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Legend [16427]
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Meeting your heroes
May 5, 2022, 3:08 PM
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Have you ever been lucky enough to meet one of your heroes in person? I have three instances that come to mind - one only became a hero AFTER we met:
F - David Soul - ran into him in a ski shop in Aspen at the height of Starsky and Hutch. Was a total DB, pushing his way past me and saying "not now, kid" when I asked for a simple autograph. I was crushed...but I got a new sled out of the deal when my parents tried to cheer me up.
B - Jack Nicklaus - My brother was paired with Jack's youngest son Gary in the 1983 USGA junior, and Jack was there to support his son. I was older then, and etiquette being so important in golf, I was careful to be respectful of his privacy. Can't even remember if I got an autograph, but what a thrill it was to be in the presence of greatness.
A+ - Lyle Alzado - a couple of years after the David Soul debacle, I was returning with my family from another ski trip. Alzado got on the plane, and I didn't know who he was, but my dad recognized him. We asked the flight attendant to ask Alzado if it was ok for me to come back and get an autograph. He said "No, but I would love it if he would come back and take the empty seat beside me. I sat next to him for the whole 3 hour +/- flight back to ATL; he had just been traded from the Broncos to the Browns. When the flight was over, he handed me a lengthy, personalized autograph. Loved him forever after that, and will never forget him and his kindness. RIP.
I accidentally posted this in the Lounge initially; reposting here.
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All-In [27289]
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Re: Meeting your heroes
May 5, 2022, 3:28 PM
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well unfortunately this day an age there’s not much of a selection.
i would’ve loved meeting and listening to Joe21 though.
I try an absorb as much as I can from his generation.
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Legend [16427]
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Also not a hero (because he is my son's age) but DW4
May 5, 2022, 3:40 PM
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gets a solid A. My nephews grew up playing sports with him, and while he was at Clemson, they were playing baseball at Furman (pre-COVID, of course). When they played at Clemson, Deshaun showed up at the game and sat with my brother, his wife, and our whole group. Always thought it was cool for him to come support his buddies.
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110%er [8080]
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Great story(s) dsgriff
May 5, 2022, 3:42 PM
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I grew up in SC back in the 50's, so I wasn't on too many airplanes nor golfing adventures.
My grandfather had a farm in Anderson where Jim Ed Rice's (Boston Red Sox) worked. In 1978 my grandfather, Jim Ed's father, Jim Ed's brother, myself and my brother drove to Baltimore for a game against the Orioles.
Met Jim Ed and his traveling roommate Cecil Cooper.
Best I got!
Go Sox AND Clemson Tigers!
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Legend [19592]
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I learned a while back not to get around many of your sports
May 5, 2022, 3:47 PM
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heroes as they will likely dissapoint.
I had the opportunity to spend a day with the Charlotte Hornets back in the early years at a golf tourney. Most were very arrogant and could not speak a complete sentence without some obscenity being thrown in. They did not seem to have a filter even when kids were around.
Dale Curry seemed to be one of the rare ones. He could swear with the best of them when around an adult group of guys, but if there were ladies or kids around he was able to recognize them and adjust his conversation. He also opened up to everyone and was willingly greeting all.
Rex Chapman seemed to revel in how obscene he could be and made it a point to say something disgustingly shocking when anybody new passed by. He also gave the cold shoulder to every kid that tried to engage with him. I was a fan before the tournament and hated him with a passion afterwards.
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All-In [25888]
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Re: I learned a while back not to get around many of your sports
May 5, 2022, 3:53 PM
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Not a hero but sat at the table with Strom Thurmond at a church event. When he left, there were garden peas rolling all over the table where he sat. True story.
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All-In [43992]
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All-In [38460]
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Hornets
May 5, 2022, 5:00 PM
[ in reply to I learned a while back not to get around many of your sports ] |
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I had 4 court side seats for the first ever Hornets game, won them in a Hornets promotion (10K foot race).
I had a rich friend so saw many games. I also worked guarding the $$ at many games and knew all the early players.
Rex Chapman was the first hornets draft pick, many wondered why. Not that it matters but fun is he was about the only player married to a Black girl. Dale was a good guy and a great pool player. Muggsy was the same off court as on.
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All-In [38460]
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Meeting your heroes
May 5, 2022, 4:08 PM
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Good post as today is mentally hard for me. May 5th is a tuff day for me.
When my life ended, accidentally got into a new one. Real life was over, silly life took over.
No internet back then. I went to the library and got some books.
This old guy Arthur Lydiard had a plan some saw as OK.
