The following is part II of an interview I had with sportswriter/author Al Featherston -

- We've discussed a baseball book ...

I am a big fan of what-if fiction or alternative history.  Bill Vecck talked about buying the Phillies in 1943 with the idea of stocking them with negro (as called then) players.  It would have integrated baseball four years before Jackie Robinson.  It would have been a totally different thing to have had a team of black players.  Anyhow, he claimed Commissioner Landis found out about it and blocked the purchase.  Anyway, I wrote a novel where Landis didn't find out in time and we have a whole season to talk about.  I find it interesting, but I haven't been able to find a publisher.  I thought about putting it on the internet.

- How about Duke ... thinking of writing anything on them?

(Chuckles)  Well, we just talked about what would have happened if Bob Verga hadn't been sick in the Final Four.  What if Duke had played Texas Western which would have put them in the landmark game.  What would have happened?  It would make a good short story.

- Do you think the average Duke fan appreciates their history?  What do you think of books like John Roth's latest effort?

Yeah!  I think it's a great book.  It's a good achievement.  I like Ron Morris book which goes to 88.  Jim Sumner is good ...  at every school some people appreciate the history.  It's funny how the ESPN generation thinks sports started in the 80's.  I mean ESPN has a game in the 90's as a classic flashback, when I want to see film of the 53 World Series game.

- A lot of people don't remember that there use to be a Durham Morning Herald and the Herald Sun.  There was some great coverage of the ACC in those days.  These days, the future looks a little bleak for the Herald which is sad when recalling it's history.  I mean, it's a shadow of what it once was.  What are your thoughts?  Is it the advent of the internet?

Well, I am still a little bitter about being let go.  In the 70's and 80's with two newspapers that competed with each other and owned by the same company ... but they pushed each other to be better.  For big games, there would be two writers.  But then they started the cutbacks.

- What are your thoughts on Duke Football?

I don't think there is any inherent reason Duke Football can't succeed, making the occasional run at a bowl.  I don't think they will ever be at the level as an Ohio State or Michigan.  A lot of the problem at Duke has been bad decisions by the Administration ... some bad hires, lack of support.  I think all that can be corrected.  Just a bit back, Wake was equal with Duke.  They made a great hire with Jim Grobe, Duke made a horrible hire with Carl Franks, no offense, but it clearly was.  In terms of facilities, they are no better than Duke.  In terms of support, the administration or academics ... what's the difference?  They made a great hire while Duke dug themselves a great hole.  That's why I cut Ted Roof some slack.  I think he inherited a horrible situation that will take some time to get out of.  I am not sure if he can do the job, but I haven't given up on him yet.  I want to see what he can do with his guys.  It's about time ... if he is doing the job we will see it this year or next year.  If he is not, it's time to try somebody else.

We've seen a lot of the modern basketball era.  With Coach K's success, have Duke fans become spoiled?

Oh certainly!  With all the negativity some fans showed after last season ...  Boy!  A horrible 22-11 season (sarcasm).  That's the worst season in a decade.  Yeah Duke fans are spoiled. They're becoming more like Carolina fans I've seen over the years.  I see the same kind of complaints ... why doesn't he recruit this guy, make this call, use his bench more ... that kind of thing.  Coach K has been the most successful college basketball coach over the last quarter century.  He must do something right.  I suppose criticism comes with the Duke territory and the fans are no different than any other base.

What do you think of Coach K trying to right the ship for Team USA?  If he uses a Duke flavor as Dean Smith did with UNC guys in the 70's ... with the world improving in basketball ... are they on equal ground?

I think so, because when Dean did it in 76 he had college players.  K has pro players ... not every great one, but a great lineup of guys just the same.  He has three years to put them together and test them out.  I think he is in a situation where he will get all the credit in the world if he succeeds  and all the blame should they lose.  I think he accepts that.

Can you think of a better coach?

Nah!  I think it is best to have a non NBA coach in that the pros is a player driven game.  The aura he has for players that didn't play for him like Kobe Bryant is why the Lakers looked at him a few years back.  I hear good things in interviews, how much people want to play for him.

What is your prospectus for next years Duke Basketball team?  A lot of people are harping on no bag man, worrying too much ...

People get too caught up in positions.  They don't understand that K plays a position-less game.  I think you'll see a versatile team.  A lot depends on how good Singler is.  Is he a star?  A lot depends on the improvement of Scheyer, Henderson and Thomas.  It will be a deep Duke team.  K has been knocked for not playing his bench, but I am not sure he has had a lot of depth.  I think this team will be deep and a promising team and he might use that to his advantage.  We'll see!

So, where do you go on the internet for rational discussion these days?

(Laughing) There is no place that is totally rational, but I do check out the DBR message boards.  Lots of people from other schools come in and try to stir up trouble.  You don't know for sure who is, well who they say they are.  I don't like the bickering but do love a good debate or discussion.

Where do you go for your Duke recruiting information?

I go to your site, the Blue Devil Nation.  If I were to subscribe to a site that emphasized Duke recruiting, I can think of no better one. 

Thanks to Al for the interview and no I didn't but his lunch for that last comment.

You can help the Blue Devil Nation out in a small way by purchasing Al's new book through this Link.  For the record, this interview was done before the DBR linked his book and had been in the works as has Amazon for awhile.  It is no big deal if you buy the book here or there.  It is NOT a competition. There is not a great deal of money to be made by myself on any purchase, but they will help keep the free area of the Blue Devil Nation up running.  The decision to go with Amazon was due to the books I will be reviewing in the future.  You can expect reviews and author interviews to be a regular feature of this blog.  I am open to any suggestions as to how to make this a better place to visit.  Also, you can expect some changes in the coming weeks.  I will keep you posted.  Thankfully, the BDN is getting back to normal after some software changes.  Thanks for reading the BDN!