I don't photograph the tip-ff very often. In fact in 12 years of shoting basketball I've shot it perhaps only 8-10 times. I do it on openning night sometimes. Last night was opening night, this is when schools host tournaments to kick-off the season. Referred to as Tip-off tournaments it seems a very appropriate picture to get. When I started at the paper photographer Kirk Serena was still here at the Trib and he worked Saturday's with me. He had planned on going home early this one Saturday when the sports editor came in and asked if we could shoot two games right at the time he had planned to leave. Kirk was scheduled to work later, but wanted to duck out early. Kirk was known for having a bit of a temper and got sort of pissed off about it. But he went and took pictures of the game for the next days paper. He went and shot the tip off--took two frames and left. This is my favorite basketball story. The picture above I decided to post as a remembrance of Kirk who died a few years later from a motorcycle accident. I took it last night at Meadville's Tip-off tournament. Meadville Tribune photograph Richard Sayer
I replaced Kirk when he left the Evening Star newspaper in Auburn, IN. I never got the pleasure to meet Kirk, but I heard some interesting stories from those who did. From what they told me, he had the mouth of a sailor and chewed tobacco and spit the juice wherever. However, I saw some of his photography, and it was nice, solid work. Some people have a natural talent for photography, and he was one of them. When he left the Star, I knew I had some very large shoes to fill - and I feel like I did a pretty decent job that even Kirk would be proud of.