FINAL FOUR: DUKE REIGNS BABY!!!

"The Road Ends Here" read the signs in Lucas Oil Stadium. The "Road" finally ended Tuesday April 6, 2010 when at about 12:35 pm Eric, Sean, Jon and I arrived back in Durham exhausted from an all night drive, but not too exhausted to meet Melanie and the boys at Cameron indoor stadium to celebrate Duke's NCAA basketball championship. We won the championship! Well, at least Duke won it. But we were there. We had driven 11 hours to Indianapolis, waited in the rain and the wind, skipped 3 days of school and the Saturday sessions of Conference. We had endured insults from West Virginia fans, jeered Bob Huggins and cheered one of college basketball's finest, Dasean Butler of WVU, when he was helped off the court after a terrifying injury. We had been there to revel in Duke beating the WVU team that pundits claimed should have been the number one seed. On Monday we had waited in line again in the rain and the wind, endured Duke's poor shooting, and screamed ourselves hoarse as Butler just wouldn't give up in one of the epic championship games ever played. We had watched silently as Butler's Gordan Haywood launched a 15 foot fadeaway for the win, rejoiced when he missed and Brian Zoubek got the board, and then held our breaths when Zoubek missed the second of two free throws and Haywood got one final shot. We had experienced the euphoric feeling of that ball hitting backboard, then rim, then floor. Experienced confetti falling from the roof. Experienced screaming deleriously and hugging everyone in sight. It was awesome.

The road that ended Tuesday in Durham began in Durham 5 days earlier. At 3:30 am on Friday Sean McClure came to pick me up. I gave Melanie a kiss and ran out the door. As we drove down Hope Valley I realized I was getting a call from home. Unfortunately, I had woken up Jack in my hurry to leave, "I need a hug daddy, please come back" he cried. He almost had us ready to turn around when I told him he could sleep in my bed. "Ok dad, see ya, have fun." Just that easy. I love that kid.

The excitement was palpable when we arrived at Pinnacle Ridge to meet the rest of the crew--Jonathan Porter, Andrew Shadoff, Ryan Scofield and Kristin Cope. We loaded the rental car and Porter's Sonata. Unfortunately, we might have been a little too excited because we managed to wake up Elliot, Kip and Bridgett Nelson's baby, getting our trip off to an inauspicious start. Eventually we did get on the road. The road trip went fairly quick as we took turns driving, riding shotgun, and then sleeping in the back. Our GPS took us on an interesting route through the back roads of Ohio. We got to see towns like New Boston, Peebles and Portsmouth. I took a few pictures of the area but I think this was a good one. It was fun to get off the freeway and experience America.

Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis, Indiana. The brand new $700 million home of the Indianapolis Colts. It is an awesome venue, from the beautiful brick exterior to the huge windows that line the concourses, it has the feel that you are at a special spot to watch a sporting event. Of course the taxpayers of Indianapolis built this stadium before finishing the bond payments for the RCA Dome (the Colts former home), ask them about it--some weren't thrilled. Part of the reason they built it: the NCAA guaranteed the city a Final Four every five years until 2036. If you ever have to go to a basketball game in a 70,000+ stadium it should be this one. It really doesn't even feel like a basketball court was plopped down in the middle of a football stadium, instead it is obvious the building was built with basketball in mind. Rock on Indy!

Because we left so early we arrived in time to watch the Duke practice at 3:00 pm on Friday. The practice was actually pretty boring. I had imagined in my mind that we would be in an old high school gym somewhere listening to Coach K strategize with the team and run plays. Instead it was essentially glorified layup drills. Which makes sense--it was a "public practice." There really were more than 20,000 people there, fortunately for us, most of the 40,000 who came out to see the hometown Butler Bulldogs had already gone home.

