Welcome to Hoops Heaven, the home page of Paul LaGrange!
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In order to understand me, Paul LaGrange, you must first understand that I hail from North Carolina, the Tarheel State where basketball reigns supreme. North Carolina is home to Michael Jordan, Dominique Wilkins, James Worthy, and numerous other basketball legends. North Carolina is also home to the greatest college basketball in the country, which is played on 'Tobacco Road'. Played best of course by the greatest team in the country, 'Duke'. North Carolina is also home to the NBA's Charlotte Hornets, who unfortunately will be the doormat of the NBA this year but should rebound quickly when their stars return.
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Picturesque Charlotte, North Carolina, home to the NBA's Charlotte Hornets and the Carolina Panthers of the NFL.
Da' Devils
The Duke Blue Devils are off to one of their best starts ever and have a good chance of not only going undefeated in the ACC but winning the national title as well. Duke is led by the outside shooting of Trajan Langdon and the inside presence of Eldon Brand. The two All-Americans are complimented by the court savy of William Avery, the defense of Shane Battier and the ability of Chris Carrawell to run the floor. These factors combined with Duke's depth makes them a tough team to beat come tournament time.
The 1998-99 Duke Blue Devil Men's Basketball Team poster.
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Me
A picture of me, Paul LaGrange, home in Hendersonville, NC
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I realize that your probably not that interested in who I am or what I do, so I won't bore you with all the boring details. I will however outline a few major points in order to better understand me.
I was born in Miami, Florida but grew up in Hendersonville, North Carolina, just south of Asheville. I have one brother, younger than me by a year and a half, a father who raised the two of us almost single-handedly, a loving step-mother, who we all call mom, and a wonderful wife, who is the love of my life.
My brother Brett at a family bbq two years ago.
I graduated last year from the University of North Carolina at Asheville with a degree in International Relations. Before graduation I had spent a year studying overseas in St. Petersburg, Russia. Currently I am attending the State University of New York at Albany and working on a Masters in Russian. Ultimately, I would like to work for the State Department.
Did I mention that I was a big basketball fan and can shoot the rock with the best of them from 30-35 feet out?
ACC Tourney
Just yesterday I was listening to ESPN radio on my way to school, when Burt Sugar, who was filling in for 'the Sports Babe' alluded to something that most people just aren't aware of. Mr. Sugar said that the ACC Basketball tournament is one of the most exciting basketball events going and that it rivals even the NCAA tourney in its excitement and electricity. He could not have been more right. Not many people are aware that at least in the state of North Carolina the ACC tournament is practically a holiday filled with just as much hoopla as the Super Bowl.
My father always told me stories about the excitement of the World Series as a boy growing up in New York, before television ruined the event. He told me stories about people walking to class with transistor radios trying to catch every play and people passing by inquiring about the latest score. Well, to this day the ACC tournament parallels what the World Series was for my father's generation. As a young boy in school I remember vividly how every teacher tried to secure for herself/himself a television set, cancelled their plans for the day, and instead watched the tournament, of which we the students were the real winners. Wonderful tournaments that included Jimmy V and NC State in 1983, Len Bias, Brad Daugherty, Kenny Smith, Johnny Dawkins, Bobby Hurley, Christian Laetnner, Grant Hill, Tim Duncan, and the list goes on. Words can not even begin to express the excitement of the ACC tournament. I can only say that it is something that everyone must experience at least once in their lifetime.
My Home State and Basketball Heaven
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Links
If your interested in some fantasy basketball and feel like challenging me try this site by clicking on the small world logo for the best free fantasy basketball on the web. Try joining the 'Duke Blue' Division, that's where you will find me.
Photo Gallery
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If a picture truly is worth a thousand words, then you understand the excitement of a duke basketball game.
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Grant Hill before teaming up with Tim Duncan in the sprite commercials as a collegian at Duke.
His "Airness" Michael Jordan, at UNC with the patented tongue.
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Drop me a line.
Click on the basketball player to get to my Hoops Heaven chat room, or enter my other room through my ICQ panel. And if you just want to learn more about me or see some more basketball pictures and pictures of Russia you can visit my ICQ homepage.