North Carolina Basketball: Top-Ranked on the Court, Good Samaritans Off

The consensus No. 1 North Carolina Tar Heels had quite the trip to Hawaii this Thanksgiving week. They embarrassed Chaminade by 45, seemingly yawned their way to a 29-point victory over Oregon, and then handled a very solid Notre Dame team by 15 in the Maui Invitational championship game.

They weren't finished.

As their plane was set to leave the airport, a flight attendant noticed an unconscious 45-year-old man who could not be revived. She screamed for help, and it came in the form of All-American Tyler Hansbrough and some others.

Athletes to the Rescue

On the way out of Hawaii after a Maui Invitational win, Tyler Hansbrough and a pair of other Tar Heels come to the aid of an unconscious man on their airplane. The teammates carry the man to paramedics, who are able to revive him. Click through to see some other heroes from the world of sports.

Alberto E. Rodriguez, Getty Images

UFC fighter Goran Reljic saves the lives of two men whose car plummeted into the Adriatic Sea.

Eric Jamison, AP

Tony Romo is well known for being a star quarterback and the boyfriend of singer Jessica Simpson, but for one Texas couple, he's also a knight in shining armor. Returning home after Dallas beat Cleveland earlier this season, Romo pulled over to assist Bill and Sharon White, who were stranded on the side of the road after their car tire blew out.

Scott Boehm, Getty Images

Former college and NFL star Brian Bosworth came to the aid of a woman who crashed her car into a ditch in Canada this past July.

Bernstein Associates / Getty Images

On July 3, Kansas City Chiefs Pro Bowl tight end Tony Gonzalez came to the aid of man choking to death in a Huntington Beach restaurant. "Tony saved my life. There's no doubt," the Chargers fan said.

Greg Trott, Getty Images

Criminals should think twice before entering the home of Noah Herron. The Packers running back used a post from his bed to foil a burglar in June.

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A man who tried to extort an acquaintance of Terrell Brandon in February got more than he bargained for when the former NBA star set a trap for the crook and then snared him with the help of a friend.

Andy Hayt, NBAE / Getty Images

NASCAR's Dario Franchitti was caught without his pants on, but not without his wits, when a would-be robber surprised him in his home in January. Franchitti, wearing just his boxers, used his car (naturally) to help track down the intruder.

John Raoux, AP

Arizona quarterback Willie Tuitama and two teammates chased down a man who stole an armful of Wildcats football jerseys from a store in 2006. "I am glad we could help out," Tuitama said.

Elaine Thompson, AP

Benji Radach teaches an armed robber that it's never wise to mess with a mixed martial arts fighter. While Radach was out to eat at a diner a couple of years ago in Vancouer, he used his MMA skills to take down a man with a loaded gun who tried to rob the cash register.

Ross Dettman, Getty Images

Hansbrough, teammate Deon Thompson and video coordinator Eric Hoots then lifted 45-year-old Melvin Ridley into the air. Holding him chest-high, they carried him to the galley, where paramedics rendered aid for nearly 30 minutes.

"It was a scary situation," North Carolina basketball coach Roy Williams said, "but I was proud to see how our guys responded. I'm sure there are some people who saw that and thought, 'Those are some really good kids on the North Carolina basketball team.'"

I agree. It's easy to get caught up in the hating game when it comes to North Carolina basketball, because you can get oversaturated with seeing them plastered all over the TV. Plus, they are head and shoulders better than any other basketball team. Jealousy breeds hatred, and when our favorite team isn't the best, we have a tendency to hate the best.

This selfless and classy act by two members of the Tar Heels team and one of their staff serves as a nice reminder that these are good guys. It's easy to say that any one of us on that plane would have done the same thing, but we weren't in the situation. It's a rare thing to get the call to help another person in a situation like this, and props to the UNC boys for answering that call.

As for the unconscious man? He had a seizure and he's reportedly on his way home today. His cousin has a message for the team:

"I wasn't able to tell those players how much I appreciated their help. We're going to do everything we can to get in touch with them and to let them know how much (their actions) meant to us. They were class acts."

I'm pretty sure they'll find out, one way or another.

Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)

11-30-2008 @ 7:29AM

Ted said...

I have no feelings one way or the other for the NC Tar Heels, but the author of this news story seems to be kissing their a##es for some reason.

According to the story, 2 players and a technician carried the guy to the galley where the paramedics jumped in. How heroic is that? They did nothing to put themselves in danger or risk bodily injury.

It's hardly a "selfless and classy act". It's only the kind of thing that any moral and decent person would do. I'd rate it right up there with opening a door or helping to handle luggage for an elderly person.

