Thursday, March 6, 2008

The Good Guys

Now it is time to talk about the good guys a little. I want to start off with this little excerpt about Marcus Ginyard. I know having a summer job doesn't mean he is a good guy, but how many DI players do you know get out of their way to hold a summer job? That's what I thought The story was off the N&O but I cannot find the original article.

CHAPEL HILL - North Carolina's basketball season ended more than a month ago. But three nights a week on this town's crowded streets, sophomore Marcus Ginyard is still doing what he does best: working.

"Gotta go, gotta get there fast," Ginyard said Thursday evening, grabbing two tortilla wrap orders, racing to his 1995 pea-green-and-black Caprice Classic, and navigating toward South Campus. "People want their food fresh."

These days, it isn't the game that's on the line, but the tips. Ginyard, a player known for his defense and hustle, averaged 4.1 points per game last season. He's currently averaging about $2 a delivery.

Ginyard is one of only roughly 50 Tar Heel scholarship athletes -- out of about 700 getting a full or partial ride -- who work part-time while carrying a full course load and maintaining a rigorous workout schedule.

He started as a delivery guy for Franklin Street-based [B]Ski's Tortilla Wrap Grill after hoops season to save some extra rent money because he and several teammates are moving into a 3,100-square-foot house off campus. While earning minimum wage ($6.15 an hour) plus tips, he says he's learning something else: responsibility.

"It's kind of like practice: You have to be there on time, you have to be ready to work, and you have to be a member of the team,'' Ginyard said, cranking up the country music after being no-tipped on one delivery and pocketing $3 on the second. "And for me, I enjoy it, because I like talking to people, meeting people, surprising people."

PS-my condolences go to the family and friends of Eve Carson, UNC student body prez who was killed yesterday.

3 comments:

Nate M. said...

Re: your last point, Chapel Hill is fairly shaken today.

mainou said...

It sounds crazy. Shot on the head?

Natalie said...

It's terrifying and horrible. She seemed like such a lovely human being. I hope the community can get some peace very soon.