Watching practice. Me, Andrew Shadoff, Ryan Scofield and Angie Petry (our host for the weekend). Angie went to college at William and Mary with Ryan. Her family seemed delighted to have us in their home. One of the highlights of the trip was getting to know Mr. and Mrs. P and Angie. They gave us their whole downstairs to sleep in, took us to Church on Sunday, fed us Easter Dinner, and even provided us with food for the line before the WVU game. They live in the idyllic suburb of Noblesville about 30 minutes from downtown Indianapolis.

The first real concert I attended (back when I was a sophomore at Burley High) was a Stone Temple Pilots/Red Hot Chili Peppers concert in Boise. STP was amazing and Scott Weyland was one of the most ridiculous performers I had ever seen. So I was extremely excited that STP also happened to be one of the bands playing at the Final Four Ampitheatre (along with Goo Goo Dolls, Darius Rucker, LL Cool J, etc., seriously, it was a hot spot). After taking a short nap and playing some hoops, Ryan, Kristin and I headed to the concert. It was almost like being 16 again, except that I had different friends (although I couldn't help but think of Joe, Elliot, Kyerin, Korbi and Giselle as we walked over), no longer actually know any STP songs, and Scott Weyland and the band had also aged ten years which took a lot of the edge off their performance. But the night was beautiful, the ampitheatre was perfect, the company was great, and, after all, it was the Final Four.

Saturday morning we got to the line at 8:30, early enough to be 22-29 in line. We knew that there were about 30 seats in the first two rows so we felt pretty good about it. We had to wait until 4:30 to go in. It was a fun line. We made friends with the MSU fans, creating an alliance that they broke immediately upon losing. We made up chants for the WVU game. They almost all centered around Bob Huggins DUI. For example "Drink Bobby Drink, Drive Bobby Drive," complete with motions. To the tune of "inspiration-perspiration" (a favorite chant during the Maryland game) we yelled "inspiriation-intoxication." For some reason these chants seem mean now, but in that moment we thought they were very clever. The rain eventually came and soaked everything. But on the way to the National semi-finals game, everything was still fun. Shadoff, McClure, Sco, Kristin, Me, and Porter.

Porter and I with The Ultimate Warrior--Sean McClure. Also known as Gun Show because he always wore his sleeveless Zoubek T-Shirt.

Baseline seats.

The ridiculously talented (and ridiculously emotional) Maryland star Greivis Vasquez. Traditionally not a big fan of Grievis the player, but meeting him was awesome. He chatted with us, took the picture, and eventually said "Go Duke." Good luck in the NBA man.

The pep band doing a chant while the West Virginia players warmed up.

The student and section below and the Iron Duke's above all awaiting a free throw.

A screen shot from before the game. I later got an e-mail from a professor, "are you in Indianapolis because I am pretty sure I just saw you on TV." ABSOLUTELY. Jack saw my painted face. He was a little disturbed. On Monday he said, "Daddy please don't paint your face again." (Good thing I didn't tell him I wouldn't...because I did again for the championship)

After the game we tried to go to find food. We had no luck, but we ran into some friends from law school, Kieth Lucas and Sam Burness. They had gotten tickets from Sam's family so they didn't have to wait in line. We did finally find some food, at about 2:00 AM at a random Steak and Shake somewhere in Indiana. We learned from the waitress that the bars were about to close so the restaraunt would have a rush of people coming to eat before they went home. The first few groups came in before we left. One Butler fan, who had had a little too much to drink, offered to bet us any amount of money that Butler would win on Monday. Really? Did he even watch Duke just dismantle the Big East champ? No he was already celebrating...ohhhhh. Man, to be a gambler!!!

Sunday we went to Easter Service with the Petry's and had a wonderful Easter dinner. It was so fun to be with such good friends when Melanie and the boys were so far away. I then got to watch the Sunday sessions of Conference online. On Monday we knew we would need to be early. We got there at about 6:30 but this time we were about 61-68 in line. Right after we arrived volunteers from CBS's "The Early Show" came to recruit Duke fans to attend the show's taping at Bracket Town. Everyone else preferred to sleep, but Porter and I jumped at the chance. We got a break from the line, free food and a chance to play basketball for a couple hours while the show was being taped. It was a blast and it made the line that much shorter.

