Full Transcript for Regress To Progress: Mike Morrison's Klimb Journey

uh listen by recording tape and then go home and tape it. 00:05:14.160 --> 00:05:18.959 So, how was that process individually as a young teenager? 00:05:19.040 --> 00:05:23.680 You're starting to grow, you're starting to get size and push through people making fun of you. 00:05:23.839 --> 00:05:28.160 That was a lot of things, but I like that regress to progress. 00:05:28.560 --> 00:05:29.040 Yeah. 00:05:29.279 --> 00:05:34.160 So the regression part, I wasn't made to feel like I was uh behind. 00:05:34.560 --> 00:05:41.199 Uh, they just said you needed to do some extra work to get caught up, but we're gonna let you work at a pace that's comfortable for you. 00:05:41.439 --> 00:05:54.000 So one of the things with dyslexia is uh the rearranging or helping your brain to slow down and actually read the words that's in front of you, not the one down the page. 00:05:54.319 --> 00:05:55.120 Give us an example. 00:05:55.360 --> 00:05:56.639 Give us an example if you could. 00:05:56.879 --> 00:06:00.639 Okay, so if I'm if I'm reading Cadnahat, Dr. 00:06:00.720 --> 00:06:04.639 Seuss's book, I had an index card that had a window on it. 00:06:04.800 --> 00:06:14.160 And the window had a little slide depending on the length of it, and I would use that index card to read sentences, and it would only let me see the word that was in that box. 00:06:14.480 --> 00:06:26.079 So I learned to read, and I would have to take, it would take me longer to comprehend and read things than others, and I had to do some different exercises to train my brain to only focus on one word at a time. 00:06:26.319 --> 00:06:34.160 Because basically, you know, modern-day diagnosis is dyslexic people's brains work faster than their eyes can conceive. 00:06:34.319 --> 00:06:39.839 So I would try to skim ahead as opposed to paying attention to what was immediately in front of me. 00:06:40.160 --> 00:06:58.639 So the regression part was, yep, I might have been doing third and fourth grade work in English and in some of my social studies and uh math classes, but in the other classes, like history and uh geography and things like that, I was on pace. 00:06:58.879 --> 00:07:12.240 But because I didn't comprehend things as quickly, uh I had to have more time with my tests, and I had to have someone read it to me because I could learn audibly better than just me reading it to myself. 00:07:12.480 --> 00:07:20.079 There were times where a coach would let me go into another room and I could read out loud to myself, and if I could hear it, I could receive it differently. 00:07:20.319 --> 00:07:24.560 So with the video, with the uh the tapes, you got a little ahead of the subject. 00:07:24.720 --> 00:07:27.439 I didn't start using recordings until I got to college. 00:07:27.600 --> 00:07:45.439 So when I got to college, I would use a tape recorder with tape, my professor's lessons or my professor's lessons, lectures, and then go back with my tutor, listen to the lecture, take notes on it, compare

it to the notes that I tried to take in class and fill in the things that I missed. 00:07:45.600 --> 00:07:48.800 So it was two ways in which it helped me retain the information. 00:07:49.120 --> 00:07:57.680 Let me stop you there, because as I'm hearing the story and celebrating your story, it's a twofold track. 00:07:57.839 --> 00:08:01.680 So, one, you're learning, and this show is all about the climb. 00:08:01.759 --> 00:08:05.279 So, for my climbers out there, listen to Coach Mike. 00:08:05.439 --> 00:08:18.639 He was diagnosed as dyslexia, but he didn't stay there because as I wrote this down, there was a regress to progress and really to train the brain to adjust the sales. 00:08:18.959 --> 00:08:34.799 Okay, so you're battling to stay on point with your academics, and yet all of a sudden, you've got talent that you don't even know as a basketball player because you would be considered a late bloomer. 00:08:34.879 --> 00:08:36.480 I'll put myself in for a second. 00:08:36.720 --> 00:08:43.039 So at the same stage as 9th, 10th, 11th, 12th grader, I was considered a camp miss. 00:08:43.679 --> 00:08:51.039 For yourself, you were like a Michael Jordan, where you came off the bench as a late bloomer. 00:08:51.200 --> 00:08:56.480 And by the time you got to college, you really worked on and became a star. 00:08:56.720 --> 00:08:58.480 But tell us about that part too. 00:08:58.720 --> 00:09:07.200 When you were a basketball player, they didn't think you could do the work academically to even get to Loyola, where you became a second-round draft pick. 00:09:07.279 --> 00:09:08.240 Tell us about that. 00:09:08.480 --> 00:09:09.120 Right, right. 00:09:09.200 --> 00:09:16.320 So Talon Hockenberry, my principal at Riverdale Baptist at the time, he said, listen, son, don't put all your eggs in that basket. 00:09:16.480 --> 00:09:21.279 It's gonna be very difficult with you to get back into normal classes. 