Coal mining is not an easy life. Long hours, dangerous conditions and potential long-term health issues. We still live in a world where coal is necessary for power. I for one, have mad respect for those that do this dirty job.
Those long hours, can also keep family members apart, make it so plans can’t be made. It’s just part of the life. But when you make a promise to your son, you do everything in your power to follow thru.
That includes Michael Mcguire, a coal miner who promised his son, Easton, that he’d take him to his first basketball game. The annual Blue-White game at Kentucky University was that game. He wanted to make sure he could be there for his son’s first Kentucky basketball experience.
McGuire raced straight from the mines to the game. No shower, no change of clothes, face black with coal dust. He stood out amongst the throng of KU fans dressed in blue and white. A photo was snapped of him, and his son, and it has gone viral thanks to KU coach, John Calipari. Calipari comes from a family of coal miners.
The coach wanted to find out who this dirty, dedicated man was, so he posted the photo to social media and even offered up VIP tickets to a game.
McGuire was working in the mine when the photo was posted.
“When I got out and got service on my way home, it went crazy. I couldn’t believe that it was real,” McGuire said.
As far as Easton goes, McGuire said, “He had a blast. He was dancing, and every time they would do a slam dunk, he would go crazy.”
A job like his is not easy. Being a parent, isn’t always easy either. Michael is dedicated not only to his job, but his family as well. There are no words I can find to share my appreciation of it, I’ll just let the photo and story speak for itself.