Obviously, the author (Matt Snyder) lives by a different code.

Mr. Snyder, find a better human interest story next time. Maybe a firefighter rescuing a cat. At least he'd have to climb a ladder.

11-30-2008 @ 12:34PM

strbo said...

Ted - you're a jackass

11-30-2008 @ 8:10AM

Trey said...

Sorry Ted, you just don't get it and probably never will. The tendency is to NEVER get involved (not me, it's not my problem)! But we're more than willing to slow down and look, getting in the way or slowing others that can help! These three were able to get this man to an area that is much easier to work on him with the equipment they brought. While the article fails to mention this mans size or seat position (window, aisle) it is NEVER easy to work on someone in one! TRY IT! Kudos to those guys and the para-meds involved. 30 minutes to stabilize on a plane means there was more involved. Seizures kill! 28 year retired firefighter/rescueman!

11-30-2008 @ 11:07AM

Wiggy said...

You are sooooo typical of what is wrong with this country today!!!!!!!! Me, me, me!!!!!!!! Nuff said!

11-30-2008 @ 11:30AM

Dave said...

All you morons slamming Ted are whats wrong with this world, not Ted. Ted didn't say he wouldn't help... he said EVERYONE should help in the situation. The author made this team out to be part of boys town gone right. Big boy players carried man to get help. People always let the big guys carry the injured guy. Good for UNC and good for society but a story? Like Tony Romo is the old hero for taking a dude to the movies or changing a tire... ALL MEN THAT TAKE PRIDE IN THEMSELVES DO THIS! It happens every minute of everyday!

11-30-2008 @ 11:42AM

Matt Snyder said...

Ted:
Just passing along the story. Yes, it is selfless because the players gained nothing from the act. If you don't think it's classy, well, I can't help you.

I don't live by a different code. I do think any one of us should have helped if put in the same situation. The sad fact is, however, that many people wouldn't have a done a thing. That's more a commentary on anything.

11-30-2008 @ 3:37PM

Harry said...

You are more that a jackass.

11-30-2008 @ 7:49AM

tedsanass said...

And what have you done lately for your fellow man, Ted? Probably not much. You would have sat on your fat a55 and continued to poor drinks down your throat. You probably would have trampled the guy at Maulwarts if given the chance. You are an embarassment to the human race and we eagerly await you early demise.

11-30-2008 @ 10:34AM

tedsanassisanass said...

You should have stayed in school past the third grade. What is to "poor" a drink? And "await you early demise"? Put ALL the letters in there next time.

11-30-2008 @ 8:07AM

Bobby said...

Ted, your tired of getting your ass whipped by NC.

11-30-2008 @ 8:26AM

Jack said...

Ted is an ass....!

11-30-2008 @ 8:50AM

Deltagirl said...

Ted, get a life, you are messed up.

11-30-2008 @ 8:58AM

Tom Walker said...

Wonderful story. The kids on the team didn't demand any kind of credit. To blame them for "no big deal" seems so unkind, so modern, and a general problem these days.

They didn't go into a burning building.

They did the right thing fast--using their athletic skills in a totally good way.

On a personal note, I thought it very nice to hear a good news athletic story.

11-30-2008 @ 3:43PM

You are so right.....Look at all the sports people that are always in some kind of trouble...........and then judge these athletes. Which do you prefer?????

11-30-2008 @ 9:00AM

Robert said...

My only issue is that they said "Tyler Hansborough and a pair of other Tar Heels". Forgive me, but why not actually mention the pair by name? I know Tyler is probably the best player on that team now, but if this is such a great thing, which I'm not saying it isn't, why not mention everyone and not just the star player? With all the negative news going on and especially when it comes to athletes, it's nice for once to give credit where it is due. Steroids? They'll mention every single person by name and what team they play for.

So let's do it in this case, too.

11-30-2008 @ 11:43AM

The names of Deon Thompson and Eric Hoots are definitely mentioned. I would never pay attention only to the star when others were equally as helpful.

11-30-2008 @ 9:13AM

Greg Tharp said...

WONDER IF THIS PIECE WILL GET THE SAME MEDIA ATTENTION AS THE BOGUS DUKE LACROSSE RAPE CHARGES???NOT

11-30-2008 @ 9:14AM

email4kh said...

Scores of people did the same kind of thing yesterday. I'm sure the articles about them are forthcoming. Yeah.

11-30-2008 @ 9:18AM

Elaine Francis said...

I want to send my congrats to the man who was carried to an area where the medics could attend him,,,no thanks to Ted, who knows what anyone would do in this situation.all I can say is that my faith in the Heels all these many years has been well founded. Boo to you Ted.

GO HEELS !!!!