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Welcome to the Brian Bafini Show, where we explore the mindsets, motivation and methodologies of success.

Here's your coach, Brian Bafini.

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Well, the top of the morning, Tio. Welcome to the Brian Bafini Show.

You know, we've had enough a lot of famous people on this program, whether it be Matt McConaughey or Magic Johnson and all of these folks.

But today was one for me. This gentleman is someone I've been wanting to meet for a very long time. He's got a phenomenal story, a heart-breaking story, a hard story to hear.

It's the real Shawshank redemption, in my opinion. Chris Heron is our guest, and Chris was a basketball phenom from Fall River, Massachusetts, where people have better Irish accents than I do.

He was a high school superstar, McDonald's All-American. I started out in Boston College, I went to Fresno State and played for Jerry Tarkanian. Struggle with drugs throughout his career.

Eventually, went on to become a big time pro, taken by the Denver Nuggets in 1999, and eventually traded to his hometown team.

And I know what it's like to go home. It can be a very difficult thing. Chris is going to walk through his journey of addiction and where he got to and what the lows were and what that looks like.

He's been sober now for, thank God, over 13 years. And he shares his story with making a goal of positive difference from people's lives.

I've seen hundreds and hundreds of clips and little videos of speaking to kids all over. He's done a phenomenal job and really a great human being who's doing great things with his life. Chris Heron, welcome to the show. We are honored to have you today.

Well, thank you. I really appreciate that. That's one of the best intros I've had. And I mean it.

Well, I appreciate it. It's hard felt. I first got exposed to you. Actually, it was at a game you played against SMU.

My son became a football player years later, but I had friends down in SMU and it was a game when they were coming out. The kids were after you. They knew of your problems.

And they were tortured. I later saw that on this 30 for 30. I think 30 for 30 documentaries on ESPN is some of the best storytelling done today.

They did a show on your life called unguarded and it's a phenomenal story. But I watched you from that point on. And you know, I as an Irish guy, the underdog, the undersized guy, you were my guy.

You battled and battled and failed and came back out the other side. And I think to be honest with you Chris, that's a story that people can relate to.

It's hard to relate to. I'm magic Johnson moment was beautiful human beings. I wrote my life, but he's the six nine point guard that you know, he hasn't had struggles.

But it's in his struggles of people actually identify with you know, I'd love to hear your story. Take us back to what it was like grown up and fall river.

You know, for of it is, you know, it's an old mill town. Um, textile industry. You know, it was vibrant at one time and you know, the textile industry moved overseas and the mill shut down.

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