Champions. In sports, it's the word to end all words. "People have things to hang their hats on," Duke basketball coach Mike Krzyzewski said. "The thing you'd like to hang your hat on the most is a national championship, because that's the ultimate." This is what we celebrate here, a decade of champions.
Carolina Hurricanes: Stanley Cup champions, 2006
After the Carolina Hurricanes beat the Edmonton Oilers 3-1 in Game 7 of the 2006 Stanley Cup Finals, the first member of the team to lift the Cup was captain Rod Brind'Amour.
UNC Tar Heels: NCAA men's basketball, 2009
Four-time All-American Tyler Hansbrough says he never regretted returning to North Carolina for his senior season - not when a stress reaction in his right shin sidelined him at the start of the season, not during the constant expectations and pressure that followed the 2008-09 team.
UNC Tar Heels: NCAA men's basketball, 2005
Guard Jackie Manuel will forever be remembered as the first player who truly "bought in" to new North Carolina coach Roy Williams' system in 2003-04 -- eschewing his (often errant) shots to make himself the top defender on the team that won the NCAA championship in 2005.
Duke: NCAA men's basketball, 2001
Nate James will forever be lauded by Duke coach Mike Krzyzewski as a great teammate because of the grace he showed as a senior in 2001. James never complained when he was moved out of the starting lineup on a team adjusting to an injury to Carlos Boozer.
UNC: NCAA women's soccer, 2000, 2003, 2006 and 2008
The North Carolina women's soccer team won NCAA titles in 2000, 2003, 2006 and 2008. The program also won nine ACC championships during the decade, including this season.
Barton Bulldogs: NCAA Division II men's basketball, 2007
Once in a while, Anthony Atkinson's Globetrotter teammates begin practice by re-enacting the 5-foot-10 guard's memorable head-clutching race around the court - still famous two years after he made an improbable buzzer-beating layup against Winona State to win the 2007 Division II national championship, 77-75.
High school champions
Championship players, programs and moments from the past decade.
Big four national titles
More champions …
