“If you want a son to grow up into a man you can be proud of, be a man he can be proud of.” — Unknown
It will be a moment, I’m sure, that 3-year-old Easton McGuire will one day recount to his own children.
Micheal McGuire works in one of the most dangerous jobs in the United States. But it’s how the Kentucky father provides for his family. The evidence of that job has made the dad go viral, and it’s all because of a picture at a basketball game, and a coach who was reminded of his own family.
McGuire said that he’d never miss his son’s first in-person chance to watch the University of Kentucky men’s basketball team play. Though it meant that he went straight from the coal mines to the game, covered head-to-toe in soot.
Michael McGuire and his family attend the Kentucky Wildcats basketball game. Photo by Getty
A photo from the Wildcats’ game at the Appalachian Wireless Arena went viral, showing the happy dad smiling at his son who was enraptured by the players. The picture made its way John Calipari, the legendary Kentucky head coach. He shared the picture to X, formerly known as Twitter.
“My family’s American dream started in a Clarksburg, WV coal mine, so this picture hits home,” Calipari wrote. “From what I’ve been told, after his shift, he raced to be with his son & watch our team. Don’t know who this is, but I have tickets for him & his family at Rupp to be treated as VIPs!!”
Support came in from all over the country, ranging from other parents to hardcore Kentucky fans. “Much respect for this man making time to be a Dad!” one person commented. “I’m a union worker myself and know the struggle of trying to balance family time and work.”
Sometimes you have to make the hard choice to provide for your family but when you do get time make it truly count.”
McGuire, who works six days a week, drove more than 40 minutes to make it to the game. He said he was determined to be there, even if he was covered in coal dust. “Didn’t want to miss it,” he said. “I’ve had to miss quite a few stuff.” The games, he said, were something he grew up watching with his father. McGuire said he had been waiting to carry on that tradition with Easton.
Michael McGuire at a Kentucky Wildcats basketball game. Photo by Getty
“Easton has taken a huge interest in sports, so it was the perfect time to buy tickets for Micheal and Easton to start that,” said his wife, Mollie. And boy, did Easton love the game. “Easton was dancing and everything!” McGuire said.
“It’s been a fun experience for us as a family,” Mollie said. But more importantly, she said, it was a chance to help others. The university was raising money to help victims of flooding in the area. “We had some friends who lost a lot,” Mollie said.
That’s when we looked at each other (and said), ‘All right, let’s do what we can.'”
The family recently got to enjoy their VIP tickets from Calipari. The coach was just as excited to meet them as they were him. “Had a great time with the McGuire family last night,” Calipari said on X. “They are great people and wanted me to be sure to thank everyone for their kindness, especially Sue Kinneer, who was the person who posted the picture of Micheal originally!
His wife said that she is thankful that others got to see how great of a dad McGuire is. “It’s reached a lot of people just by Micheal being a dad who shows up and is there. That’s not something that always happens in present day. So, I’m glad he’s appreciated for what he does for his family,” Mollie said.
