Celebrating Bill Brill

They're going to celebrate the life of Bill Brill Sunday in Cameron Indoor Stadium and that feels right because Bill celebrated so much of his life there.

Brill was a long-time sports writer in Roanoke, Va., who retired to Durham 20 years ago and immersed himself in Duke basketball, something he loved. Brill died a week ago at age 79 after a difficult battle with cancer.

He was a classic, never short of an opinion and never afraid to share it. He believed strongly in the good that can come from college athletics and he cared deeply about finding a proper balance with academics.

If you met Brill you didn't forget him. He was part of a fading legacy of colorful sports writers who made the time we spend in press rooms almost as much fun as the games we cover. He was a great one.

One worth celebrating.

-- Ron Green Jr.