Mike Tirico told me his secret.
It wasn't talent.
It wasn't luck.
It was what he does on every flight home.
A few years ago, I met him at a restaurant bar in Indianapolis during the Big Ten tournament. One of the biggest voices in sports.
He didn't lead with his résumé. He introduced himself. He asked questions. He cared about every person in the room before anyone cared about him.
Eventually, I asked him what made him great.
He said after every game he calls, on the flight home, he pulls up the broadcast and watches it back.
Listens to his own voice. Hunts for the misses. The dead air. The calls he wishes he could have over.
Every game. Twenty-plus years in.
He wasn't born world-class. He worked his way there one flight at a time.
The best in any room are usually the ones still grading themselves the hardest.
World-class isn't a personality.
It's a habit.
Throughout his career, Lavonte David performed on par with Bobby Wagner and Luke Kuechly, but earned FAR less national recognition.
One of the most criminally underrated players ever, but he was consistently a steady, elite presence for the Bucs and he deserves his flowers.
Next up on the journey back through the Raw Thoughts series puts us at #RawThoughtsV ..
2021 was a weird time, and I seemed to be the only person in my realm of music speaking out against the vax.
Pretty sure this is when the shadow banning really started taking effect.
It’s also when I noticed a chunk of my fanbase turn on me over this specific issue.
I even had several shows get canceled because promoters were so upset about my vax views.
All I was tryna do was warn yall tho.. And man am I glad I didn’t get that shit !!!
Shout to all my purebloods who stood their ground and remain unvaccinated here in 2026 !! I salute you 🫡🕸
SONG : Raw Thoughts V (2021)