UNC supports 28 varsity sports. In this decade, women’s soccer, field hockey, women’s lacrosse, and both men’s and women’s tennis have added to the University of National Champions’ accomplished list of title winners. Dean Smith, when asked about UNC being a basketball school, once famously said that UNC was in fact a women’s soccer school.
I shared a Spanish 3 class with Mia Hamm and a couple of other soccer players. I had no idea they would go on to become national celebrities and World Cup champions.
I followed their journey to and through that World Cup closely.
Earlier this week, we asked how much we’d be willing to spend on men’s basketball. The most common answer: whatever it takes. That’s a fair answer, but at some point, those resources start to come at the expense of other sports, even at UNC. I’m a bit conflicted on that one.
So, what sports besides basketball (both men’s and women’s) and football do you follow, if any? Why?
For me, it’s tennis, men’s and women’s. I grew up with a mother who was incredibly passionate about the sport, self-taught. She achieved a top 10 ranking in the state of Alabama at one point in an age group 10 years younger. She wasn’t the obvious athlete, but if she got her racket on a ball, it was going exactly where she wanted. She just out-practiced and out-smarted most of her opponents, and I was in tow for a lot of those practices and matches.
What about you? Let us know in the comments below.
