The Coal Miner story was the TODAY Show's No. 1 "High" of 2022

2022 was a tough year for Kentucky Basketball, but the program ended up being part of one of the biggest feel-good stories of the year. Yesterday, Sunday TODAY host Willie Geist included coal miner Michael McGuire and his son attending the Blue-White Game in Pikeville in a montage of stories from 2022; in fact, it was Geist’s No. 1 “High.”

In October, the picture of McGuire, still in his work uniform covered in coal dust, with his son at the game went viral, prompting John Calipari to reach out to the family and invite them to a game at Rupp Arena. It quickly spread everywhere on social media, with the McGuires doing interviews with almost every major news outlet. The McGuires attended the Duquesne game on Nov. 11 and Michael received a standing ovation when he came out to be the honorary “Y.” Check out Geist’s clip below, which includes some pictures and video from KSR’s Jack Pilgrim and Aaron Perkins.

Yesterday, John Calipari thanked Geist and the TODAY Show on Twitter for mentioning the story and invited Geist to a game.

Thank you @WillieGeist & @TODAYshow for choosing the McGuire family’s story as your #1 “High” of 2022!! They are great people and the story shows that no one rallies to support each other like the Commonwealth of Kentucky and #BBN.

Willie, we need to get YOU to Rupp for a game!! pic.twitter.com/Zsq7NedDyX

— John Calipari (@UKCoachCalipari) January 1, 2023

“I’ve done some things that have been fulfilling for my wife and I, but this, you’d have to say, you’re bringing light to a good man,” Calipari said at the time. “A hard-working Kentuckian, a coal miner who does everything he can to make time for his family, his son, and his daughter. Come on. That’s what it ends up being. That’s the story.”

If you’d like to keep those good vibes going, check out more footage of the McGuires in Rupp, along with their comments in the postgame press conference.

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