Those of you who grew up in the Triangle -- or who attended Duke in the 1970s or 80s -- should know that Joe Tiede, one of the great sportswriters from the ACC's Golden Age, passed away today at age 84.

His longtime compatriot -- AJ Carr penned this obit: http://www.newsobserver.com/2012/06/...columnist.html

Carr and Tiede were one of the great doubles tennis tandems I've ever seen -- Carr was a tireless and flawless baseline volleyer, while Tiede was a tall, powerful at-the-net killer.

One other note about Tiede ... in the late 1980s and early 1990s, when the News and Observer launched its witchhunt against N.C. State and Jim Valvano, Tiede fought against the tide. His refusal to mindlessly bash Valvano and State eventually led him to take an early retirement.

Tiede was not the greatest writer in the business, but was one of the best reporters and was one of the best men in the ACC sports writing fraternity.