Gun Show, Sco and I in line. They started calling me Hollywood because I kept getting interviewed for the news. I was interviewed for the Indianapolis news because the stadium employees had forgotten to change the port-o-potties between Saturday and Monday, meaning no one had a place to go to the restroom. I was also interviewed on News 14 Carolina regarding whether Duke was Goliath to Butler's David. Turns out the Hollywood moniker should have gone to Eric. He was caught sleeping in the line on camera and shown like three times on the news back home.

That afternoon there was a tornado watch in effect for Indianapolis. The people who had camped out during the night had already experienced one massive rainstorm and at about 2:30 PM we experienced another. The rain came so fast it was like buckets being emptied from the clouds on our heads. We were quickly drenched. Fortunately, they decided to let us in at about 5:30 instead of the original 7:00. We were hearded like wet cattle into a corridor and then lined up according to our number in line.

Our view for the National Championship Game.

Sean, Eric and I. I had never painted my face before the Final Four, but I knew this the last time I would ever call myself a Cameron Crazy. Why not live up to the name. (**Don't tell Jack.)

Peyton Manning in the house. I guess it really is his house. But he was just one of the many celebrities that was there. I shook hands with Jim Nance, met Mike Lupica, and was a few inches from Dickie V. All the old Duke players were there: Battier, Dunleavy, Reddick etc. The joke was that the first Tournament game JJ Reddick actually showed up for Duke won the title.

We won. See exciting, Blair Witch Project style video here.



Jon Scheyer was giddy. So was Coach K. And Zoubek wouldn't let go of the trophy. Awesome!

The Score: Duke 61 Butler 59. An epic game. Not for the efficiency/NBA style talent of the teams, but because it was a great college basketball game. Both teams put everything on the line. Neither team could break into a big lead. In the end it came down to a fairytale last second shot by the best player on a Cinderella team. Unfortunately, as a one of the signs in the student section read: Sorry Butler: The Shoe Doesn't Fit.

After the game I met up with Jeremy Flake and Mark Felberg and later Jang Joo a few friends from the ward and the business school. As Sco would surely title this slide: The Mormons help bring home the championship. Thats right!

After leaving the stadium we walked around trying to buy T-shirts which were all sold out. We did get a ton of free Coke Zero and found some music for an impromptu dance show. As the leader of the Grad student section, Ryan Scofield is a mini-celebrity in the world of Duke Basketball. So a little circle formed around to get pictures with him and, of course, celebrate the win. Somehow I caught him right in the middle of a move. Sweet.

In conclusion, I can't help but mention my amazing wife. I knew I had married the most wonderful girl in the world, but I didn't realize how much of a trooper she really was. Not only was Melanie willing to take care of two boys by herself, but she was excited to do it so that I could go. Truly, the only way this experience could have been better is if she could have been there with me. I was so thankful to be able to come home to my wonderful wife and boys!

The road did end. We came back to school, work, projects and finals. It already seems like a long time ago. But the trip to Indianapolis really gave us a chance to experienced the magic of college sports. 2000 students willing to wait in the wind and rain for a chance to cheer on their team. A team that has played together for 3 years and a group of seniors who had been dismissed as failures winning a championship over a magical home-town cinderella. A hard luck 7'1" center who had been dismissed as a waste of a scholarship forcing a future lottery pick into a last-second fadeaway and then grabbing a rebound and getting to the line. A coach making a strategic decision to miss a second free throw that gave Butler one last chance for a miracle moment. And that shot. A shot that looked good from the moment it went up and wasn't more than 1/8 inch off. The feeling of excitement and euphoria of being part of something so magical and so special. Coach K always talked this year about hanging "our banner" in the rafters, and now a national championship banner will hang as I graduate this May. A banner celebrating this team's acheivements. "Our" banner.