On a bustling Friday afternoon at the Food Hub restaurant, the usual midday crowd filled the space with laughter and chatter. Among the patrons was Kennedy Peters, a deaf man who had just entered the restaurant, eager to enjoy a meal. Despite the noise around him, Kennedy moved confidently, smiling at the waitress who greeted him. He gestured for a menu, pointing to his ears to indicate his deafness, and the waitress kindly obliged.

However, when Kennedy attempted to place his order, he encountered a rude waiter named Coleman. As Kennedy made gestures to communicate his order, Coleman’s impatience became evident. He sighed audibly, crossed his arms, and spoke loudly, assuming Kennedy could lip-read. “What do you want?” he asked, drawing the attention of other diners. Confused, Kennedy pointed to the items he wanted, but Coleman’s frustration only grew. “Just write it down or something,” he said, shoving a pen and paper toward Kennedy.

Kennedy maintained his composure, scribbling his order and handing it back. Coleman snatched the paper and walked away without another word, leaving Kennedy feeling embarrassed and disrespected. Unbeknownst to them, sitting a few tables away was Patrick Mahomes, the star quarterback of the Kansas City Chiefs, who had been quietly enjoying his meal. Mahomes noticed the interaction and felt compelled to intervene.

Rising from his booth, Mahomes approached Coleman, who paled at the sight of the football legend. “Can we talk for a second?” Mahomes asked. Coleman stammered, trying to defend his actions, but Mahomes was firm. “How is this how you treat a customer?” he questioned, pointing to Kennedy’s table. “Hard to communicate doesn’t mean you have the right to disrespect someone. You could have handled it better.”

Feeling the weight of Mahomes’ words, Coleman nodded, his face flushed with embarrassment. Mahomes instructed him to apologize to Kennedy and treat him with the respect he deserved. Coleman reluctantly agreed and walked back to Kennedy’s table, visibly remorseful. He offered an apology, and Kennedy, in turn, wrote on a piece of paper, “Be nicer next time. I have feelings too.” Coleman read the note and left with his head bowed in regret.

As Kennedy waited for his order, a young woman at a nearby table, who had witnessed the entire episode, leaned over and handed him a small notebook and pen for easier communication. Grateful, Kennedy scribbled a thank you note, and they exchanged a few written words before she returned to her meal.

Minutes later, Coleman returned with Kennedy’s order, carefully placing the plate and drink in front of him. He leaned in to ask if there was anything else Kennedy needed. Kennedy shook his head politely and smiled, appreciating the effort. As he enjoyed his meal, whispers of admiration for Mahomes’ intervention circulated among the patrons, many commending his actions.

After finishing his meal, Mahomes approached Kennedy’s table once more, handing him a card with his name and contact information. “If you ever need support, reach out to me. You’re not alone,” he said. Kennedy’s eyes widened in surprise and gratitude as he read the note. Although Mahomes wasn’t fluent in sign language, he had picked up a few basic gestures and signed back, “You’re welcome.”

As the restaurant quieted down, Kennedy decided to share his experience on social media. He wrote about both the good and bad parts of his visit, praising Mahomes’ help and the woman’s kindness. His post quickly gained traction, reaching a large audience and prompting discussions about the need for better training for restaurant staff to assist individuals with disabilities.

The manager of the Food Hub, Wesley, saw Kennedy’s post and took immediate action. He publicly apologized to Kennedy and promised to implement special awareness training for all employees. A few days later, Kennedy received an email inviting him to share suggestions on how the restaurant could improve its services for people with disabilities. Viewing this as an opportunity for positive change, Kennedy attended a meeting with the management team, emphasizing the importance of empathy and effective communication.

The meeting resulted in the launch of a new initiative at the Food Hub, which included staff training, visual menus, and communication aids such as notepads at each table. They also partnered with local organizations that support the deaf community to ensure their efforts were impactful and meaningful.

Kennedy began visiting the Food Hub more frequently, noticing the positive changes in the restaurant. The staff welcomed him warmly, and Coleman, in particular, made an effort to connect with him. He apologized as often as he could, and over time, they built mutual respect and friendship. Coleman even learned basic sign language, surprising Kennedy one day by signing, “How are you?” Kennedy smiled and signed back, “I’m good, thank you.”

