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The Independent
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Independent
David Haye, Tony Bellew: Can Aloys Junior be Britain's next cruiserweight star?
Aloys Junior is back in action this Saturday as the chief support for Ryan Garner's battle with Reece Bellotti, live on DAZN. 'The Animal' lost his first fight as a professional but has since strung together a run of 10 wins, with nine of those victories coming via stoppage. His knockout of David Jamieson in May was one of the most impressive of 2025 to date, and fans will anticipate a similar stoppage when he faces fellow Brit Ellis Zorro at the Bournemouth International Centre. With names such as Viddal Riley and Cheavon Clarke leading the way at domestic level for British cruiserweights, Aloys Junior's trajectory is very promising. One of boxing 's youngest weight classes, cruiserweight titles have only been handed out since the 1980s. Eight British fighters have gone on to become world champions at 200lbs, with a lot of overlap between them. Can Aloys Junior one day rub shoulders with the following champions? Glenn McCrory Glenn McCrory became the first British fighter to hold a world title at cruiserweight in 1989, when he defeated Kenyan Patrick Lumumba via unanimous decision. He would successfully defend his title once, before losing it to American Jeff Lampkin in 1990. A brief spell at heavyweight culminated in a bid for the British and European titles in boxing's biggest division – with belt holder, a young Lennox Lewis, making short work of McCrory with a second-round knockout. His final fight saw McCrory drop back down to cruiserweight to try and win his IBF title back against incumbent, American Al Cole. The County Durham fighter was soundly beaten in a unanimous decision victory for the reigning champion. Even before retiring, McCrory started working as a boxing commentator for Sky Sports. After finishing his career inside the ring, McCrory would continue working for Sky for a total of 27 years. It took Carl Thompson two bites at Ralf Rocchigiani before becoming the WBO 's world champion at cruiserweight. He was knocked out by the German in 1995 in his hometown of Manchester, but two years later he travelled to Germany to defeat Rocchigiani via split decision and became the first of many Brits to hold the WBO strap at 200lbs. The two successful defences of his title came against two-division world champion Chris Eubank, a unanimous decision victory followed by a retirement in the corner for the eccentric challenger. Eubank would retire from the sport shortly after, following a run of three straight defeats. Thompson would take on another Brit after defeating Eubank twice – Johnny Nelson. Nelson stopped his compatriot in the fifth round, seeing the WBO cruiserweight title remain in Britain. Remaining at cruiserweight for the rest of his career, Thompson was unsuccessful in getting another title shot, although he would win a minor world title in the form of the IBO belt. The highlight of the latter stages of his boxing life was in 2004. In a fight billed as youth versus experience, 40-year-old Thompson handed 23-year-old and future cruiserweight champion David Haye the first defeat of his career. Johnny Nelson Another cruiserweight champion that converted into a common presence on Sky Sports, Johnny Nelson still holds the record for longest reign as a world title holder at 200lbs. Nelson lost the first three fights of his career, but soldiered on, and the Yorkshireman had to show the same persistence when it came to claiming a world title. A split decision draw in 1990 prevented Nelson from taking the WBC cruiserweight strap off Carlos de León in his hometown of Sheffield, whilst two years later a trip to Las Vegas to face IBF champion James Warring ended in defeat. Undeterred, Nelson would have to wait another seven years before getting a shot at Carl Thompson for the WBO belt. A fifth-round knockout saw Nelson take possession of the title, and he held the world championship until his retirement in 2006. He made 13 successful defences of his title across six years and five months, the longest reign of any cruiserweight world champion. After retiring Nelson has become one of the faces of Sky Sports boxing as a pundit on their shows. Enzo Maccarinelli The only non-Englishman on this list, proud Welsh fighter Enzo Maccarinelli is another Brit to have won the WBO cruiserweight title. After picking up the interim version of the title with a stoppage win over Marcelo Fabian Domínguez at the Millennium Stadium in July 2006, Maccarinelli had his eyes set on the full champion – fellow British fighter Johnny Nelson. He had meant to be fighting Nelson for the full championship on the undercard of Joe Calzaghe 's win over Jeff Lacy three months prior; but injuries for Nelson prevented the fight materialising, with the WBO champion retiring soon after. That saw Maccarinelli upgraded to full champion, with the Swansea boy going on to make four successful defences of his title. In 2008 a unification bout was set up with another British cruiserweight champion – David Haye, the WBC and WBA title holder at 200lbs. A second-round stoppage for Haye saw Maccarinelli lose his world title status. Haye himself would relinquish all three belts as he immediately moved up to heavyweight in his next