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.

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Michael McGuire and his family were recently at a University of Kentucky basketball game, and Michael was there with his work uniform on. He is a coal miner and was still covered in black coal dust. But Michael knew it was important to be at the game with his son. So, he rushed over to the sporting event right after he finished work without changing.

The head coach of University of Kentucky’s basketball team, John Calipari, saw the father and son together in the stands and had to take a picture. He admired the father’s hard work and dedication to his job and his family.

"My family's American dream started in a Clarksburg, WV coal mine, so this picture hits home," John Calipari wrote in the photo’s caption. "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!!"

Photo Of Coal Miner Dad With Son At Basketball Game Goes Viral

Shortly after John shared the photo online, he found out that the coal miner was Michael McGuire after some Kentucky fans connected the coach with the family. Then Michael’s wife, Mollie, shared about her husband on social media and talked about how proud she is of him.

"My amazing husband started his day at 4:45am that morning and worked all day. Then drove straight to the arena to meet us and enjoy the game with our son! We are truly blessed with such an amazing man, and beyond thankful! We love our coal miner," Mollie wrote in her post.

John Calipari even used the photo that he took of the father and son as a lesson for his players.

"I talked to my guys about it. It's just a great lesson, and I showed ‘em the picture yesterday of Michael and his son, and I talked about hard, backbreaking work that's honorable work, but that he makes time for his son, even when he knew he couldn't shower,” John said. “It didn't matter what he looked like, he just wanted to be with his son."

Coal Miner Dad Enjoys Watching Game With Son After Work

Michael shared that there was no way he was going to miss his son Easton’s first basketball experience, and that his boy had such a great time at the game.

"He was dancing and every time they would slam dunk it, he would go crazy," Michael said.

The McGuire family doesn’t know yet when they will take Coach Calipari up on his offer for VIP tickets, but once 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 neat for someone like that, who is a quiet, humble guy to know people appreciate you, and we appreciate what you stand for," said John Calipari. "And I appreciate it because it's how my family got their start in this country."

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God bless this family and their hard-working and dedicated father!

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h/t: Sunny Skyz

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