Vividly recall sweating through our first long, slow line of the day, right after leaving the gym … still in civvies, with suitcase in hand and a bewildered expression. After ten or so minutes of the start-stop-start-again shuffle, the tall guy in front of me, clearly bored, turned around, stuck out his hand, grinned, and said, “Mike Krzyzewski, Chicago.” You would not believe the responses I still get telling this, “Guess who I met first at West Point?” story.
Jeff,
Thanks. Great Coach K story!
Thanks, Geoff. Apologies for missing your comment for so long. Mike and I were in different regiments — and I didn’t have a jump shot — so we only bumped into each other occasionally. But it was always with a grin, recalling R-Day.
Fast forward a couple decades and I was present at a Methodist College (Fayetteville, NC) cheerleader competition for some reason. Turns out Mike was the competition’s judge. Afterwards I was hanging back in a throng of autograph-seekers … and was shocked when he glanced my way, grinned, and casually said “Hi, Jeff.”
Instant local celebrity … for about ten minutes.
Hug Kappy for me!
Jeff
Jeff, thanks for sharing this. We shared experiences from The fall of 1962 at NYMA.
Bruce! Man, did we ever … football, swimming, lacrosse, plus almost every class … then West Point. All of that with Don Smith, as well! We three were well and truly blessed.
Stay well, my friend … looking forward to seeing you and Don in May!
Jeff
Very cool first meeting. Mike and Roy Williams were on TV last night in front of the basketball coaches of NC expounding on their coaching styles, leadership and experiences. I’d like to read more of yours here in the Days Forward.
Thanks, Pete. You will. Great hearing from you!
Hope to see you in May,
Jeff
Jeff, sounds like you might have been the first of our class to meet Coach K.
P.S. My biggest regret of Covid is that it blew our plans to try some Space-A traveling together completely out of the water. At this point I suppose that ship has sailed.
I think I was, Ray. My flabber was gasted when he remembered me years later at that cheerleading competition … we have a mutual friend here in Fayetteville who was the Methodist College (now University) cheerleader coach. She claims Mike’s ability to recall names is phenomenal. Quite a guy, Mike.
I, too, feel badly about missing our chance to Space-A around the country (or world). Maybe we can knit something together at Reunion in May?
Thanks for taking the time to comment, my friend!
Jeff