DFZ INTERVIEWS MATT GILES: PART 2!
Let's get right to the interview:
2. I read your article about how there are highs and lows about being a Duke fan. When I was at the Duke-MSU Elite 8 game a few years ago, I cried for hours after the game. Do you have any tips on handling the lows?
For starters, realize that the 2019 Duke-MSU game was tough on me as well. Had I been the age you were then, I'm sure I would have lost most struggles to control my emotions in the seconds, minutes, hours, and days after the highly entertaining season suddenly ended. Zion Williamson was easily the most exciting one-and-done in program history and, in my mind, would have ended up as one of the three or four greatest Blue Devils of all time had his one season ended in a national championship. I thought Coach K should have ordered the ball to be in his hands more often, seeing that nobody ever proved able to consistently stop the flying bulldozer from just going attacking the rim.
Even to this day, it bothers me to think about it sometimes.
I'd actually say that the best way to handle such lows is to just embrace the fact that you care so much. Be proud of your absolute fandom. And when it comes to dealing with any mean Tar Heel classmates the next day, well, from my experience, I've found that what really irks them is when I act like the bigger man by admitting just how much the loss really, really stings (side note: when UNC loses, I've often noticed that Tar Heel fans will try to suddenly act like college basketball doesn't really matter to them, at least not in front of Duke fans; I'd say to be a good sport when Duke beats UNC, but I certainly wouldn't judge you or blame you if you become just a tad obnoxious in the eyes of Tar Heels). True fans, in my opinion, try to put themselves in the shoes of the players in sad times like those. Then we start thinking of the joy that might be to come in the next game/season. Just imagine then how much more wonderful that feeling will one day be because of the heartache in previous games/seasons.
I've found one partial cure to giant-sized heartache is to watch any of the five "One Shining Moment" links below and try to imagine what it'd be like if the 2022 version ended with a shot of Mike Krzyzewski going out on top while hugging the hero, Paolo Banchero (if that doesn't happen, then think about the 2023 version ending with Jon Scheyer hugging, say, Jeremy Roach, Trevor Keels, Jaylen Blakes, Wendell Moore, or some recruit he hasn't even landed yet). The first video is my personal favorite (I was nine years old, my mom and brother were asleep, and Dad was out of town on business but called me from his hotel to make sure we fully appreciated the moment together):
1991:
1992:
2001:
2010:
2015:
Wow. That is one awesome answer. I would like to give a huge thank-you to Matt Giles, who is the only reason I have such awesome content to post. If you have any spare time, just check out Ball Durham. It's an awesome website.