So, it’s Thursday night and we, Chris and I, are supposed to meet at 7pm at Five Guys Burgers in the Oakleaf Town Center.  We’d spoken briefly over the phone, about a week prior, in reference to conducting this interview and I was looking forward to getting to know the Chris Ward, NtoU’s Sportswriter.  Ok, so I get there early because as the saying goes, “If you’re not fifteen minutes early, you’re already late.”  Then low and behold, I get a text, from Mr. Ward, stating that he’s running late and won’t arrive until about 8:15pm.  I’m thinking, “8:15, this dude has got to be kidding me!  That’s an hour and a half from now not to mention it’s Thursday night, the only night I really watch TV.”  Ok, now what?   It’s too cold to mosey around the town center and shop, which by the way I detest!  Order a burger and fries and wait because Angell will kill me if I don’t do this article.  I’m thinking, “Wait until that joker gets here!”  Then 8:15 comes and goes and still no Chris Ward.  At about 8:30 I see this guy walk in, look around and then leave.  Now, I’m wondering, “Was that him?  Heck, I don’t even know what this guy looks like!”  So I wait and wait and wait.  Then the guy that walked in earlier comes in again and I’m thinking, “Hey isn’t that the same guy that came in here about ten minutes ago?”  Now, if you’re doing the math it’s after 8:30pm.  Then, simultaneously we question each other as to the other’s identity, “Monica?” “Chris?”  Finally!

So the first thing I noticed is that he’s a well groomed man.  We talk for the next hour or so and I must say Chris is quite an interesting person.  The first thing he is sure to mention is that he is the proud father of a beautiful girl named Cierra.  His face gleams as he talks about how he enjoys spending quality time with her!  He mentions that his most memorable moment is the day Cierra was born; he says he felt like he “was on top of the world!”  He has a boxer, Thor, his “only son.”  He goes on to mention that he was born and raised in Norfolk, Virginia, but has resided in Jacksonville, Florida since 1994.  An educated man, Chris attended Norfolk State University; however, he obtained his AA degree in Accounting from Florida Community College of Jacksonville.  He had a brief stint in the military and proudly served 4 years in the United States Navy.  Aside from writing for NtoU, he currently works for a premium international airline as a Business Manager of Operations.

Working for this airline, whose headquarters is based in London, England, has afforded Chris the luxury of traveling abroad.  He has visited various cities in Canada, Europe, Africa, Asia, South America and the Caribbean.  Chris enjoys watching NFL, NBA, NASCAR and collegiate level football and basketball, which has blessed him with the passion with which he writes the Sports articles for NtoU.  He started writing in early 2009, initially as a favor to Angell who he considers a very good person and family.  He enjoys writing about things that interest him, such as sports, so it comes naturally for him.  Chris explains that he was excited about joining an up and coming magazine and having the opportunity to contribute spins on the world of sports from his perspective.   Chris says, as far as he is concerned, “Angell presented me with an opportunity of a lifetime and I’ve been on board every since.”   Away from the professional side, Chris is quite the man!

Chris is a member of the Church of God and Saints of Christ in Suffolk, Virginia and his favorite Bible scripture is John 3:16.  He believes that, “If God would sacrifice His only Son, so that we could have the opportunity for eternal life, how can we not show gratitude by praising His name and live life how He expects us to?”  Then he asks, “How many of us can honestly say we would make the same sacrifice?”  His favorite Bible story is Lazarus and the Rich Man because he believes the message is extremely powerful, “At the end of the day, if you don’t have God, you have nothing!”  He is striving everyday to live how God wants him to live.  He admits, “It’s a constant struggle,” however, he believes he is headed down the correct path.  Chris states, “I was born and raised in the church, so I’m well aware of His plan of salvation.”  He says that God is constantly working on him as an individual and he knows that God has a special plan for him which he hopes will materialize soon.  Chris also writes and produces his own music and is a former member of a gospel-singing quartet known as “The Four Trumpets”, he’s a natural baritone.  Who would have thought it?  He likes nearly all genres of music, more specifically Hip Hop, R&B, Jazz and Gospel.

A self described “simple guy” Chris enjoys making people laugh (comedy may be in his futureJ), attending concerts and events and solving complex math problems and puzzles.  He also enjoys traditional foods and will eat any and all types of seafood.  His absolute favorite dish is gumbo with blue crab meat and shrimp. YUMMY!  I’m getting hungry!

I asked Chris what are some things he’d like to accomplish and he fired back with a list of things I’d like to share with you:

• Be the first to enter the gates of Heaven
• Live to be a hundred plus years, healthy and stay handsome J
• Have his own business once he thinks of something no one else has done
• Sky dive from the top of the Grand Canyon
• Fly a Navy Fighter plane (not in actual combat)
• Find a cure for AIDS and all terminal diseases
• Live to see racism and hate eradicated throughout the world.

He’s going to have to live to be a hundred or beyond just to get all these things done.

Here are some other things I found interesting about Mr. Ward just from our “sidebar” conversations that I want to share with our readers.

• His pet peeve is deceitful people (I can relate!)
• His favorite car is a Lamborghini Diablo.
• He’s talkative yet soft spoken.
• He has an enthusiasm about life and it permeates in his conversation and demeanor.
• He has an air of confidence about him that radiates.

In a nutshell, those who have been fortunate enough to meet Chris have met a true gentleman indeed.  To those who haven’t it’s my hope that one day soon you have the great fortunate to cross paths and shake hands with him.  Trust me when I say, “You’ll be glad you did!”  Thank you Chris for the opportunity!