The adage is that a picture is worth a thousand words. But what about one that leaves you speechless?
While scrolling through the newspaper’s archives recently, I ran across an image – captured magnificently by former Times Free Press photographer Dan Henry – that stopped me in my tracks. In an instant, seeing the anguished faces of two teenagers, I was taken back nearly a decade to the heartbreaking moment and the beautiful story behind it.
Amid the uncertainty surrounding the COVID-19 pandemic, we could all use a reminder about the importance of family and the soul-refreshing escapism that sports provide.
Moments after the Calhoun High School football team’s gut-wrenching overtime loss to Buford in the 2010 GHSA Class AA state championship game, I stood on the Georgia Dome field and waited before following through on one of the toughest parts of any sports writer’s job.
Emotions were raw across the Calhoun sideline, and I wanted to give coaches and players a few moments to grieve as a team before interviewing them. Suddenly one player, kneeling by himself, caught my eye. Coaches and teammates alike were pushed away as it became clear the kid wanted nothing more than to mourn the loss alone.