When Timo Makkonen played, UNC was smokin'
Posted Mar 11, 2010
Back when smoking was allowed in sports arenas, coach Red Auerbach signaled to Boston Celtics fans late in a game that a victory was in hand by smoking a cigar. At North Carolina in the early '80s, coach Dean Smith had his version of a victory cigar. About the time the pep band began playing the victory song during games in the 1982, 1983 and 1984 seasons, Smith sent Timo Makkonen, a 6-foot-10 center from Finland, onto the Carmichael Auditorium court.
(Charlotte Observer)
Related: Basketball, Basketball Recruiting
Video: IC Podcast - Building Process Continues for UNC BasketballGreg Barnes and Tommy Ashley of Inside Carolina discuss the latest on Michael Malone's process of rebuilding UNC's basketball program, news out of the Smith...
Tue Apr 14, 2026UNC basketball coach Michael Malone carries on Tar Heels' connection to New York
Steve Newmark, who spearheaded UNC’s coaching search, chatted with Michael Malone for about an hour during their initial conversation. "He is a basketball encyclopedia. He...
Tue Apr 14, 2026
Video: IC Podcast - A Monday for the Ages in Carolina Basketball
Sherrell McMillan, Spencer Haskell, and Tommy Ashley of Inside Carolina discuss the importance of transfer commit Neoklis Avdalas, the return of Jarin Stevenson, the hiring...
Tue Apr 14, 2026
Carolina Insider Podcast: Basketball Updates, Spring Football, Youssef Shamel, Jason Kosmicki
Transfer portal season means uncertainty for UNC Basketball (4:25). Spring football is underway as the Tar Heels look for big improvement (15:19). Denver Nuggets play-by-play...
Tue Apr 14, 2026