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The most memorable moments in Cameron.

skysdad

Devils Illustrated Hall of Famer
Mar 3, 2006
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There's been a ton of them so I expect a lot of answers here. Of course there's been the buzzer beaters and blow outs. There's been moments that have brought me to tears. There's been moments that have brought me out of my chair and that's rare because I usually watch the game by myself and that's good because I find it easier in my later years to sit peacefully and try to not get to excited. But with that said my heart is usually in my throat especially if the game is tight. Please remember to post CAMERON MOMENTS with the only exception being natty games. I have 3.

1. Gene Banks and Kenny Dennard's senior day. I wish all of you could have seen it and I wish I had been there in person. It was Coach K's 1st win over dean and unc. Banks and Dennard were freshman together and I don't think there has been a better friendship between team mates as those two were. The students held up signs that said "Dennard and Banks, so long and thanks." I teared up and when Gene ran around the court passing out roses to the fans I just cried like a baby because I knew how much they meant to the program.

2. Marshall's 3 pointer. Didn't mean a thing as far as how the game came out but it was the only 3 pointer he ever attempted . My friend who was there and has been a season ticket holder for 20 plus years said Cameron was the loudest he had ever heard when Marshall made that shot. The smile on Marshall's face said it all. He still holds the record at 1000 per cent of 3 pointers at Duke which can only be tied, never broken. My mine crush on Marshall grew that night.

3. This one happened out of Cameron but it was a natty. 2010 . My son was living in Idaho at the time and with about a minute or so to go in the game he called me so we could sort of watch the games final moments together. For some reason the broadcast was about 2 seconds quicker in Idaho and when the final shot was taken and the ball in the air looking like it had a good chance of going in my son yelled "yes" about midway through flight. It was just a couple of seconds but my heart was in my throat and my heart had enough time to drop back down to it's proper place when the ball hit the rim and bounced off.

OFC
 
Mine is a lot more personal, and I don't think this is really what you are looking for, but it is my most memorable moment. I have only been to one game at Cameron. When we pulled into the parking lot, Mickey K was pulling in at the same time. I got her autograph and a picture. We got to tour pretty much the whole place...weight room, practice gym, and a couple places that I don't even know what they were!! My seats were about 5 rows off the floor right behind the duke bench. We won the game in O.T. and then got to go back to some room where all the players were coming out eating a sandwich and wearing plain shorts and shirts. Maybe some kind of post game debriefing? Anyway, I got to meet several players including Rivers, who was very nice and respectful to me, Ryan Kelley, and Mason ......Got several autographs and a pic with Mason....never realized I was so short at 6'. I don't think I will ever have a more memorable moment at Cameron than that. I have the pic of me and Mason. I will post if I can find it....He's not short!!
 
Here we go...
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Front row, center court, tent #1 for Jeffs shot against UNC. Madness. I remember the AP guy throwing his notes up in the air in celebration.

Standing under the 92 banner when Thurman hit that shot over Tony Langs fingernail. Worst moment of my four years in heaven.

Sleeping in the crows nest during camp out when they let us in the building. Dead of night, looking around... the silence, the view... magnificent.
 
I've mentioned this before in the last but one of my favorite memories in Cameron was 2006 when we were playing FSU. We beat them in OT I believe and I remember it bc it was a classic game that year where JJ just willed us the whole way. I remember him hitting a shot from right side (in front of the students) and just running down the court banging on his chest, in a "let's f'ing go" moment. Just gives me the chills to see that.

Other awesome moments, I was there for the destruction of Maryland in I want to say 2009, with G, Jon and crew just blowing the doors off of them.

I was at a Duke unc game back in 96 or so, when my boy Trajan filled it up. Cameron was electric that night.
 
