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Chandler to Leave Legacy at the Cameron Microphone
12/16/2009 2:00:00 PM | Men's Basketball
DURHAM, N.C. – In Cameron Indoor Stadium, a Blue Devils den rocking with Crazies, one voice is distinguishable amid the tumult.
It's the “Voice of Cameron” -- Art Chandler, who prior to this season determined this would be his 40th and final year as P.A. announcer for Duke men's basketball games.
A long-time ophthalmologist and medical professor, Chandler -- decked out in a Duke blue vest and with glasses titled downward -- is as much a sideline fixture as the gesticulating coaches and roving mascot.
And his “Here Comes Duke!” introduction, which he began barking years ago at the suggestion of former Blue Devil Alaa Abdelnaby, will echo through the ages.
It was in 1970, when Bucky Waters was coaching, that Chandler first manned the microphone. Since then he has informed thousands who scored, who fouled, and who subbed in approximately 600 games.
Only unusual circumstances have kept him away. He missed a big segment of the 1990-91 national championship season while serving with the Army Reserves during Desert Storm, but wasn't forgotten. Coach Mike Krzyzewski sent him a “care” package.
Just three other times has he been absent -- when off on his honeymoon, when trapped by an ice storm, and when undergoing radiation treatment.
“No one loves this program more than Art,'' said associate athletics director Jon Jackson. “He's given four decades of his life to Duke and we in the Department of Athletics are greatly appreciative of his service.”
Chandler has never received money for his avocation at the university. No complaints. He says: “It has been a joy...the thing that has kept me going from November to March.”
Challenging Start
The good doctor, who gained radio experience as a student at Washington & Lee and Florida Southern, was offered a shot at the Duke P.A. position in 1970 by then athletics director Carl James.
For starters, the Blue Devils' first opponent that year was a foreign national team filled with a roster that could have left some announcers permanently tongue tied.
“They had no vowels,'' said Chandler, who spent time in a language lab preparing for the daunting challenge.
For the record, he passed that foreign language test and stuck around longer than first imagined. Chandler said he never thought about setting a Duke P.A. longevity record, figuring he was “going to do it for a while.”
Unlike many people, Chandler never stuttered over “Krzyzewski” or mangled the coach's now famous name. But he recalls how Blue Devils [Steve] Wojciechowski and [Dan] Meagher were tongue twisters that gave him trouble.
“The first couple of years, I made every mistake,'' said Chandler, recalling how fans “jumped on me, just like they did the referees.”
Another unforgettable task came in 1980 when the Polish National Team arrived for an exhibition game. The resourceful Chandler sought tutoring help from Emily Krzyzewski, Coach K's mother.
“We worked on [the roster] an hour or two each day,'' he said. “When the game was over, I said, 'How did I do?' She said, 'Not bad, but no one will ever confuse you with being Polish.'”
No Frills
At the mic, Chandler emits an aura of professionalism and talks without offensive embellishment. There is no screaming “basket by Sinnnnnnglerrrrrrr!,” no humorous quips, no homer chatter, or other comments that might bring attention to himself.
He reels off the facts and tries to remain even-keeled regardless of time or score, or whether the opponent is North Carolina or North Dakota.
“I've always felt that a P.A. announcer is there to give information, be clear, be concise and not try to add anything to the atmosphere other than dignity and decorum,'' Chandler said. “Referees and P.A. announcers should be noticed only if they make bad mistakes.”
And, he added, “you don't need to rile up the Crazies,” who have supported and admired him throughout the years.
“He does a really good job,'' said Ram Kommaraju, a Duke senior.
Chandler, meticulous in preparation, studies names and practices pronunciation long before settling into his seat at the scorer's table. As a result, he says he hasn't experienced butterflies -- or mic fright -- in many years.
“My pulse rate doesn't go up,'' he said.
Tommy Hunt, long-time clock operator at Duke basketball games, knows Chandler well and had much to say about his colleague and friend.
“He's a gentleman...a great person,'' Hunt said. “He's always concerned about making sure names are pronounced correctly. He always plays the impartial card [not showing favorites].
“He's a team player at the scorer's table,'' Hunted added. “He makes sure all is done accurately and makes sure everybody gets a fair shake. I think he's as good as he's ever been. I hate to see him step down.”