00:09:21.519 --> 00:09:25.919 And the path that you're on, you're probably gonna graduate with a certificate at best. 00:09:26.080 --> 00:09:28.480 Uh so I wouldn't put all my eggs in that basket. 00:09:28.639 --> 00:09:31.600 And then plus at that time, my size, I didn't grow. 00:09:31.679 --> 00:09:35.039 I grew four and a half inches, maybe five inches in college. 00:09:35.200 --> 00:09:39.120 I left high school at 5'10, maybe 5'10 and a half. 00:09:39.360 --> 00:09:44.320 So I didn't look like I was gonna be the six, three and a half, six, four athlete that I became. 00:09:44.559 --> 00:09:48.080 So he was right to say that, but he lit a fire in me. 00:09:48.240 --> 00:09:59.200 Because when he told me that, he also told me that I couldn't play sports at Riverdale until I got my grade job, which accelerated my ability to understand and comprehend because you were taking away something that I really love. 00:09:59.600 --> 00:10:01.600 And it wasn't done mean or malicious. 00:10:01.679 --> 00:10:04.480 It wasn't told that, you know, I would never amount to much. 00:10:04.639 --> 00:10:14.000 He just didn't want me to get my hopes up or put all my eggs in the athletic basket when I he knew that athletics would only be possible if I could get the academics together. 00:10:14.159 --> 00:10:17.759 So, fast forwarding, um, I got to Northwestern. 00:10:17.919 --> 00:10:19.919 You know how talented we were there. 00:10:20.159 --> 00:10:29.039 Me and my teammate were talking earlier, Charles Payne, and he reminded me that my junior year, there were only four underclassmen on our team. 00:10:29.360 --> 00:10:29.519 Man. 00:10:31.360 --> 00:10:38.960 Clinton Goldman was a freshman who ended up going on to play at Allegheny and then at um Bowling Green of Ohio. 00:10:39.200 --> 00:10:44.720 David Gregg, who played in Maryland, uh, was a McDonald's All-American, Capitol Classic selection. 00:10:44.960 --> 00:10:47.279 Six foot eleven, left-handed, Chris Bosch type. 00:10:48.080 --> 00:10:50.000 So school with the jump shot. 00:10:50.240 --> 00:10:57.840 Um another guy named Julius Johnson, who ended up going back to North Carolina for his senior year because he didn't think he'd play at Northwestern. 00:10:58.000 --> 00:10:59.039 And then myself. 00:10:59.200 --> 00:11:07.120 And again, I'm playing behind Darren Shadow White, Charles Payne, Mike Lofty, uh uh Chris Minot. 00:11:07.279 --> 00:11:09.120 Uh, we had a talented group. 00:11:09.279 --> 00:11:13.279 Out of those 11 seniors, I think six of them went on to play college basketball. 00:11:13.440 --> 00:11:24.159 So I was I was in a in a rock and art place, and then my senior year, transfer in was another couple of classic selection, McDonald's All-American, Villanova, Commit, Brian Tucker. 00:11:25.120 --> 00:11:25.679 6'11. 00:11:26.320 --> 00:11:26.879 That's right. 00:11:26.960 --> 00:11:29.200 So we had two bookends in 6'11. 00:11:29.279 --> 00:11:31.600 I think our squad was bigger than Merlin's squad. 00:11:32.799 --> 00:11:36.960 And your school is right across the street from the University of Maryland for the listeners. 00:11:37.519 --> 00:11:37.919 Right. 00:11:38.080 --> 00:11:48.000 So, you know, again, I was overshadowed, overlooked, but God put inside of me something of determination and ability because of the struggles I had in the classroom. 00:11:48.159 --> 00:11:54.240 And I continued to work and I believe that I had some talents that if I kept working would eventually come to the surface. 00:11:54.399 --> 00:11:56.240 So I get to Loyola. 00:11:56.480 --> 00:11:59.039 Uh, as a freshman, I'm struggling academically. 00:11:59.200 --> 00:12:16.159 My tutor suggested that I get the tapes and record the lectures so we could go down and break them down and get my stuff, get all my notes so that those notes would be transferable into me, being able to comprehend, regurgitate them on tests, and things began to fall into place. 00:12:16.320 --> 00:12:22.399 My head coach Mark Ambertucci just really cared about me more than just as a

basketball player. 00:12:22.480 --> 00:12:23.519 He saw my talent. 00:12:23.759 --> 00:12:28.799 But his thing was he wanted to make sure I was a first-generation graduate from Loyola College. 00:12:29.039 --> 00:12:32.080 And so he worked real hard and he had tutors in place. 00:12:32.320 --> 00:12:36.240 And I'm proud to say none of my tutors ever did an inch of work for me. 00:12:36.480 --> 00:12:44.159 They were ladies who were former teachers, high school teachers, and they were not accepting uh no for an answer. 00:12:44.399 --> 00:12:48.480 If I didn't do it then, they would help me through it, but I was gonna do it. 00:12:48.559 --> 00:12:56.559 And they were gonna make sure that I did it so that I could feel was of overcoming something that people said was gonna be hard for me. 00:12:56.639 --> 00:12:57.120 So Mr. 00:12:57.200 --> 00:13:08.000 Hawkenberry's words about me not being able to put my eggs in that basket and then having people to help me along the way, it made the climb not easy, but it made it doable. 