I took that up beyond all other things in my life as my life was in the crapper.
No friends, no people needed. You could do this alone.
In 1984 I got to meet the guy.
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All-In [38460]
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Dr George Sheehan
May 5, 2022, 4:26 PM
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I read a book by Dr George Sheehan. It is the only book I would never pass on.
George was a Philosopher, the best I ever read.
His day job was cardiologist, but he was much more than that.
He did not just heal the body, he healed the mind.
I met him in DC one year when he was guest speaker. In years ahead we hit many bars together along the East coast. He was "every man".
Like all he failed in some areas, recovered and persevered.
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110%er [6333]
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Re: Meeting your heroes
May 5, 2022, 4:28 PM
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I like the direction your post in the Lounge is going better but guess I’ll drop this here since it’s relavent.
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Associate AD [815]
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Re: Meeting your heroes
May 5, 2022, 4:43 PM
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Two heroes when I was young. Spider Man and Dr. J. Haven’t met spidey yet, but ran into the Doctor at Disney. We’re in the same height realm, so when I said “hey doc” as he walked past, he stopped and had this look on his face like he was supposed to know me. Finally he goes “hey man, how you been.?” I didn’t tell him he didn’t know me, just kind of went with it. I said “good, hope you have”.
Anyway the exchange was funny, his mits swallowed mine, no wonder he could do anything with the ball. Couldn’t believe I was face to face with Dr J after all these years.
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All-In [38460]
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the Doctor
May 5, 2022, 4:48 PM
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No way teams today could handle Dr J
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CU Guru [1207]
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Re: Meeting your heroes
May 5, 2022, 5:23 PM
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Evander Holyfield outside Turner Field. Very nice and gave my son an autograph.
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All-In [38460]
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H O l Y F I E L D
May 5, 2022, 5:36 PM
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Legend [18782]
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Legend [18782]
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In a mildly interesting story, my Dad met Bill Murray
May 5, 2022, 5:31 PM
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relatively recently in Charleston. They were both at a golf charity event, keeping with the golf theme of this thread.
Anyway, my Dad said people were so respectful of not crowding him that Bill looked a little lost with no one to talk to. People were literally ignoring him. He said that finally, Bill made eye contact with my Dad, then walked over and introduced himself. My Dad laughed and told him he knew who he was.
Their conversation was about the sliders they were having, and the story doesn't get too interesting after that. Dad said they talked for about 20 minutes about nothing and the dude was pretty cool.
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Legend [16427]
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I live near Charleston, and Murray is everywhere here***
May 6, 2022, 10:24 AM
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Legend [18782]
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I've heard that...I also heard he likes to drink wine...***
May 6, 2022, 2:58 PM
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Legend [17522]
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Many years ago my great uncle Harry Harper Kimberly
May 5, 2022, 6:45 PM
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came down with polio and it was slowly debilitating ... he had a hard time getting around. He went from a cane to a wheelchair. Early in his diagnosis, he went down to Fla as a big NY Yankees fan to see the Yankees in spring training. Joe DiMaggio took a liking to him. Joe formed a friendship with Harry ... even dropped by Hampton, Va one time where Harry lived on the way down to Fla and met up with Harry for dinner at Eli's ... pretty cool.
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Hall of Famer [22260]
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now that is a good one....***
May 5, 2022, 11:03 PM
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Legend [19567]
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Have had a chance to meet many greats
May 5, 2022, 7:26 PM
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In order
Hank Aaron-used to sit in the press box and talk with him with the Braves. Had a chance to take him fishing but got rained out
Willie Stargell-nicest guy on the planet
Eddie Mathews-could pound the cold beverages
Bo Jackson-really humble guy
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Legend [17522]
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Almost Forgot
May 5, 2022, 7:54 PM
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striperfan helped me remember.
When I was an 8-10 year old kid, my retired grandparents rented an adjoining in-laws suite in Yorktown, VA from Philadelphia Eagles' QB Norm Snead. There was a big 2-3 acre field in front of a wooded area where the two houses were.
Anyway, from time to time, Bart Starr, Sonny Jurgenson, Johnny Unitas, Billy Kilmer and a few other NFL QB's would come to visit Snead. Since, we would sometimes be out in the field tossing a football anyway, a few times these legends would throw the ball to my little brother and me and Norm's kids. Of course, I was young enough not to go into fan mode and just remember catching and dropping a few softly thrown balls by these nice guys. Great memory.
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110%er [6238]
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Striper, I met Hank Aaron and Eddie Matthews at the same...
