Going to Cameron

So it looks like I'm going to Duke's Cameron Indoor Stadium for the first time next week to cover a game. Never been much of a fan of Duke, but I'm looking forward to experiencing the atmosphere there.

Anyone here ever been there? Anything I should make sure not to miss?

 

Show me that smile again.

 

I was thinking Mike Cameron.

 

Well played, sir.

 

Should have gone with this Cameron, though:

 

Eh, the atmosphere won't be anything close to what it will be in league games. Should still be fun. Be warned (from what I've heard, never covered a game there, but watched a game there) the students are literally right on your back. There's no barrier there. So good luck if you're claustrophobic.

 

You might want to bring a rain poncho so the sweat of the student section doesn't ruin your clothes. They like to get a little close and rub all up on you while they are watching their Dukies.

 

Hope that you are lucky enough to have a spot reserved in the pressroom or get there early, b/c it's normally tight. Expect to climb over the table into your chair on pressrow rather than walking behind the table to your chair. It's probably too early in the season, but decent chance you'll get paint chippings on the back of your shirt and have spit land on your head. It's that proximity to the action that makes it one of the coolest/most frustrating spots to cover a game.

Halftime cookies are delicious, watch out for crazy towel guy during a first-half media timeout and enjoy the passion with which the Krzyzewski women root, root, root for the home team.

 

Oh, and know I'll be jealous. That too.

 

Oh, and enjoy watching a team that will once again be a high seed and lose by the Sweet 16 (hi IJAG!).

 

One of these days, IJAG, you and I are going to Cameron for Dook-Carolina.

Oh yeah.

 

You'll have to remind yourself repeatedly that there is a divinity school on that campus. To say the least, the students follow the lead of their foul-mouthed coach.

Charlie Ward was throwing the ball in in front of me one time (yeah, I'm old). A student who was no more than five feet away from Ward asked him if he performed an sexual act on Bobby Bowden, only he was very direct with his question. And when former referee Dick Paparo made a bad call, a chorus of "You suck Dick!" was sure to follow.

But it's usually very amusing to hear the cheers that the Crazies come up with.

The visiting locker room is down some stairs in what feels like a dungeon.

It's definitely one of the best places to see a game, but it can be very hot in there. It's one of the few classic college basketball venues around since N.C. State rarely plays at Reynolds and UNC never plays at Carmichael anymore.