Jain, Worthy, Perkins Reunite and Taste Victory

By Simon Applebaum

University of North Carolina alumnus Dinesh Jain wasn't about to let a little thing like a trade show get in the way of watching his beloved Tar Heels play in the semifinal game against Michigan State on Saturday, April 2.

Dinesh Jain relives past glories with fellow Tar Heel Michael Jordan in Jain's New York office.

The EVP and COO of Insight stayed home to watch the game, and then flew out to San Francisco for the National Show. The cable business was probably not the first thing on his mind, though: UNC had advanced to the final game, and was scheduled to play Illinois at 6 p.m. on Monday night. One way or another, Jain would sneak off and watch the game.

He dropped by ESPN's booth and scored tickets to its championship game viewing party. Catching the game with him were fellow UNC alumni James Worthy and Sam Perkins, who played with Michael Jordan on the Tar Heels team that won the 1981-82 NCAA title.

"Next to Carolina winning, hugging James Worthy at the end of the game made the experience go from worth a million dollars to priceless," Jain said the next day. "Am I happy? Pretty much."

Jain, whose office in New York is a virtual shrine to the Tar Heels, has managed to channel his obsession to help Insight. His inspiration in his work is former UNC coach Dean Smith, who helped break down color lines in Chapel Hill in the 1960s. "Smith was for all the players graduating and being solid citizens," Jain said. "You want to win, but winning is not worth subverting your values."

No doubt he's imparting that lesson to his children. "I have a 5 year old and 2 year old, and they know the Carolina fight songs," he said. "On long trips in the car, that's all we sing."