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Corey Bell

@seebelllee

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Let me tell you something good!!

The head wrestling coach lived down the street from me. 2 weeks before high school graduation, he told me if he could somehow get me into school—even with my learning disability—it would only be as a walk-on. A practice dummy. As long as I didn’t quit, that was the deal.

That day, the head wrestling coach came to my house and told me something good.

No acceptance letter. Just a dorm key.

But little did he know… I’m no dummy.

Right as I got to school, my mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. It was just me and her. I told her something good—I’d be the one to take her to chemotherapy treatments, so she didn’t have to stress about asking anyone else. That’s why, instead of shoes, I chose rollerblades—so between classes I could hurry to my car, get her to treatments, and still make it back for practice.

On campus, I turned my clippers into my lifeline. Every fade, every lineup, every cut was tuition money. Week by week. Cut by cut. My business grew strong enough to cover me completely. And every year, I gave up my scholarship—so my backups could get theirs. That was me telling them something good.

I even changed weight classes year after year—not for me, but so my teammates could step into the lineup. So their parents, their families, their friends could see them wrestle. Another way of telling them something good.

I won matches. I won titles. But those aren’t what I hold closest. What made that era special was the community—the chance to help my teammates, my friends, my family. And standing up for what I believed in.

That stand cost me everything. I was banned from the very place I gave everything to—for telling the university something good. 🤷🏿🤷🏿

Years later, that same university and athletic department looked back and finally told me something good:

The Corey Bell Era (1997–2001).

And now… they honored me.

Full circle.

💈✂️🏆

👉 Do y’all want the full play-by-play? Should I break this down in story time?

#thugslikeflowerstoo
#hegonnacrywhenhegethome 🥹🥹 by @seebelllee

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a year ago

It's crazy how life works! 🤯 Today I came home and randomly found out my son was chosen to play the trombone. 🎺 And that hit me, because I used to play a mean bone!! #backinmyday

I remember being a kid watching The Cosby Show, convinced I was going to grow up and be some kind of big jazz musician. 🎶 That trombone was everything to me back then. Hearing my son say that was the instrument he got chosen for… it brought all of that rushing back. 🥺

I didn’t expect a simple moment like that to touch me, but it did. It made me excited for him, and honestly grateful for the memory it pulled out of me. ❤️

Funny how life hands you these full-circle moments when you least expect them. 🙏🏽

#life #son #trombone #music #jazz #memory #gratitude #moments by @seebelllee

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10 months ago

LAST TIME HE WAS SCARED. THIS TIME HE RAN IN.

We were doing chest slaps, and my little man came running over to make sure he got his turn.

Last time, he was a little scared. This time, he ran straight to the challenge, knowing it might sting.

As a dad, you notice moments like that. I’m watching him learn that being brave doesn’t mean it won’t hurt. It means he’s willing to try anyway. by @seebelllee

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5 days ago

THE NEXT WAY TO BE HEARD

We went from last place to first in the ACC in one year—and we did it as the only team without scholarships.

One part of my strategy was simple: make sure my guys could hear me. I was loud enough to cut through the crowd and every other coach in the building.

Since then, I’ve been told to bring the volume down. I’ve had warnings and penalties, and we haven’t won it again.

So now I’m asking myself: If I can’t reach my guys the same way, what’s the next way to reach them?

That voice helped us win once. We found a way then, and I believe we can find a way again. That’s coaching. by @seebelllee

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5 days ago

WHO’S KEEPING SCORE?

Throughout my career, I’ve been told, “You ain’t done nothing.”

Then I do something, and I hear, “That doesn’t mean anything.”

So which is it? Do I need to do something, or does nothing I do count? Am I in the Twilight Zone? 😂

The lesson is that I can’t set my goals by somebody else’s opinion. If I let other people decide what counts, I’ll spend my whole life chasing their approval and still feel like I’m worth nothing.

Set your own goals. Know why they matter to you. Then go after them. by @seebelllee

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6 days ago

WARM UP FOR THE DAY ☀️

Working out in the morning is like warming up for the rest of your day. Get the body moving, get your mind focused, and find your rhythm before everything else starts.

