To Grant Wahl, Thank You: With Temryss Lane

Welcome to Out Of The Spotlight. This episode was really tough to record but we really hope it did our amazing friend, Grant Wahl, justice. 

Grant Wahl was an American journalist who paved the way for soccer in America. Many people also know him as the journalist who discovered a 17 year old Lebron James and put him on the cover of Sports Illustrated. 

Grant's love and passion for the beautiful game was unstoppable and contagious. If it involved soccer... Grant was there. He treated each player with kindness and was a truth seeker. His goal was to introduce soccer to everyone while bringing communities together. He also fought for equality in the women's game and in life. 

Grant and Stephanie met back in 2010. Stephanie's best friend and former pro soccer player/reporter, Temryss Lane, was with her that evening and they all quickly became best friends. 

At that time, there weren't many female soccer reporters. But Grant was always willing to include Steph and Temryss in every conversation, in every event. 

So we figured that Temryss would be the perfect guest this week to chat all things Grant and futbol with Steph.

Grant was supposed to be a guest on Out Of The Spotlight next month, so it's super hard to be writing about him in this manner. As a past tense. However, we find some comfort in knowing that he passed away doing what he loved the most - covering a WORLD CUP. His 8th to be exact. 

Grant's legacy will live on forever. The impact he has made will never be replicated. 

He is the definition of kindness. And the true definition of courage.

If anyone ever asks what a journalist should be... just look up Grant Wahl. 

Grant's love for soccer, his many stories, and the people he brought together will live on forever. 

We're sending all of our love to his wife, Dr. Celine Gounder, his brother Eric Wahl, his entire family, and the soccer community he loved so much.

We love you Grant Wahl. THANK YOU.