Waiting and hoping for the real Chris to rebound

Ten years ago he wouldn’t have been home for Christmas. Instead 23-year-old Chris Craig from Arizona was over here, playing with and coaching Kieran Donaghy and the Tralee Tigers. The National Cup semi-finals and final were in January and he had a team to prepare.

He would do that well. So well that the Tigers would win the cup. So well that within two years he’d be the youngest head coach in all of American college basketball. So well he was tipped to be a head coach with one of the top college teams in that country.

Now Chris Craig is not so well. He won’t be home for this Christmas either. Instead he’s spent the last few months in a state hospital, treated for severe bipolar disorder and schizophrenia.