Operators standing by for your call.
Well, not literally. But you get me drift.
A bit of a miscommunication. I was looking for an October 1 roll out for premium service. Probably user error on my part.
But no user error covering Duke sports. Knock on wood.
So, let me clarify a few things.
First and foremost, a pretty manageable paywall. Think lunch with your significant other. I want as many people as possible to read my content and have priced accordingly.
Second. Premium content will be heavily centered around the October through March period. Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you recognize this as basketball season.
Men’s basketball will be the priority. Why? Well, to borrow a phrase from Willie Sutton, that’s where the money is. But it’s also an area of expertise. I’ve written two books on Duke basketball, probably close to two thousand articles, not to mention book chapters, encyclopedia entries, book reviews. I’ve been writing for Go Duke: the Magazine since 1995, when it was Blue Devil Weekly. I’ve been a talking head on HBO, ESPN, the ACC Network and local TV. I’ve attended at least 1,300 Duke basketball games in Cameron Indoor Stadium, men’s and women’s, even freshman games.
Some of these go back to my student days when Cameron Indoor Stadium was still Duke Indoor Stadium. I was in the student section in 1972 when the name change took place at halftime, when Duke stunned a loaded North Carolina team with Robert McAdoo, Dennis Wuycik, Bobby Jones and George Karl. I also was in the stadium when Vic Bubas coached his final home game, another upset of a loaded Carolina team, this one led by Charlie Scott.
To borrow another phrase, this one from the Music Man, I know the territory.
But I also was in the student section of Wallace Wade when Leo Hart, Wes Chesson and Tom Harp flummoxed Bill Dooley and company with the Shoestring Play. Men’s basketball is 1 but football might be 1A. I’m not abandoning Mike Elko’s crew. And I’ll also be covering Kara Lawson’s women’s team and assorted Olympic sports.
I may be a hoops expert but I’m also an omnivore.
I’m also a well-trained omnivore. I have an undergraduate degree in history from Duke and a graduate degree in the same subject from North Carolina State. I was a public historian for the state of North Carolina for 30 years. I know how to do research, how to put things in context, how to frame a narrative.
And I’ve been around the block. I was born and raised in North Carolina. I imprinted on Vic Bubas and Bill Murray. I’m old enough to remember the Lonesome End, the Dixie Classic, the Point-Shaving Scandal of 1961, Art Heyman squaring off with Larry Brown and Donnie Walsh.
I’m pretty sure I check more boxes than anyone currently covering Duke athletics.
Many of you know this already. But not everyone. So, thanks for bearing with me.
Enough about me. What about you? Premium content will be more analytical, more contextual, more like a newspaper columnist than a reporter. The latter will be on the free portion and I will continue to keep free content.
But I guarantee at least 50 premium articles. Probably more. But that’s the floor. Again concentrated on the basketball season. Don’t expect much premium content after March until I hit reset, probably beginning of August when football practice resumes.
Questions? Let me know and I’ll do the best I can. Suggestions? Very open. I’m still on a substack learning curve here and I want to make this a two-way conversation.
Thanks for reading.
Operators standing by.
And, again, let your friends know.
I subscribed. Very reasonable price for access to the best Duke coverage available.
Jim, you’ve picked up the tradition on the great Bill Brill, and it means so much to us old timers that you know and lived the history. From my childhood, when Bill Murray was king of the ACC, I became even more of a football fan than a basketball one. I appreciate your vow to not give only secondary coverage to Duke football. I’m so thrilled you’re persevering that I instantly signed up for your premium service. Keep up the good work and can’t wait to read you on the victories to come! George Williams