When the lights go down, Bradshaw's writing starts

The book arrived via mail while I was on vacation. So when I returned home it was waiting for me, right there beside a pile of bills and newspapers accumulated throughout the week.

Vertical Leap by Dane Bradshaw.

Vertical Leap?

Bradshaw's book is already turning a profit after just three weeks. (Getty Images)

This is the Dane Bradshaw who can't jump, right?

"My sister came up with the name because she thought it was kind of catchy for Inside the Rise of Tennessee Basketball," explained Bradshaw, who helped the Vols to the Sweet 16 last season. "Plus, the only way I'd ever have the words vertical leap associated with my name is if I wrote a book and named it Vertical Leap. But my brother suggested Gravity Wins."

I finished most of the book Monday night, then text-messaged Bradshaw, asked if he'd be available to talk sometime Tuesday. The reply indicated he would, then added the following words: "Just finished dinner with the publishers. Sales are going well."

And that's when it hit me.

Dane Bradshaw is a published author.

Which makes this column kind of strange.

I've been writing about Bradshaw for roughly eight years. It started when he was a freshman basketball player at White Station High in Memphis and I was a young reporter covering high school basketball in Memphis. Throughout the years a lot has changed. But regardless of where our paths crossed our roles have always been clearly defined.

I was the writer.

He was the player.

Or at least I thought.