TUPATALK: Opportunity knocked
A few columns ago, I wrote about some of the unique well-known sports personalities I have meet during my career.
At my previous newspaper, in the north central California area, I feasted on a wealth of such opportunities.
I arranged for several photo passes for professional or major college sports events.
As I mentioned in the first column, this included shooting NBA games at Sacramento’s Arco Arena.
This opportunity was not without its own brand of pain.
Photographers had to sit just beyond the out-of-bounds lines on each end. This was not exactly a bounteous area space-wise, because we were squeezed between the first row of seats and foul line. In order to fit, we were required to sit cross legged whenever the teams were on the court.
I’m sure there is a large horde of flexible people for who this might not be a hardship — until you try to do it.
Sometimes we had to sit in that position for 45 minutes at a time, or more. There was no sense spreading the legs during timeouts and then have to go through the ordeal of scrunching up again.
Plus, you constantly felt guilty about blocking part of the view of the people in the seats directly behind you. Well, at least those like me who didn’t do this very much. I mean, that was the set-up and we had no choice. The arena officials told us where we had to be and that was it.
It also proved interesting in having NBA players slide into or leap over us or stampede toward us, barely side-stepping our bodies.
But, it was rewarding, as well, to have that overall experience.
One of the nicest parts was being able to go in the tunnel and the locker rooms to interview coaches and players after the game.
I recall asked Spud Webb a few questions — out in the hall after he had dressed. He proved to be a nice enough guy; what impressed me most was how much the 5-foot-7 dynamo looked just like a college kid who might pass on campus without a second thought.
I recall after one game seeing Charles Barkley standing outside one of the locker rooms and visiting with people and an older lady came up with a huge smile on her face and they hugged like lost friends.
I wondered if she was a relative or something, and I appreciated the tender moment.
While he stood outside the locker room door, Jerry Sloan answered a few of my meandering questions. Judging by his facial expression, I think he would have rather been in a dentist’s chair. But, he acted with patience and tolerance.
As I prepared to talk to Danny Ainge, he just kind of hurried out without stopping for anybody. I wondered if he wanted to get back to the hotel and call family.
Just as in Bartlesville, my primary job — which I loved — centered on covering community sports. But, these little side excursions to the highest level of athletic competition provided nice diversions and opportunities I never would have known in any other way.
I also took advantage of a chance to cover a college basketball between the University of California and Oregon State, where one of the guys from my town played. The game took place at Cal, whose star player that year was jason Kidd.
Like Kilroy, at least I can say I was there.
This article originally appeared on Bartlesville Examiner-Enterprise: TupaTalk column
