At the beginning of the season this year, Head Coach Anthony Barnes asked me if I could possibly create a story about Kris Richardson that could capture the level of appreciation that he has for his lead Assistant Coach ???
Today is that day, the celebration of the nine years the duo have spent together Coaching and molding our Youth. We will shadow the efforts of Richardson from start to finish on what promises to be a 14-16 hour day.
Let’s begin – as you see in the picture above, its 14° here in the hamlet of Laurel Fork, Virginia which is the place we both call home 🏡.
The first game today that Kris will be coaching in tips at 8:00 am. So we know that Coach Richardson doesn’t get to roll up to the School at 7:55 so let’s start the party here at 5:51 am. We will pick thia back up after the 15 miles has been covered.
One of my favorite parts of having Kris Richardson in my life is I knew the second that I hit Post 📫, I would here from him. At 5:51 am when I was driving 🚗 up Stone Mountain Road, Kris was sitting in the parking lot of the Galax Wal-Mart waiting for it to open up at 6am.
Today is a HUGE day in our community in regards to Youth Basketball 🏀. Please know that Kris isn’t the only person that was up before the crack of dawn today. He’s not the only person putting himself out there today but he might be the only one that will cap his day off by helping Barnes try to push 13-0 out to 14-0 later this afternoon.
Sitting in the Auxiliary Gym by myself as Kris finishes up getting all of the supplies he needs to get through the morning and early afternoon, its a moment to reflect on the unique relationship that is Barnes, Richardson and myself.
Working with Rick Nester over at Cavalier Park might rank higher than even my efforts at West Virginia Tech and Appalachian State University. The Reeces Peanut Butter Cup of how we mesh is an absolute dream team.
Being there every step 🚶♂️of the way for Cindy Edwards in her efforts is good ole fashion fun. The combination of Coach Delp and Coach Montgomery is a treat too but Barnes gives me the one thing that I truly treasure – teachable moments!
Quick break in the thought process as Wrestling Coach West Long was loading up the Bus 🚌 for his teams trek over Marion as they will be competing over there in a bit.
Back to Barnes – it took the first year of us working together for Coach to see 👀 and appreciate what I was trying hard to do, which is to help prepare Students for life after High School 🏫.
What does that even look like ? For that answer I am going to defer to someone who I have the upmost respect for, Mr Seth Gravley. Seth and I don’t spend a great deal of time together but if you want a Million Dollar Answer to why a Man who works for a living, raises Children and still gives of himself in that manner is PRICELESS. Gravley is whats right about life.
Kris is in the building now and is trying to run 🏃♂️ around to get everything in its place so I will stay out of his way while he does.
Teachable moments – anytime I create something for Barnes and his players its stuffed full of things designed to expand their thought process. We are looking to get them comfortable with Public speaking and using full sentences. Having a microphone 🎤 and interviewing Ethan Richardson or Isaiah Easter or Trace Reavis in front of a Gym full of people is designed to be both entertaining and educational.
Last night 🌙, while in the Gymnasium for the Varsity Girls Basketball 🏀 games, I was able to have four or five really enjoyable exchanges with Seth’s Son Colton. Not surprising that the young man is on the ball being who is raising him.
Here’s some of the things that the two of us went back and forth on each time we cross paths. Eye 👁 contact, acknowledgment and a real handshake 🤝. Nathan Jones even jumped in one of the times it happened. Just great exchanges with the young Man 👨.
7:15 am –
We live in a World 🌎 that is very much driven by Wins and Losses. I am the exception to that thought process. I think it matters how hard you compete, how you wear the uniform, how much respect you show your Coaches and the opposing Coaches.
This is where Kris and I have a fork in the road. Today for example, I will walk 🚶♂️ into that Gymnasium and pump it full of energy by using my voice ➕ my ability to tie the room together. This includes mentioning every single aspect of what is taking place and I will do it without disrespecting the visiting team or their fans.
I have been holding a 🎤🎙🎤 for 47 years now and the only thing I think is more fun than doing it is to try and teach someone else to do it. Enter Ethan Richardson as I am always trying to spend a few minutes with the young Man I call mini-me. Never been around someone else who simply wants to be the best version of himself every minute of every day. Take all of that last paragraph and Kris will tell you – I don’t care about any of that.
Eddie Robinson and I just had a very enjoyable five minute exchange as he was sitting up the chairs 💺 for the players. It was such a treat !
Now that you know that Kris doesn’t care about what I do, let’s take a closer look at Carroll County’s version of Al Davis. If you’re not old enough to understand what that means, Davis was the owner of the Raiders and he coined the phrase – ” Just Win Baby “.
I have been around the game of Basketball 🏀 longer than Kris has been alive and I can tell you that he has an understanding of the game on a higher plane / plain. His drive 🚗 and determination is one thing that makes it tolerable for Barnes to allow Kris and I to exist together in his World 🌎.