And a good song will take you right back to a certain time. This morning, “Byrd Gang Money” came on, and there I was with my shirt wrapped around my head like it was part of the workout uniform. 😂

Sometimes that’s all you need: some movement, some music, and a good start to the day. by @seebelllee

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6 days ago

SOME ICONS YOU HAVE TO INTRODUCE YOUR KIDS TO

There are two types of people in this world: those who get Grace Jones and those who don’t. I’m making sure my son is on the right side of that.

The voice. The fashion. The way she could walk into a movie and make the whole screen feel like hers. Grace Jones never looked up at some hierarchy to find her place. She played a game all her own, and she played it fierce.

I love sharing the music, movies, and memories that shaped my childhood with my sons. They get to see what I loved, and I get to see it again through their eyes.

If my son walks away understanding why Grace Jones is an icon, I’d say we spent that time well. by @seebelllee

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7 days ago

FEAR HURTS BEFORE THE HIT EVER COMES

Getting knocked down is one thing.

Living afraid of getting knocked down is another.

I want my sons to understand the difference.

Life is going to put something in your chest eventually. Pressure. Disappointment. Responsibility. Loss. Things you never saw coming.

You don’t prepare for that by avoiding every hit.

You learn that you can take one.

And eventually, strength becomes bigger than what you can take. It becomes what you can carry without making everybody around you carry it too.

That’s part of being a father.
A husband.
A friend.
A leader.

Take the lick. Keep your heart. Make the landing softer for somebody else. by @seebelllee

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10 days ago

TODAY BECOMES YESTERDAY

The man you want to be tomorrow is the man you were yesterday.

Sounds backwards—but think about it.

Yesterday is proof.
Proof that you’ve worked. Proof that you’ve struggled. Proof that you’ve taken your licks and kept coming.

But don’t live there.

Because today is already becoming yesterday.

So take your licks today. Give a few back when you can. Get tired. Get tested. Help somebody else get better.

You don’t live off yesterday’s wins.
You don’t die from yesterday’s losses.

You just keep giving tomorrow a better yesterday to remember.

Sometimes you need selective amnesia—but never selective effort.

Like. Follow. Share. taken in Duke University by @seebelllee

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10 days ago

DON’T CHASE A RUNNER. CLEAR THE PATH.

I’ve always said, don’t chase a runner.

But that doesn’t mean you stop being their coach.

A good runner needs somewhere to run.

So while they’re running, I’m watching the road.

If a referee is getting in the way, I’ll address it 🤬.
If outside noise is becoming a distraction, I’ll help quiet it.
If there’s an obstacle my experience can see before they can, I’ll point it out.

But I’m not removing the opponent.
I’m not removing adversity.
And I’m definitely not running the race for them.

My runner still has to RUN.

That’s coaching.

You don’t have to chase somebody to have their back.

Sometimes you just clear the path, stay close enough to protect them, and let them run.

that’s still my RUNNER!! taken in Duke University A Cappella Council by @seebelllee

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11 days ago

🚨 MORE SPACES. MORE OPTIONS.

We love hosting you at KORE — but every event calls for something different.

If KORE isn’t the right fit for your event, we’ve got more options, including @westendsocial and additional spaces for different types and sizes of events. 🥂🎉

Birthdays. Reunions. Corporate events. Holiday parties. Celebrations.

📅 The end of the year is booking FAST.

Don’t wait until your date is gone. DM us now and let us help you find the right space for your event.

KORE + West End Social More spaces. More possibilities. More ways to celebrate.

#KOREDurham #WestEndSocial #DurhamEvents #BookYourEvent #DurhamNC by @seebelllee

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13 days ago

Jumped in today to help wrestle with my guys.

I’m almost THREE TIMES their age… which is crazy to even say. 😂

But sometimes it’s good to get a little butt whoopin’ — even when it comes from your own wrestlers.

You coach them. You teach them. You push them. Then one day, they start giving it right back to you.

That’s a good feeling.

Good work. Good laughs. Good times.

Sometimes you gotta jump back in there just to remind yourself…

I’m still alive! 😂🤼‍♂️

#CoachLife #Wrestling #GoodTimes #StillGotIt #DukeWrestling taken in Duke University A Cappella Council by @seebelllee

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14 days ago