Lucas: Tar Heels Brighten Holidays

By Adam Lucas

Shoppers at an area Target were treated to a surprise on Wednesday afternoon when they were joined in the aisles by a Tar Heel celebrity.

But enough about Remington. The Carolina basketball team was also there.

As is frequently the case wherever he goes, Remington—the rehabilitative facility dog who works with athletic trainer Terri Jo Rucinski and is perhaps the most universally beloved figure within the athletic department—was the main attraction when he and Terri Jo stopped by to do some regular shopping.

The unofficial tally of shoppers who stopped Remington for a photo was two. The unofficial tally of shoppers who stopped Armando Bacot for a photo was zero.

It's unusual for the 6-foot-11 Bacot to go undetected anywhere in college basketball country. It was an asset on Wednesday, though, because it enabled him to shop more efficiently on the Tar Heels' annual assignment to brighten the holidays of some area children.

Every year, the entire Carolina basketball team signs basketballs that are sold to fans. And every year, the proceeds from those signatures fund this trip, which this year benefited both the Me Fine Foundation and a local school. In total, the Tar Heels spent approximately $6,000.

"You are helping families with kids who are facing a medical crisis," Me Fine executive director Joey Powell told the team before they began shopping. "This is impactful stuff. Christmas would not have happened in the same way in the homes of these families if it was not for you."

Bacot has worked with Me Fine for two years. His influence has helped raise the profile of the organization, which served a record 63 families this Christmas.

"If it were not for you, we would have had to tell some social workers no," program director Meghan Fox told the team. "Without you, we couldn't have fulfilled all the needs."

And then she turned the Tar Heels loose in the aisles. Each player was given a wish list authored by two kids. Some were very young—""This is my first time shopping for a two year old," said Seth Trimble—but some were not much younger than the players who were doing the shopping.

A couple hours earlier, the Tar Heels had been practicing under the direction of Hubert Davis, focusing on rebounding and transition offense. Now, wandering the aisles, they were facing much tougher predicaments.

"I need," said Elliot Cadeau, "a stuffed animal that's a cat."

"I'm looking," said James Okonkwo, "for a cause and effect shape sorter." Then he paused and offered a puzzled look. "What exactly is a cause and effect shape sorter?"

Just like last year, sophomores Jalen Washington and Seth Trimble were two of the standout shoppers, along with RJ Davis. Washington meticulously scanned every item to make sure he was maximizing every dollar; Davis went with more of an eyeball method but still wound up just $6 away from the goal.

As two cars were packed full of gifts, Zayden High, Jae'Lyn Withers and Bacot stood by one of the checkout registers dedicated to scanning the Tar Heel items. The trio had completed their shopping assignment and located two small packages of their favorite chocolate truffles. They were happily passing out one to each member of the team, trying to convert them to the wonder of the truffle (they really were surprisingly good).

With Remington just a few feet away and multiple cars packed full of items to make it a little brighter Christmas for numerous families courtesy of Carolina Basketball, it seemed like the right time to ask noted scholar Rob Landry an important quantitative question: If Bacot and Remington walked down Franklin Street, who would be stopped more often for photos?

Landry pondered the question.

"I think it would be Armando," he said.

"But it would be close."

Scoreboard Slider

University of North Carolina Athletics

Players Mentioned

Armando Bacot

Elliot Cadeau

RJ Davis

Zayden High

Rob Landry

James Okonkwo

Seth Trimble

Jalen Washington

Jae'Lyn Withers

Related Videos