By Caulton Tudor
Raleigh News and Observer
CHAPEL HILL — Basketball season is officially here.
We know this for certain because North Carolina coach Roy Williams has uncorked his first rant of 2011-12.
It happened Monday night and again Tuesday when Ol’ Roy went Oh Boy, fussing on and on about Tar Heels fans who may have indirectly sold their seats to Nevada-Las Vegas fans for Saturday’s game, a 90-80 loss in Las Vegas.
More likely, the North Carolina fans sold their tickets through web ticket exchange sites. Since the game was played in Las Vegas, it’s understandable that those tickets were picked up by UNLV fans. It’s also understandable that some fans found other things to do than watch November hoops in Las Vegas.
Asked about his radio comments, Williams this week cited a North Carolina vs. N.C. State game — probably in 2002 at the Smith Center — when lots of Wolfpack fans found tickets and made as much noise as the Tar Heels home crowd in a Wolfpack win.
“… if I’d had a BB gun, five million red shirts would have had a burned rear end. Because I just don’t like those kinds of things …,” Williams said.
He was coaching Kansas at the time. North Carolina was coached by former Tar Heels player and Williams assistant Matt Doherty.
Even though Williams was watching the game on television, it no doubt left a lasting impression.
But in making any sort of a gun reference, Roy took dead aim at his right foot.
It was vintage shoot-first, think-later Williams. He’s been at odds with North Carolina fans before, and virtually turned a Presbyterian College fan into a regional celebrity in 2009.
Once basketball season starts, Roy’s nerve endings get shorter than a Ty Zeller buzz cut and he wears his tongue on his sleeve — both of which create a ton of news interest and column fodder.
To be completely honest, I like a person who says what is really on his mind. It’s too bad politicians don’t come with “Wired by Roy” tags.
But when you keep snapping at the hands that feed you — North Carolina fans — you can only shoot your toes off.
It’s early. Try the decaf, Roy.