East German Judge

March 26th, 2015 at 2:11 PM ^

I understand that, but at what point does it become insignificant, at $100, $50, or $20.  My point was in relation to what he was worth and how much they contributed to his legacy.  So Michael Jordan and James Worthy will get a check, as well as all the other players, the financial institution handling this will easily charge $5 - $10 a check.  Would not the $27,000 plus trust administration cost be better spent on one donation to the scholarship fund at UNC or some other charity like the The American Cancer Foundation?

MGoFisticuffs

March 26th, 2015 at 2:40 PM ^

Luckily, we belive in free will here in the good ol' USA. People can spend their hard earned money on whatever they want.

Yes, the money I spent on a BMW over the holidays could have fed hundreds of children in Africa. But feeding starving children isn't the incentive that caused me to work my ass off to be able to afford it. 

Yostbound and Down

March 26th, 2015 at 1:28 PM ^

CHAPEL HILL- The NCAA has opened an investigation into allegations of impermissible benefits from the estate of former Tarheel basketball coach Dean Smith.

 

/only half joking

LSAClassOf2000

March 26th, 2015 at 2:01 PM ^

That's an awesome gesture from Smith, and consistent with who he was widely understood to be as a person, I would think. The simple instructions he left - "enjoy a dinner out, compliments of Coach Smith" - we pretty nice, and hopefully a fair number of those players raise a glass to their former coach. 

Erik_in_Dayton

March 26th, 2015 at 2:13 PM ^

 His anti-segregation efforts are described in the link below. 

http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/ncaab-the-dagger/dean-smith-was-as-progressive-away-from-the-court-as-on-it-032902410.html

A sampe of the article:

He exerted his influence to help a black graduate student buy a home in an all-white neighborhood. He did the same to integrate Chapel Hill restaurants notorious for turning away black customers. He also recruited Scott to North Carolina in 1966 at a time when most other top Southern programs were still resistant to bringing in black players, an instrumental moment in the desegregation of the Atlantic Coast Conference.

ST3

March 26th, 2015 at 2:17 PM ^

I'm giving $200 to all MGoMembers who upvote this post. Just leave your bank account info in the comments so my estate can wire you the money.

The Mad Hatter

March 26th, 2015 at 2:44 PM ^

So what if the amount of $ was insignificant to his estate?  He cared enough about his players to do something for them, even if it was just a nice meal out and a chance to reminicse about their past glories.

More people should be like this.

LBSS

March 26th, 2015 at 4:52 PM ^

As I Duke fan, I say, RIP Dean Smith. You were a hell of a coach and a really nice dude, and this is a super cool thing that you did. 

Firstbase

March 26th, 2015 at 8:51 PM ^

...as a final "thank you card" from Dean. Just a nice reminder that his players meant something to him.  Not really meant as financial aid. The players can go out and have a nice dinner and drinks on Dean and remember the good old days.