University of North Carolina Athletics
Heels Making Noise On The Sidelines
January 21, 2000 | Men's Basketball
Jan. 21, 2000
by Bill Pate
Athletic Media Relations Student Assistant
For Brian Bersticker and Ronald Curry the 1999-2000 basketball season has been a learning experience. Sidelined by injuries, the two Tar Heels have found new ways to appreciate the game and to motivate their teammates from the sidelines.
Opening the season, the future looked bright for Bersticker, a Virginia Beach, Va. native. Through the first few games Bersticker shot 70.6 percent from the field including a 12 point performance in the championship game of the Maui Classic. However, on December 3 Bersticker's fortunes would turn for the worse. Just five minutes into the fifth game of the season, Bersticker went down with a fractured bone in his left foot. Three days later Director of Sports Medicine Dr. Tim Taft inserted a screw and performed a bone graft, leaving Bersticker with approximately 10 weeks to recover and cheer from the sideline.
"Everyday you just try to stay positive and remain focused," says Bersticker. "Obviously Ronald and I can't be out on the court right now, but we go to the practices every day and do our rehab trying to get better and remain positive."
As Bersticker continues his rehabilitation and gets stronger he has learned to put things in perspective and make the most out of every situation.
"I'm the type of person who believes everything happens for a reason," says Bersticker. "The Lord sent this to me that one day in December and this will affect my life. I just stay positive and try to do whatever I can." A probable mid to late February return makes Bersticker's season somewhat more optimistic, but for Curry the prognosis isn't as promising.
Carolina's two-sport star entered the football season after an impressive MVP performance in last year's Las Vegas Bowl. The team leader in total offense, Curry looked to have an impressive year until disaster struck in Atlanta, as Curry suffered a ruptured Achilles tendon against the Yellow Jackets. Following surgery, the Hampton, Va. native learned that he would miss not only the remaining football season, but the entire basketball season as well.
"As Brian said, everything happens for a reason, but we're different in that he's going to play again and I will be a cheerleader all season," says Curry.
Despite the injury and all the adversity, Curry holds an excellent attitude. "You just put things into perspective and realize that it is just a game and that God can take it from you at any time," Curry says. "I definitely have to deal with the heartaches any given day and have to be positive and come back a better player. Being out of the game really helps you realize these things."
"Ronald and Brian both have worked hard since they suffered their injuries," Caroliana head coach Bill Guthridge says. "They've remained positive and encouraged their teammates from the sidelines."
While physically out of action, both Curry and Bersticker have shown how important their encouragement is to the team. Supplying emotional support at all practices and games, the two healing Heels are still an integral part of this year's Tar Heels.
"We sit on the sidelines during practice and keep everyone involved and try to push the other guys," says Bersticker. "We try to motivate the team and they in return help us."
While support from teammates and coaches helps tremendously, it is the huge outpouring from fans that the two stars equally credit.
"The fan support has been tremendous," notes Curry. "Everyone comes up to me and tells me they're sorry I got hurt and hope my recovery is positive. There is a lot of fan support."
For Bersticker, the support has been much more anticipatory as fans and teammates alike await a probable late season impact by the 6-10, forward/center.
While Bersticker eagerly awaits a late season chance for playing time, Curry is using the season as chance to become more knowledgeable of the game. "You just come to learn a lot of new thing watching the games from a different perspective," says Curry. As Curry continues to develop his basketball knowledge this season, fans patiently anticipate his return next season. Already an explosive player and tenacious defender, Curry hopes to couple these talents with the new knowledge his sideline perspective is teaching him.
Despite the optimism that Curry and Bersticker exhibit, the road to health isn't always so easy to accept and deal with. In addition to the pain of rehabilitation and healing, there is a mental side to injury not seen by the public eye.
"I've learned to deal with everything, but mentally it has been the most difficult," said Bersticker. "Physically you can heal and eventually work yourself back into physical shape, but dealing mentally with the absence of not playing is all the more difficult."
Due to the on court determination and heart exhibited by Bersticker and Curry before their injuries, Carolina fans should have little doubt that these valuable Tar Heels have the will and mental toughness to return.