00:13:08.240 --> 00:13:09.519 Let's go, the climb. 00:13:09.679 --> 00:13:10.240 Let's go. 00:13:10.399 --> 00:13:10.799 Yes. 00:13:11.120 --> 00:13:18.000 So, you know, as a sophomore, as a freshman, I played sparingly, but as a sophomore, I earned a starting spot. 00:13:18.240 --> 00:13:20.399 We graduated six seniors. 00:13:20.480 --> 00:13:26.080 Uh and then as a junior, man, that summer between my sophomore year and my junior year, I think I grew four inches. 00:13:26.399 --> 00:13:28.960 And the rest is just, you know, history, man. 00:13:29.120 --> 00:13:34.000 I, you know, still top four, top five all time in a lot of records at Loyola. 00:13:34.240 --> 00:13:37.919 Um, was the first player ever selected in the modern-day NBA draft. 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:43.440 We had a draft pick about eight years ago, not even eight years ago, maybe six years ago. 00:13:43.519 --> 00:14:00.639 Uh, the young man that came over from Serbia that now plays with the Sacramento Kings, he was the second, but you know, Hall of Famer in Loyola, Hall of Famer at the Mac, and then I was able to play with five NBA teams over that was four years, and you and I were able to link up overseas and play together in Australia. 00:14:00.799 --> 00:14:06.879 One of the six continents that we had a chance to play in the Philippines, Turkey. 00:14:07.919 --> 00:14:10.159 Born and raised in Northeast Washington, D.C. 00:14:10.480 --> 00:14:12.240 You know, who would have ever thunk it, A.B. 00:14:12.399 --> 00:14:13.360 I mean, look at us, man. 00:14:13.519 --> 00:14:21.600 We have traveled the globe, being paid for a talent that uh a lot of people um take for granted some days. 00:14:21.919 --> 00:14:25.360 Well, well, I'm I'm I'm so proud of you, and I'll say it again. 00:14:25.600 --> 00:14:37.120 Um, Mike Morrison and True Confession, guys, actually, the Lord used Mike to lead me to a personal relationship with God through Jesus when we were in Australia. 00:14:37.360 --> 00:14:41.519 And he had the most worn-out Bible I've ever seen in my life. 00:14:41.679 --> 00:14:43.840 It was red and green and yellow. 00:14:44.000 --> 00:14:46.080 And I didn't know you could write in Bibles. 00:14:46.399 --> 00:14:53.440 But Mike was such an influence, and we were able to be motivational speakers together, encouraging people. 00:14:53.600 --> 00:14:56.000 And I'm so doggone proud of this guy. 00:14:56.080 --> 00:14:57.279 And he hadn't stopped. 00:14:57.519 --> 00:15:06.399 Guys, if you're listening to his story, he's telling you that he had to learn differently, dyslexia, but he pushed through. 00:15:06.639 --> 00:15:15.519 Even one of the administrators who he believed in said, Don't put your eggs in all that one basket, but he still had a drive or inner drive. 00:15:15.759 --> 00:15:23.200 And then, as a pro athlete, I give you a picture reference, Mike had one of the prettiest jump shots I've ever seen. 00:15:23.360 --> 00:15:24.720 It was two people in my book. 00:15:24.960 --> 00:15:34.960 Dennis Scott, 3D that you see on the NBA announcing, and Mike Morrison had the most beautiful jump shot, soft release, follow-through. 00:15:35.039 --> 00:15:36.480 And that Joker made a lot of him. 00:15:36.639 --> 00:15:38.080 He made more than he missed. 00:15:38.320 --> 00:15:46.559 But Mike, tell us about what you're doing now because you're even, you were a fantastic player, but an even better coach. 00:15:46.720 --> 00:15:48.159 And I've seen you on the Nike. 00:15:48.320 --> 00:15:53.039 I was able to learn from you at the highest level with Nike, St. 00:15:53.200 --> 00:15:56.559 Louis, and Nike in the Peach Jam. 00:15:56.879 --> 00:16:01.679 Tell us about what you were doing and how you were able to inspire the next generation. 00:16:02.000 --> 00:16:10.320 Oh, you left out uh uh Ranch Cucamonga up there in California when you came out to uh yes, yes. 00:16:10.480 --> 00:16:15.360 Gary that was Kobe's last uh time showing up and speaking to our young. 00:16:15.679 --> 00:16:17.279 Oh, yes, yes. 00:16:18.480 --> 00:16:21.759 You know, God rests goodness. 00:16:22.559 --> 00:16:39.600 Again, fortunate because of uh the relationships we built growing up, Howard White being uh one of the CFOs, chief operators for Jordan Brand, and John Lucas, a guy I competed against when he was with Houston, but him and my dad played tennis together when he was at the University of Maryland. 00:16:39.840 --> 00:16:45.360 So, you know, it's just layers on layers of how these relationships just kind of coincide and work. 00:16:45.519 --> 00:16:55.360 But now I'm the assistant coach at Landon University in Greenwood, South Carolina, um, where our men's team just played for the national championship. 00:16:55.519 --> 00:16:58.879 We've got a women's program that's growing and climbing. 00:16:58.960 --> 00:17:05.279 And, you know, I've been fortunate, man, to be in that, be involved in basketball at every level.