Krzyzewski is among those who appreciate Chandler and his work.
“Art's been a friend for 30 years,'' said Coach K. “What we're talking about is a situation where someone has volunteered their services to help our Athletic Department and specifically the basketball program for 40 years. He's a great friend to our program and he's done a terrific job in his role. I am glad we've had him on our team for as long as we have. We will miss him.”
Camaraderie
Throughout the years Chandler has interacted with many players and coaches and treasures the relationships.
In recent times, the contacts have been more limited as college basketball became, as he put it, “corporate.”
Few home P.A. announcers have witnessed more success. During the past four decades, he has seen three national championship teams, 11 ACC Tournament champs, and a plethora of All-Americas. Once Chandler was asked to pick an all-time Duke team, but he won't publicly reveal his top five.
However, he does rank All-America Christian Laettner as “probably the best competitor I've ever seen” and rates the '86 Blue Devils that lost to Louisville in the 1986 NCAA finals as the best overall team.
“I love all of them,'' he said of the Duke family. “I would take any of them as my sons.”
As for games, the memories are multiple. One Chandler cited was the win over UNC on Robby West's buzzer-beater in 1972. Another was Fred Lind's super-sub performance in a triple over-time victory against the Tar Heels in the late 1960s.
“It has been such a treat, not only to see the great Duke players, but the great players all over the country,'' he said.
Early Years
Chandler grew up in Charleston, West Va., the son of an ophthalmologist. He was an erudite student who also developed a solid tennis game, solid enough to play at Washington & Lee and Florida Southern.
From there, Chandler went on to earn his medical degree at Duke, where he spent much of a distinguished professional career that included several years in private practice and teaching.
Married with three sons, a daughter and a step daughter, Chandler -- who will be 77 in February -- is still working and instructing, now at the University of North Carolina Medical Center.
“I've retired four times,” said Chandler, who can't seem to quit. “I've been extraordinarily [fortunate], to have good friends, good acquaintances. It has been quite a journey.”
Chandler, who will be honored later this season at a game by the Duke Department of Athletics, knows it won't be easy to give up his P.A. passion.
“I could probably go another year or two,” he said. “But it was time. I'm very much at peace with it. Am I'm going to miss it? You bet.”
Chandler -- and his voice -- also will be missed.
It's the “Voice of Cameron” -- Art Chandler, who prior to this season determined this would be his 40th and final year as P.A. announcer for Duke men's basketball games.
A long-time ophthalmologist and medical professor, Chandler -- decked out in a Duke blue vest and with glasses titled downward -- is as much a sideline fixture as the gesticulating coaches and roving mascot.
And his “Here Comes Duke!” introduction, which he began barking years ago at the suggestion of former Blue Devil Alaa Abdelnaby, will echo through the ages.
It was in 1970, when Bucky Waters was coaching, that Chandler first manned the microphone. Since then he has informed thousands who scored, who fouled, and who subbed in approximately 600 games.
Only unusual circumstances have kept him away. He missed a big segment of the 1990-91 national championship season while serving with the Army Reserves during Desert Storm, but wasn't forgotten. Coach Mike Krzyzewski sent him a “care” package.
Just three other times has he been absent -- when off on his honeymoon, when trapped by an ice storm, and when undergoing radiation treatment.
“No one loves this program more than Art,'' said associate athletics director Jon Jackson. “He's given four decades of his life to Duke and we in the Department of Athletics are greatly appreciative of his service.”
Chandler has never received money for his avocation at the university. No complaints. He says: “It has been a joy...the thing that has kept me going from November to March.”
Challenging Start
The good doctor, who gained radio experience as a student at Washington & Lee and Florida Southern, was offered a shot at the Duke P.A. position in 1970 by then athletics director Carl James.
For starters, the Blue Devils' first opponent that year was a foreign national team filled with a roster that could have left some announcers permanently tongue tied.
“They had no vowels,'' said Chandler, who spent time in a language lab preparing for the daunting challenge.
For the record, he passed that foreign language test and stuck around longer than first imagined. Chandler said he never thought about setting a Duke P.A. longevity record, figuring he was “going to do it for a while.”
Unlike many people, Chandler never stuttered over “Krzyzewski” or mangled the coach's now famous name. But he recalls how Blue Devils [Steve] Wojciechowski and [Dan] Meagher were tongue twisters that gave him trouble.
