Dale Jr. and J. Cole Cover 'ESPN The Magazine's' Music Issue, Represent N.C.

Two of North Carolina's brightest stars and proudest natives have united -- and met for the first time -- for the new issue of ESPN The Magazine. In the sports mag's Music Issue (dated February 2, but hitting newsstands today), you'll find NASCAR star Dale Earnhardt Jr., who reps Mooresville, and hip-hop star J. Cole, who's always shouting out his hometown of Fayetteville.

Junior and Cole are featured on one of two covers of ESPN The Magazine's Music Issue (the other features music star Katy Perry and NFL star J.J. Watt). Credit: ESPN

Says Junior on meeting Cole, which all started from a shoutout the rapper gave the racer in a song:

"You pull for a guy because of the local connection. Normally, on the rare chance that a celebrity comes to my property, I get real nervous. But I wasn't nervous with him, because I knew this looks just like his backyard. It's a connection, a North Carolina connection, and he reps North Carolina in his music, and he's proud of where he's from and bringing recognition to Fayetteville. I'm proud of North Carolina too."

It's a great interview with the N.C. duo, "Dale Earnhardt Jr. and J. Cole: The Perfect Strangers."

Michael Jordan's Emotional Speech Makes Me Proud to Live in Charlotte

The G.O.A.T. and Charlotte Hornets team owner Michael Jordan delivered an emotional speech last evening when he accepted the Charlotte Business Journal Business Person of the Year award. In his nine-minute-long remarks, he spoke from the heart--wiping tears from his face--and made you feel proud to live in Charlotte and North Carolina, saying specifically that when he bought the team five years ago it gave him the chance to come home.

Photo credit: @DavidHeadCLT

We all know that M.J. was raised in North Carolina and went on to be a college star at UNC, but he admitted that many people will always associate him with Chicago, understandably, because it was his years and accomplishments with the Bulls that made him a household name. But he elaborated on his many ties to Charlotte, one of which was that his parents moved to the Charlotte area when he got drafted by the Bulls in 1984, and was something I didn't know.

Luckily, someone recorded Jordan's speech and has posted it to YouTube, which you can watch below.

Enjoy Brunch, Honor Dr. King

My twin brother and I are co-hosting a brunch this Sunday, January 18, in Charlotte in honor of the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. The event begins at noon and takes place at Sydney's Martini and Wine Bar in Uptown. We're looking forward to presenting a culturally and socially enriching afternoon, which will include a live band and MLK-themed performances. Admission is free, but RSVP is required at mlk.hollidaysocial.com; the cost of the brunch buffet is $15.

Credit: The King Center

I hope you will join us on Sunday!

It's Been A Long Time...

...I shouldn't have left you, without a strong [blog] to step to (ode to Rakim, in case you aren't so hip-hop-classic inclined). I've been absent from Grown People Talking for the last two months, the longest such break I've ever taken from this blog I started in 2008. But lemme explain.

At the end of October, I ended my six-and-a-half year run as a full-time freelancer, during which time I wrote, blog, edited, interviewed, strategized, and more for a number of media outlets--in print, digital, and broadcast--and others. I launched GPT in April 2008, a month after diving into my freelance career, and over the years it's provided me with a platform to opine on many things, usually deriving from the numerous people, places, and events I encountered as a freelancer in Charlotte.

Credit: LGA

My decision to go back to work on staff somewhere was in the making for a long time, and the opportunity I was looking for and the transition I desired all came together when I was hired mid-fall by one of Charlotte's--and the region's--leading creative firms. So over the last two and a half months, my new job has been my top priority, as I've focused on learning the ropes there, and, most impactful, adjusted to having a Monday through Friday office schedule again. I'm drinking more coffee than ever these days! LOL. But it's going great.

Now that I'm settled, I can start giving GPT a little TLC again, and I hope you will follow along. Thank you for reading the blog over the years, and I look forward to continuing to offer you my perspective, insight, and tidbits on these pages.