00:17:05.599 --> 00:17:10.720 Middle school coach, high school coach, again, uh contract worker with Nike. 00:17:10.880 --> 00:17:26.559 I never was an employee of Nike, but you know, favor opportunity gave me a chance to work as a contract worker for some of their uh skills academies, starting with the EYBL, then into LeBron Skilled Academy, uh Amari Stalinmeyer's. 00:17:26.799 --> 00:17:27.519 Tell us some names. 00:17:27.599 --> 00:17:29.519 You you just you just dropped those names. 00:17:29.680 --> 00:17:33.920 Give us for the listener out there, Mike, because you're real humble. 00:17:34.079 --> 00:17:37.359 Tell them some of the people you work with or ran the camps for. 00:17:37.519 --> 00:17:38.799 Give us some names real quick. 00:17:39.039 --> 00:17:39.680 Oh my God. 00:17:39.759 --> 00:17:46.799 I mean, working with uh Darren Williams and God, we're praying for him right now that he overcome some of his health issues that he's having. 00:17:46.880 --> 00:17:58.720 But Duron Williams, Darren Williams, some people call him Duron, uh working alongside Bench Carter and the Mari Stodemise, working Kevin Durant's skill academies, both the ones in uh Chicago and the one we did. 00:17:59.119 --> 00:18:05.039 Chris Paul Chris Paul's uh uh uh skills academies, then LeBron. 00:18:05.440 --> 00:18:09.200 Let me ask you, what did you learn about yourself? 00:18:09.359 --> 00:18:12.319 What did you learn about these great basketball minds? 00:18:12.400 --> 00:18:15.759 So, what did you learn being around the best of the best? 00:18:16.640 --> 00:18:23.279 You know, the interesting thing is we all share something in common, and that's love for people, not just the game and the relationships. 00:18:23.440 --> 00:18:29.440 Like, you know, here these guys are uh megastars, and they've got all these people acquiring something. 00:18:29.680 --> 00:18:48.240 Here we are sitting in the lobby after camp, just talking, talking shot, getting their getting their workouts early, talking about free throws, talking about touch, um, talking about the minor details that a lot of athletes today kind of skip over because everybody's looking for the highlight. 00:18:48.400 --> 00:19:04.319 But what gives these young men, and what gives Chris Paul and what gave uh Chris Paul and what gave um uh uh Vince Carter and what gave what's giving LeBron James a longevity is your love and respect for the game of those people that came before. 00:19:04.559 --> 00:19:05.359 I I begin it. 00:19:05.440 --> 00:19:11.359 We live in a society where everything's microwavable and we want stuff quick and we only want 30-second clips. 00:19:11.519 --> 00:19:14.480 But LeBron was a guy that listen, man, he was sick. 00:19:14.640 --> 00:19:24.079 I mean, you got guys in the camp with like Jay Bills, Craig Elo, um, um, I'm sorry, Rasheed Wallace, Corey Alexander, Junior Rose. 00:19:24.240 --> 00:19:24.720 You got him. 00:19:25.279 --> 00:19:27.200 John Lucas, the great John Lucas. 00:19:27.839 --> 00:19:36.240 You but you got him, you got Todd Day, you you got just guys that got different experiences, and LeBron just sitting there taking it all in. 00:19:36.400 --> 00:19:36.960 My goodness. 00:19:37.119 --> 00:19:50.720 Not an expert, not acting like, you know, the person that society makes him to be now, but just really listening to the conversation, asking questions, absorbing the details of it, and then moving on. 00:19:50.880 --> 00:20:00.079 And him, you know, coming and playing with the kids, spending time with them, talking about minor details, kind of like what you saw with Kobe and Michael. 00:20:00.319 --> 00:20:08.000 You know, we we meet the media hits Jordan and LeBron against each other because they want to label somebody the greatest. 00:20:08.160 --> 00:20:12.720 But both of these men, the eras where they played dominated the game at some level. 00:20:12.880 --> 00:20:18.319 So we want to give credence and we want to give credit, like the Bible says, give honor to who minors do. 00:20:18.400 --> 00:20:28.079 And both of them deserve honor for affecting the game of basketball in a way that, you know, just changed uh the game, how we know it. 00:20:28.160 --> 00:20:44.799 And as it grows and as it continues to evolve, I'm so fortunate and blessed to have an opportunity to be involved in it, now on the women's side, but still, you know, the game that we love and has done so much to provide opportunities for you and I to have relationships that have been, you know, lifelong. 