First off, I have to say getting seventh billing at the Justin Graham funeral is the biggest speaking engagement I’ve ever gotten. Celebrating the life of Justin Graham; this is the biggest event in town. I mean, when do ever get to speak in front of this many people?
Fifteen or so years ago, I worked at The Morehead News as its sports writer. Among other things, I covered city league youth sports and one day I went to cover the 6 & Under boys’ basketball championship and I watched the best kid on the winning team constantly looking for his teammates to pass them the ball, despite the fact that as the best player on the team and its point guard, he could have held onto the ball the whole game and grabbed all of the glory himself.
He obviously understood the significance of winning the championship, but also knew the importance of letting everyone on the team feel a part of the success. Even the kids who otherwise never would have touched the ball.
As part of my standard routine, I interview a player on the winning team after the game. And so I walked up to this kid and asked him one important question.
“Why, if you knew you were the best player on the team and that you could have scored on every offensive trip down the floor and essentially guaranteed yourself winning the championship, did you make such an effort to pass the ball to each one of your teammates until he scored?”
I’ve done literally thousands of 1-on-1 interviews in my life: World Champions, Olympians, professionals, collegians, high schoolers and little leaguers; and this one answer stood out among all of them. And this response came from an individual who was just 6-years-old.
He said, “Because the most important thing was to give everyone else a chance to score.”
Not winning the game, not scoring the most points, but making sure ALL OF HIS TEAMMATES scored. And continuing to pass them the ball until they did. Simply put, his goal was to get the assist and everyone the glory.
I was speechless. How profound was that statement?
How many people, whether they were six, 16, 26, 36 or 66 would say that? And the one who did was 6-years-old!
I have questioned myself over the years, ‘Who thinks like that?’ And to do so at the age of 6? SIX!
I don’t remember how many points that kid scored, it was enough to help his team win the championship, but I do remember he had at least as many assists as his age.
Who was this kid who at age six had already ascended Mazlow’s five Hierarchy of Needs and reached the pinnacle level of self-actualization?
That 6-year-old kid was Justin Graham, and that answer is the epitome of a true champion.
I’ve told Justin that story probably a dozen times since then and no matter how much grandiose flair I have mustered in telling it, he appeared completely unfazed.
That’s because that’s just who Justin was. It wasn’t as mind-blowing to him as it was to me, it was just part of his everyday persona.
Part of that character is due to the inherent selflessness that Justin possessed and part is outstanding parenting by Lydia and Charlie, and the rest of the Graham family.
So thank you Charlie and Lydia for allowing us to share Justin for a short time. His flame is one that will never go out.
And thank you Justin for the assist you gave all of us.
Sometimes I ask myself why do I do what I do, traveling all over the state to cover youth sports. And I think the answer is I hope I can make an impact on someone like that 6-year-old Justin made on me.
Fifteen or so years ago, I worked at The Morehead News as its sports writer. Among other things, I covered city league youth sports and one day I went to cover the 6 & Under boys’ basketball championship and I watched the best kid on the winning team constantly looking for his teammates to pass them the ball, despite the fact that as the best player on the team and its point guard, he could have held onto the ball the whole game and grabbed all of the glory himself.
He obviously understood the significance of winning the championship, but also knew the importance of letting everyone on the team feel a part of the success. Even the kids who otherwise never would have touched the ball.
As part of my standard routine, I interview a player on the winning team after the game. And so I walked up to this kid and asked him one important question.
“Why, if you knew you were the best player on the team and that you could have scored on every offensive trip down the floor and essentially guaranteed yourself winning the championship, did you make such an effort to pass the ball to each one of your teammates until he scored?”
I’ve done literally thousands of 1-on-1 interviews in my life: World Champions, Olympians, professionals, collegians, high schoolers and little leaguers; and this one answer stood out among all of them. And this response came from an individual who was just 6-years-old.
He said, “Because the most important thing was to give everyone else a chance to score.”
Not winning the game, not scoring the most points, but making sure ALL OF HIS TEAMMATES scored. And continuing to pass them the ball until they did. Simply put, his goal was to get the assist and everyone the glory.
I was speechless. How profound was that statement?
How many people, whether they were six, 16, 26, 36 or 66 would say that? And the one who did was 6-years-old!
I have questioned myself over the years, ‘Who thinks like that?’ And to do so at the age of 6? SIX!
I don’t remember how many points that kid scored, it was enough to help his team win the championship, but I do remember he had at least as many assists as his age.
Who was this kid who at age six had already ascended Mazlow’s five Hierarchy of Needs and reached the pinnacle level of self-actualization?
That 6-year-old kid was Justin Graham, and that answer is the epitome of a true champion.
I’ve told Justin that story probably a dozen times since then and no matter how much grandiose flair I have mustered in telling it, he appeared completely unfazed.
That’s because that’s just who Justin was. It wasn’t as mind-blowing to him as it was to me, it was just part of his everyday persona.
Part of that character is due to the inherent selflessness that Justin possessed and part is outstanding parenting by Lydia and Charlie, and the rest of the Graham family.
So thank you Charlie and Lydia for allowing us to share Justin for a short time. His flame is one that will never go out.
And thank you Justin for the assist you gave all of us.
Sometimes I ask myself why do I do what I do, traveling all over the state to cover youth sports. And I think the answer is I hope I can make an impact on someone like that 6-year-old Justin made on me.
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