fight. Interestingly, Maccarinelli is another British cruiserweight that took up punditry after his fighting days were over, continuing the trend with work for talkSPORT, BBC Wales, and S4C. David Haye Having positioned himself for a world title shot in the first five years of his career, David Haye quickly moved on from cruiserweight after claiming three of the four major titles. His knockout of Jean-Marc Mormeck earned him unified status with one swift blow, picking up the WBA and WBC straps at 200lbs. That meant for the first time there were two simultaneous British champions at cruiserweight, paving the way for Haye to face Enzo Maccarinelli. It took Haye just two rounds to stop the Welshman, becoming just the third person after Evander Holyfield and O'Neil Bell to hold three titles concurrently at cruiserweight. Haye was the fourth successive Brit to hold the WBO cruiserweight title, the torch having passed through Carl Thompson, Johnny Nelson, and Maccarinelli. Deciding not to aim for undisputed status at cruiserweight, Haye stepped up to heavyweight. He'd become a two-division world champion by defeating Nikolai Valuev and earning the WBA strap at heavyweight in 2009. Two successful defences later, Haye would face one of the biggest names in the sport, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko. The dominant Ukrainian controlled the fight, taking a wide unanimous decision victory. Haye would finish his career against another British cruiserweight champion, albeit at heavyweight. He was stopped twice by Tony Bellew, spelling an end to a solid career. Following in the footsteps of Glenn McCrory, Johnny Nelson, and Enzo Maccarinelli, Haye took up punditry in retirement, predominantly working for TNT Sports. Tony Bellew Tony Bellew is unique on this list in previously campaigning as a light heavyweight before stepping up to cruiserweight. He twice fought for world titles at 175lbs, losing to WBO champ Nathan Cleverly in 2011 and WBC title holder Adonis Stevenson in 2013. He would move up to cruiserweight shortly after his second world title bid, moving back into championship contention in 2016. This time he was victorious, defeating Ilunga Makabu for the vacant WBC cruiserweight strap. He'd make one defence before stepping up to heavyweight to twice take on, and defeat, David Haye. After beating Haye back-to-back, he dropped down to cruiserweight to face undisputed champion Oleksandr Usyk, in what proved to be his final fight. He suffered a knockout defeat, becoming the first in a long line of Brits to lose to the Ukrainian. Yet another cruiserweight-turned-pundit, Bellew can be seen providing analysis and commentary live on DAZN. Lawrence Okolie Two-division champion Lawrence Okolie is currently campaigning to become a title holder in a third weight class after moving up to heavyweight. An Olympian for Team GB in 2016, Okolie's transition to fighting professionally produced six knockouts in his first seven paid bouts. In his eighth he defeated fellow Brit Isaac Chamberlain to earn the WBA continental title, the first in a slew of belts. Quickly he would add the British, Commonwealth, European, and WBO international straps to his collection, positioning himself well for a shot at a world title. He stopped Krzysztof Głowacki in the sixth round to earn the vacant WBO title at cruiserweight, defending his championship on three occasions. Okolie's victory saw the WBO title at 200lbs back in British hands for the first time in 13 years, and it would remain in the United Kingdom when he was defeated for the first time as a pro. Although the A-side, Okolie was the away fighter when he took on Chris Billam-Smith, fighting in his opponent's hometown stadium, AFC Bournemouth 's Dean Court. Okolie's clinch-heavy style was heavily penalised by the referee, who took two points off, whilst a further three knockdowns for 'The Sauce' meant Billam-Smith became a world champion. His next fight was for another world title, winning the WBC title at bridgerweight in 2024. Shortly after earning his second world championship, Okolie moved to campaign at heavyweight, where he is already rated at number one by the WBC. Chris Billam-Smith Chris Billam-Smith remains Britain's most recent champion at 200lbs, having relinquished his belt to Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramírez in November 2024. Having worked his way up the British cruiserweight ranks, Billam-Smith took his opportunity against Lawrence Okolie in May 2023 to become WBO world champion. He would defend his title twice before attempting to unify with WBA champion Ramírez. 'CBS' was unsuccessful, but rather than step up to heavyweight, or the newly founded bridgerweight division, Billam-Smith has remained at 200lbs in the hope of building back up to world title contention. His victory over fellow contender Brandon Glanton in April has certainly not done his chances any harm, with 'The Gentleman' now ranked first with the WBO, third with the IBF, fourth with the WBC, and ninth with the WBA. An Annual Saver subscription is a one-off cost of £119.99 / $224.99 (for 12 months access), that's just 64p / $1.21 per fight. There is also a Monthly Flex Pass option (cancel any time) at £24.99 / $29.99 per month. A subscription includes weekly magazine shows, comprehensive fight library, exclusive interviews, behind-the-scenes documentaries, and podcasts and vodcasts.
