Disappointed,….I’m disappointed! Not at the Lady Lions or the outcome of the game, in fact I could not be any prouder of them and the way they have represented this town, they are all awesome! I am not disappointed at our hotel facilities or food we enjoyed while were there, and certainly not disappointed at the thousands of fans that showed up to cheer on the Salem Lady Lions.
You see as a photographer you are always searching for the image that conveys emotion, whether it be happiness or other inward thoughts or feelings, something that will make people remember that particular moment forever. We take sometimes thousands of action photos at an event like the 3A State Championship Girls Basketball Game, but the image that needs to be captured does not always involve a ball, a rebound, reaction of the crowd or coach to a bad call, but something that doesn’t even involve sport. That is what has disappointed me today as I thought about this weekend.
You see as I was standing between our fans and a 96 foot long row of tables adorned with computers, cameras, local personalities, sports figures, radio and TV Broadcasters with voices being heard by thousands over the airways just moments before the tip-off of the biggest basketball game in Salem Sports history, I noticed coach Jerry Hickey walking from his bench toward the Salem faithful some 100 or more feet away, and I thought “what is he doing”? Just then as I glanced slightly right I saw his daughter Kendall standing at the edge of the bleachers with a cheek to cheek smile and her arms extended toward him. As he got to her he grabbed her, squeezed her tight and for a moment time seemed to stand still in complete silence. I don’t think a word was spoken but feelings were immeasurable. The look or her face seemed to convey the thought of, “You make me so proud to be your daughter. I am so happy and grateful for the life you have provided for me and our family. Enjoy this day and know that you are my hero, win or lose!” His face seemed to radiate, “ I love you and thank you for allowing me to be able to do this, you are the wind beneath my wings, and what makes the my earth revolve around the sun.” At this point as I stood with camera in hand I realized that this was truly the Kodak moment of my afternoon and as each of them released there grip on the other I knew I had missed the shot that each of them could have cherished forever. I soon realized that even a slam dunk or a buzzer beating full court shot would not mean as much to either one of them as that single embrace, and I had missed it. I am disappointed, disappointed that Jerry Hickey can not pull out that photo on Kendall’s wedding day and remember how special that moment was for he and Kendall at that time, disappointed that Kendall will not gaze upon that photo when perhaps she is elderly and recall what it felt like to hug her dad in front of thousands on that day. I had been so focused on what was about to happen on the court that I missed one of the most eventful things that would happen on that day that did not involve a ball, a rim, a cheer or a trophy. Disappointed.