Legendary Univ. of North Carolina basketball coach Dean Smith died last night at the age of 83. Smith for several years had been suffering from a “neurocognitive disorder that affected his memory.” The Basketball HOFer retired in ’97 after a 36-year career that saw him set what was then the all-time NCAA D-I wins record with 879, but few people “left a greater impact on the game than Smith, whose innovations and ideas were copied by coaches from recreation leagues to the NBA” (NEWSOBSERVER.com, 2/8).

Smith in ’66 recruited Charlie Scott, who became the “first African-Americans to be given an athletic scholarship at UNC.” He also joined with a “local pastor to help integrate a Chapel Hill restaurant at the height of the civil rights movement.” More than 96% of those who played for Smith graduated (USATODAY.com, 2/8).

Current UNC coach Roy Williams issued a statement that read in part, "We lost one of our greatest ambassadors for college basketball for the way in which a program should be run. We lost a man of the highest integrity who did so many things off the court to help make the world a better place to live in." Hornets Owner Michael Jordan, who played for Smith from '81-84, said in a statement, "Other than my parents, no one had a bigger influence on my life than Coach Smith. He was more than a coach -- he was my mentor, my teacher, my second father. ... We’ve lost a great man who had an incredible impact on players, his staff and the entire UNC family” (THE DAILY).

Tributes and remembrances of Smith poured in this morning on Twitter, where his passing was one of the top trending topics in the U.S. at presstime. Here are a sampling of those thoughts:

*The Nation’s Dave Zirin: “Dean Smith never feared offending people he found to be politically offensive. He had principles that stood above public relations.”

* SB Nation’s Tom Ziller: “Dean Smith brought Charlie Scott to Chapel Hill the season after Texas Western beat Kentucky. Imagine THAT environment.”

* Columnist Kevin Blackistone: “Forget basketball. Remember he desegregated Chapel Hill, protested the Vietnam War, nuclear weapons and the death penalty.”

* SI's Seth Davis: "The solace I take in this news is that a younger generation is going to learn a lot Dean Smith. His civil rights record for starters."

* ESPN's Fran Fraschilla: "Dean Smith may have had most impact on coaching the game of basketball as anyone in history. He was true innovator & thinker."

The MLB Giants yesterday "held their third FanFest as defending World Series champs at AT&T Park," where the crowd "seemed a bit smaller than in recent years," with the team estimating 30,000. Some "might have stayed home fearing rain on what mostly was a dry day." The Giants "also dispersed fans by moving the World Series trophies across McCovey Cove." A team official said that on-site ticket sales "were more brisk than" in '13 (S.F. CHRONICLE, 2/8),

Clemson Univ.'s BOT on Friday "gave final approval to renovation of Littlejohn Coliseum." The $63.5M renovation of the nearly 50-year-old arena "will include a complete renovation of the playing area and 8,500-seat arena, plus adding more than 450 premium level seats and making improvements to the exterior of the building." The project, which will require holding home games "elsewhere next season, is scheduled for completion" in fall '16 and "will be paid for out of athletic revenue bonds" (GREENVILLE NEWS, 2/7).

An announced crowd of 22,751 yesterday turned up to Soldier Field for the '15 Hockey City Classic, whose Michigan-Michigan State and Miami Univ.-Western Michigan games "were pushed back more than 90 minutes because of poor ice conditions at least partially caused by compressor issues that affected the integrity of the rink." The turnout for this year's event "won’t end the notion that outdoor hockey games have reached their saturation point." Meanwhile, a souvenir puck that was on sale for $8 "referred to 'Michigan University' instead of the University of Michigan" (CHICAGO SUN-TIMES, 2/8).

"Of Miracles and Men," an ESPN "30 for 30" documentary that tells the story of the '80 Soviet Union hockey team's loss to the U.S. in the Olympics in Lake Placid, premieres tonight at 9:00pm ET. The story of the U.S.' iconic victory is told "from the other side." There is "some overlap" between "Of Miracles" and another recently released documentary titled "Red Army." Both films "culminate not with the Red Army but rather the Red Wings" winning the '97 Stanley Cup with five Russian players. But the ESPN film "does a more thorough job of chronicling the time up to and including the 1980 game, while 'Red Army' focuses more on the rest of the '80s and into the post-Soviet era." The "eye-opener for those of us raised on American Cold War propaganda is how relatable the old Russians are" (NEWSDAY, 2/6).

Esquire's Stephen Marche called the film a "truly revealing portrait" and "so much more than a postmortem on what was, when all is said and done, not a very important or interesting or beautiful game." The N.Y. Times' Neil Genzlinger wrote the film "spends a good bit of time on the game, but first it lays the groundwork with a detailed look at how the Soviets became a world hockey power." It "doesn’t dwell on the loss," but instead "follows the threads emanating from the game all the way to glasnost." Awful Announcing's Ben Koo wrote while USSR D Viacheslav Fetisov's return to Lake Placid "was supposed to be the most compelling portion of the film, at times the retelling can be a bit lacking in new insights." The "most interesting" part was "the final third of the film which focuses on the aftermath, but mainly the influx of Russian talent into the NHL." Variety's Brian Lowry wrote of the "30 for 30" series, "Given how rarely ESPN adorns itself with journalistic honor, these gold-worthy docs remain their own minor miracle."

