Posted on 02/08/2015 9:12:01 AM PST by Beave Meister
Dean Smith, the coaching innovator who won two national championships at North Carolina, an Olympic gold medal in 1976 and induction into basketball's Hall of Fame more than a decade before he left the bench, has died. He was 83.
The retired coach died "peacefully" at his North Carolina home Saturday night, the school said in a statement Sunday from Smith's family. He was with his wife and five children.
Smith had health issues in recent years, with the family saying in 2010 he had a condition that was causing him to lose memory. He had kept a lower profile during that time. His wife, Linnea, accepted the Presidential Medal of Freedom on his behalf from President Barack Obama in November 2013.
Michael Jordan called Dean Smith the most influential person in his life other than his parents.
(Excerpt) Read more at chicagotribune.com ...
Had to change the rules of the game in order to beat him.
If he were still coaching today, they would call him a cheater because he used the rules (or lack thereof) to his advantage.
Dean Smith appeared to be a lefty. Not trying to knock the dead, but rather post facts that might not otherwise be known, although his political views are drawing praise among those eulogizing him. On the plus side, he fought against segregation. He also protested the war in Vietnam, nuclear weapons, and the death penalty. I’m sure he was a fine man and obviously a great coach but I’m not sure everyone here would sing his praises off the court.
RIP
I agree with your sentiments. I had no idea what Dean Smith’s political views were before he died. I do note that many sports commentators are praising him now more for those views than his achevements in sports. While you and, believe it or not, I can separate the two, lefties view everything in terms of leftist politics.
Yes, Dean Smith was a liberal Democrat. Yet, he was too much of an old fashioned Southern Gentleman and one helluva basketball coach and mentor of young people to let that truly define him. He did not live for politics; he lived to influence and shape the character of young men. I spent a large part of my formative years watching Carolina basketball. My understanding of the game, and the appreciation of what “The Carolina Way” meant to the development of a young man was totally due to Coach men. From a Tarheel born and bred, God bless him. Requiescat in pace, Coach. Crash the boards.
I also grew up watching him dominate the ACC and that includes Dook and the Dook coach. Smith’s winning record against Dook was not even close and he had a winning record at Cameron Indoor Stadium. The best thing that ever happened to Dook basketball was Dean Smith retiring.
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