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A Story With No Words

After twelve years of filming sports, things can become a bit repetitive but I guess that holds true in any profession.  In the world of journalism if you're really paying attention to your surroundings then there aren't many dull moments.  So the chances of the same ole same ole happening is less likely to occur.  Here I am on the fifth rotation of the Super 7 series with (HSRN) Heritage Sports Radio Network and all of the above remained constant.  For anyone that knows me you know that I often find myself in conversations with some of the most unique people.  This trip didn't prove to be anything shy of the norm for me.

So I'm sitting in the dining area of our hotel eating breakfast with our co-producer Mark Gray and these two young ladies come strolling in.  Needless to say I recognize the voices from the early morning echo in the hallways.  I made a quick executive decision to strike up a conversation based on voice recognition. Why in the world did I do that?  Soon after I found myself in a bet over which team was going to win the Magic City Classic that day. For the record my team won.  After our friendly wager we began to exchange college stories and life experiences.  It quickly turned into one of those conversations that would resonate with me forever.  

The Wednesday prior to our trip to Birmingham two people that had never met were burying their mothers.  My good friend Terrance and Chuck who you will grow to admire as you read on.  Both moms had been battling long-term illnesses.  Both moms were being cared for by loving children.  

When Chuck begin to share her story I couldn't help but to silently ask myself what in the world is this woman doing here for a football?  A few minutes later she proceeds to take me on the journey of how she and her family members cared for her mom during the days of her declining health.  I tried to be unselfish and shake my own personal feelings about losing a parent and absorb her words.  Even as I write this passage I vividly remember washing down the lump in my throat with Ms. Mildred's watered down apple juice because the words that were being delivered were so intense.  My gut was telling me to get up and run from the table because of the obvious, but my butt was glued to the seat and my ears were locked into her story.  By the time she finished she'd one my heart because I understand the place that she's arrived at.   

I admire Chuck's courage for taking advantage of a weekend set aside for football to begin her mending process. I also commend her supportive friends for standing in the gap with her.  So what does this story have to do with the title?  Three days prior to meeting these young ladies my pastor Dr. Jerome Stokes spoke about genuinely caring about people.  I try to live my life by that code and to have the opportunity to be included someone else's journey left me speechless.  Kids hear daily to go to college and to get a good education; well sometimes that good education means having a wonderful conversation with wonderful people from other colleges.   

My primary responsibility that weekend was to capture the Magic City Classic on film.  The opposite happened, Magic City Classic captured me.  

Chuck, Sugar and Lisa I offer my salute to a new life long friendship.  Go ASU! 

-J.J. McQueen-



  

 

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