Photo of Coal Miner Covered in Soot Goes Viral After He Races from Work to Meet Son at Game
One photo of a coal miner at a basketball game with his son is going viral online, and the story behind it will warm your heart.
Michael McGuire and his family recently attended a University of Kentucky basketball game, and Michael was there in his work uniform. He is a miner and was still covered in black coal dust. But Michael knew it was important to be at the game with his son. So, immediately after finishing work, without changing his clothes, he rushed to the sports event.
University of Kentucky head basketball coach John Calipari saw father and son together in the stands and had to take a picture. He admired his father’s hard work and dedication to work and family.
“My family’s American dream started in a coal mine in Clarksburg, West Virginia, so this photo hits home,” John Calipari captioned the photo. “As far as I was told, after the substitution he ran to be with his son and watch our team. I don’t know who this is, but I have tickets for him and his family in the Hole to be treated like VIPs!”
A photo of a miner’s father with his son at a basketball game has gone viral
Shortly after John shared the photo online, he discovered it was coal miner Michael McGuire after several Kentucky fans connected the coach to the family. Afterwards, Michael’s wife Molly shared about her husband on social media and talked about how proud she was of him.
“My wonderful husband started his day at 4:45 that morning and worked all day. We then headed straight to the arena to be greeted and enjoy the game with our son! We are truly blessed with such a wonderful man, and beyond grateful! We love our miner,” Mollie wrote in her post.
John Calipari even used a photo he took of father and son as a lesson to his players.
“I talked to my guys about it. It’s just a wonderful lesson, and yesterday I showed you a picture of Michael and his son, and talked about the hard and unpleasant work that is an honorable job, but for him to find time for his son, even when he knows he can’t shower. “- said John. “It didn’t matter what he looked like, he just wanted to be with his son.”
A miner’s father enjoys watching the game with his son after work
Michael said there was no way he was going to miss his son Easton’s first basketball experience and that his son had such a good time at the game.
“He was jumping and every time they hit him, he went crazy,” Michael said.
The McGuire family doesn’t yet know when they will present Coach Calipari with his VIP ticket offer, but when they do, many local restaurants and businesses are stepping up to also do something nice for the family when they come to town.
“Isn’t it nice for someone like that, who is a quiet, humble guy, to know that people appreciate you and that we appreciate what you stand for,” John Calipari said. “And I appreciate that because that’s how my family started in this country.”
God bless this family and their hardworking and dedicated father!