A Legacy of Champions

"The 2008-2009 version of the North Carolina Tar Heels men's basketball team is at a crossroads. The decision is very clearly laid out in front of each player and this collective group. The question is the same as Hulk Hogan asked the Ultimate Warrior prior to their match for the World Heavyweight Championship at Wrestlemania VI.

So Tar Heels, I ask you this: Do YOU want to live forever?

Do you want to live forever in the minds and hearts of fans? Do you want a book written about you? Do you want to watch "One Shining Moment" and smile and cry simultaneously? Do you want to make us crazy buying 8 shirts, 3 books, 3 DVDs, a commemorative towel, 2 hats, a dog sweater, a flag, and a Sports Illustrated subscription? Do you want to put a ring on it and raise a big banner?

Gone is the depth that was overflowing in the pre-season. Gone is the leadership and defense of Marcus Ginyard. Gone is the versatility of Will Graves. Gone, gone, gone. Now, laid out before this team, is the opportunity to wallow in a pit of frustration and despair, of "it just wasn't meant to be". Or, they can man up, commit to one another and their coach, and rally together as a team to complete the mission. It's not how you act, it's how you react. So, I bid you this question, Tar Heels:

Do you want to live forever?"

The above was written on February 4, 2009, following a home win over Maryland. It has been sitting unpublished on my Blogger account, the only unpublished entry I've ever had. I quit writing that night because I wanted to simmer down a bit. After all, the Heels had just blown out Maryland at home and won another game. But, they looked awful doing it. No defense, no rebounding, just on complete cruise control. Just the type of team that has no heart and loses in March when it matters. To make things worse, all of the off-court fallout occurred that same evening, as referenced above. It was never in doubt if this team was talented enough to win it all; I only questioned whether or not they were focused enough, tough enough, or had enough heart. I was just not sure how bad they wanted it, leading me to rhetorically ponder: did the 2008-2009 Tar Heels want to live forever?

Question answered.

The University of North Carolina won the 2009 National Championship Monday night, 89-72, capping off a focused run of dominance in the tournament known as March Madness. They played very well for the better part of six straight games and were tougher mentally and physically than all of their opponents. And, they played with incredible heart.

I think it was a bit lost on most everyone outside of the program just how badly these guys wanted to win the national title. Sure, everyone came back to school, but they almost seemed resigned to return, hoping to improve their NBA Draft stock and maybe win a title along the way. The season ebbed and flowed quite differently than everyone expected, with unexpected losses and lots of injuries. But, somewhere along the way, all of this adversity further unified these guys and brought about a determination that ultimately led the Heels to the top of college basketball. They committed defensively, they rebounded just well enough, they shared the basketball, and they won.

It would have been easy to answer my question with a "no". The challenges Coach Williams and his staff and players faced were indeed very difficult to deal with. The ridiculous expectations further complicated things, bringing about a collective pressure that few teams have faced. But, Carolina chose a different response. A loud, emphatic "yes, we want to live forever and we're going to look dang good doing it, too".

The Heels rolled through this tournament, sans a ten minute period against LSU in the second round. Monday night's game was over quickly, despite my cries of, "come on, it's not over yet!" Throughout the season, we have known that when Carolina plays its best, there is no team in the nation who can match them. A talented best, yes, but also with the heart of a lion. They understood what was at stake and embraced the opportunity to rise to the challenge, to capture the spotlight. The desire, the tenacity, the urgency. They played with heart, and, captured our hearts in the process.

We've talked about enjoying the ride all season. Keeping an eye on the big picture, not over-reacting to the bumps in the road, having fun watching this supremely-talented edition of Carolina basketball. The big picture left us with one collective goal, for all of the players, coaches, and fans: a national title. A question unanswered. Would they do it?

Well, the picture is complete, the question answered. The legacy of each and every one of these players will be tied to the legacy of this team, a team of champions. They have done it with heart and had fun along the way. As have we. So, thanks for the ride, guys. It was incredible to watch you and we appreciate the blood, sweat, and tears you poured into this season and your careers. I'll proudly tell Lil' Kyle how you came together and raised a banner, doing it with class and dignity. We will all cry (again) watching "One Shining Moment". We will wear our eight t-shirts and re-watch the DVD's for years. This season is not going away, it cannot be forgotten, and neither can any of these players and coaches.

Carolina basketball, you did it: you won the title. Carolina fans, we did it: we enjoyed the ride. And, along the way, we combined to answer to ultimate question.

Yes indeed, the 2008-2009 Tar Heels will live forever: as National Champions.