Salute to the Dean Smith

I am going to come straight out and say it, I am not a fan of UNC basketball. The red and white of North Carolina State have always been my colors but it is time to put prejudices aside and send off a giant kudos from the Corner to Dean Smith.   His family just released a statement saying that he is having memory issues.  Here is part of the letter released by the family:

"He may not immediately recall the name of every former player from his many years of coaching, but that does not diminish what those players meant to him or how much he cares about them," the letter said. "He still remembers the words of a hymn or a jazz standard, but may not feel up to going to a concert. He still plays golf, though usually only for nine holes instead of 18."

During his 36 year college coaching career he had 879 victories, 13 ACC championships, 11 final four appearances and 2 national championships in 82' and 93'.  A bigger feat than winning perhaps was his graduation rate of 96 percent, something to only dream about currently.

Coach Smith may well be the best coach in college basketball history, sorry John Wooten fans. He's not quite their yet, Coach K supporters. Maybe one day Roy Williams will come close.  Coach Smith is a legend and his legacy is alive and well in the building named in his honor. The current coach, Williams, would be proud to say Coach Smith taught him everything he knew. The names from the past say it all about the man. Michael Jordan, James Worthy, Sam Perkins, I could go on all night. The basketball world will remember Coach Smith forever. Prayers rain out from The Corner. We hope the rest of the world will join us.