This Date in History

[nycfan]

Carolina and State were scheduled for a 9 pm tip in Chapel Hill on January 16, 1991 but the launch of the U.S. and Coalition forces attack on Iraq, dubbed Desert Storm, led UNC and NCSU officials to postpone the game. Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein had invaded Kuwait on August 2, 1990, requiring but 2 days to occupy that country. A United Nations resolution gave Hussein until January 15, 1991 to renounce their conquest and withdraw their troops from Kuwait. When that did not happen Operation Desert Storm was initiated.



President George H.W. Bush spoke on television at 9:00 pm, announcing the opening of air attacks on Iraq. Bombardment, backed by a 42 nation coalition, began immediately. The 9:05 scheduled game was postponed by 8:00 pm. State was 8-3 and Carolina 13-1 (ranked #5). Both teams were 2-0 in league play. And it was Carolina/State. Tar Heel star Pete Chilcutt’s brother was a Marine and preparing to deploy. Team Captains Rick Fox and King Rice spoke to the Press in support of the postponement and expressed their concern for their teammate and his family. Coach Smith said the action made the game “inconsequential.” Carolina and State went on to play back-to-back, in Raleigh on February 6 (the Wolfpack won at home) and the next night Carolina took a win at home. That year UNC finished in 2nd place in the ACC (10-4) and won the conference tournament and lost to a Roy Williams-led Kansas team in the Final Four.



There was great concern on campus and around the country and world on that January night. Constant war had yet to become the norm. CNN brought the 42-day aerial attack on Baghdad into our homes 24-7. This conflict was the first Video Game War. Concomitantly, the processing of our sensibilities and the packaging of violence as ordinary was only a-borning. And the world was as yet intolerant of authoritarians taking territory by the Right of their Might. The numbness is pervasive of late.

I was in my car heading up to the game from our apartment when they announced it was officially postponed on the radio.

The postponement led to a back-to-back home and home tilt with State later in the season with the same referee crew. As a result, some mouthing off that Corchiani did at the refs the first night carried over to the start of the second game and Paparro (I think it was) called a technical foul on Corch in like the first minute or two of the game.

 

[nycfan]

I remember listening to those two games on the radio. I am still angry that we didn’t get the sweep.

We were lucky to nearly come back and beat State in the first game in Raleigh.

 

[grimes70]

Not a bad deal.

1917 The United States purchased three of the Virgin Islands—St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix—from Denmark for $25 million.

The U.S. Virgin Islands are a group of Caribbean islands and islets. A U.S. territory, it's known for white-sand beaches, reefs and verdant hills. St. Thomas island is home to the capital, Charlotte Amalie. To the east is the island of St. John, most of which comprises Virgin Islands National Park. St. Croix island and its historic towns, Christiansted and Frederiksted, are to the south.

 

[lawtig02]

Not a bad deal.

1917 The United States purchased three of the Virgin Islands—St. Thomas, St. John, and St. Croix—from Denmark for $25 million.

The U.S. Virgin Islands are a group of Caribbean islands and islets. A U.S. territory, it's known for white-sand beaches, reefs and verdant hills. St. Thomas island is home to the capital, Charlotte Amalie. To the east is the island of St. John, most of which comprises Virgin Islands National Park. St. Croix island and its historic towns, Christiansted and Frederiksted, are to the south.

Maybe the Danes would be willing to take the same amount for Greenland?

 

[donbosco]