About Us
About Us
“I would trade half my kingdom just to once see through the eyes of my enemy.” ~Sun Tzu
Alright, that’s not really something Sun Tzu ever wrote or said. We just felt like starting this summary off with a self-important quote that implies a little something about what we’re trying to do with this blog. In reality, we know we’re not chronicling anything as serious as ancient Chinese warfare, but something vaguely akin to it – the Battle for Tobacco Road.
Blue vs. Blue was started by two brothers (more on that in a second) and a few friends scattered across opposing schools in the Duke-North Carolina rivalry who always had plenty of comments to share whenever we all got together, some inflammatory and some insightful. We realized the adage of keeping your friends close and your enemies closer might not be a bad idea, since everything that happens in Chapel Hill must always be analyzed with one eye on Durham, and vice-versa.
Blue vs. Blue is going to be an attempt at raising the discourse about the rivalry just a little, to get away from the mindless name-calling that appears on so many message boards on the internet, and instead attempt to see what’s actually going on in the hearts and minds of the opposing fans eight miles down 15-501… then call them names! This isn’t a UNC blog, or a Duke blog, this is a blog about the Rivalry, the one with a capital R. We’re here to do what we can to document it, and we appreciate you joining us in doing so.
The Staff:
Alex Smith moved with his family to North Carolina in the midst of one of the richest times to be a Duke fan, the mid-90s. So naturally, as an iconoclast he chose to root for UNC. However, when it came time to go off to college in 1993 he must have been convinced by all the nice brochoures because although he never stepped foot on the campus up to that point, he chose to go to Duke sight unseen, and the rest, as they say, is history. You can reach him atalex@bluevsblue.com. Affiliation: Duke Blue Devils.
Zeke Smith, almost 9 years younger than his older brother, grew up passionately rooting for Duke, still finding it hard not to think fondly on moments like the Miracle Minute or Capel’s Halfcourt Heave. However, when it came time to choose a school he somehow ended up in Chapel Hill (irony strikes again!) and suffered through an 8-20 season his freshman year only to emerge a diehard Dook hater. He worked as a sports photographer in Chapel Hill for several years after his graduation, and is very proud of his visual contributions to the rivalry, including Danny Green dunking on Greg Paulus and spotting the “Where’s Dook” sign that popped up at last year’s Final Four in Detroit. You can reach him at zeke@bluevsblue.com. Affiliation: North Carolina Tar Heels.
Bart Matthews is a graduate of Duke Unversity ( Trinity ‘96) and has been close friends with Alex and Zeke, dating back to when Alex was at Duke, Zeke’s voice hadn’t changed, and we all had a lot more hair on our heads ( especially the two of them ). He still wonders how that nice young man he remembers could have ended up a Tar Heel, but is grateful to Zeke nonetheless for getting this party started. GTHC!!!! He is an Atlanta native and now a full time resident of Durham, NC. You can reach him at bart@bluevsblue.com. Affiliation: Duke Blue Devils.
Rob Weldon, like Zeke, grew up in a Duke household. In fact, it was a Duke family tree in which literally half of Rob’s extended family went to Duke. He was especially unlucky to have an older brother who has cherished every misfortune that has ever befallen the Tar Heel athletic department. However, Rob saw Blue Heaven awaiting and received his re-education during possibly the worst 4 consecutive years of Carolina basketball: 2000-2004. Sandwiching his time in Chapel Hill was a Final Four trip and a National Championship. Still, he regularly thanks Rameses for those four years. These days he’s found in San Francisco, explaining why Carolina/Dook isn’t just a quaint regional rivalry, but actually a battle between good and evil. And then explain how that’s NOT a metaphor. Affiliation: North Carolina Tar Heels.
Interested in becoming a contributor for Blue vs. Blue? We appreciate your interest – if you do indeed think you’re ready for this jelly, drop us a line at info@bluevsblue.com and we’ll talk about it. Thanks!