May 5, 2022, 9:06 PM
[ in reply to Have had a chance to meet many greats ] |
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event. It was the 10th anniversary of #715, at old Fulton County Stadium. Al Downing (pitcher) also there, Tom House (guy who caught ball in bullpen) as well.
Hank was magnificent to this 13 year old kid, he signed a bunch of things for me and sat and talked for about 10 minutes. I could not get over how big his forearms and wrists were, definitely where he got his power.
Eddie Matthews was the manager in 1974. In true Eddie Matthews style, he was sitting at the bar, already drunk by 11 a.m.
My dad struck up a conversation with him, and he eventually warmed up, and was a nice guy.
One of my best memories.
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Legend [19567]
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Eddie was always gracious to me
May 6, 2022, 8:35 AM
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loved to talk over an adult beverage, lol
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Legend [19567]
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Also, Hank was very cautious in whom he would
May 6, 2022, 8:40 AM
[ in reply to Striper, I met Hank Aaron and Eddie Matthews at the same... ] |
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talk with. I was a kid in my 20's, but he took a liking to me. He was a huge Browns fan as was I. He was close with Jim Brown. I think he just enjoyed being a normal person, especially after all he went through chasing 715. Sure wish that fishing trip hadn't been rained out
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Orange Blooded [3039]
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Re: Meeting your heroes
May 5, 2022, 9:18 PM
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Not really a hero story but something that was pretty cool. Years ago when my son was a kid, we drove up to Dallas from San Antonio to visit the Six Flags and catch a couple of Braves - Rangers games. On our way out of the hotel for dinner we discovered the Braves were also staying in the hotel. Over the next few days we met several players and coaches, including Bobby Cox. The highlight took place one afternoon when Skip Carey and Dom Sutton were sitting in the lobby. I introduced myself and my son. Both couldn't have been nicer. They put away the newspapers they were reading and spent some time talking with us. It was a great day.
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110%er [5471]
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Re: Meeting your heroes
May 5, 2022, 9:33 PM
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Good stuff. I guess for me it was October 1993 was flying to New Orleans out of Atl. While waiting on my flight happened to see Chipper and Ryan Klesko sitting at the same grill as me. Chipper was dressed in a suit and Klesko had on jeans and a leather jacket. They were unknowns at the time. They had been called up to join the big club who was playing SF. Old timers may remember that was year Braves and Giants both won over a 100 games and battled to the last day of season. I’m normally not the type to approach people but I knew my dad would love their autographs as he was also huge Braves fan and they had both played in Greenville. I approached and said hello and congrats for getting called up. Then asked for autographs for my dad. Chipper broke into a big grin because I guess he wasn’t used to people asking him for autographs. He was very cordial. Klesko barely said a word. Dad still has that piece of paper with those autographs. Was always a huge Chipper fan after that.
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110%er [6468]
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Re: Meeting your heroes
May 5, 2022, 10:39 PM
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I don't have any celebrity heroes. I just enjoy running into very old men with a Veteran hat on and striking up conversation and picking their brains. Met a Vietnam Sniper a few weeks ago. Could have talked to him for days.
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CU Medallion [50463]
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Not exactly a personal hero beforehand but Johnny Unitas
May 5, 2022, 10:51 PM
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visited my ward at Walter Reed , shook my hand and spent quite a while talking to me like he had been friends with me forever. General Westmoreland also stopped by and talked to us one by one.
Message was edited by: clover65®
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Hall of Famer [22260]
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A good topic that has come up from time to time... my reply is
May 5, 2022, 11:47 PM
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always the same. I'm not big on "sports heroes"... getting somebody's autograph or signed jersey never really interested me. If I could have dinner or a few drinks with a sports star, it would be a very short list. Muhammad Ali, Wilt Chamberlain, Ted Williams, etc, because their lives were so interesting beyond sports. But they're all dead and I missed my chance. I think it was Celtic (RIP) who once had breakfast with Hank Aaron, and I think that would be cool... he's still the all-time HR champ in my book, eff Barry Bonds and his steroid records.
I've met and conversed with Elliot Gould, Tom Selleck, and a couple other Hollywood celebrities... but the only one who really stands out is Clint Eastwood. I was eating at his restaurant in Carmel in the late 80s, the Hog's Breath Inn, and he came in one night. Apparently he did this at times, and the locals didn't make a big deal about it. He was the Mayor of Carmel then, and commonly seen around town. But he sat down at a piano and started playing. He was good, like really good... and played some great jazz songs that are not easy to play.
