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When I began this site with my rather large dream of playing my childhood hero Michael Jordan 1-on-1, back in August of 2010, I knew then that I’d need a lot of help.

I knew I could work on my game and get in the best shape of my life and do all of the things that I could control, but that in the end it would take the HELP of someone else to make my dream come true.

I never thought that when I began this mevsMJ.com journey that I would be placed in a position to HELP someone else’s dream come true, but on Thanksgiving Day, that’s just what happened.

Just as I was getting ready to head over to my parents to enjoy the Thanksgiving festivities, I received the following email from a young man sharing his dream with me.

Hello,

I just found your website mevsMJ.com.  What a great idea and website! You are an inspiration for me. I also am a big fan of Eric Griffin from Campbell University and I saw that you interviewed him. He is a great dunker and a great all around player. Do you know how I might get in touch with him? Maybe you have his email or phone number? I’ve been a Campbell University fan my entire life. I’m 13 years old and I’ve loved them my whole life cuz my favorite uncle went there for college and I want to go there too. I just want to tell Eric how much I like watching him play basketball. Maybe one day I can play at Campbell too.

Thank you for your great website and for any help you might offer to get in touch with Eric Griffin. 

Sincerely,

Adam Thompson

Me and Eric Griffin

If I think about how I met Eric Griffin and now perhaps why I met him, it makes me appreciate this amazing walk of mine so much more!

Shooting alone in an empty gym one morning back in May, I met Coach Kevin Sutton.  We talked about my journey to play MJ and within minutes Coach Sutton, one of the kindest men I’ve met, was inviting me for an informal workout with a group of high level ball players, so that I could better my game.

I went to the first workout and as fate would have it, was paired with Campbell University’s high flying Eric Griffin.  Through the some two-hour session, we did ball handling drills, shooting drills, and so on with one another.

Eric impressed me with who he was as a person, as much as he did with his sick basketball game, so when I came up with the idea of 23 Questions, a sort of informal interview that would allow some insight into the lives of the best basketball players I knew, I thought immediately of Eric.

Now some seven months from when Eric and I initially met, the reason for our meeting, came to light in an email from a young man, just 13 years of age.

Thanksgiving Day Dreams

When I got Adam’s email I was immediately almost overwhelmed with emotions, because I know what it was like to send an email filled with hope.  I’ve sent tons of them during this journey.  Too many to count at this point.

Most people I’ve reached out to, never respond.  Some brush me off with a less than half hearted response and then no longer reply when I kindly continue to pursue their assistance.  Others have cast their negative views on my walk, missing the whole point along the way.

I’ve always done my best to quickly shake my head free of the hurt and push forward, but honestly at times it’s been tough.

So when I received Adam’s email, I spent a good period of time at Thanksgiving dinner working on making his dream come true.

Because I knew I could!

“I would love to!”

Between the love filled food and family stories at Thanksgiving dinner, I sent Eric Griffin a message telling him that I had just received the coolest email from a young man that was a big fan of his.  I went on with how it would be amazing if it turns out that Adam is local to set something up so that he could meet him!

It took Eric less than a minute to reply with, “I would love to!”

I told him great and then forwarded him Adam’s email so that he could read it for himself.

Adam’s Dream Comes True

Less than 24 hours from Adam’s initial email to me I received another email from him:

Hello Kenny,

Thank you so much! I got email from Eric! WOW!!!!! Best present I got in a long time! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Eric asked about coming to his game and my mom says maybe later in season. WOW!!! I am trying to do interview with Eric for school cuz I have homework to interview someone who works in the job I want when I grow up. Thank you Kenny. I hope you play Michael Jordan!

Sincerely,

Adam Thompson

Dreams Do Come True!

So I’m going into the 16^th month of mevsMJ.com and while my dream of playing MJ still hasn’t come true, it’s the best feeling in the world to play a part in helping someone else’s dream come true!

I’d like to give HUGE SHOUT OUT and THANKS to my man Eric Griffin (@The21Story) for being so kind and willing to take the time to impact someone’s life in such an amazing way!

Adam closed his email to me fittingly, filled with hope.  I too hope I get to play Michael Jordan one day soon, but until then, helping Adam is just fine with me!

me vs. MJ…the dream filled journey continues!  As always, thank you for following along!

Connect:  Twitter (@KennyEller) and mevsMJ.com Facebook Fan Page.

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More on Eric Griffin

Through the first six games (5-1) of the season, Eric Griffin leads the Fighting Camels of Campbell University in almost every category, averaging 21.1 points, 10 rebounds, and 2.8 blocks, while shooting a staggering 74% from the field and 60% from three point land.

On top of all of that, he can now add something even more important to his statistics, making one dream come true!  A class act for sure!

We all have the ability to impact others in a way that could very well change the course of how they approach life!  On this day, the dreamer who took action in the form of an email wins!  Eric and I have won as well!  Go get your dreams!

I’ve been excited to announce this to everyone and late last night I got the confirmation.

It’s BIG!

Tomorrow morning I will have something in common with Michael Jordan!!!

Tomorrow I take the NEXT GIGANTIC STEP in my preparation to play the greatest basketball player in the world, Michael Jordan…by working with the greatest basketball shooter in the world, Dave Hopla!!!

Dave Hopla (The Greatest Basketball Shooter in the World!)

Imagine making more than 98% of the shots you take! (In 2007 Hopla, who writes down the results of ever shot he takes, made 99.19% making 11,093 of 11,183)

Envision draining 1,234 free throws in a row without a miss.

Dream of making 211 high school 3-pointers in a row without a miss.

Fantasize dropping 181 college 3-pointers in a row without a miss.

Visualize yourself shooting and watching 78 NBA 3-pointers go in, in a row without a miss.

I can only imagine, envision, dream of, fantasize and visualize (right now), but that is Dave Hopla’s life!

He’s the greatest basketball shooter in the world!

He makes shots!

Besides his “Airness”, Hopla has personally worked with the likes of future Hall of Famers Kobe Bryant and Ray Allen.  He has also worked over the years with numerous NBA, WNBA and College teams to improve their shooting percentages.

Now, around 11am on Friday morning, Dave Hopla will work with me!

I AM SO EXCITED, THANKFUL and HUMBLED!!!

Anything is possible!!!

me vs. MJ…the journey continues!!!

*For more information on Dave Hopla, check out his website www.davehopla.com.