Dear Mike:
I am sorry to hear that you no longer have an interest in learning more about Duke University, however I do want you to know that my staff and I wish you the very best in your college career. You are a fine young man and you should make an immediate impact on whatever you choose.
Sincerely,
Mike Krzyzewski
While the Carolina Tar Heels continued their quest last night for another NCAA men’s basketball title, you can see the Heels play anytime at the Carolina Basketball Museum in Chapel Hill.
Located next to the Dean E. Smith Center, the museum encompasses the entire history of men’s basketball at the University of North Carolina.
It opened in January, as an upgrade from the memorabilia room at the Smith Center.
Former Post employee Jerry Dudley, copy editor Paris Goodnight and I recently took a day trip to Chapel Hill to see the museum. Jerry and I have been to several museums together along with some air shows, and we were happy to have Paris along for this trip.
We spent a couple of hours at the museum, but if you looked at every video screen and display, you could easily spend half the day there.
Michael Jordan is the only Tar Heel to have his own display case. I got a kick out of reading the letter that Coach K sent him.
There’s also a lot of information about longtime coach Dean Smith.
We saw a lot of signed basketballs, and players’ shoes and jerseys.
There’s the mask that Tyler Hansbrough wore last season when he got his nose broken against Duke. Some of the jerseys still have blood on them from on-court clashes.
I’ve followed Tar Heel basketball for a long time and I’ve been a serious fan since 1980. It was hard for me to pick out one thing I liked best ó I liked the whole place. I like to take my time and go through and look at everything.
I guess I most enjoyed seeing the national championship trophy case.
I thought Hansbrough’s mask was getting a little personal.
There’s no gift shop there. We went over to the UNC student stores and bought some collectible items, then walked the shops on Franklin Street. We also visited the Smith Center and Kenan Stadium.
The visitors at the basketball museum were hanging on the cases, reading every word. A few little girls had on their Carolina cheerleading outfits.
We had a great visit, but I don’t think it’s a place non-Tar Heel fans would enjoy.
Joel Honeycutt is a press operator for the Post.