Best & Worst Experience Meeting An Athlete

[btcarfagno]

I remember Nehimiah from the times he would appear on the show The Superstars.

For all you youngins, that was a TV show in the 1970's (maybe into the early 80's?) where they would bring together a bunch of current sports figures who would compete in different events like track and field, rowing etc. Then there would be a winner at the end of the show when all the points for each event we're tallied. Sometimes it would be whole teams, like the Cowboys against the Steelers.

Anyway, whenever Nehimiah was there and doing any of the track events he just absolutely wiped the floor with everyone else. As soon as you saw he was going you just wondered who would finish second and just how far behind he would be.

[Yoda]

Back in the 1950's, when I was a wee sprite, my father, who was an executive at GE, had a report who had been an All American at Northwestern and had roomed with the NY football Giants center, Ray Witeka. A plot for a surprise birthday present for yours truly was hatched and I soon found myself at the old Polo Grounds cheering the Giants on against the 49'ers. About 5 minutes before the game ended and the Giants pulled out a cliff hanger, my Dad suggested we move down to the sidelines. In a blur, I did so, and soon I was standing next to giant men, trying not to breath. The game ended and we moved towards the center of the field to meet Ray. He asked me if I wanted to carry his helmet to the locker room. I could only nod in gratitude.
The locker room was a scene of happy chaos. Moving among these titans, I quietly went around seeking autographs. All were very pleasant and encouraging, and I snagged autographs of my gridiron heroes, Frank Gifford, Kyle Rote, Charley Connerly et al. I was doing pretty well until Rosy Greer came out of the shower in all his glory. I had never seen a naked man so large and powerful, but he happily signed my program and gave me a wet pat on the head.
The program is long gone, but I still have the vivid memory of that surreal experience logged forever.

'Say hey, what Willie? I once set up near the autograph tables and heard Mays berate a young boy for daring to ask a question. The lad's dad turned purple and I thought was going to pop Willie one. 'Nuff said.