THE JOURNEY

Michael Crane’s story is one of soaring success, devastating failure, and ultimate redemption.

Born in Alabama in 1975, Michael grew up with sports as both a passion and a proving ground. His speed and competitiveness on the field carried into his professional life, where he built a career at the highest levels of live sports television. As an EVS operator and video editor, he rose quickly through the ranks, covering the world’s biggest stages — the 2004 Summer Olympics, ATP Tennis, NCAA Final Fours, SEC Football, and more. His skill and creativity earned him an Emmy Award and a reputation as one of the best in his field.

But behind the professional triumphs, Michael lived with challenges of Bipolar Disorder and addiction. Those battles culminated in a mistake that made national headlines: a bank robbery while covering the Masters that nearly cost him everything.

For most, that would have been the end of the story. For Michael, it became the turning point.

In 2015 Michael started a youth travel baseball program with just one team that won a State Championship in it's first year. In year two the program grew to two teams and claimed a Dizzy Dean 19U World Series Championship. Year three saw even more growth, now with eleven teams. Going into year four the optimism was high but with growing symptoms of Bipolar and a lack of business direction, Michael was forced to shut down the program.

Though he would never return to the same heights of television fame he had once enjoyed, he fought his way back into the industry and rebuilt his career with grit and determination. More importantly, he rebuilt himself. Just prior to being featured in Sports Illustrated, Michael sat down and wrote a simple line on a piece of paper:

That quiet act of intention became his compass. It wasn’t about chasing awards or reclaiming lost glory — it was about becoming the person he was meant to be. 

Months later, Sports Illustrated placed Michael on its cover — not for the mistake that had defined his lowest moment, but for the strength and resilience that defined his comeback. Today, with a feature film based on his life in development, his story is set to inspire millions more.

Out of that journey was born 

The Next Right Thing (TNRT) and Dream+Works Sports Foundation (DWSF)

Founded on the principles of Love, Kindness, and Respect — guided always by Truth, TNRT is an Ai-powered growth app designed to help people align their daily decisions with timeless values. It is Michael’s answer to a world filled with noise, fear, and disconnection: a human-centered tool for clarity, resilience, and purpose.

Michael Crane is more than a founder — he is living proof that even in the wake of failure, there is a path forward. His life reminds us all that redemption is possible, and that true legacy is built not on perfection, but on the courage to always do the next right thing.