phew...was worried...
has to be...otherwise he'd be able to get somebody to stand in line and get a drink for him...
I've got the opposite kind of story about another semi-big time celeb...my wife and I, with our two kids, were wandering around the new Turtle Bay Resort on Lanai in 1989, mouths open at the magnificence of the place, when we crossed paths with Tom Poston. My wife and I recognized him immediately from all the game shows and sit-coms in which he had appeared. We froze and looked with bulging eyes. Tom saw us as he was walking away, on the other side of the gardens, turned around and came over to us, introduced himself, shook hands with my wife and me and bent down to greet our kids. He said something about how lovely the resort was and hoped we enjoyed ourselves and walked off.
RIP Mr. Poston
delta1 wrote:
Got two polar opposite tennis stories. I mighta either told you or wrote about it but here I go (again, mebbe):
1992 Davis Cup tie (…”match” for you non-tennis folks…) between USA and Argentina, held at the Mauna Lani Resorts on the Big Island of Hawaii.
My friends and I bought tickets and made hotel arrangements to watch the matches. I scheduled a trip with the Kona rep (Greg) for one of my customers the day before my group was supposed to fly in with the matches to begin the following day. Anyway, we drove to his major customers, he did his thing, and I did my thing, showing them new products and stuff li’ dat. One of the stops was Mauna Lani so before leaving, I asked Greg if we could make a stop at the tennis center and I would pick up the tickets for me and my friends.
When we got to the TC, the Argentinians were finishing up their practice session on the stadium court. I watched for a little while and then the Americans got on. Couldn’t name you who was there, I think those guys were the reserves or just practice players. Anyway, right after I got my tickets, in comes Andre Agassi with an entourage of about 5 people. Andre was decked out in his flaming pink Nike wear so was hard to miss.
After he settled into a chair, I walked towards him but was stopped by this big-azz burly guy. I asked if I could get Andre’s autograph. The guy said no. I said, he’s right here and I only want a single signature. The guy said “I said f’king NO!” (…or words to that affect…). Okay chithead. Greg and I left.
We made a few more calls and finished early so I decided to hightail it back to Mauna Lani and buy some souvenirs before the maddening crowd was there and stuff I would want would be sold out. Picked up a few things and was just about to leave when in comes in John McEnroe! He’d just finished a practice session on the back courts but, for whatever reason, went into the shop to pack his stuff into his bag. I nervously walked around, wondering if I should / could get his autograph. I mean, I was in the presence of one of the all-time greats!
Anyway, John started towards the front door so I quickly walked up to him and said, “Hey John, give a guy an autograph?” Amazing that I can still remember exactly what I said. John was so nice. He put his bag down, and extended his left hand for whatever I wanted him to sign. I was so franking unprepared and slightly nervous that all I could come up with was one of my business cards. He took my pen and card, asked for my name and wrote: “To Conan, Best wishes. John McEnroe”. Yes, short and sweet but I was franking thrilled. I thanked him, we shook hands and John went on his way.
I may not have liked the “You have got to be kidding me” angry McEnroe but the John I met in that tennis shop couldn’t have been nicer.
So ultimately, FRANK YOU Andre Agassi! [ram27bat]
Edited by user
4 years ago |
Reason: Not specified
