In a story that ran in Sunday’s N&O, former North Carolina coach Matt Doherty said that, thanks to a February heart-to-heart with current head coach Roy Williams, he doesn’t feel like a black sheep in the Tar Heel family anymore, and has “forgiven the people that really matter to me,’’ after being forced to resign six years ago.
Here are some additional excerpts from the hour-plus long interview, which took place in Doherty’s office last Thursday at Southern Methodist University in Dallas:
As a starter on North Carolina’s 2005 national championship team, swingman Rashad McCants earned the reputation as an athletic scorer, a determined winner — and a moody player.
The latter is a stigma that followed him to the NBA, and that he thinks has helped keep him unsigned this offseason, despite the fact that he has averaged 10 points, 2 rebounds and 1.3 assists over four pro seasons.
Monday's photo-op at The White House made me think of a different UNC press conference, one more important to the health of the program but not quite as formal.
Matt Doherty's "resignation" in April 2003:
N.C. State's a 20-point underdog for tonight's game at No. 3 UNC. The Wolfpack has pulled off an upset at Chapel Hill before. It might not happen tonight, so here are five Wolfpack wins, since 1994, to remember:
"The Red Smith Center"
