Cameron Indoor Stadium (Duke University)
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Overrated high school caliber gymnasium. They can't even put the announcers in a modernized booth. Surprised they don't replace the floor more often with all of the flopping that goes on in there.
Cameron had a much more intimidating environment in the 1970s under Bill Foster and before that with Vic Bubas. Reason is the fans back then were innovative yet cruel and venomous. Refer to former Duke president Terry Sanford's famous "Avuncular Letter." Google it to read it. Today's "Crazies" are like extras on the set of a "Friends" episode. They are trendy and simply going through the motions of what they think a Crazy must do- in other words jump up and down like an idiot and repeat the same old stupid cheers. Besides, 90% of the game's cheers are scripted in advance and printed on sheets for the students to refer to. Lame.
Surprised the U.S. hasn't declared war on the Duke student section. Opposing fans know what I mean. You'd also think that with all of the towels they are wearing that they wouldn't need to have ball boys working from the end zones.
One other interesting note. Coach K has taken a page out of his mentor Bobby Knight's playbook. He's got the benches out of the main television camera views so that people at home won't be able to see how much ref-baiting he does during a game. I've been to a number of games at Cameron through the years and believe me, K will say words throughout an entire game that would make sailors blush.
If you have a chance to watch a game in Cameron, I would advise you to go and see just how overhyped it is in person. The hype is ridiculous and has been nurtured by the Duke PR machine to justify their inability to fund and support a modern facility, especially in light of the fact that most everybody else in the ACC has either built new arenas or dramatically refurbished their courts in the past 20 years.
Duke's program is undeniably a winning machine and they do indeed get some momentum from the fans in Cameron. I'm not saying it's not a good homecourt, it's just not the Mecca that many make it out to be. You've got to have a great team and great players first, which Duke routinely has. K's legacy will place him in the uppermost echelon of college coaches when he is done. But don't mistake that for Cameron Indoor being some otherworldly impressive venue.
I've got nothing against old school. I love tradition. Cameron does have tradition. It's just not the greatest place to see a game, nor are the fans worlds above others. If you want to see the best of old school environments in a much more inspiring atmosphere, make the trip to Lawrence, KS to see the Jayhawks play in Allen Fieldhouse. There is no comparison between Allen and Cameron in terms of awe-inspiring environments. I'm not even a Kansas fan and I can admit that.
I think it was The Sporting News that ranked Cameron Indoor as the 4th greatest sports venue in the 20th Century. That is an absolute joke. Dick Vitale must be on the voting committee.