Posted: Mar 11, 2010
Shooting in a gym for three hours and then telling you that the day’s not even close to being over is something you’d better get used to when you’re around him. Leaving work during your lunch break and not eating, but putting up 300 jumpers before your hour break is over is something you better get used to -- if you want it as bad as he does.
That’s been the lifestyle for Garry Gallimore his whole life -- work hard because there’s no other way to do things.
“I grew up in Jamaica and my parents were farmers. These are two of the hardest working people I know to this day. Working hard is just in the Gallimore DNA. So in everything I do I always try to be the hardest working individual present. Over time and time again it has always worked out in my favor so I figure why stop?”
Gallimore graduated from X in 2007, spending five seasons as an X-Man, all of them being very successful.
They say defence wins championships, and Gallimore certainly did his part, winning AUS defensive player of the year three years in a row from 2004-2007, along with being CIS defensive player of the year two years in a row from 2004-2006. He also picked up a bronze medal as the captain of the Jr. National team and Canadian world student team in 2005 and 2007.
Success hasn’t been a problem for the man that used to dawn the X on his chest, and he’s been humble about it all as it’s happened.
The X-Men basketball team find themselves in a very similar situation that Gallimore found himself and his teammates in during the time he played, and his story leading up to his time spent at national championships is quite incredible.
Mat MacDonald: “What attracted you to going to X?”
Garry Gallimore: “I didn't want to go to any of the schools in my hometown because my heart was always set on playing away. If not the States then my plan was to play somewhere else in Canada. However outside of my hometown I was not heavily recruited in Canada. So when Coach K caught wind of me it was a done deal once he sat in my living room and flashed his X-Ring a long with his national championship ring.”
MM: Did you expect anything coming in to X?
GG: Coach K never promised to give minutes or shots. He told me, "You will have an opportunity to earn minutes and shots," which is why I liked Coach K from day one. He doesn't blow smoke he just challenges his players.
MM: “What were practices like in your first few years when you had guys like Zach Russell, Ed Reynolds, Alex Stephen, Mike Baxter, Dion Williams, Neil MacDonald and Jon Bell competing with you?”
GG: “My freshman year I remember a lot of talk from people who follow CIS basketball ruling us out early saying we had a mediocre recruiting class. Little did they know although we didn't have a lot of accolades to our names we were some of the toughest young talent across Canada. When you throw guys like Dion Williams, Jonathan Bell, Zach Russell, Neil MacDonald, Alex Stephen, Mike Baxter, Edwin Reynolds,Garry Gallimore, and a solid supporting cast under the leadership of coach K one has to expect that there are going to be some men at work. Day in day out practices were tough because everybody came ready to play and there were guys hurt or banged up everyday simply because we didn't give each other any slack.”
MM: “As you matured as a player, did you find your game changed a lot or did it just gradually get better?”
GG: “As I matured I found the mental aspect of the game got a lot better for me. It became easier for me to read the game because of the coaching I was getting added to the coaching I had already received from the Phoenix basketball program, and the players I was playing with and against. I knew where I was getting shots from before it happened and also how to get easy buckets and how to control the players I was matched up against defensively. My growth as a player happened gradually but it felt like it happened a lot faster than many would have imagined.”
MM: “How did the team react to having a bullseye put on them every year with all AUS teams gunning to beat you?”
GG: “Our plan was to be the best not based on the talent we had but based on the work we put forth everyday. Having a bullseye on our backs meant that whoever placed that bullseye there really only made themselves a target for us. It didn't matter who we faced, it never changed our focus because we knew what our goals were and no one was gonna get in our way.”
MM: “Once you made it past the AUS, how did you prepare for nationals?”
GG: “Preparing for nationals was no different than preparing to play any team in the AUS. When you have a team of competitors lead by a competitive coach it doesn't matter who you play the game plan is always the same. You have to be the most AGGRESSIVE team DEFENSIVELY and OFFENSIVELY, you have to exercise discipline in being consistent with the game plan, and just show up ready to play and ready to give a hundred percent effort. With all that said expect that if you stick to the script you are going to win basketball games.”
MM: “Does this year's team remind you of any of the X teams you played for?”
GG: “They remind me a lot of my first two seasons as an X-Man. They are a very deep and talented team who can hurt their opponents from many different angles. Just the hunger and passion they are playing with as well just reminds me of those first two seasons when we were trying to put X back a top the AUS as the team to beat in Atlantic University basketball.”
MM: “What do you think they'll need to do in order to be successful?”
GG: “What they are doing is definitely working thanks to the effort put forward by "Coack K" and "Doc" Ryan and the players. They just have to make sure that they stick to the script and understand that at the the end of the day nobody cares about the names they have on their roster, especially nationally. People only care about which team is left standing when the final buzzer sounds. Play for each other and whatever role is expected from each player needs to be played to help the team rather than hurt the team.”
MM: “How did playing professionally change you?”
GG: “Nothing changes me. I show up to practice everyday ready to work harder than any one standing beside me or in front of me. I show up to games with the same mentality as well. The only difference is that the level where I am right now is my job and my role is more a humbled role than when I was at St. FX. However that does not stop me or slow me down because in everything I do I make sure I earn my keep and no one will ever be able to deny the effort I put forward.”
MM: “Do you enjoy where you're at now in regards to playing with the Rainmen and playing in a city that wasn't too far away from where you made a name for yourself?”
GG: “I am definitely happy with where I am because this is another step forward for me in terms of chasing my dreams. Not to mention again that I put the work in to get here and if I didn't foresee happiness in this journey I would have opted for something else. I am also very grateful for the opportunity to able to get back on the court and strut my stuff so to speak. It's also great playing in a place where I know I have loyal supporters backing me and good friends standing beside me. As well the Rainmen are having their best season yet and it is definitely a great feeling to be a part of something like this. It is never a bad look stepping out of a blue and white uniform and stepping back into another one. Go X Go!!!!”
The X-Men finished the season second behind AUS playoff host, Cape Breton. If everything goes as Gallimore puts it, “By the script,” then expect to see X in the final on Sunday against CBU in what is promised to be an electric atmosphere.
With a banner on the line, along with a ticket to nationals, you can be sure that this team hasn’t been this hungry in a long time, and lead by Coach K they won’t be holding anything back come tip time on Saturday night.