00:20:45.200 --> 00:20:47.359 You know, it it's interesting. 00:20:47.519 --> 00:20:53.680 I want to go back because you've spoken to at least a half a million people. 00:20:53.839 --> 00:20:58.799 Uh, we've both been privileged to go shoulder to shoulder telling our story. 00:20:59.039 --> 00:21:12.160 But then even in your personal life, you practice what you preach because you were a single dad growing up your awesome daughter, Joanna, Joanna and Joanna Joy. 00:21:12.319 --> 00:21:15.119 And you were a single dad for many, many years. 00:21:15.279 --> 00:21:27.440 And then a proud, uh, proud graduate of Nick, who just graduated, but for what, the first seven to 12 years of your life, you didn't even know you had a wonderful son. 00:21:27.599 --> 00:21:28.880 Tell us a little bit about that. 00:21:29.039 --> 00:21:33.599 Now you're blessed with four children and a grand baby as well. 00:21:33.759 --> 00:21:39.200 So tell us a little bit about the family and how you celebrate that because you practice what you preach. 00:21:39.519 --> 00:21:43.839 Yeah, well, we we've got 12 hours, and Johanna will be 32 years old. 00:21:44.400 --> 00:21:45.359 Oh goodness. 00:21:46.160 --> 00:21:53.039 I'm just again honored and blessed to have been able to um be chosen as her father. 00:21:53.200 --> 00:21:56.720 Um, as you know, we adopted her when we were playing in Australia. 00:21:56.880 --> 00:21:57.200 Yeah. 00:21:57.599 --> 00:22:02.559 And my

daughter was born in Australia, so you've been a Uncle, I've been an uncle, we all connected here. 00:22:02.640 --> 00:22:03.440 Let's go. 00:22:05.200 --> 00:22:07.920 You know, life happens and things change. 00:22:08.079 --> 00:22:13.279 And my my first wife and I, we didn't work out, but we got a beautiful adopted daughter out of it. 00:22:13.359 --> 00:22:18.240 And then my current wife, I was able to marry um in early 2008. 00:22:18.640 --> 00:22:21.039 Now we've been married almost 19 years. 00:22:22.880 --> 00:22:23.680 Yeah, yeah, yeah. 00:22:24.240 --> 00:22:26.000 Little KK, who's a graduate. 00:22:26.160 --> 00:22:27.119 She just graduated. 00:22:27.440 --> 00:22:27.839 McKay. 00:22:28.160 --> 00:22:34.480 She'll be graduating uh in in May, May, May 19th, May 16th, May 19th, May 19th. 00:22:34.720 --> 00:22:35.279 Just be there. 00:22:35.359 --> 00:22:36.720 Just be ready by the 15th. 00:22:36.799 --> 00:22:37.279 You're good. 00:22:37.519 --> 00:22:39.519 Just be ready by the 15th. 00:22:39.759 --> 00:22:45.759 Well, yeah, man, you know, again, man, the um having such a strong family and a community. 00:22:45.920 --> 00:22:54.079 You know, you've been through all the all the ups and the downs with me, and having good people in my life that I can come to and talk through situations. 00:22:54.240 --> 00:22:55.759 Community is just so important. 00:22:55.920 --> 00:23:03.200 And having that type of community that never accepted excuses, that constantly said, hey, this may be tough right now, buddy, but you got to get back on your feet. 00:23:03.279 --> 00:23:07.279 Because not only do you have mouths to feed, but they're looking at you. 00:23:07.440 --> 00:23:09.519 Well, they're they're looking at you to be an example. 00:23:09.680 --> 00:23:13.920 So if you give up doing these troubles, uh, it's not gonna be a good look. 00:23:14.079 --> 00:23:16.160 And so thank you for your encouragement. 00:23:16.319 --> 00:23:17.440 Thank you for your prayers. 00:23:17.599 --> 00:23:20.000 Thank you for your constant calls and checks. 00:23:20.240 --> 00:23:28.079 And, you know, now as I sit here as a grandfather of one, father of four, my wife had a daughter when we got married. 00:23:28.319 --> 00:23:29.680 I had Johanna. 00:23:29.920 --> 00:23:40.400 And then I find out, you know, seven years later that I had a son who just graduated from the University of South Carolina, and he was a photographer for Michaela's a graduation picture. 00:23:42.079 --> 00:23:43.039 It's just a beautiful thing. 00:23:43.119 --> 00:23:45.839 You you're the you're the girl dad, like I'm the girl there. 00:23:46.000 --> 00:23:49.279 You've got three daughters and a son. 00:23:49.440 --> 00:23:51.440 So, you know, Laura's been good, man. 00:23:51.519 --> 00:23:52.319 He's really blessed me. 00:23:52.400 --> 00:24:02.960 I got a wife that supports me in the things I do, and she really works really hard to keep our family uh going when I'm out on the road traveling and