Associated Press
22-07-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
24/7 Market News: VENU Reports Explosive Demand for NNN Luxe FireSuite Offerings, Aiming for $300M in Combined Annual Capital Boost
Sales Surge Fuels Unprecedented Growth as Luxury FireSuite Demand Skyrockets 250% Year-Over-Year Denver, Colorado--(Newsfile Corp. - July 22, 2025) - a pioneer in digital media dedicated to the swift distribution of financial market news and corporate information, reports that Venu Holding Corporation (NYSE American: VENU) ('VENU'), a developer, owner, and operator of upscale live music venues and premium hospitality destinations, today announced surging investor interest in its triple-net (NNN) Luxe FireSuite leaseback offerings, launched in partnership with leading real estate investment platform Sands Investment Group ('SIG'). The program, which launched in February 2025, is already on pace to deliver $100 million in annual, complementing the Company's $200 million goal for traditional Luxe FireSuite sales this year. Fueled by both the booming live entertainment market and strong demand for passive income real estate, VENU's NNN structure is becoming a magnet for investors seeking high-yield, lifestyle-infused legacy assets. [ This image cannot be displayed. Please visit the source: ] VENU's Luxe FireSuites at Ford Amphitheater in Colorado Springs 'When we started this journey in Q1, it took off immediately. In my 15 years in business, I've never seen anything quite like it,' said Clifton McCrory, Vice President of Sands Investment Group. 'NNNs are well-known in retail, industrial, and medical, but bringing VENU into our portfolio made selling this asset class feel completely different. It's added energy and appeal.' A New Era for NNN Real Estate The NNN Luxe FireSuite model gives investors a leasehold interest in a premier hospitality suite at one of VENU's world-class amphitheaters—complete with no exposure to property taxes, insurance, or maintenance. 'With VENU, they've got lifestyle-driven real estate and a story that resonates,' McCrory added. 'That's a rare combination and our clients recognize that.' 'As someone who owns NNN properties myself, it was a natural next step to offer interests in the Luxe FireSuites in this structure. Sands has done an incredible job. It has been an honor to work with them. We are excited about the path forward, said J.W. Roth, Founder, Chairman, and CEO of VENU.' The Luxe FireSuite: Where Luxury Meets Legacy Each Luxe FireSuite accommodates 4 to 10 guests, depending on investment level, and offers an unrivaled blend of exclusive hospitality and potential financial return. These premium assets are embedded into VENU's amphitheaters, offering investors a physical footprint in America's next generation of music experiences. As demand surges, VENU is offering multiple paths to ownership, all-cash deals, structured financing, and NNN real estate options, allowing both institutional and retail investors to participate. $5 Billion Development Pipeline With the music and experience economy booming, VENU is building the infrastructure to meet rising demand. The company is on pace for $5 billion in upscale entertainment venue development over the next 36 months, on top of the $1 billion already underway, to support its national expansion. Venu is operating venues in Gainesville, GA and Colorado Springs, CO, and actively expanding into Centennial, CO (Denver market), Broken Arrow, OK (Tulsa market), El Paso, TX, and McKinney, TX (Dallas market), plus additional markets being explored, VENU is poised for national growth. Additional markets are under review, and VENU is building not just venues, but full-scale entertainment ecosystems, designed from the ground up, aiming for profitability, repeat visitation, and lasting investor value. This demand growth follows a 250% year-over-year explosion in Luxe FireSuite sales, soaring from $22.2 million in 2023 to $77.7 million in 2024, as revealed in VENU's annual results. As the Company races toward positive EBITDA by 2026 and profitability by 2027, its income-producing Luxe FireSuite offerings, particularly under the NNN model, are emerging as a critical engine of capital and confidence. The model's strong yields and experiential real estate converges with fans that want a story, a seat, and a stake in the future of live entertainment. To find out more on VENU's Triple-Net (NNN) Real-Estate Lease Investment Opportunities, email [email protected]. Please click here to read Cenorium's full Venu analyst report on For the full 24/7 Market News VENU