As the Food Hub became a model for inclusivity, news of their commitment to accessibility reached local media. They covered the restaurant’s efforts in a…

PAT’S EMPIRE 

SEE MORE: LeBron James says he ‘absolutely’ considered swapping the NBA for the NFL during the 2011 lockout

LeBron James has achieved almost everything you can in the NBA. But for a brief moment, it could’ve been a very different story.

James is a well-known, passionate NFL fan – he has been seen throughout the years at games involving his hometown Cleveland Browns – but during the 2011 NBA lockout, he “absolutely” considered switching the hardwood for the gridiron.

“I didn’t know when we were going to make the deal with the owners and get our league back going,” James said on Wednesday’s episode of the “New Heights” podcast, hosted by Super Bowl-winning brothers Jason and Travis Kelce. “So I actually thought about it a little bit back then.

“I was still young enough to get out there with y’all. That’s the only time I’ve seriously considered it. I’ve had serious dreams about this sh*t all the time. And in my dream, the ball is never kicked off. It’s me in the warmups, it’s me coming out, running my routes and right when the game starts, I f**king wake up or some sh*t. That lets me know I’m not supposed to be out there.”

NBA action stopped in 2011 due to a lockout.
Shannon Stapleton/Reuters

James is one of basketball’s greatest ever players, but before he was drafted into the NBA in 2003, he was a star at the high school level in both football and hoops.

He led St. Vincent-St. Mary High School to three basketball state championships while also playing wide receiver for the school, being named First Team All-State in his sophomore year.

James was even the subject of offers from some of college football’s biggest names, recalling that then-Ohio State head coach Jim Tressel’s attempted to recruit him to be a dual-sport athlete before James entered the NBA draft. He was also courted by Urban Meyer, according to ESPN.

“I walked into the school (St. Vincent-St. Mary High), the coach, Jim Meyer, great guy, probably in 1998 or ’99, and he said: ‘Hey, come here a minute. I want to show you this. What do you think of this kid?’” Urban Meyer said, according to ESPN. “I started watching the video, and I was like: ‘Oh, my God.’ He was six-foot-whatever, obviously real big back then, too.

“He asked me what I thought and I said: ‘I want to offer him right now. Who is he?’” he continued, hoping to recruit James to Notre Dame where Meyer was the wide receivers coach at the time.

Eventually, James chose a career involving hoops rather than goallines but the thought has apparently always lingered in his head.

When asked who he imagined he could have compared to if he had chosen the NFL, James highlighted some legends.

“Probably a mix between (four-time Super Bowl winner Rob Gronkowski) and Randy Moss, but he’s a lot smaller than me,” the 40-year-old explained. “He runs a lot faster than me, but he’s a lot smaller than me, but like Megatron (three-time first-team All Pro wide receiver Calvin Johnson), we have that same like stature as far as like build. (Six-time first-team All Pro tight end) Tony Gonzalez, with him and his size, he played basketball as well, I used to love his celebration where he used to dunk on the goalposts.”

James’ footballing skill in high school led to many suggesting he could have a successful career in the NFL if he’d gone that route.

And when he was asked whether it would be harder to transition from the NBA to the NFL or vice versa, James said he’d put some thought into it.

“I want to say that I think it’s easier for a basketball player to try NFL over the NFL player trying to get in the NBA,” he said. “And I know we’ve got some great athletes. … (If) an NBA guy decides to go play in the NFL, yes, it’s going to take a transition period. For me, it would’ve been like getting used to getting hit again.

“I remember from high school when I would go from summertime playing basketball, playing AAU (Amateur Athletic Union) ball and then going into the fall and having to get used to getting hit again. Those first few practices when you put on them shoulder pads and the helmets, getting hit again is the most important thing.

“Football going to basketball, it’s such more coordination and running and jumping, consistent,” he added, while also saying he believed current NBA players Russell Westbrook or Anthony Edwards would have the most success swapping to the NFL.