recruiting. 00:24:03.039 --> 00:24:06.240 And, you know, again, it's just more than I deserve. 00:24:06.400 --> 00:24:11.200 And uh I constantly just thank God daily for this gift of life that He's given me. 00:24:11.440 --> 00:24:19.440 For our listeners out there, I hope you run this program back because Coach Mike is talking about hey, it's not perfect. 00:24:19.680 --> 00:24:22.640 It's not a crime if you fall down, get back up. 00:24:22.960 --> 00:24:24.960 He he he met his son. 00:24:25.119 --> 00:24:26.960 His son is a beautiful young man. 00:24:27.039 --> 00:24:32.640 He just graduated and was taking photos of his sister's graduation. 00:24:32.960 --> 00:24:37.839 And Coach Mike, through the Lord, has been the glue that keeps that together. 00:24:38.079 --> 00:24:44.720 Tell us about you being the co-founder for GYU, Gap Year Unveiled. 00:24:44.880 --> 00:24:46.160 Boy, I know that's gonna be good. 00:24:46.240 --> 00:24:47.359 Tell us about that. 00:24:47.759 --> 00:24:50.640 So we we literally just launched this non-popular. 00:24:50.720 --> 00:24:52.960 We got our 5013 back in September. 00:24:53.039 --> 00:24:56.400 Uh, so we'll be having a collective event this summer, hopefully. 00:24:56.480 --> 00:24:58.880 Um, myself and Monique Epps are the founders. 00:24:58.960 --> 00:25:00.720 I'm the co-founder, she's a founder. 00:25:00.960 --> 00:25:07.440 Cedric Bonner is another original board member or help founding as well. 00:25:07.680 --> 00:25:13.599 And the concept is helping athletes doing the transition away or after sports. 00:25:13.839 --> 00:25:37.599 Maybe they'll be going into a different field, maybe they'll be continuing uh in the sport, but maybe no longer as a player, with the climate and the uh culture of sports the way it is, and so many people transferring them, not having that background and that uh not not having the uh the support once they get finished plan because maybe they weren't at that school for four years. 00:25:37.839 --> 00:25:48.160 We become a resource to help them with uh mentors, with counseling, with uh career development facilitations and discoverment. 00:25:48.559 --> 00:25:56.400 But our our true goal is to help these young people transition and understand that you're you are always more than an athletic. 00:25:56.720 --> 00:26:14.640 Athletics defines so many of us for way too long because we put it in the wrong place in our lives and understanding who God created us to be and how we can use the talents and the gifts and not be used by them to the detriment of our mental health and our spiritual development. 00:26:14.880 --> 00:26:31.359 It's important that there are people around these young people that have experienced some of the similar things, but also have access and resources to people that can relate or can lead them in a different direction to help them further their career and live the latter years better than they're formerly. 00:26:31.599 --> 00:26:32.559 You know, it's interesting. 00:26:32.640 --> 00:26:39.279 I just wrote down something again where you just said, use your gifts, don't let your gifts use you. 00:26:39.599 --> 00:26:48.160 And I think it was a defining moment when you were really trying to work on your identity and push through your frustration. 00:26:48.480 --> 00:26:58.960 Go back to when you were at Riverdale Baptist and you said there was a speaker that came in that changed your life and talked about choices, who you're gonna serve. 00:26:59.359 --> 00:26:59.839 Yeah. 00:27:00.160 --> 00:27:09.200 So the at Riverdale Baptist was a Christian school and it was a part of Riverdale Baptist Church, and every Tuesday we had chapel. 00:27:09.279 --> 00:27:12.160 So this Tuesday was a guy by the name of Andy Kaufman. 00:27:12.480 --> 00:27:22.960 It's so interesting because if you guys are uh uh Christian music lovers, there was a guy that went to my school, him and his sister, the Tate family, Michael Tate, who was a part of DC Talk. 00:27:23.039 --> 00:27:24.319 I'm taking you way back now. 00:27:24.480 --> 00:27:25.759 He was one of my classmates. 