Just a year ago, North Carolina Tar Heel fans were writhing in anticipation. Like a pack of coyotes, they were hungrily salivating and yapping all around the country as they awaited the answer to one of the most significant questions in college basketball: would Tyler Hansbrough forego his senior season and bolt to the NBA? In the Jerry Maguire era of “show me the money,” many speculated that the “money” in the NBA was just too good to pass up. Come on, Hansbrough had just been named the national player of the year, and nearly every NBA draft expert had him as a top ten pick. So, why on earth would Hansbrough take the chance? I mean, he might get hurt, right? Who knows what might happen? The smart and financially responsible choice was to “take the money and run.” But, once in a while, we see a young person use his heart and not his “pocketbook” to lead him to this conclusion: being a national champion has no price tag. So, in spite of the naysayers, Tyler Hansbrough delighted his faithful fans and announced that he would return to UNC for one last chance to become a champion.

What many people don’t know is that at 8 years old, Greg Hansbrough (Tyler’s older brother) underwent  surgery to remove a tumor from his brain stem. Young Tyler had to watch his brother, best friend, and greatest competitor be reduced to learning simple things, such as walking, all over again. Their mother, Tami, explains, "So, Tyler was old enough that he saw the challenges and saw Greg struggle and overcome things that were so incredible for actually our whole family and that made an impact on him."  Tyler and Greg played ball together. So in honor of his brother, Tyler elected to wear Greg’s number (50) after he earned a scholarship to play as a Tar Heel at UNC.

Well, as it rarely happens, the fairy tale has come true. Monday night, April 6, 2009, Tyler and company cut down the nets in Detroit, as UNC won its 5th NCAA championship. Talk about karma. Not often do we see character traits like “commitment” and “loyalty” be rewarded, at least not in such an overtly glorious fashion. I may not be a fan of the powder blue Heels, but I can’t help but celebrate the example that Tyler has displayed to a nation full of kids like Terrell Owens and Michael Vick — kids that seek fame and glory for THEMSELVES — kids that would sell their soul to be a professional athlete at any cost.

“Show me the money”? No, I say, “Show me the moxie.” That’s right, moxie is what propelled Hansbrough and his teammates to the pinnacle of true athletics, a college championship. A reward that has little “instant gratification,” at least when referring to fast cars and big mansions. No, their reward will be a lifetime of personal satisfaction — that their hard work, team mentality, and most important, commitment has bought them something that money can’t buy, an NCAA college basketball championship.

To celebrate a little local Midwest fairly tale, the University of Louisville Lady Cards have earned their first trip to the NCAA Women’s Basketball Championship game in St. Louis. They will face their greatest Big East conference foe, the University of Connecticut Huskies, for the women's NCAA championship. Speaking of “moxie,” the Cardinals are led by senior, Angel McCoughtry, in their first ever championship game appearance. Guess what…last year Angel passed up a sure chance to play in the WNBA. Yes, like Hansbrough, she too wanted the opportunity to share this experience with her team and the city of Louisville — an opportunity to make history and create eternal memories, rather than earning “big money.”

Congratulations North Carolina and Louisville, you've earned it!

The Women’s championship game will be televised on ESPN tonight, Tuesday April 7, at 8:30pm. GO CARDS!!!