Ty's toe holds court
Mar 20, 2009
I Just got back from practice day before the NCAA Tournament's second round games in Greensboro, and thought I would share a story with you about the drama that is Ty Lawson's toe injury.
So, Jason Jennings and I are in Greensboro today ready to get interviews from the Tar Heel players on their upcoming game with LSU, and the line is 20 deep to get in the locker room.
Jason and I kindly make our way to the front to make sure we are one of the first to make it in the locker room so we can have our choice of interview. Before we head in, the UNC sports information director takes Danny Green and Wayne Ellington to the press conference room. We hear "Carolina's locker room is open", and in we go like a heard of cattle...
I walk in and the first thing I see is Lawson on the training table getting his toe taped up. I immediately begin to film Lawson's toe, a close up shot, then a wider shot so you can see Ty watching as the rest of the circus, known as the media, file in and follow suit, all getting a shot of his toe.
I've gotten video of a lot of things in my time in this business ... shoulders, hands, wrists, knees and ankles ... but never a toe.
So after I get the video of Lawson just sitting there, I turn around and there sits Tyler Hansbrough all by himself with a foam roller (a Bob Holliday favorite) and a vitamin water. I mean, who would want to talk to Hansbrough - after all, he's only the reigning National Player of the Year and only four-time first team All-American ever.
So Jason and I are the first to get that interview and everything after that was easy.
No one really knows the status of Ty's toe, but it's amazing how one of the body's smallest parts can take all of the attention off a team with the talent to win the national championship with or without its starting point guard.
