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: TarHeel247 Podcast - What to Make of Summer Basketball NarrativesSummer basketball information is popular and entertaining among North Carolina fans. But what is there to make of everything that the media reports and fans...
Thu Jul 16, 2026Video: Locked On Tar Heels - Terrence Brown's Leadership, UNC Camp Session 2 Takeaways
UNC Basketball has a new on-court leader in Terrence Brown. Can his relentless competitiveness elevate the Tar Heels? Coach Rob discusses the second session of...
Thu Jul 16, 2026
Former UNC Basketball Players Mourn Changes in Chapel Hill: 'It's Not Franklin Street Anymore'
Gone are beloved Chapel Hill staples like The Rathskeller, Schoolkids Records, Bub O'Malley's, Pepper's, Spanky's, and others that served generations of UNC students along Franklin...
Thu Jul 16, 2026
Seth Trimble pours in 24 points; RJ Davis logs double-double in NBA Summer League
Seth Trimble put up 24-points at the NBA Summer League on Wednesday night, while former UNC teammate R.J. Davis produced an impressive double-double. Washington has...
Thu Jul 16, 2026