30

30 years.

Three decades.

I started work at WRAL on March 3, 1980 as the sports photographer. I began my career working with two great sportscasters, Rich Brenner and Tom Suiter. I was only 21 years old and fresh out of Mizzou's Journalism School when I took the job with Action News 5. Little did I know what I would do and what I would see in the next 30 years.
-Bribing my way into the Spectrum in Philly to cover the '81 Final Four
-Michael Jordan & the Heels winning the title in '82
-Coach V & the Cardiac Pack stunning the world in '83
-The 1984 Olympics in LA
-George Bush presidential inauguration '89
-Coach K & the Devils winning back to back in '91-'92
-Living with a family in Russia for a week in '92
-Bill Clinton presidential inauguration '93
-UNC over the Fab 5 for the title in '93
-Shooting for David Letterman in '93
-Meeting Billy Graham in '97
-Easter week in Israel in '97
-Watching the move of the Cape Hatteras Lighthouse in '99
-Shooting the first documentary by a local station in high definition in '99
-Meeting Pope John Paul & shooting in the Sistine Chapel in '99
-Duke takes another title in Minneapolis in 2000

And while I've been at the Big 5 for all my adult life, I've had several different jobs, one of them three times!
-Sports Photographer
-Chief Photographer
-Senior Photographer
-Documentary Photographer

I've been honored to work with some of the greats in local TV since 1980, such as Charlie Gaddy, Jim Goodmon, Bobbie Battista, Greg Fishel, Jim Axelrod, Scott Hanson, John Harris, John Greene, David Crabtree, Art Howard, Scott Mason and Jeff Gravley. Wow, this list is endless. Sorry if you stumbled onto this quiet little corner of the interweb and were disappointed not to see your name. The oversight is clearly my fault. How could anyone expect me to remember? I can't find my car keys half the time.

For all the great friends I've been blessed to work with, I've also said goodbye to several people who died way too early during my days at WRAL.
-John Hudson
-Al Dunbar
-Dan Wilkinson
-Ron Pittman
-Sean Roberts
-Mark Copeland

I'm now honored to work with my son, Jason Jennings, at WRAL. Jason basically has my old job in our sports office. But he brings SO much more to the viewers. Not only is he an superb photographer, his on-air skills as a reporter and story teller are outstanding. He makes his dad very, very proud.

But I couldn't finish without a couple of words about two people whom I couldn't have done this without. First of all, my wife Debbie. No man could ask for a better partner in life. Especially in my early days at the station, she faced life with two small children as basically a single mom. Just one look at what a great mom our daughter Amy has become is a great example of the amazing job Deb has done while I was off following the bouncing ball. Somehow, someway, she didn't leave me. She's always there when I got home with a hug and a kiss. There is no way to fully express my gratitude to her. Deb, you're the greatest. I love you, babe.

Let me close by thanking Jesus. I gave my life to Christ back when I was 12, but He really didn't get a hold of me until I was 34. It's been a breath-taking ride ever since. Even now, I can look back on my time at WRAL and see his fingerprints all over the place. I'm totally undeserving. I stand here today amazed at His grace.

For the past 30 years, I've been honored to bring our viewers the pictures that tell the story. Thanks for the privilege.

Jay

A Nice Perk

One of the neat benefits of working here at the Big 5 is the chance to be a guest on Brian Shrader's web show "Live @". Brian was desperately seeking a fill-in guest this morning. So desperate that he asked me to join him.

One of the cool things was being able to give my grandson Markus a shout out on his first birthday!

Check out today's episode of "Live @"...



That's some quality television.

In Christ,
Jay

Is This Really Happening?

I continue to be absolutely bowled over by the work of God. It seems to happen just about every week these days in the crazy group of folks we call the Church at the Triangle. I'm constantly pinching myself. Is this REALLY happening?

This weekend was no different. Lead Pastor Lee Towns asked me to interview Joshua so we could present his testimony on video during Sunday morning's Experience. So Saturday afternoon, Joshua and I sat down for a quick video shoot. For the next 26 minutes, I heard a man describe in very real, very raw terms what Jesus is doing in his life RIGHT NOW!

The difficult thing was editing it down. What in the world do you leave out of this incredible story? Somehow, someway, I cut the interview down to 3 minutes. I'm honored to share Joshua's story with you.



I'm humbled to say that Joshua is my friend. I just love the way he loves Jesus. And I love what Jesus is doing in His life.

In Christ,
Jay

God @ the Movies

I'm REALLY looking forward to our "God @ the Movies" series at Church at the Triangle.

Lee Towns will use four recent flicks to illustrate the difficulties of life and how we can apply biblical truth.
-"Taken" (July 12)
-"Slumdog Millionaire" (July 19)
-"Iron Man" (July 26)
-"Gran Torino" (August 2)

It should be awesome.

