
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