report and in-depth insights, visit: Read 24/7 Market News VENU Report/. Contact [email protected] for Analyst Report coverage and other investor/public relations services. [ This image cannot be displayed. Please visit the source: ] Venu Holding Corporation (NYSE American: VENU) 24/7 MARKET NEWS, INC Disclaimer Please go to for additional VENU disclosure or for disclaimer information. CONTACT: 24/7 Market News [email protected] Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking statements that are subject to various risks and uncertainties. Such statements include statements regarding the Company's ability to grow its business and other statements that are not historical facts, including statements which may be accompanied by the words 'intends,' 'may,' 'will,' 'plans,' 'expects,' 'anticipates,' 'projects,' 'predicts,' 'estimates,' 'aims,' 'believes,' 'hopes,' 'potential' or similar words. Actual results could differ materially from those described in these forward-looking statements due to a number of factors, including without limitation, the Company's ability to continue as a going concern, the popularity and/or competitive success of the Company's acquired football and other sports teams, the Company's ability to attract players and staff for acquired clubs, unsuccessful acquisitions or other strategic transactions, the possibility of a decline in the popularity of football or other sports, the Company's ability to expand its fanbase, sponsors and commercial partners, general economic conditions, and other risk factors detailed in the Company's filings with the SEC. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date of this press release, and the Company does not undertake any responsibility to update such forward-looking statements except in accordance with applicable law. To view the source version of this press release, please visit
Time of India
21-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Three losses in five months: After husband and brother, Texas mom loses daughter in floods; final letters capture 8-year-old's joy at Camp Mystic
Debris covers the area of Camp Mystic in Hunt (AP Photo) Texas mom Lindsey McLeod McCrory has endured more tragedy in five months than most people face in a lifetime. In March, she lost her husband, Blake, to cancer. In June, her only brother, Chanse McLeod, died from illness. Then, on July 4, her 8-year-old daughter, Blakely, was among the dozens killed from Camp Mystic when catastrophic floods swept through central Texas- turning what was meant to be a joyful summer camp experience into a scene of heartbreak. Blakely had just begun her stay at Camp Mystic, a storied Christian girls' camp nestled in the Hill Country. She was wearing a green-and-white beaded Camp Mystic necklace that her mother had given her before she left- a symbol of faith, family tradition, and joy. That necklace would later help identify her body. Mom's husband and brother died this year, then her daughter was killed in floods 'She had the best time at camp. She went out on a happy note,' McCrory said. 'She was always a leader, encouraging others.' In the days following the tragedy, Lindsey McCrory received a bundle of handwritten letters that Blakely had penned during her brief but joyful stay at Camp Mystic. The notes, written in colorful pens and embellished with stickers, brimmed with a child's excitement and wonder—offering a lasting glimpse into her final days. 'She described Camp Mystic as 'amazing' in all caps,' McCrory recalled. 'You could feel her joy in every sentence.' In one of her letters, Blakely wrote about being selected for the Tonkawa tribe—something she had hoped for long before arriving at camp. 'I finally got Tonk!!!' she exclaimed, underlining the word several times- 'I'm a Tonk now—I wanted it so bad!' She also listed the many activities she was eager to try: horseback riding, tennis, swimming, and especially crafts. Blakely mentioned building a Barbie house during art class, de scribing it in vivid detail—complete with painted walls and a hand-made miniature bed. 'It's pink and purple and has a real roof!' she wrote. 'She was so proud of that little house,' McCrory said. 'She was going to give it to her cousin when she got back.' The July 4 flooding came suddenly, with torrential rain and a deadly 30-foot river surge that destroyed cabins and swept away lives. Blakely's cabin was among the closest to the Guadalupe River. Twenty-seven Camp Mystic campers and counselors, including Blakely, perished. When McCrory, who was on a long-planned trip to Europe with her sister and nieces, first heard of flooding at Camp Mystic, she thought it might be similar to a 1987 event she remembered as a former camper herself—minor disruptions, but no danger. 