Maui Invitational - UNC

[Canesluver]

Hi, folks -- I'm writing from the beautiful Westin Resort in Maui. My travel agency brought about 150 UNC fans to see the team play in the Maui Invitational. I'm helping to escort the group.

In all honesty, I'm more a State fan, but when asked to join the group by our Director of Leisure Groups and Sports Packages, I couldn't turn down a free trip to Hawaii!

All the teams of the 8 schools invited are staying here -- closest/nicest hotel to the Civic Center (i.e. kind of like a high school gymn) where the games will be played. Our information desk is right in the path that the teams take to get to busses for practices, etc. It's not hard to spot basketball players in a crowd. I greeted Coach Williams on his way to breakfast.

Funny story -- this morning we had a continental breakfast and info session set up for our group. As things were winding down and we were heading downstairs, 4 players for Texas came wandering in looking lost. I asked them if they needed help and they said they were a little lost. So I told them I had a map. As they huddled around me as I started to unfold the hotel map, I stopped and looked up at them and said, "I'll help you find where your breakfast room is, but first you have to say, 'Let's go Heels!" :lol: But you know what? They DID!! :lol: Well... they didn't shout it or anything, but I enjoyed my snarky prank.... :p

And a bit later while I was having lunch at a poolside restaurant, Dean Smith stopped to check out a menu. I got up and shook hands with him -- gotta admit it's pretty cool to touch a living legend.... no matter what team he was associated with.

UNC plays their first game against BYU tomorrow. It's on ESPN2 at 9:00pm Eastern. Look for me.......

[goalie33]

Is it too late to FedEx you a Santa Clara t-shirt?

SC beat UNC in basketball and handed the UNC women's soccer team their most devastating defeat of all time in the same week...I love it.

[Mona]

Have fun CL..and don't forget to say GO PACK under your breath every chance you get!! ;)

[Turbulence]

Awesome!
Even if you do have to root for the heels, that's a good place to have to do it.
Maui looks beautiful....I'll be going in January. :D I can't wait.

[nccanes]

Have a blast CL - I know you will! I'll look for you on TV!

Aloha!

[Canesluver]

Just got back from the 1st game. UNC pretty much routed BYU.

Hubbie called me on my cell -- he said he saw me. Some camera guys had our bleachers chant "E - A- Sports."

One UNC player- don't remember who - got pushed down under the net and slid into a some folding chairs and bruised his right shoulder blade. I yelled, "There's no blood - go back and play." Basketball players.... wimps... :lol:

The Lahaina Civic Center.... I think my high school gymn was nicer.

Peace .... out......

[Stormbringer]

...and handed the UNC women's soccer team their most devastating defeat of all time in the same week...I love it.

Actually, if it makes you State and Duke fans feel better, that's not the only time Santa Clara beat the UNC women in the NCAA. The Broncos (unfortunately) handed the Lady Heels a NCAA defeat in 2001. Oh well...just another "Oops!" to add to the legendary shirt highlighting the Lady Heels' incredible twenty or so years, with only five or six "Oops!", counting this year's. :beatup: :evil:

Very cool that you met Dean and are in the Aloha State, CL. :) Question for you: How's the AC in there? The most common complaint about the Maui in the past two or three years has been that it is incredibly hot in there. It might have been a little better last year...I remember the year before last, a lot of players on various teams (including Roy Williams' then current team, Kansas) were suffering from cramps due to the intense heat.

Last but not least, http://metroboards.homelinux.com:443/hockey/forums/metrofolder/woot.gif for the Heels!!

BTW, say all you want about the school I was named after...but remember: Who beat Miami this year and who didn't? AND, who got in a bowl this year and who didn't? :beatup: :p ;)

[Canesluver]

The most common complaint about the Maui in the past two or three years has been that it is incredibly hot in there. It might have been a little better last year...I remember the year before last, a lot of players on various teams (including Roy Williams' then current team, Kansas) were suffering from cramps due to the intense heat.

It was actually chilly. The place got air-conditioned 3 years ago. Me and my friend, Amy's, hair was actually blowing around because we were right under a vent.

Fun to sit that close to the action - we were packed like sardines in those bleachers.

[goalie33]

...and handed the UNC women's soccer team their most devastating defeat of all time in the same week...I love it.

Actually, if it makes you State and Duke fans feel better, that's not the only time Santa Clara beat the UNC women in the NCAA. The Broncos (unfortunately) handed the Lady Heels a NCAA defeat in 2001. Oh well...just another "Oops!" to add to the legendary shirt highlighting the Lady Heels' incredible twenty or so years, with only five or six "Oops!", counting this year's. :beatup: :evil:

I knew about that loss (dynasty teams can't seem to make it past 49 games undefeated, between the UNC women and Arsenal), but this one is easily the biggest in the history of the program. This is the first year ever that UNC has failed to win either the ACC or NCAA title. On the upside for the rest of the country's young forwards, Heather O'Reilly is going to have to fight to keep her spot on the national team, as her touch has been awful lately.

[Mona]

BTW, say all you want about the school I was named after...but remember: Who beat Miami this year and who didn't? AND, who got in a bowl this year and who didn't? :beatup: :p ;)

Since my Pack is home for the holidays, I have to say that the Tar Heel football team taught them the words to "I'll Be Home For Christmas" since they knew them soooo well!! :p :beatup:

[puck_it]

good one mona :D

[guinevere]

Pffffffft! (thats for you - my friend Mona)

[guinevere]

Pffffffft! (thats for you - my friend Mona)

[Mona]

Pffffffft! (thats for you - my friend Mona)

:p :p :D

Thanks puck_it.. ;)

[Mona]

Pffffffft! (thats for you - my friend Mona)

:p :p :D

Thanks puck_it.. ;)