It was back in 2015 when Chris Graham and I were down in Greensboro, North Carolina, covering the Men’s Atlantic Coast Conference tournament for his online newspaper 📰, called the Augusta Free Press.
Now, when I get to finish my seventh and final book, people will read a great deal more about Crystal Graham because she is one of my pick – six. God placed six people in my life at various times that combined to carry me to the life I have lived.
Most people have short-term memories or something I like to call 📞 – What have you done for me lately folks. The series of events that involved Crystal took place two decades ago but will never be forgotten.
More about her later, though, because this story is about being overqualified for a job that nobody wants you to have anyway.
We had what felt a solid decade-long run and with 50 years of writing ✍️ stories, Chris Graham is still my first choice as an editor, without a doubt.
Now, back to that night in Greensboro, it was the first of two times that we made thar trip together, and both years were lifelong memories.
My motto has always been Duke, UVA, and wherever I stay. To translate, it is those two schools 🏫 and then you do everything you can to support the school closest to you.
Graham and I would share a laugh about the fact that we both treasure our University of Virginia degrees ! The one he earned and the one I bought, by sending the fifth of my five children to The Grounds.
We share our love ❤️ for the Hoos but have a slight difference of opinion on life down in Bull City.
Duke had just finished up a win over NC State in the QF when Chris asked me to pen 🖊 a column about the upcoming NCAA tournament for Coach K and his Blue Devils.
I have to stop and give credit to both Jimmy Buffett, who was my writing mentor, and the Greatful Dead for that line in a song 🎵. I never followed the Dead, but Jimmy did a great cover of the song.
Some people think there clever, I know that I am so there is that. It was a fun, fun piece to write back then.
What happened next….
I happened to be up there for the National Championship game, and I still have the Natty Ring 💍 from it.
I went from writing ✍️ that story and watching 👀 it play out over a three week span to trying hard to convince a local Junior Varsity Basketball coach that I’m qualified to be his beat writer.
Talk about a downhill career projectory…
Our paths don’t cross very often anymore because we are chasing very different things as we enter the last leg of our journey called life. I should say that I’m doing that anyway.
There is a great line about my sole baseball hero, Greg Maddux. It goes like this…. Greg Maddux won four straight Cy Young awards, but Cy Young couldn’t win four straight Greg Maddux awards.
Chris Graham is fighting a fight that you either love him for or hate him for, but I promise you that nobody else can be Chris Graham.
See, Chris is a Democrat and I have never voted 🗳 in my life, just declaring that my trust is in God. But my mission in life is not that different from his and his bride. They are searching for accountability while I’m searching for equality. It’s just not that different….
So, next time someone wants to question who I am or what I’m qualified to do, here’s my thought.
Let me know when you wrote a story that helped a legendary coach win his fifth and final Natty.
Crystal Graham, you are forever a part of my success story, and I love ❤️ you for that ! And always will.
Chris Graham, keep fighting for your beliefs !
Everytime that I hear that opening line in his post game presser, I smile 😃 and then I say, Thank You, Chris Graham !
https://augustafreepress.com/news/eight-is-enough-for-duke-to-run-the-table/
The Link to the original story….