“The first couple of years, I made every mistake,'' said Chandler, recalling how fans “jumped on me, just like they did the referees.”
Another unforgettable task came in 1980 when the Polish National Team arrived for an exhibition game. The resourceful Chandler sought tutoring help from Emily Krzyzewski, Coach K's mother.
“We worked on [the roster] an hour or two each day,'' he said. “When the game was over, I said, 'How did I do?' She said, 'Not bad, but no one will ever confuse you with being Polish.'”
No Frills
At the mic, Chandler emits an aura of professionalism and talks without offensive embellishment. There is no screaming “basket by Sinnnnnnglerrrrrrr!,” no humorous quips, no homer chatter, or other comments that might bring attention to himself.
He reels off the facts and tries to remain even-keeled regardless of time or score, or whether the opponent is North Carolina or North Dakota.
“I've always felt that a P.A. announcer is there to give information, be clear, be concise and not try to add anything to the atmosphere other than dignity and decorum,'' Chandler said. “Referees and P.A. announcers should be noticed only if they make bad mistakes.”
And, he added, “you don't need to rile up the Crazies,” who have supported and admired him throughout the years.
“He does a really good job,'' said Ram Kommaraju, a Duke senior.
Chandler, meticulous in preparation, studies names and practices pronunciation long before settling into his seat at the scorer's table. As a result, he says he hasn't experienced butterflies -- or mic fright -- in many years.
“My pulse rate doesn't go up,'' he said.
Tommy Hunt, long-time clock operator at Duke basketball games, knows Chandler well and had much to say about his colleague and friend.
“He's a gentleman...a great person,'' Hunt said. “He's always concerned about making sure names are pronounced correctly. He always plays the impartial card [not showing favorites].
“He's a team player at the scorer's table,'' Hunted added. “He makes sure all is done accurately and makes sure everybody gets a fair shake. I think he's as good as he's ever been. I hate to see him step down.”
Krzyzewski is among those who appreciate Chandler and his work.
“Art's been a friend for 30 years,'' said Coach K. “What we're talking about is a situation where someone has volunteered their services to help our Athletic Department and specifically the basketball program for 40 years. He's a great friend to our program and he's done a terrific job in his role. I am glad we've had him on our team for as long as we have. We will miss him.”
Camaraderie
Throughout the years Chandler has interacted with many players and coaches and treasures the relationships.
In recent times, the contacts have been more limited as college basketball became, as he put it, “corporate.”
Few home P.A. announcers have witnessed more success. During the past four decades, he has seen three national championship teams, 11 ACC Tournament champs, and a plethora of All-Americas. Once Chandler was asked to pick an all-time Duke team, but he won't publicly reveal his top five.
However, he does rank All-America Christian Laettner as “probably the best competitor I've ever seen” and rates the '86 Blue Devils that lost to Louisville in the 1986 NCAA finals as the best overall team.
“I love all of them,'' he said of the Duke family. “I would take any of them as my sons.”
As for games, the memories are multiple. One Chandler cited was the win over UNC on Robby West's buzzer-beater in 1972. Another was Fred Lind's super-sub performance in a triple over-time victory against the Tar Heels in the late 1960s.
“It has been such a treat, not only to see the great Duke players, but the great players all over the country,'' he said.
Early Years
Chandler grew up in Charleston, West Va., the son of an ophthalmologist. He was an erudite student who also developed a solid tennis game, solid enough to play at Washington & Lee and Florida Southern.
From there, Chandler went on to earn his medical degree at Duke, where he spent much of a distinguished professional career that included several years in private practice and teaching.
Married with three sons, a daughter and a step daughter, Chandler -- who will be 77 in February -- is still working and instructing, now at the University of North Carolina Medical Center.
“I've retired four times,” said Chandler, who can't seem to quit. “I've been extraordinarily [fortunate], to have good friends, good acquaintances. It has been quite a journey.”
Chandler, who will be honored later this season at a game by the Duke Department of Athletics, knows it won't be easy to give up his P.A. passion.
“I could probably go another year or two,” he said. “But it was time. I'm very much at peace with it. Am I'm going to miss it? You bet.”
Chandler -- and his voice -- also will be missed.
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