The Bruins before yesterday's game versus the Islanders "played host to the city's most recent champions" in the Patriots, as a "slew" of players including LB Rob Ninkovich and TE Rob Gronkowski dropped a ceremonial puck. Gronkowski "played up to the boisterous crowd by throwing down a 'Gronk Spike'" with the puck (SI.com, 2/7).

Meanwhile, Patriots Owner Robert Kraft was spotted at music mogul Clive Davis' annual pre-Grammys bash yesterday in Beverly Hills alongside "dozens of the biggest stars in the music world," plus ad agency Translation Founder & CEO Steve Stoute (USATODAY.com, 2/8).

Was just sent this photo. Robert Kraft at Grammys Roc Nation Saturday brunch w/ Kanye, Jay Z, Nas, Big Sean... pic.twitter.com/2F7heCcw7O

— P. Schrager (@PSchrags) February 7, 2015

USGA Senior Managing Dir of Rules, Competitions & Equipment John Bodenhamer yesterday said that the back-to-back men's and women's golf events at the '16 Olympics "will be modeled on the staging of the U.S. Women's Open straight after the men's on the same Pinehurst course last year." Bodenhamer said that the transition between the men's and women's events at Pinehurst "went so smoothly that the same process will be utilized." The men's U.S. championship "ended on a Sunday, and the women took over the Pinehurst course the next day" (REUTERS, 2/7).

Liberty Mutual Insurance will make its first appearance as an official partner of the U.S. Soccer Federation in today's friendly between the U.S. men's national team and Panama in California. For more on the new partnership, look for a story in this week's SportsBusiness Journal, published tomorrow.

Swimmer Michael Phelps "plans to return from his six-month suspension in April at the Arena Pro Swim Series event in Mesa, Ariz." (Baltimore SUN, 2/7).

Tickets to Texans DE J.J. Watt's annual charity softball game "came to a screeching halt shortly after going on sale" yesterday at 9:00am CT. The independent Atlantic League Sugar Land Skeeters' computer servers "again couldn’t handle the load," prompting Watt "to take to social media to thank his fans and share his amazement" (CHRON.com, 2/7).

Swiss watchmaker Longines ran a full-page ad in yesterday's N.Y. Times, touting itself as the official timekeeper of the '15 FIS Alpine World Ski Championships and featuring U.S. skier Mikaela Shiffrin (THE DAILY).

The NBA in today's N.Y. Times runs a full-page ad promoting its Fit Friday endeavor surrounding All-Star weekend (THE DAILY).

PGA Tour Farmers Insurance Open Tournament Dir Peter Ripa said that the event today "will honor" late golfer Billy Casper, who passed away yesterday. An image of Casper will be placed "on each tee along with flowers" (GOLFCHANNEL.com, 2/7).

"I want the best for my fellow caddies. I'm standing up for what I believe is right" -- Caddie Kenny Harms, who works with golfer Kevin Na, on being one of the plaintiffs in a lawsuit against the PGA Tour over alleged unpaid endorsement fees (N.Y. TIMES, 2/8).

"I would argue it will be the largest sporting event we've ever had in this state, even exceeding the Super Bowl" -- '16 Ryder Cup Chair Patrick Hunt, on the event scheduled for Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minn. (Minneapolis STAR-TRIBUNE, 2/8).

"There's a reason why Shotlink is out there. They're good at what they do and they give us great feedback" -- Golfer Ian Poulter, on the PGA Tour's stats tracking system (SAN DIEGO UNION-TRIBUNE, 2/8).

The CHICAGO TRIBUNE's Chris Hine noted Cubs manager Joe Maddon in '11 formed the Hazleton Integration Project in his hometown of Hazleton, Pa., "with a mission to promote positive relationships with the Hispanic population through community activities." Controversy over an influx of Hispanic migrants had left the town "in distress," and it was Maddon who "set out to save it."

The PITTSBURGH TRIBUNE-REVIEW's Bob Cohn profiles WVU President E. Gordon Gee as a "major player with a fondness for the national stage himself, a chief executive deeply passionate about athletics and a charter member of the so-called reform movement." Cohn: "Accessible, accomplished and charming face-to-face and on social media, Gee is expertly wired to promote his agenda."

Elsewhere:

• N.Y.TIMES' Travel section: In London, "An Olympic Park Anchors A Resurgence."
• GRANTLAND ranks colleges based "solely on how cool" all of their athletic gear is.
• Clippers' female video coordinator wants to break barriers, become NBA coach.
• Writer skeptical of Fantex: "Football Players' Shares Look Like A Risky Game."

Oh my God. I am not paying enough for NBA League Pass. I'm giving Adam Silver an extra $50 in NYC next week, it's only fair.

— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) February 7, 2015

@VCamillo_Nats says the #Nats sold $500K in merch during 18 inning playoff game, led by hoodies & blankets pic.twitter.com/KCIEJYLCZS

— Let Teddy Win! (@LetTeddyWin) February 7, 2015

Problem league office faces: it can enact new policies to discipline problematic players but can't stop teams from signing turds.

— mike freeman (@mikefreemanNFL) February 7, 2015

And Sochi never reached capacity. So the sadness was: "If it's not packed for the biggest event in the world, what hope for the future?"

— Sara Germano (@germanotes) February 8, 2015

Love that even the Hawks bar has people lining up...@langwhitaker pic.twitter.com/g6taW0IlSZ

— Brent Barry (@Barryathree) February 8, 2015