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Cameron's Craziest Page 2 staff |
| Over the years, Duke's Cameron Crazies have earned a reputation as the rowdiest, wittiest, best-organized college basketball fans in the land. Though they've calmed down quite a bit in recent years, mostly due to the steadying influence of Coach K -- "Before games, he'll talk to them and remind them to 'Be classy," says ESPN's Jay Bilas, who played for Duke in the early '80s -- for many years their chants and antics turned Cameron into a hellhole for visiting players and coaches.
10. Still crazy after all these years
9. Time to breed
8. Yes, butt ...
7. Golden Olden
6. They begged to differ This infuriated Coach K, who insisted that the Crazies cease and desist. After the next bad call by Paparo, the crowd chanted, "You suck, Richard."
5. Hale to the victim
4. Long arm of the Crazies
3. Short, but to the point To Spud Webb, a 5-7 N.C. State guard: "Hormones, Spud, hormones." Wake Forest's Muggsy Bogues, all of 5-3, was routinely referred to as "Webster." During an exhibition game against an Australlian team, a 5-7 visitor, preparing to shoot free throws, was serenaded with "Shrimp on the Barbee!" And when Virginia's 5-10 Ricky Stokes, was at the line, the Crazies used to chant, "Stand up, Stokes! Stand up, Stokes!"
2. Respect your elders When Lefty Driesel, then with Maryland, would visit, a large group of Crazies would wear skinheads and pantomime the histrionics of the volatile Lefty. However, Lefty was capable of endearing himself to the Crazies, once by taking out a comb and running it over his bald head, another time by leading the Crazies in a round of "Simon Says" before a game. Once, when N.C. State was being investigated for -- among other things -- sneaker violations, the Crazies covered the floor with cheap sneakers when Jim Valvano walked out. Another time, early-arriving Crazies started chanting, "Down with Valvano! Down with Valvano!" But Valvano won them over by squeezing between a couple of students and leading them in "Down with Packer! Down with Packer!" cheers when TV analyst Billy Packer walked out onto the floor.
1. Legal eagles "Adrian Branch had some problem offcourt, maybe a marijuana arrest," Bilas says. "As he was getting ready to shoot a free throw, Duke students behind the basket all stood up and yelled, 'Freeze! Police!' Even the other guys on his team had to laugh." When Maryland's Herman Veal was alleged to have sexually abused a fellow student -- he was disciplined, but never formally charged -- the Crazies showered him with more than 1,000 panties, and one student held up a sign that read, "HEY, HERM, DID YOU SEND HER FLOWERS?" (After this incident, Lefty Driesel once again distinguished himself as a good sport and worthy foe. When asked if he was upset by the sign, Lefty said, "No, I can't read. I went to Duke.") Following the arrest of Lorenzo Charles of N.C. State for stealing pizzas, his pregame introduction was greeted by a shower of pizza boxes that practically covered the court. If the Crazies' purpose was to throw Charles into a funk, they failed miserably. "He was pissed, and he had his best game," remembers Bilas. "He was just a monster to deal with. I know. I had to guard him."
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