Do not let anyone tell your children that being a good father is too important or unnecessary.
A local coal miner, identified as Michael Joe McGuire, was seen courtside with his son during the annual “Blue-White” intra-squad game that the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team played to raise funds for charity. The game unfolded before his eyes and the preteen boy, also named Michael, was equally enthralled. His father was equally taken by the joy expressed in the game.
This is what makes this even more special. The older McGuire was still wearing his safety clothes, his face covered in coal dust from the tunnels that he had just spent hours in. The father-son photo went viral online and caught the attention John Calipari who offered VIP treatment to the man’s family in preparation for Wildcat’s season opener. Calipari was a coal miner in his family’s past.
Today I thought a lot about my grandfather, who was an underground miner. I also had the opportunity to go underground with miners from KY. One comment that stuck out to me was “We go down together, and we come back together.”
They work together. They are the ultimate team! !
— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari), October 24, 2022
Nothing makes me happier in life than watching a father dedicate his time to his children. The problem with American society is that men tend to place less importance on family. A society without strong fathers will not have strong families. If it doesn’t, the society will fall apart.
Even though they may seem insignificant to the general public, small acts of dedication such as this are the little things that build families. McGuire’s willingness to sacrifice his own needs after a long day at the mines to spend time with his son is admirable, even if it meant that he might look foolish. This incident is made even more inspiring by McGuire’s apparent joy at his son having fun.