So I sat there and watched him play, introduced myself when I got the chance, and had a brief chat. I was trying so hard to act normal and not blown away. But it was hard, he's one of my all-time favorite actors, and to see him in that environment, just laid-back and casual in his restaurant... that tops my list.
edit: Second would be sitting next to Gregg Rolie on a flight from LA to ATL, I had 4 hours to pick the brain of a guy who was with Carlos Santana from the beginning. Forming the band in the 60's, living in Haight-Ashbury back when Janis Joplin lived here, and the Grateful Dead lived over there, and Jimi Hendrix crashed at their place, etc. Man, I was in hog heaven.
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110%er [6333]
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Re: Meeting your heroes
May 6, 2022, 9:07 AM
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Has anyone else here met Prince Andrew?
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Orange Blooded [2713]
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I got meet Jim Phillips at the Golden Fleece at the old
May 6, 2022, 10:26 AM
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Greenville mall back in the late ‘80’s. Quite the hero for me when I was growing up because represented Clemson as “the voice of the of the Tigers”. I was a grown man when I met him and he was very congenial and approachable. He will always be the true “voice of the Tigers”. RIPJP, we all love and miss you!
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Legend [19567]
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He was a regular there
May 6, 2022, 11:43 AM
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lol. Haven't thought of that place in years
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All-In [38460]
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All-TigerNet [10134]
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Re: Meeting your heroes
May 6, 2022, 2:53 PM
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Have you ever been lucky enough to meet one of your heroes in person? I have three instances that come to mind - one only became a hero AFTER we met:
F - David Soul - ran into him in a ski shop in Aspen at the height of Starsky and Hutch. Was a total DB, pushing his way past me and saying "not now, kid" when I asked for a simple autograph. I was crushed...but I got a new sled out of the deal when my parents tried to cheer me up.
B - Jack Nicklaus - My brother was paired with Jack's youngest son Gary in the 1983 USGA junior, and Jack was there to support his son. I was older then, and etiquette being so important in golf, I was careful to be respectful of his privacy. Can't even remember if I got an autograph, but what a thrill it was to be in the presence of greatness.
A+ - Lyle Alzado - a couple of years after the David Soul debacle, I was returning with my family from another ski trip. Alzado got on the plane, and I didn't know who he was, but my dad recognized him. We asked the flight attendant to ask Alzado if it was ok for me to come back and get an autograph. He said "No, but I would love it if he would come back and take the empty seat beside me. I sat next to him for the whole 3 hour +/- flight back to ATL; he had just been traded from the Broncos to the Browns. When the flight was over, he handed me a lengthy, personalized autograph. Loved him forever after that, and will never forget him and his kindness. RIP.
I accidentally posted this in the Lounge initially; reposting here.
I heard Francis Marion got to meet Boy George and the Culture Club once. I keep hearing the description as magical. I don’t have facts though!
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Hall of Famer [22499]
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Re: Meeting your heroes
May 6, 2022, 6:50 PM
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I don’t consider these guys heroes but when I lived in South Florida I had the privilege of meeting quite a few sports personalities. My neighbor got me involved in scoring at the Honda Classic golf tournament. These were the days before Shotlink and the scorer walked with the group of golfers and kept score and stats like drives in the fairway, greens in regulation, number of putts, etc. My very first group was Payne Stewart , Paul Azinger, and Hal Sutton. I actually got to score for Payne Stewart twice that tournament and it was the last year before the plane crash. He was a good guy taken way too soon. I did that for 4 years and also one year at Doral. Pretty cool gig. Then the same neighbor started managing all the scorers for the Dan Marino Charity Invitational Tournament. This was probably 1999. Walked the course with Jim McMahon, Neil Lomax and Neil Anderson the first day. I had been a Braves fan and Dolphins fan my whole life. The second day I scored for Marino and John Smoltz. I had met Marino a couple of other times when his kids were playing roller hockey at the same time as my son. He was out there just being Dad. He would oblige people with pictures but he would rather just talk to another dad about the kids and their games. Smoltz was a super nice guy and a heck of a golfer. Neither one was playing very well so on the 9th hole they decided to bet $100 for each birdie on the back nine. Smoltz crushed Marino on the back - 3 birdies to none for Marino. That was a fun day.
Dolphins DE Jason Taylor used to play pick up basketball with us in one of the neighborhoods near where I lived in Weston. He was a really nice guy and one heck of an athlete.
Also met Will Smith and Martin Lawrence when they were filming scenes for Bad Boys II at the plant I managed in Miami. Trivia note - the plant I managed was the Palms Mortuary in the movie. Definitely not heroes but celebrities all the same.
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