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

Caleb Wilson, Henri Veesaar, Seth Trimble Earn All-ACC Basketball Honors
UNC freshman forward Caleb Wilson earned first-team All-ACC Men's Basketball honors and red-shirt junior center Henri Veesaar made the second team, the ACC announced Monday...
Mon Mar 9, 2026

Video: Carolina Insider - Interview With Tyler Hansbrough
North Carolina Basketball legend Tyler Hansbrough joins Jones Angell and Adam Lucas on the Carolina Insider podcast to recap the Tar Heels' loss at Duke,...
Mon Mar 9, 2026

UNC Men's Basketball falls to No. 19 in AP Top 25 poll after splitting two games
North Carolina dropped two spots to No. 19 in the Associated Press Top 25 men’s college basketball poll after splitting its final two regular-season games...
Mon Mar 9, 2026

Inside Out Or Else For UNC Basketball
UNC doesn't have Caleb Wilson moving forward. The ball has got to go through Henri Veesaar. He’s the best player and a very good passer,...
Mon Mar 9, 2026