DUKE BASKETBALL POSTER TRADITION
THE MAKING OF
GOODFELLAS
BY DAVE BRADLEY (Recruiting/Communications Coordinator)
The annual poster shoot took place on a warm Sunday evening at Southpoint Mall in Durham. In the running di-
ary to follow, you will see it takes a lot of patience, attention to detail and talent to produce the best team poster
in sports year in and year out! Among those who joined our players at Maggiano’s Restaurant for the shoot were
the Duke Photography team, Mrs. K and Debbie K, video coordinator Kevin Cullen, graphic designer Jim Jarvis,
Duke Athletics Director of Promotions Bart Smith, several Maggiano’s staffers, and me.
Mrs. K and/or Debbie have coordinated the poster’s production since Coach K’s first year in 1981. All of the past
posters line the walls of our office and the annual poster is one of the many unique Duke Basketball traditions we
all look forward to each season.
Alright, so you have seen the poster (pictured here and first presented at Countdown to Craziness). Here’s how it
went down:
8:00 PM – We’re sitting in a private room enjoying a hearty Italian meal Chris Hildreth wants to take a test shot with the staff. Since there
with (sometimes gruesome) scenes from the movie Goodfellas airing are 14 players and only 10 people from our staff and the photogra-
on a TV. Why Goodfellas? That’s the theme of the poster this year and phy team, a chef and a dishwasher are asked to join the trial run.
Debbie wanted to ensure that the players were in the right mindset to The chef takes Mason’s eventual spot and is about the same height
deliver their best “Goodfellas” poses tonight. as the freshman forward (if you include his towering chef’s hat).
8:21 PM – We are waiting for the restaurant to clear out and then Duke 9:55 PM – Traditionally, these poster shoots take a really long time,
Photography will spend some time setting up the shoot. Meanwhile, as evidenced by the fact that we are nearly two hours in and not a
we are still eating and Debbie K has brought out numerous clippings single photo has been snapped of a player. I ask video coordinator
from magazines to give the guys some ideas for their facial expressions. Kevin Cullen to set the over/under on the end time. He says 11:45. I
Kyle is leaning towards a pose like “The Thinker” with hand on the chin, take the over.
except with a ferociously intense spin on the composed statue.
9:59 PM – Our seniors and Kyle enter the set. The photographers want
8:28 PM – A pair of youngsters peer in through the windows, wonder- to place them first and build around this group of the older vets.
ing why the Duke Basketball players are out here on a Sunday night. Or,
they might be entertained by the variety of poses Nolan is sampling in 10:20 PM – There is some surprise that Zoubs went with the full-beard
the dining room. On a night like this, there’s never a question Nolan will look tonight. The New Jersey native says he may stay with it all year
live up to his nickname of “Showtime.” You just don’t exactly know how. and makes it known that numerous people, including Coach K, have
complimented him on it.
8:53 PM – Time for the guys to get dressed and ready. Suits vary by
class – with the seniors in pin stripes. Nice touch. 10:24 PM – Jon is slightly uncertain about what pose to choose. Mrs. K
proposes that the senior captain sit as broadly as possibly, straight up,
9:33 PM – With the restaurant emptied out, Jon sits at the bar eyeing with arms crossed on the table with a stern, powerful glare.
the Chicago Bears game. Originally, the Illinois native was planning
to ignore all reports of the game on his cell phone, car radio and TV in 10:27 PM – In trying to establish poses and looks for the rest of the
order to watch it in full length on his DVR when returning home. Obvi- players, Debbie K suggests that the guys imagine they are having a very
ously, he couldn’t resist the Bears’ week one contest. important, private business meeting and an intruder (the Maryland
turtle?) has walked in unannounced. Their reaction to the visitor should
9:41 PM – With the players still hanging out around the restaurant, the be the pose they are going for.
set is ready. Duke Photography has 16 different lights set up all around
the main seating area, including some reflecting off glass and mirrors, 10:35 PM – LT walks off the set to grab his hair brush. Even though his
and some stationed in the upstairs seating area facing down. There hair could not be any shorter, the veteran of four posters knows you
is a table covered by a red-and-white checkered tablecloth and five have to look your best. This will be hanging on his wall 40 years from
chairs around it. A Nike Duke ball, a Duke notebook, a clipboard, a few now, and he knows it.
napkins, and some glasses of water sit atop the table.
11:06 PM – Nolan introduces glasses into his look and pose. Will he
9:50 PM – Before the players are introduced to the set, photographer wear them in the poster? Looks like they are out quickly.
24 DUKE BASKETBALL
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