'We were on a boat, and when we docked for lunch, we received some text messages,' she recalled. 'I didn't have any idea how bad it was.' Soon after, she lost phone service. Once reconnected, she heard the chilling voicemail: Blakely was missing. 'I just dropped the phone on the table, shaking,' McCrory said. 'I was frozen when I heard that voicemail.' She rushed home to Houston as family members searched local shelters and evacuation centers. On July 7, McCrory received confirmation- her daughter had been found. She was still wearing the Camp Mystic necklace. Despite the magnitude of her loss, McCrory radiated calm. She credits her faith, her family, and the Camp Mystic community. 'My faith is so strong. Actually, I was a camper at Camp Mystic, and I felt so close to my faith attending there,' she said, as quote by CNN. 'We had lovely devotionals on the waterfront… And just the sisterhood, the faith – it just really brought me closer.' Her friends have now adjusted the necklace so that she can wear it herself, keeping Blakely close to her heart. 'She was so excited [about camp], and it came at such a good time since she lost her daddy,' McCrory said. 'It was a way for her to just heal with that sisterhood and her faith and just all of the fun activities.' Even in her final moments, Blakely's spirit shone through. 'As the water started to rise, a counselor made a keen observation: Blakely was encouraging her cabinmates to not be afraid,' McCrory said. 'She was always a leader, encouraging others.'
Yahoo
19-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
A girl's death in Texas floods is her family's third loss this year. 3 mementos she left help her mom cope
The last time Lindsey McLeod McCrory saw her daughter Blakely alive, the young girl was heading to camp wearing a simple yet profound necklace – one that would later reconnect Blakely to her mother after she died. It was a green-and-white beaded Camp Mystic necklace – a tribute to the legendary Christian girls' camp in the foothills of Texas' Hill Country where Blakely was going. It's the same camp her mother and other women in the family had attended and forged lifelong memories. 'I gave this necklace to my daughter right before camp, and I advised her that if she didn't want to lose it – because she's 8 years old, and of course, they lose jewelry – I told her to wear it … during the whole time at camp,' McCrory told CNN on Friday. Blakely's new necklace served as a reminder of her mother's support at a time of immense loss. Blakely's father died from cancer in March. And just last month, she lost her uncle to illness. But Camp Mystic was a haven where Blakely's grief gave way to joy. 'She was so excited, and it came at such a good time since she lost her daddy,' McCrory said. 'It was a way for her to just heal with that sisterhood and her faith and just all of the fun activities.' Everything changed in the pre-dawn hours of July 4, when torrential rainfall and catastrophic flooding ripped through central Texas – claiming at least 135 lives, many near the Guadalupe River. At Camp Mystic, the cabins with the youngest campers were closest to the river. Blakely, along with 26 other Camp Mystic girls and counselors, perished in the deluge – forcing her family to endure yet another unfathomable tragedy. Despite the anguish, McCrory has found solace – thanks in part to letters that she received from Blakely after she died. Finding her tribe Even though Blakely was a new camper in a cabin full of strangers, she didn't seem nervous about going to camp. 'She loves the outdoors. She loves to fish, horseback ride,' her mother said. In a letter to her mother, Blakely said camp was 'amazing.' She was looking forward to playing tennis, going horseback riding and trying other sports, she wrote. The letter also said Blakely became a 'tonk' – something she had dreamed of. Every new girl at Camp Mystic draws a slip that tells them which 'tribe' they belong to – the Tonkawa or the Kiowa tribe. 'The tribe traditions, which have been handed down since Mystic's beginning' in 1926, 'help to emphasize team spirit, fun competition and good sportsmanship' during games, Camp Mystic's website says. 'After each game, the losing tribe commends the winning tribe who, in turn, compliments the losing tribe. Campers from opposite tribes pair up after each game and go up to Chapel Hill to pray.' Drawing a red slip meant the Tonkawa tribe. A blue slip signified the Kiowa tribe. Blakely 'wanted to be a Tonk really badly,' her mom said. 