My friends call me Cory. Youth at church call me Rev. Cory. But those who see me on telecasts of the newly-crowned Western Conference champion Oklahoma City Thunder, know me as "that camera guy with the bright polo shirts."
So, the question, 'Why the bright colors'? Two answers: one, I like the ease of wearing polo shirts; and two, so my family and friends can see me on TV.
The first nationally-televised games I covered, I would tell people 'I'm under the hoop.' But nobody saw me, nor believed I was there. Then, one time I wore a colorful shirt. Everybody saw me. It went from people saying 'are you really there' to them saying 'I see you ... in that bright orange, yellow or white polo.'
My cell phone and Facebook account have gotten major play during these playoffs. Friends' comments range from "can I carry your tripod/camera?" or "can I BORROW your press pass?" to "Can I hide in your backpack?"
The comments are always unique, but they humble me to being thankful for where God has placed me in life; to have a dream job that is work, but also fun.
I remember back before I was a journalist and I'd see someone I knew on TV, and it excited me. Now that the shoe is on the other foot, I use the exposure as a conversation piece, allowing me an outlet to tell people to follow their dreams, because that's how I got here.
In my 10 years at the Tulsa World, shooting the OKC Thunder has probably been my favorite assignment. I meet celebs, albeit just in passing, like KD, Kobe, LeBron and DWade, Charles Barkley and Shaq, and I always enjoy when my hometown Denver Nuggets come to town. And now, I look forward to shooting the NBA Finals!
As a boy who began playing team basketball at age 9, it was always my dream to make it on the big stage, the bright lights of the NBA. Now, trading a basketball in for a Canon Mark III camera, I finally get my shot.
Anytime you get a job where you feel good about over-working, it's one you love. And although the job requires getting stepped on, fallen into, having your view obstructed by referees, and the fact that you have to sit in a box like a pretzel for an entire game, it's all worth it.
The feeling on the floor is exciting. The only bad part is that those closest to you cannot share that feeling with you. As someone who always (still today) avoided being on camera, I'm willing to be there if it draws others closer to the action.
Here are some of my photos covering the Thunder.
Oklahoma City's Russell Westbrook dunks during their game against Denver at Chesapeake Energy Arena, in Oklahoma City, on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant (35) shoots during the Thunder's game against Denver at Chesapeake Energy Arena, in Oklahoma City, on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant hugs teammate Russell Westbrook after Westbrook knocked down a jumper in overtime to put the Thunder ahead for good during a 124-118 overtime win over the Denver Nuggets at Chesapeake Energy Arena, in Oklahoma City, on Sunday, Feb. 19, 2012. Durant score 51 and Westbrook scored 40. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
OKC's Kevin Durant shoots past a host of San Antonio players during the Thunder's Game 3 playoff win over the San Antonio Spurs, in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, May 31, 2012. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
OKC's Kendrick Perkins attempts a dunk over San Antonio's Tim Duncan during Game 3 of the San Antonio Spurs-Oklahoma City Thunder basketball playoff series in Oklahoma City, on Thursday, May 31, 2012. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant dunks over Denver's JaVale McGee during a 106-101Nuggets' win at Chesapeake Energy Arena, in Oklahoma City, on Wednesday, April 25, 2012. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
San Antonio's Manu Ginobili reacts after being fouled by OKC's James Harden during the Thunder's 109-103 Game 4 Western Conference Final win over the Spurs, at Chesapeake Energy Arena, in Oklahoma City, on Saturday, June 2, 2012. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant smiles after he blocked a shot by Miami's Dwyane Wade at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Sunday, Mar. 25, 2012. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
OKC's Russell Westbrook (at left) and James Harden laugh near mid-court of the in the final moments of the Thunder's 109-103 Game 4 Western Conference Finals win over the San Antonio Spurs, at Chesapeake Energy Arena, in Oklahoma City, on Saturday, June 2, 2012. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
OKC's James Harden is fouled by Dallas' Jason Terry during Game 2 of the teams' first-round playoff series at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, on Monday, April 30, 2012. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
OKC's Russell Westbrook drives the lane past Dallas' Shawn Marion, during Game 2 of the teams first-round playoff series at Chesapeake Energy Arena in Oklahoma City, on Monday, April 30, 2012. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
OKC's Russell Westbook knocks down a jump shot past San Antonio's Tony Parker (left) and Boris Diaw during the Thunder's 107-99 win over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals at Chesapeake Energy Center, in Oklahoma City, on Wednesday, June 6, 2012. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
OKC's Serge Ibaka goes up strong before being fouled by San Antonio's Boris Diaw during the Thunder's 107-99 win over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals at Chesapeake Energy Center, in Oklahoma City, on Wednesday, June 6, 2012. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
OKC's Kevin Durant goes up strong against San Antonio's Tim Duncan during the Thunder's 107-99 win over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals at Chesapeake Energy Center, in Oklahoma City, on Wednesday, June 6, 2012. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
OKC's Russell Westbrook (center) dishes to teammate Serge Ibaka (left) past San Antonio's Kawhi Leonard during the Thunder's 107-99 win over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals at Chesapeake Energy Center, in Oklahoma City, on Wednesday, June 6, 2012. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
San Antonio's Manu Ginobili fouls OKC's James Harden during the Thunder's 107-99 win over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals at Chesapeake Energy Center, in Oklahoma City, on Wednesday, June 6, 2012. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
OKC's Kevin Durant celebrates in the final moments of the Thunder's 107-99 win over the San Antonio Spurs in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, in Oklahoma City, on Wednesday, June 6, 2012. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
OKC's Kendrick Perkins hugs San Antonio's Stephen Jackson after the Thunder's 107-99 win in Game 6 of the Western Conference Finals, in Oklahoma City, on Wednesday, June 6, 2012. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
Miami's LeBron James (center) guards Oklahoma City's Kevin Durant as Durant tries to get a pass from teammate Russell Westbrook (right) in the Thunder's 103-87 win over the Heat at Chesapeake Energy Arena on Sunday, Mar. 25, 2012. CORY YOUNG/Tulsa World
San Antonio's Tony Parker falls into Tulsa World photographer Cory Young (at right, below) and others during Game 4 of the Western Conference Finals, at Chesapeake Energy Arena, in Oklahoma City, on Saturday June 2, 2012. (Richard A. Rowe/OKC Thunder photos)
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918-699-8818
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