Mine is a lot more personal, and I don't think this is really what you are looking for, but it is my most memorable moment. I have only been to one game at Cameron. When we pulled into the parking lot, Mickey K was pulling in at the same time. I got her autograph and a picture. We got to tour pretty much the whole place...weight room, practice gym, and a couple places that I don't even know what they were!! My seats were about 5 rows off the floor right behind the duke bench. We won the game in O.T. and then got to go back to some room where all the players were coming out eating a sandwich and wearing plain shorts and shirts. Maybe some kind of post game debriefing? Anyway, I got to meet several players including Rivers, who was very nice and respectful to me, Ryan Kelley, and Mason ......Got several autographs and a pic with Mason....never realized I was so short at 6'. I don't think I will ever have a more memorable moment at Cameron than that. I have the pic of me and Mason. I will post if I can find it....He's not short!!


Exactly what I meant. OFC
 
There's been a lot of great moments in Cameron, but to me the best one hasn't happened yet. I think it will be Grayson's senior night. His last game in Cameron will be so crazy. With the career he has had, my oh my what a day that will be. They might have to reinforce the building before that game. The roof may get blown off.
 
There's been a lot of great moments in Cameron, but to me the best one hasn't happened yet. I think it will be Grayson's senior night. His last game in Cameron will be so crazy. With the career he has had, my oh my what a day that will be. They might have to reinforce the building before that game. The roof may get blown off.

With ya brother!!!! Hes going out w/a bang!!!!
#LetTheHatersHate
#ILoveGraysonAllen

OFC
 
Probably sounds corny, but by far the most memorable Cameron experience was my first one. It was December of 1966 against Michigan, and seeing Bob Verga and Mike Lewis up close was amazing. It reinforced my belief that I had made the right decision regarding college choice. I had known I wanted good academics, which I could have gotten up north, but I also wanted to be part of big time athletics. Duke fit the bill perfectly.
OFC
 
Watched Hurley's first game...and exhibition game against Australia.

1. Made a beautiful thread-the-needle pass to Laettner from the top of the key and Laettner just blew it. Looked at Bobby like, "what the hell?!" And I thought OMG, that kid is pure magic.
2. He made his first shot a corner jumper.

My favorite player since the beginning.
 
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capels shot stands out. wojo's senior night when he sprinted to K. i believe grant hill senior night students chanted 1 more kid when his parents walked him out.

and last year took my daughter to her 1st duke game at Cameron. she had a sign got new duke shirt and jacket. so proud she was cheering so loud. her favorite part was the free throws. she asked to go back again this year.
 
There's been a lot of great moments in Cameron, but to me the best one hasn't happened yet. I think it will be Grayson's senior night. His last game in Cameron will be so crazy. With the career he has had, my oh my what a day that will be. They might have to reinforce the building before that game. The roof may get blown off.
Will be a bitter sweet night. Really hate to see him go
 
Great thread, Sky!

I have to mention 'The Fight' game with Heyman and Brown in '61. I didn't see the game, but I've heard about it so much, read about it, and watched the video of it too many times to count. Any game that Duke wins against UNC, and Brown gets his azz kicked, well that's a memorable game.
Stealing Art Heyman away from UNC, and 'the fight', cemented the hatred in this rivalry!
Also, last Sunday (Aug 27), marked 5 years since the death of the great Art Heyman. RIP big guy.



And here is a game that I won't ever forget, (even though I was pissed at the time), the Duke senior game of '79. Dean Smith decided the only way to beat Duke (6th in the nation) by his Heels (4th in the polls!!!) was to hold the ball until Foster pulled the Devils out of it's zone defense. Well, that didn't work too well, and Duke led 7-0 at the half (before Heels losing 47-40, and Heels playing ball in the 2nd half). UNC had only 2 shots (I think), and both were air balls. Anytime Rich Yonakor touched the ball in the 2nd half the Crazies chanted 'Air Ball'!!! It's generally accepted as the first time the chant 'air ball' was used. So 'air ball, first used against the hated Heels, and by the Crazies....that's hard to improve on!