I'm also excited about the songs we'll be playing over the next four Sundays.

Hope you can join us.

In Christ,
Jay

Changing of the Guard

First, Tom Suiter. Next, Bob Holliday. WRAL Sports said "goodbye" to a pair of local legends in recent months.

And for many of us, these fellows were friends. They were our eyewitnesses to Final Fours, bowl games, high school football and the Stanley Cup playoffs. They will certainly be missed.

As the Sports Photographer for WRAL from 1980-1986, I would like to share a couple of thoughts about Tom and Bob.

Allow me to crank up the Flux Capacitor to March 1980. I was fresh out of college and starting my first job as shooting sports at WRAL. Tom Suiter was the Weekend Sports Anchor at the Big 5. Tom and I were a team. We went everywhere together.

Whether it was interviewing a newly hired Coach K, a grumpy Ralph Sampson or NASCAR up-and-comer Dale Earnhardt, Tom's enthusiasm and laser-sharp sense of humor was amazing. We laughed our way to and from most of our assignments. And I owe Tom a huge debt of gratitude as he taught me the words to every fight song in the ACC.

Now fire up the DeLorean to 1981. Bob Holliday visited the sports office as part of his job interview at WRAL. I'm not sure Bob knew what he was getting himself into. As he eloquently told us of his sports philosophy, Tom and I played a spirited game of Nerf basketball. Bob never missed a beat as the ball bounced off his noggin and Tom did his best impression of Tommy Heinsohn shooting free throws.

After joining the WRAL Sports team, Bob and I became the new duo. "The Captain" and I teamed up for some great assignments: Daytona, UNC's '82 championship, the Cardiac Pack in '83, and too many great high school football games to remember.

I want to take a moment to address some of the concerns about Tom and Bob moving on (although Tom remains at WRAL for special assignments). They will be missed. No question about it. But their fingerprints are all over the Big 5 Sports team. They have left behind an amazing legacy. Each member of the sports office was strongly influenced by Tom and Bob.

Jeff Gravley. Ken Medlin. Josh Hailey. Jason Jennings. Each of these guys grew up watching Suiter and Holliday, dreaming about the day they might work one day with their TV idols. (As a matter of fact, you might say that my son Jason literally grew up in the WRAL Sports office as he followed dear ol' dad on numerous assignments.) Once here, they learned from these men first-hand.

We miss Tom and Bob. As a friend, I miss having them around. As a colleague, I'm indebted to both of them for allowing me to grow not only as a Sports Photographer but as a Reporter as well. I want to publicly thank both of these gentlemen for everything.

But their legacy lives on. It is not necessarily the end of an era. More like the changing of the guard. Just tune in to the Big 5 Sports tonight and see for yourself.

Jay

More

We called it "More." It was truly that.

This past Sunday night, Church at the Triangle hosted our first ever night of worship. Attendance was light at the Royal Event Center. But God's presence was thick in the room. Very thick. I will never do justice in describing what happened. As the saying goes, "You just had to be there."

The evening was a combination of music, prayer and communion. Under Lee Towns' excellent leadership, we entered into times of deep, guided prayer. This was a first for our young church. That seemed to set the stage for an amazing evening in the presence the Lord. This was intimate, heart-changing prayer. The kind of prayer that remolds you in such a way that you leave the room a different person than when you entered.

We're planning another event like this in August. While I'm hoping God moves in a similar way once again, what happened June 28th cannot be duplicated.

Something happened Sunday night. Maybe I should say Someone happened.

In Christ,
Jay

Rattling My Cage

Ever get your cage rattled?

You know, something happens in your life that is totally unexpected. Out of left field. A belt from the blind side. Never saw it coming. But yet you deserved it. You had lost focus on the main thing and started majoring in the minors.

Then... WHAMMO! God does some serious cage rattling.

Well, that's what happened to some folks who were simply minding their own "bidness" while doing "bidness." Suddenly out of nowhere, this Guy storms in, chasing away their livestock and dumping their cash registers on the ground. You see, these people had lost their focus on what was really important.

Jesus not only did that to the moneychangers and animal vendors in the Temple courts, but He does it to us as well. In the same way that He ferociously cleared the Temple, He upsets the apple cart in our lives. Especially when He needs to get our attention.

What in the wide, wide world of sports is the connection between what Jesus did 2000 years ago recorded in John 2:13-25 and my life as a Christ-follower today? Don't forget that each believer is a Temple for the Holy Spirit (2 Corinthians 4:7). Jesus will ferociously protect this Temple as well.

Gotta admit, I'm not crazy about this when it happens. And God rarely does it the same way twice. Illness. Death of a loved one. Loss of a job. Major life crisis. The Lord will definitely use these to get our attention back on the main thing. Namely, Him.

I may not like it, but a little cage rattling now and then is really good for me.

In Christ,
Jay