'Her two cousins are both Tonks. … So she wanted to be a Tonk so she could compete with her cousins' tribe.' The rituals instill 'sportsmanship and competition amongst the girls, which is so great for later on in life,' McCrory said. After Blakely drew a red slip, 'she was just ecstatic,' her mother said. In another letter, Blakely made an urgent request to her mother, who was getting ready to donate items because the family was preparing to move: 'PS. Please don't give my Barbie Dream house,' the 8-year-old scrawled on a colorful piece of paper. McCrory didn't receive those letters until after Blakely died. But the scribbled request forced a smile onto the grieving mother's face. 'It's just funny how a little girl's mind works. And that's why I laughed when I got the letter, because I could just hear her writing her thoughts down,' McCrory said. 'And it was just funny. … It was so Blakely.' 'I dropped the phone on the table, shaking' After sending Blakely off to camp, McCrory joined her sister and two nieces on a trip to Europe. It was the first such outing since the deaths of McCrory's husband, Blake, and her brother, Chanse McLeod – both within the last five months. When news trickled in overseas about some flooding at Camp Mystic, McCrory had no idea how bad it was. 'We were on a boat, and when we docked for lunch, we received some text messages' – including one reporting flooding at Camp Mystic. 'And so what popped in my mind – because we didn't have all of the full reports of the 30-foot surge – (was) that it was like the flood in 1987, when I was a camper.' Back then, 'you had to stay in your cabin for safety,' she said. 'They didn't want people walking in the mud and sliding around since there are so many hills. And they would bring food to us. And so that was what I first imagined it was.' McCrory then lost cell service and didn't receive a call from Camp Mystic. Eventually, she gained access to her voicemails and heard a horrid message: Blakely was missing. 'I just dropped the phone on the table, shaking,' she said. 'I was frozen when I heard that voicemail.' McCrory soon jumped on a plane back to Houston. At the same time, Blakely's half-brother and his mother scoured an evacuation center in Ingram, hoping to find Blakely. For two days, the family waited in anguish as crews trudged through thick mud and debris searching for victims and survivors. Then, on July 7, McCrory received the dreaded news: Blakely's body had been found. She was still wearing the Camp Mystic necklace her mom had given her – a piece of jewelry that helped identify her. Immense gratitude amid the grief For a widow who lost her husband, her only brother and her only daughter in just five months, McCrory is remarkably composed. She exudes an aura of calmness and even optimism. McCrory chalks it up to her faith, her family and her support network – all of which have ties to Camp Mystic. 'My faith is so strong. Actually, I was a camper at Camp Mystic, and I felt so close to my faith attending there as a camper,' she said. 'We had lovely devotionals on the waterfront where the Guadalupe River is, in the mornings, and then in the evenings, on Sundays, we went to Chapel Hill. And just the sisterhood, the faith – it just really brought me closer.' McCrory said she has learned how to cope after each tragedy and takes comfort in knowing her lost loved ones are together again. 'We lost my husband in March, and then my brother in June. So I think that prepared me for Blakely's loss,' she said. 'I'm coping very well. I have amazing love and support from people I know (and) from people I don't know. The mothers of the campers that were lost were on a group text, and were able to share stories and thoughts – and even funny moments.' As she prepared for Blakely's funeral Friday, McCrory wore the beaded necklace that she had given her daughter. 'My good friends from high school had it extended so that I could wear it, so I would have a touchstone close to my heart,' she said. She's also thankful for Blakely – and the fact that her final days were spent doing what she loved. 'She had the best time at camp. She went out on a happy note,' her mother said. And as the water started to rise, a counselor made a keen observation: 'Blakely was encouraging her cabinmates to not be afraid,' McCrory said. 'She was always a leader, encouraging others. So in my heart, I know it happened fast. And I'm just so grateful the life that she lived was so happy.'
