Greatness is so much more than I imagined…

What is greatness? I discovered the true meaning of this word when I met a genuine University of Virginia basketball hero. It’s more than what I thought.

Having a chance meeting with the basketball great Ralph Sampson in Charlottesville, Virginia when I was recently there to watch a UVA basketball game (a favorite ritual for me, an alumna of UVA, and my daughter) was more than what I could have imagined. As background, I began watching UVA basketball at a young age as my dad was a graduate and a passionate fan to say the least. When Ralph Sampson came to UVA, this was a huge opportunity to take the UVA basketball program to the next level and it did. Ralph’s abilities in college and in the NBA were stellar and he achieved many well-deserved awards and accolades.

So, when I came face to face with Ralph, it was somewhat intimidating and exhilarating at the same time. Ralph proved to be generous and considerate as I was openly excited and in awe during this encounter. He spoke to me kindly and humbly and allowed me to engage in conversation with him about his days at UVA and the excitement he brought to the basketball program for UVA fans. His excellence shined through, and he showed me who he really was beyond the stats and achievements. As I walked away, I thought wow this is the true definition of greatness.