I’m so happy for my friends!

I’m as unbiased in my sports coverage as I can possibly be, which, I believe, is the reason why I’ve been able to make it in this market for 8-plus years and approaching nine.

But at the end of the day, I’m a human being. I encounter thousands of people a year and it’s only natural that I’ll take a liking to some of the people I interact with and develop lasting friendships.

Once that happens, instincts take over and I root for those people to succeed and accomplish everything they dream to achieve.

Those biases rarely bleed into my work as a professional, but today, I will make an exception and use my column space to say exactly how happy I am for two of my friends.

Ellender graduate Gilbert “Gibby” Talbot signed a professional contract last week and he will begin his overseas career in the coming weeks.

Gibby and I go way back. I covered him at Ellender — long before he was the standout player that he is today. In high school, Gibby was raw and needed a lot of work. His skill and fundamentals weren’t great and his footwork was lacking.

But he didn’t quit, nor did he give up on himself.

Gibby worked tirelessly to get better. My relationship with him started over the summer in between his junior and senior seasons of high school. Gibby was OK as a junior — mostly because of his 6-foot, 10-inch frame.

He didn’t want to be just “average,” so he dedicated his summer working with trainer and Patriots’ assistant coach Damond Bateast — an on-court marriage that turned Talbot into a monster.

As a senior, Gibby averaged 25 points and 15 rebounds per game for the Patriots, recording a double-double in almost every game, while also constantly drawing double and triple teams from opponents.

We covered those days heavily, which developed a friendship between Gibby and I. His father, Gilbert Talbot, has also been fun to get to know. He and I converse about local basketball and Gibby’s progressions from time-to-time. I must add that “Big Gib’s” also one of the best pastalaya chefs in Houma — if not the best!

So flash forward a little bit and Gibby’s collegiate journey took him to Louisiana Tech, then to LSU-Alexandria where he helped his team find prominence.

Gibby played out his eligibility and has been flirting with the pros for a while now, but poorly timed injuries have kept him off the floor where he belongs.

Gibby has played on adult-league basketball teams with my friends and I. We’ve won local tournaments and have had a lot of time cutting up in the gym.

He’s a standup guy who is fun to be around and he deserves the successes that come his way. He’s put in the time and the work and good things come to those who bust tail and go get it!

Seeing news this week that Gibby was now 100 percent healed and that he’d signed a professional contract to continue his career in Finland was a proud moment for me and the entire staff at Rushing Media.

We know that the big fella will have a great time out there and he will be a force on the court.

Bravo, brother, bravo!

—

We’d also like to give a shoutout and warm wishes to Houma native Randi Brown.

We’ve done a story on Brown’s signing a professional contract in Finland, but she finally left her friends and family in Houma this week and departed to the faraway land.

I’ve known Randi since she was an underclassman in high school at Central Catholic High School. I remember watching a prep basketball game at Vandebilt Catholic High School and Randi and her team were in attendance.

I was sitting with Sumar and Lionheart Leslie at the tournament and Randi joined us.

I remember Randi being so very attentive to the advice Sumar was giving her about her craft. I also remember her being well-spoken and poised.

On the court? She got buckets.

Lots and lots of them.

In college at UNO, it never changed. She was an offensive machine and one of the most decorated players in the history of the Lady Privateers program.

Since that time, we’ve done a lot of stories on Randi’s career and she’s always been more than generous with her time — even when busy in school or juggling multiple things.

She’s also joined me on my radio programs and in the process of doing stories on her progress, I’ve also gotten to know her mother, Ms. Shari Sims Brown, who has become a friend.

I think the story I’ll remember most about Brown’s character is something that happened at a Biddy Basketball Tournament a few years ago.

Brown was in attendance watching a few guys from Houma play. We also had a lot of young ladies in the South Lafourche Biddy Basketball Program on-hand.

I gathered a group of young ladies together and asked Brown if she’d be willing to introduce herself to the kids.

She did, then took a selfie with them. To her, it was 15 seconds of time. But to those kids, it meant a lot more than that.

So like with Gibby, I want to personally congratulate Randi for her accomplishments and wish her the absolute best in the future out in Finland.

Good things happen to good people and you, my friend, are a good person!

Do big things and shine at the next level!

I’ll be over here smiling from ear-to-ear knowing that my friends are making their dreams come true. •

Gibby TalbotCIP-Creative Images Photography

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