University of North Carolina Athletics
Fast Break Breakfast To Include Piece Of History
September 23, 2015 | Men's Basketball
By Adam Lucas
Roy Williams' Fast Break Against Cancer breakfast will reach a milestone this year when it's held next Friday, Oct. 2, at 8 a.m. at the Smith Center. The event, now in its 11th year, will surpass $2 million in total donations this year. One hundred percent of those donations have gone to fund cancer research.
But Williams isn't content just to ease past the landmark. He wants to shatter it. Every Fast Break breakfast has included a live auction of multiple Carolina basketball-related items. This year's auction, however, will include the most unique item in the history of Fast Break: a Carolina blue office chair that was used by Dean Smith when the Tar Heel basketball offices were located in Carmichael Auditorium. The possibilities for the genius the chair has seen are endless: the legendary coach drew up gameplans and met with players while sitting in the perfect blue leather.
The chair remained in Carmichael when Smith and the Tar Heels moved to the Smith Center. It was also used by Hall of Fame women's basketball coach Sylvia Hatchell.
The one-of-a-kind piece of memorabilia would be perfectly at home in the Carolina Basketball Museum. Instead, it will go into the personal collection of one very fortunate Tar Heel fan.
The live auction promises to be one of the highlights of what has become an important event on the annual UNC basketball calendar. Oct. 2 also marks the first practice of the 2015-16 season, one in which Williams' club is expected to be among the national contenders. This year's Fast Break speaker will be BYU head coach Dave Rose, a six-year survivor of pancreatic cancer. Doors open at 7 a.m. for the silent auction.
The live auction--including Dean Smith's office chair--will be part of the seated breakfast and program, which will conclude by 9:30 a.m. Tickets can be purchased online or by calling 919-966-5905. Fans who cannot attend the auction but want to participate in bidding for the chair or the other unique auction items should call 919-966-5905 to get information on proxy bidding.
Questions about the event or about any of the auction items can be directed to Jennifer Bowman at 919-445-4204 or via email.
