If you are a Duke student who complains of having too many time constraints, too many responsibilities or constant fatigue, you are not alone.
Duke senior forward Shane Battier not only has the normal schedule limitations of a college student, he also has to attend basketball practice led by a former West Point cadet for hours each day. Oh yeah, and if that is not enough, he has another demanding job-serving as the poster boy for college basketball.
But the 6-foot-8 native of Birmingham, Mich., is not complaining about being under the celebrity microscope, as long as the media is not too invasive. In fact, regardless of what expectations the college basketball world has set for Battier, he has been pleased with the way his season has progressed so far.
"I think I've definitely lived up to my [personal] expectations," Battier said. "And my main expectation, plain and simple, is giving my team a shot at winning the game every time I step onto the court. That carries over into practice, games, and just the daily routine of preparing for the season. As long as I do that, I'm doing my job."
While Battier's goals have remained the same, the environment in which he has been forced to realize these goals has been quite different from previous seasons.
Up until this season, the forward was overshadowed by some of his talented teammates. During his freshman year, senior point guard and current Blue Devil assistant coach Steve Wojciechowski graced the cover of Sports Illustrated proclaiming his love for Duke. In his sophomore year, most of the accolades were received by Elton Brand, who was named national player of the year and was then picked first in the 1999 NBA Draft. Even in Battier's junior season, when he began to take on a high-profile role for the team as a co-captain and the leading scorer, Battier was still slightly overshadowed by outspoken teammate and ACC most valuable player Chris Carrawell.
But this season, all the hype has been centered around Battier, the sports world's media darling. And in many respects, Battier's media coverage has exceeded the publicity given to his popular teammates, as he has been featured in every magazine from Maxim to Playboy and has been heard on broadcasts ranging from Duke's WXDU to worldwide television networks like ESPN. To say the least, Battier's massive number of engagements have taken their toll.
"[This year] has been a lot more energy-consuming," Battier said. "On certain days, I feel tired and don't feel like giving interviews and other days I feel great and want to give a lot of interviews. So I think I'm not anything different than anybody else-there are good days and bad days."
Although Battier's numerous extracurricular activities have been a drain, his teammates believe he has reacted to the attention with poise and dignity. Sophomore swing man Mike Dunleavy, who lives with Battier in a Central Campus apartment, has been impressed with the way Battier handles so much scrutiny.
"He handles [the attention] great," Dunleavy said. "He's got everything scheduled out and he never lets anything get in the way. That's just how Shane is. You wouldn't expect anything else."
However, Battier's attention to detail can sometimes be to the detriment of his roommate, as the elder forward is apparently quite a stickler when it comes to keeping his home clean. Dunleavy said the scrutiny he has been forced to endure from his roommate might equal that of the attention Battier has faced from the media. In fact, Dunleavy said his mother and Battier were "about equal" in pestering him about keeping his living space clean.
Not only has the apartment been a friendly battleground for the two roommates, it has also served as the one place Battier guards as his sanctuary of private life. That is why no journalist has been allowed in his home during the season.
"The only time [the press was too invasive] was when I was supposed to do an interview for Fox Sports Net," Battier said. "They wanted to come to my house, see what I have, my living arrangements and my kitchen gadgets, but I told them, 'No.' It's the last bastion of privacy I have."
The folks at Fox Sports Net may have been disappointed with Battier's rejection of their request, but few have been disappointed with Battier's performance on the basketball court this season. Statistically speaking, he ranks among the ACC's best in scoring (19.5 points per game), blocked shots (66) and steals (60). In addition, he has demonstrated the ability to overwhelm his competition on both ends of the floor, as evidenced by his nine three-pointers against Princeton to start the season, his 20 consecutive points Jan. 20 at Georgia Tech and his all-around stifling defensive effort against North Carolina last Sunday. Against the Tar Heels, Battier recorded five blocked shots, grabbed seven defensive rebounds (11 total) and wreaked havoc in the passing lanes with four steals.
Of course, these impressive figures have allowed Battier to build a legacy that is nearly unparalleled in Duke basketball history. This legacy will be sustained by the retirement of his No. 31 jersey, which will hang from the rafters of Cameron Indoor Stadium at season's end, but Battier also hopes that members of the Duke community will remember him for his personal qualities.
"I want them to say that I was a person who worked really hard and tried to do things the right way, that they're proud to be associated with me and that I'm just a normal guy like anyone else," Battier said.
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