Kris has already watched tape of multiple Galax games and as he is now moments away from coaching his Little Ones, he also running 🏃♂️ sets in his head for the Varsity game at 3:30.
Kris and Barnes, who I hope is awake ⏰ by now (7:45), care to the maximum level about keeping the remarkable perfect start in tact today. In the same manner that he will tell me that he doesn’t care about how well I handle the building, I can tell you that I don’t care if he wins the game.
Stop ✋ the Presses – what do you mean about not caring who wins today ?????
Here’s what I do care about, come 2:00pm. Note 📝 that I said 2pm, not 330pm. I am the Champion of All-Things Junior Varsity so my efforts are to have the JV players, parents and Cheerleaders feel just as important as their Varsity counterparts.
Family 👪 is a Huge part of any story and that is certainly the case with the Richardson / Nester pairing.
Paula Nester Richardson is happily at the scorers table for the 8am Tip.
Paula’s parents and one of their many Grandchildren are in their seats 💺 to show support for both their Son-in-law and Granddaughter Gracie.
Paula confirmed my thoughts in that Kris headed out at roughly 5:30 am.
The opposing team in the opener is a team from Floyd County. The Lady Buffs are leading 5-0 at the seven minute mark and Kris is coaching them up nonstop. Ethan is in the Gym for the first time.
I wasn’t around when Kris was coaching up the 2nd and 3rd graders that included the likes of Alyssa Ervin, Kalee Easter and the oldest of the three Richardson children, Ashton. Listening today makes me try to flashback to those days of old and when I do I hear our mutual friend. Marion Harris saying, “I’m the one that recruited a then seven or eight year old Ervin.
We have made it to Halftime with the score still being 5-0. The team has been split for this weekend in hopes of getting the entire team some playing time.
Ethan is busy running the Snack Table but is sticking his head in the Gym in between customers.
12-4 Floyd as we reach the 3:00 mark but know that today is not about the score. Listening to Kris as he has been having a teaching moment for almost forty-five minutes now. He’s coaching these young Ladies up with every breath, maybe in a slightly kinder tone then he will be using in the direction of Cody Reece and his Son later, but know that he’s coaching them with every once of his being.
We just scored another basket 🧺 to make the score 12-6 and that will be our final score in the opener.
Jay Holderfield now tags in to Coach the next game involving our youth. Vice Principal by day, ball Coach by night or in this case, Saturday morning.
Kris now switches from his Coaching hat 👒 to his role as Ambassador.
Game 2 is against a team named Press. Not sure where they have traveled from but I’m not sure that is relevant to the story being written here today. One of the challenges today will be to keep the cellphone charged so this might be the first opportunity to try to get some life back into it.
9:43 – Jump Ball for the next game
In between games Kris and I took the time to speak face 🙊 to 🙎♂️for the first time and we quickly compared notes 📝 on our level of worn out.
Kris slept from 10pm to 2am while I slept 😴 from 1am to 4am after writing ✍ multiple stories about the Girls Basketball program and their games last night. We both will be happy when the Clock ⏰ strikes 0:00 around 5pm. The difference between us is I will go back to writing and Kris will coach his final game at 6:50 pm.
Still smiling 😃 from my exchange with the Jackson family 👪. While my sites tell me how many people read it on a given day, it can’t inform me who is reading.
9:55 am – We are leading 4-0 with 5:00 minutes left in the first half.
10:00 – Leading 6-0 @ Halftime
The natural connection between Kris and I is our level of confidence. Some people might call it arrogance but now we are splitting hairs. Mac Davis penned a song 🎵 50 years ago called – It’s hard to be Humble. We shared a laugh the first time we listened to it together.
The second thing is we stand for something and its not for sale. Neither of us will be in a conversation with someone and be thinking 🤔 What does this person want me to say ????
A day doesn’t go by where someone will ask me why are there so many people pulling against you ? All I can say is that I will pray 🙏 for them and move on. When you truly believe that you are on a Mission for God, you have to avoid the negativity when at all possible.
For me that means no Social Media and no Live television. Add in searching for others that believe in the same things and for people smarter than me so I can continue to grow.
The game is knotted at 6-6 now with 8:05 left to play and Kris has called a TO
Teaching moments, we are just two people looking for more folks that we can work with. Kris is willing to share his knowledge of Basketball 🏀 and Life with anyone who seeks his assistance.
Kris has called a TO at 4:34 with the score knotted up at 8. Coach has drawn up an inbound play and his team hangs on every word.
0:05.5 on the Clock ⏰ with the score 👔 at 10, Kris calls 📞 his final TO. Game ends at 10-10 and it would appear that we will play a 2:00 minute OT…
10:35 – Still Tied, heading to Sudden Death but I don’t like the way that sounds so let’s call it Golden Goal…
10:40 – the remaining Richardson is now visible in the Gym as Ashton is here. Our teams falls just short on a Free Throw.
Next Stop ✋- Little Caesars in Galax as I head out to pickup the Team Lunch !
