A Day at the Beach

As the former speechwriter for the chancellors at NC State I can promise you there was rarely  a positive word written or spoken about DUKE.

That said, my thanks for the kind, thoughtful and poignant contribution that you made to my book/gathering  V&Me “Everybody’s Favorite Jim Valvano Story!

I am writing now to share a moment that you may not recall!

At around noon on January 22nd, 1988, which happened to be Super Sunday, my son and I popped into the old Food Lion, between Salterpath and Atlantic Beach.

I was on a beer run for the Super Bowl!

When we walked into the Food Lion there were only two other shoppers. Now, we from our condo at Pine knoll Towns, had just watched you lose to Wake the day before. It was a tough game that, as I recall came down to the wire, I think you were number 1 at the time and had run into some injuries so let’s just say that perhaps the last thing you needed was some fan and his kid revisiting the moment when you were trying to breathe some ocean air!

I said to Matt, “Look, it’s Mike and Mickey Kryzewski!”

Matt, a typical 12 year old said, “Do not embarrass me, don’t say a word, do not bug those folks.”

We get in line behind you and Mickey in the checkout and I say, “That was a tough loss yesterday, Coach!”

And you stopped and, while Mickey waited patiently, took the time to discuss the game, giving us some details that were frankly so impressive!”

When you turned to go, I said, “Coach, this is Matt, I know you are coming to Reynold’s on Wednesday. Matt is NC State’s ball boy!”

And with that you turned to Matt and said, “Matt, I want you to take good care of us Wednesday, and I want you to be sure to come by our bench and say hello before the game!”

Now, Matt was thrilled and this one comes with a punch line that I didn’t see coming. When we got in the car Matt looked at me and said, “Dad, I thought that they were just two people who looked like Mike and Mickey Kryzewski. I  thought you were going to embarrass me again and say something like, “Hey you folks look a lot like Mike and Mickey Kryzewski!”

Now, I have always been of the opinion that when you meet someone and they are having a good week or day then their kindness, etc. is more likely.

But we caught you on a less than a celebratory moment and so….that’s the Mike and Mickey Kryzewski (all the wins and championships included) Matt and I will always remember!