00:27:25.839 --> 00:27:28.000 He was one of the students at Riverdale Baptist. 00:27:28.079 --> 00:27:35.759 But anyway, this Sunday, him and his sister would always sing for chapel and just anointed singers, just angelic voices. 00:27:35.920 --> 00:27:41.119 But Andy Kaufman gave us a message that that Tuesday. 00:27:41.279 --> 00:27:48.079 And one of the things he said, you know, God puts before you a choice of life and death and says, choose you this day who you will serve. 00:27:48.160 --> 00:27:50.000 Will it be God or will it be man? 00:27:50.720 --> 00:27:58.160 And then he ended the script, he ended the thing with, you know, if you confess me before man, I'll confess you before your father. 00:27:58.400 --> 00:28:00.160 And he just gave us an invitation. 00:28:00.319 --> 00:28:04.160 Who wants to choose to confess God before your classmates today? 00:28:04.400 --> 00:28:09.920 And without hesitation, the Lord threw me and I stood up and I walked up front, gave my life to Christ. 00:28:10.079 --> 00:28:19.599 And it was so amazing, Adrian, because from that day forth, the dyslexia and the comprehension issues were in his bad. 00:28:19.759 --> 00:28:21.920 Now, of course, there were things that I still had to go through. 00:28:22.000 --> 00:28:23.920 I had to take the help that I was getting. 00:28:24.240 --> 00:28:28.400 But how can you explain within a two year's time? 00:28:28.559 --> 00:28:29.839 I left there as a ninth grade. 00:28:30.000 --> 00:28:33.759 I went there from the eighth and ninth grade, from the 10th grade to the time I graduated. 00:28:33.839 --> 00:28:39.680 I never missed a day of school at Northwestern, and I was a principal's honorary student for the rest of my time there. 00:28:40.079 --> 00:28:44.720 In order to get a scholarship to Loyola, they told me I had like a 3.1 or better. 00:28:44.880 --> 00:28:53.920 I did that all four

semesters, all four quarters, and then I was given an opportunity to go and take summer school classes in another true statement, A. 00:28:54.079 --> 00:28:54.240 B. 00:28:54.480 --> 00:28:57.440 I didn't sign my letter of intent to Loyola until August. 00:29:02.799 --> 00:29:04.640 And most kids wouldn't take that risk. 00:29:04.720 --> 00:29:06.640 They had just choose a lesser. 00:29:06.960 --> 00:29:08.400 But I don't know. 00:29:08.480 --> 00:29:12.640 I just like to say that, you know, only the Spirit of God did what he did for me. 00:29:12.720 --> 00:29:16.559 And I'm so grateful that I followed him and allowed him to leave me. 00:29:16.720 --> 00:29:19.920 But that message that Andy gave me that day changed my life. 00:29:20.000 --> 00:29:24.799 And it changed my family because as soon as I gave my life to the Lord, I went home to call my mom. 00:29:25.119 --> 00:29:28.559 She rededicated her life to the Lord, my dad did. 00:29:28.880 --> 00:29:32.000 And here's a family that, you know, enjoyed life. 00:29:32.079 --> 00:29:34.480 And we made a lot of life changes as a family. 00:29:34.640 --> 00:29:38.160 And my mom is 89 now, my dad is 88. 00:29:38.400 --> 00:29:41.440 You know, I'm just so blessed to still have them in my life right now. 00:29:41.839 --> 00:29:44.880 Oh my goodness, for our climbers out there. 00:29:45.119 --> 00:30:00.400 Mike, you're you're you're saying so much that uh as soon as you said uh when you gave your heart to Jesus, I'm thinking about the Bible verse that says, Don't be conformed to this world, be transformed by the renewing of your mind. 00:30:00.559 --> 00:30:07.039 And it sounds like literally your mind was shifting for the positive, though you still had to work. 00:30:07.359 --> 00:30:10.880 This is one of my favorite segments of this entire show. 00:30:11.119 --> 00:30:13.359 And this is my little speed round. 00:30:13.599 --> 00:30:21.200 So I want to ask you a couple of questions if that's okay, and see what's one of the first things that come to your mind when we speak. 00:30:21.359 --> 00:30:22.400 So, you ready? 00:30:22.720 --> 00:30:23.200 I'm ready. 00:30:23.599 --> 00:30:24.640 Take a shot on this one. 00:30:24.799 --> 00:30:26.079 All right, here we go. 00:30:26.480 --> 00:30:27.440 Success. 00:30:28.960 --> 00:30:31.680 Failure, failure. 00:30:34.000 --> 00:30:37.359 Stepping should basketball. 00:30:42.240 --> 00:30:43.519 Dyslexia. 00:30:47.920 --> 00:30:50.160 Not like threatening. 00:30:51.839 --> 00:30:53.680 Someone saying no. 00:30:56.400 --> 00:30:58.400 One step closer to the next, yes. 00:30:59.359 --> 00:31:00.720 Accountability. 00:31:02.160 --> 00:31:03.119 Required. 00:31:04.240 --> 00:31:05.119 NBA. 00:31:06.480 --> 00:31:07.759 Fantastic. 00:31:08.720 --> 00:31:10.480 I stole it out with that. 00:31:12.799 --> 00:31:13.599 We'll go with that. 00:31:14.160 --> 00:31:16.000 We're gonna we're gonna stop it right there. 00:31:16.160 --> 00:31:29.200 Hey, hey, Mike, before we let