This an absolute throw back to days gone by. I am an excellent Pizza 🍕 Delivery driver !
Noon – Kris now has his Pizzas and just in time because he is about to Coach again here in a few minutes. This time its a 5th grade team and the story behind that is next level. I will be able to add that later in the day.
We are getting closer to our first fork in the road as I will begin my preparation for announcing the Boys 👦 Junior Varsity game here in a few minutes.
The Basketball 🏀 Whisperer might be a good tag line for Kris.
The amount of traffic in and around the School is starting to pick up now as the morning 🌄 has become the afternoon.
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12:20 pm – Jump Ball for the next game. Kris makes his way back into the Gym 30 seconds or so before the Tip as when you wear many hats on the same day…..
5th grade Girls 👧 this time and Wow did they come out on Fire 🔥. It’s 10-0 now with 12:17 on the clock ⏰. Kris is a little more vocal with this group as they are a little bit older than the 3rd and 4th graders. It would appear that there’s a roster of 11.
I will admit that the difference between the groups in more noticeable than I would have thought (16-0 now). Kris is still coaching them up as quickly as possible and they appear to understand his instructions.
12:30 – Ethan is now in his final hour of Fundraising at the Snack Table. He will head over to the Main Gym around 1:30 to begin his mindset before his Varsity game.
We are inside of the final two minutes of the opening half now and the Lady Cavaliers are still pitching a shutout at 16-0.
Not only are the Girls a year or two older but they seem to be engaged in a much higher degree. It’s worth noting that the Parents are also more engaged at this level as well.
12:47 – Kris calls 📞 a TO at 9:21 with the score sitting at 24-0. Never passing up an opportunity to Coach them up!
Next side step 🚶♂️ for Kris was the fact that Galax has arrived and there’s some confusion because the door 🚪to the main Gym was taped off to help guide folks down to this Gym. I’m not sure that Kris stopped Coaching while multi tasking.
Credit to Floyd County for continuing to keep their heads up despite the score. The Lady 👩 Buffs finally found the bottom of the net and your final score is 26-2.
1:00 pm – It’s time for the two of us to part ways as I head over to the Big Gym.
Much more to follow….
1:50 – Kris to Coach again, I will start announcing….
4:54 pm – the dust is settling here in the Big Gym after Carroll County swept the Twin Bill with Galax. Had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Richardson for the first time.
Kris has one final game to Coach at roughly 6:50 and I have two Game stories to write ✍. Per our running agreement, Allen Worrell will write the story about the scoring record falling today.
It was a treat to meet Tee Jackson for the first time as he seemed to be a very personable young Man 👨.
The afternoon is turning into the evening and thankfully the end is in sight.
5:34 pm – Jay Holderfield is 5:39 away from winning the bracket with the other half of the team that Kris and Jay team up with. It would appear that Kyle Bunn has traded his Varsity jersey for a Referees jersey.
If I was told that I could only offer one piece of Life Advice it would be – Finish What You Start. To go home now would erase the past 12 hours so I will sit here and start on the JV gamer.
5:42 – Jay’s group hold on for a 16-6 victory and now there are two games remaining on the day. Medals 🏅are being presented to the Girls 👧 after their clinching victory.
6:04 – Halftime now of the next to the last game here.
6:13 – Just posted the Boys 👦 JV gamer and Wake just went on a 23-4 run 🏃♂️ against Duke and now lead 45-39, early second half.
6:33 – Kris / Tip
6:53 – Halftime, leading 12-8 ➕ Duke wins 63-56.
7:00 pm – under 10 minutes left, tied at 14.
7:18 – Medals 🏅Ceremony !!!!!!
7:33 – Kris puts on his Final Hat 👒 of the Day, his janitor cap. By his estimate he thinks just past 8pm will be the Finish Line. Meanwhile, Jason Stockner is the first to add thoughts……
” Kris Richardson continues to be extremely dedicated to Carroll County basketball. It all started with coaching his oldest daughter, Ashton, in AAU when she was in the third grade about 12 years ago. Then a couple of years later when his son, Ethan, was old enough he started coaching his AAU team as well. Another year or two goes by and he adds coaching and or assisting with the school basketball teams. Now he has started the AAU journey with his youngest daughter, Gracie, while coaching Ethan in his Senior year. The time, effort, and energy he puts into all of this is mind blowing. He is able to connect with players and parents to buy in to what it takes for the team and each individual to be successful on the court, in school, and in life.”
Closing in on the End….
Kris Richardson touched a number of lives today and anyone who would like to add a note 📝 like Jason did should reach out and we will add it to the Tribute.
Fifteen hours of using ones mind is a tough go, says a guy 👦 who does it mote than he would like. He handled 👏 it all with Grace and now he will be heading out the back door 🚪 as I head out the front…….
Safely back in my part of Laurel Fork and hopefully Kris is in his. Quite a Day for sure.
16 Hours door 🚪 to door 🚪
A.S.P.N on The Hill 