Dec. 12, 2000

Like a halfback stiff-arming a would be tackler, Ronald Curry keeps the outside world at arm's length.

Years of people pressing their faces up against the window of his life trying to peer inside have forced him to develop ways to fog the glass, to quiet the din, and to buy time to think and observe.

Is the door to Ronald open or closed today? Sometimes it's hard to tell. Headphones on? Probably closed. Pretending to be asleep? Closed. Walking briskly, up on the balls of his feet, his almond eyes narrow and focused straight ahead? Closed. Walking in an easy, graceful shuffle, like he's in no particular hurry to get anywhere, the eyes softer and glancing from side to side? Maybe open. But maybe not. You make the first move and then he'll decide.

His athletic ability is why you know his name and he is keenly aware of that, but the real him is much harder to decode and he likes it that way. As layered as onion skin, Ronald Curry is a fascinating study. His inner circle is small but tight. He is stoic and guarded yet emotional and sensitive. He is friendly and funny but would rather that remain a secret. He is a little kid who is just getting started and a grown man who has already out-lived too many people he's loved. He is confident and self-reliant. And he is very smart.

The Tar Heel basketball team is shooting just prior to a key road game and a ball bounces past Ronald and into the lap of a small boy sitting in the front row of the stands. Curry meets the child's gaze, puts his hands out as if making a target, and smiles. "What do you got, slim? Can you throw it this far?" The boy's pass back to Ronald is right on the money. Curry nods, winks, and bounds away, leaving the boy there with a smile as big as Texas. The Ronald Curry fan club has just added another member.

Playing quarterback at the Atlantic Coast Conference level is a year-round gig. The time demands are ridiculous. Spring ball. Fall ball. Summer workouts. Weight training. Meetings. Two-a-days. Film sessions. The play book. Study hall. The job owns you.

Playing point guard at Carolina is even tougher. Gosh almighty, you don't just sashay over from football and beat out guys who have given their lives to the sport. You've got to get in shape, wait your turn, grab some pine, have a seat, watch and learn. Or do you?

"JUST PICK ONE! PICK ONE AND STICK WITH IT, SON. YOU CAN'T PLAY BOTH."

Ronald has heard that many times and he understands the truth it holds. He knows he'll have to choose one day. But why now? Why not hold down these three full-time jobs, point guard, quarterback and student, for another year. Why not try to do the impossible? After all, the impossible is possible when you are Ronald Curry, isn't it?

Everybody says that football is his best sport, but Coach Carl meant a lot to him and he's gone now. So is Mike O'Cain, just when things were starting to really click between the two of them. A third offense in three seasons? Coached by whom?

And what's this?! Ronald has checked the shake and bake at the door to Matt Doherty's office and all of the sudden looks like a basketball player! He's under control, involving his teammates, distributing the ball, making shots and playing tenacious defense, even though he is brand new to the team!

Oh, dear.

What if this isn't just a couple of good outings in a row? What if he can really play this game?