The night Ol' Dean outsmarted himself...

This vid shows both air balls, and all the fgs Duke scored in the 1st half.



OFC
 
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Great thread, Sky!

I have to mention 'The Fight' game with Heyman and Brown in '61. I didn't see the game, but I've heard about it so much, read about it, and watched the video of it too many times to count. Any game that Duke wins against UNC, and Brown gets his azz kicked, well that's a memorable game.
Stealing Art Heyman away from UNC, and 'the fight', cemented the hatred in this rivalry!
Also, last Sunday (Aug 27), marked 5 years since the death of the great Art Heyman. RIP big guy.



And here is a game that I won't ever forget, (even though I was pissed at the time), the Duke senior game of '79. Dean Smith decided the only way to beat Duke (6th in the nation) by his Heels (4th in the polls!!!) was to hold the ball until Foster pulled the Devils out of it's zone defense. Well, that didn't work too well, and Duke led 7-0 at the half (before losing 47-40, and Heels playing ball in the 2nd half). UNC had only 2 shots (I think), and both were air balls. Anytime Rich Yonakor touched the ball in the 2nd half the Crazies chanted 'Air Ball'!!! It's generally accepted as the first time the chant 'air ball' was used. So 'air ball, first used against the hated Heels, and by the Crazies....that's hard to improve on!

The night Ol' Dean outsmarted himself...

This vid shows both air balls, and all the fgs Duke scored in the 1st half.



OFC


I thought Duke won 47-40. OFC
 
Dang, I need to, Mac! I think making mistakes is the best thing I do anymore.:p

OFC

Classic stuff Dirt, I really enjoyed reliving the night Dean made an arse of himself! Remember him challenging G-man out on the floor near game's end??? He was mad Mike elbowed Al Wood to get off of him. I thought Duke coach Bill Foster showed remarkable restraint and poise!
#DeanKnew
#RoyKnew
#GTHC

OFC
 
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Dec. 9, 2000. I had survived a hard first semester with a 2.5 GPA, my last final was that morning so nothing left to do but beat the crap out of Michigan. I sat with my best friends from SC that we snuck in using other students' Dukecards, and we were hyped up something serious. That building was electric. We started the game on a 34-2 run. Duke has never topped that level of defense and passing. That game has been my blueprint for perfect basketball.
 
1979 Iron Dike'sClassic Bob Bender leading a fast break stops at the foul line looks left tosses ball up in the air to his right.I am thinking what the hell is he doing?Gene Banks comes out of no where and tomahawks it.The entire gym goes quiet for a few seconds and blows the roof off.First alley I had ever seen
 
1979 Iron Dike'sClassic Bob Bender leading a fast break stops at the foul line looks left tosses ball up in the air to his right.I am thinking what the hell is he doing?Gene Banks comes out of no where and tomahawks it.The entire gym goes quiet for a few seconds and blows the roof off.First alley I had ever seen


That did happen in Cameron right. If so I was there and the place did go crazy. OFC
 
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I went to every home game my Freshmen and Sophomore years. Painted my face and everything. Every single one of them was amazing and a special moment.

Also got to watch the 1999 and 2001 NC games in Cameron. 2001 had a better outcome, which made it even better. We also had the bench that started the bonfire post game. That was a fun week.
 
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Another great moment was when I took my son DukeSky85 to if not his first but one of his first to Cameron. We got there way early and I took him on the floor. Well the door we went through was right at Duke's dressing room and up walks Grant Hill, Tony Lang and Chris Collins. They all shook hands with him and I know it made his night. OFC
 
Another great moment was when I took my son DukeSky85 to if not his first but one of his first to Cameron. We got there way early and I took him on the floor. Well the door we went through was right at Duke's dressing room and up walks Grant Hill, Tony Lang and Chris Collins. They all shook hands with him and I know it made his night. OFC

Would have made mine!!! Great memory Sky!

OFC
 
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