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
UNC suspends discussions on basketball arena indefinitelyUNC has suspended discussions about the future of the Smith Center until the Tar Heels hire their next men’s basketball coach and that coach has...
Sun Mar 29, 2026Tommy Lloyd: 'Arizona is going to have another good coach after me'
UNC Basketball coaching target Tommy Lloyd after Arizona beat Purdue to advance to the Final Four: "My number one responsibility is to fight to protect...
Sun Mar 29, 2026
Doug Moe was a one-of-kind, once-in-a-lifetime legend for the Nuggets
What made Doug Moe unique and set him apart from the crowd, was his personality. He was carefree and fun-loving away from the game. His...
Sun Mar 29, 2026
What Will Happen to the Dean Dome? Here Are the Top Options.
The future of the arena that has housed North Carolina Basketball for four decades became a hot-button issue when reports from The News & Observer,...
Sat Mar 28, 2026