As one of the team photographers for NC State, I have the great fortune of having behind-the-scenes access. I have seen some of my colleagues do some great photography in the locker room as players prep for the game, taping their wrist etc, and post game celebrating. My good friends Jeff Camarati and Joe Bray at UNC have done the like for the Tar Heels and I wanted to do the same for the Wolfpack. A few weeks ago I talked with my boss, NC State media relations director Annabelle Vaughn about doing some post game photos in the locker room. But on this night, we both decided this wasn’t the night as this game seemed lost at 10-15. Post game photos of a team on the losing side aren’t always as exciting obviously. I’m thinking “Well, FSU is coming up and Amato seems to always have their number”. OK, no problem. Less than 2 weeks, we’ll do some locker room and post game stuff. Then the clock strikes 46 seconds and NC State has possession again on their 28th. Read the rest of this entry »

“Don’t ever give up, don’t ever stop fighting!” Jimmy Valvo at Reynolds Coliseum. February 21, 1993

As a sad update to the last post, “G-Man” passed away yesterday. One can’t help to remember former NC State men’s basketball coach Jimmy Valvano and what he would say. In so many ways, the stories of Greg and Jimmy V mirror each other. Both had cancer but cancer never got them. It’s hard to really write something that does the situation justice. I think that only the words of Jimmy V himself could do so:

“Cancer can take away all my physical ability. It cannot touch my mind; it cannot touch my heart; and it cannot touch my soul. And those three things are going to carry on forever.” Jimmy Valvo at the ESPYs. March 4, 1993

Annabelle Vaughn, assistant athletics director for athletic communications (and my boss!) wrote a wonderful piece about Gregory Parrish. Gregory’s now 12 years old and was diagnosed with brain cancer at the age of 2. Coach Herb Sendek invited Greg and his dad to every home games. Since then, the players have been supportive of Greg and calling him to wish him the best. Annabelle’s article alludes to Gregory being in the hospital today in ICU, laying unconscious. So please send him your prayers.