There isn't much to talk about but I figured I can share this story with you guys.
So I was in Vegas at Planet Hollywood when I turn around and see Winky Wright the Boxer. I was like...Oh snap...thats Winky. I am not the type that goes up to stars unless its a 9er. (I have talked to Patrick Willis last summer and Tony Parrish a few years ago who were both as polite as ever).
A few minutes go by and I see Warrick Dunn. I am like...Oh Snap its Warrick Dunn!! Again I didn't go and say hi or anything cause you know he probably get annoyed after a while.
NOW I AM CHILLIN FOR ANOTHER 20 MINS AND I SEE FREAKIN #80 THE GREATEST WIDE RECEIVER OF ALL FREAGIN TIME. IAM LIKE ....OH SHITTT!!!! THATS FU#@!IN JERRY RICE!!!! DAMN!!!!
ALL THESE MEMORIES START RACING THROUGH MY MIND. TOUCHDOWNS....THE 3 AGAINST THE Raiders ON MONDAY NIGHT TO BREAK THE RECORD!!! THE CATCHES...THE ONE IN THE CORNER OF THE ENDZONE TO END THE HALF AGAINST THE Cowboys IN THE PLAYOFFS IN 94-95 SEASON....THE BLOCKS...THE BLOCKS AGAINST Rams THAT LEAD TO TWO 80 YARD TOUCHDOWNS BY JOHN TAYLOR. THE EMOTIONAL STATEMENTS TO THE FAN WHEN HE GOT CARRIED OF THE FIELD FOR THE LAST TIME IN A NINER UNIFORM!!!
I FELT LIKE I BASICALLY KNEW THE GUY. MY EYES LET UP!! I HAD TO SAY HI!! THAT WAS FREAKIN JERRY RICE!! I STARTED WALKING TOWARDS HIM. SHOULD I REACH FOR A HANDSHAKE?? OR IS THAT TOO MUCH?? MAYBE REACH FOR SOME POUNDS (FIST TO FIST HANDSHAKE). THERE HE WAS MAYBE 3 FEET IN FRONT OF ME!!! HE WAS TALKING TO SOME CHICK, SO IAM LOOKING AT HIM FROM THE SIDE. RIGHT AWAY THE 5 TOUCHDOWN GAME AGAINST THE Falcons CAME TO MIND. I DECIDED JUST TO SAY HI AND NOT REACH OUT IN ANY WAY.
"JERRY!" I SAID WITH SUCH ENTHUSIASM WITH A SMILE THAT REACHED AS FAR AS MY CHEEKS WOULD ALLOW. I GOT NO RESPONSE. MAYBE THE MUSIC WAS TOO LOUD. "JERRY!" I REPEATED.
Then I noticed he looks from the corner of his eyes and does a sniff and totally ignores me. I was shot down. I realized this wasn't going to go the way I envisioned on my way over to him. I stood there for a couple more seconds which seemed like an eternity, and slowly walked back.
I still had a smile, however it was not the same enthusiastic smile. It was similar to the smile that I had when the 9ers played Joe Montana and the Chiefs at the end of the game when Joe was happy he beat his old team, and I realized that he was happy in another uniform.
I told myself, well that s Jerry Rice he probably gets random people coming up to him all day. There is only so many people he can greet before gettin tired of it. But he could have looked acknowledged and smiled. I had cheered for him so many times and argued on his behalf proud to call him a 9er and the greatest WR to have ever played the game, and what do I get...a sniff???
A part of me wished I never went to vegas that weekend.
|