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pat McCrory deserves better from North Carolina
Governors typically don't just ride off into the sunset. After they leave office, they move on — to board seats, fellowships, maybe even national office. They're senior statesmen, working to cement their legacy. They're celebrated, consulted, and remembered, if not always revered. Former Gov. Pat McCrory doesn't have any of that. Eight years after leaving the executive mansion, North Carolina's only Republican governor in two generations is still without a true second act. He's dabbled in radio, flirted with a third-party movement and picked up a few small business advising roles. He eschewed a winnable U.S. House race for a Senate run that turned into a humiliating implosion. He's now hosting a Friday night show on PBS Charlotte. There's no institute named for McCrory, like governors Jim Hunt and Jim Martin each have. No Harvard fellowship, like governors Roy Cooper and Bev Perdue. Instead, McCrory's after-office chapter has been a slow, sad fade from relevance. He's the only former North Carolina governor in living memory to be so publicly adrift. Much of that is his own doing. McCrory came to Raleigh from Charlotte unprepared for state-level politics. After years of being beloved Mayor Pat, the brighter lights of the capital exposed a paper-thin skin and a reflexive insecurity that kept him from capitalizing on his 2012 mandate. He picked the wrong fights, ignored the right ones and aired his grievances in the press instead of behind closed doors. Most damaging of all, he failed to build the political relationships needed to succeed in a state where the governor is constitutionally weak. Along the way, he managed to alienate nearly every bloc — left, right and center. Now he's a governor without a political home, isolated at 'Lake Jimmy,' as he calls it on the radio, starting every other sentence with 'When I was governor . . . ' and ending with a complaint about getting screwed. But McCrory's marginalization isn't just about his mistakes. It reflects something deeper and more troubling in today's politics: the way a party discards anyone who no longer fits its mold. This is a man who helped lead Charlotte's rise into a major metro across seven terms. Much of the city's current vibrancy traces back to him. And as governor, he had real wins. McCrory wasn't the architect of the conservative revolution in North Carolina, but he was its public face. He implemented tax reform, slashed corporate rates, overhauled unemployment insurance, embraced regulatory rollback and expanded school choice. When he took office, North Carolina had one of the highest unemployment rates in the country. By the time he left, it had one of the best economic rebounds. He also excelled in areas that require an executive's touch. During Hurricane Matthew, he led with calm and competence: daily briefings, real-time decisions and visible leadership. It was textbook crisis management that's been sorely lacking since then. And at the DMV, McCrory cut wait times and modernized operations. His reforms worked. Current Gov. Josh Stein, by contrast, is watching that progress unravel while offering no clear plan to fix it. Yet despite all that, McCrory has never been allowed, or able, to fully own the era he governed. That's the real tragedy, on both sides. Instead of transitioning into legacy mode, McCrory kept chasing relevance. He clung to the microphone when he should have changed his tone. It's not just sad, it's maddening. Listening to him now, whether on air or in interviews, the tone is still defensive. His skin is still thin. The old grievances are louder than the real accomplishments. His message is getting lost in the noise of pride. Punditry is beneath the dignity of a former governor, and hosting a public TV show is something you do in your eighties, when the work is finished. McCrory still had time to build a legacy, mentor future leaders and put the past in perspective. Instead, he grasped for the relevance he once had. The party hasn't helped. Former governors should be assets, especially in a fast-growing, closely divided state like North Carolina. They should guide, not disappear. Instead, McCrory's been left to drift while the GOP chases louder voices with thinner résumés. If the Republican Party wants to lead again — not just win elections, but actually govern — it should look harder at what McCrory got right. Put aside the hard feelings. Bring him back into the fold. Not to crown him, but to use his example. A few months ago, McCrory returned to the governor's mansion for the first time since his defeat, joining Martin, Perdue, Cooper and Mike Easley for a private gathering of former governors at Stein's invitation. 'It was fun being part of the old gang,' McCrory recounted on WBT radio in Charlotte. He'd driven up to Raleigh with Martin, swapping stories during the ride. The two arrived into town early and stopped by the old Capitol building, where the governor keeps his office — only to be frisked at security and told to check their phones. No one recognized them. 'You're forgotten very quickly,' McCrory said. For North Carolina, that would be a mistake. It might be too late for McCrory to script a second act. But we'd be fools not to learn from the first one. Andrew Dunn is a contributing columnist to The Charlotte Observer and The News & Observer. of Raleigh. He is a conservative political analyst and the publisher of Longleaf Politics , a newsletter dedicated to weighing in on the big issues in North Carolina government and politics.