you go, uh, the the listeners out there, I hope for the Michael out out there, the Michelle out there, dyslexia, or if you're dealing with a challenge, it's not the end of the road. 00:31:29.359 --> 00:31:34.480 It may be a pothole or obstacle, but you're hearing Coach Mike and he's saying, don't quit. 00:31:34.799 --> 00:31:42.720 Coach, before we let you go, what's one thing you would say to our listeners to encourage them to keep climbing? 00:31:47.119 --> 00:31:52.880 I have a tattoo on my arm that's Philippians 4.13 that says, I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. 00:31:53.119 --> 00:31:58.079 When I first got it, I got it because of the things I wanted. 00:31:58.400 --> 00:32:05.680 But the thing that we all need more than anything else is the ability to know that we can overcome things with help. 00:32:06.079 --> 00:32:09.119 There's nothing that we can overcome on our long, on our own. 00:32:09.200 --> 00:32:14.720 And the greatest help we can have is that from our Lord and personal Savior Jesus Christ. 00:32:14.960 --> 00:32:19.680 There's no other help, there's no other truth, there's no other way besides Him. 00:32:20.000 --> 00:32:26.400 Many things in this world will try to emulate Him, and in many things we'll try to impersonate Him. 00:32:26.640 --> 00:32:35.039 There's nothing like I'm a living witness, I'm a living testimony, and I pray that my life is a living sacrifice to what he can do. 00:32:35.279 --> 00:32:47.680 Um, I wouldn't be having this conversation with Adrian, it would be totally different had Christ not intervened and provided for me the answers to those things that I didn't know that I could do. 00:32:48.240 --> 00:32:56.720 And again, it didn't excuse me from going through them, but I'm so glad that I didn't give up when uh things around me told me that I shouldn't. 00:32:57.039 --> 00:33:06.160 So you can do all things to Christ who strengthens you, but just remember those things are persevering, enduring, and overcoming those life issues and stuff. 00:33:06.559 --> 00:33:07.920 You touched my heart here. 00:33:08.000 --> 00:33:11.519 I'm ready to cry, but we're on on uh on camera right now. 00:33:11.759 --> 00:33:13.039 You touch my heart here. 00:33:13.279 --> 00:33:15.440 That is so believable, man. 00:33:15.759 --> 00:33:17.599 Uh, thanks for coming on our show. 00:33:17.680 --> 00:33:19.759 We'll have to do this again, Coach Mike. 00:33:20.400 --> 00:33:21.519 Anytime, man. 00:33:21.680 --> 00:33:22.960 Thank you so much, man. 00:33:23.039 --> 00:33:24.000 And thanks, Boo. 00:33:24.079 --> 00:33:25.279 I know you're in the background, man. 00:33:25.359 --> 00:33:26.960 Thanks for keeping Fox straight. 00:33:28.960 --> 00:33:32.000 We will see you again with Coach Mike, folks. 00:33:32.079 --> 00:33:33.599 That is wonderful. 00:33:33.759 --> 00:33:45.759 I hope for our listeners out there, you've been inspired today because there were so many touchdowns uh points that he was saying with being uh a guy that just doesn't quit. 00:33:45.920 --> 00:33:50.799 He knows he has challenges, but Christ made a difference in his life. 00:33:51.119 --> 00:34:02.880 And now I want to encourage everybody, if you guys really enjoyed today and want to know more about what we're doing in a champion's mindset, head on over to AdrianBranchSpeaks.com. 00:34:03.119 --> 00:34:16.239 Follow us on social media at Adrian BranchSpeaks, where we have workshops and other information that can really encourage you and download the climb wherever podcasts are available. 00:34:16.480 --> 00:34:19.840 Listen, my audience, you guys are the best. 00:34:20.079 --> 00:34:21.679 We never get tired of doing this. 00:34:21.760 --> 00:34:27.280 And like we like to say around here, remember, be encouraged and keep climbing. 00:34:27.360 --> 00:34:29.440 We'll see you next time, everybody.