I remember in my much younger years that I would often see folks asking sports players and entertainment industry people for autographs. I always wondered what they might do with it. I also couldn’t imagine how someone would have time to visit or work if I had to pause to sign my autograph every few minutes.
I’ve had the opportunity to meet with several players and coaches in the sports field and also a few in the motor racing community. I’ve never asked for an autograph from any of these folks, but I do have some very memorable stories.
Sometimes as I am visiting with friends or checking my Facebook, a name will pop up and one of those great stories will slide back into my memory. I had three different occasions where that happened to me last week.
I’ve written a couple of times about the years that I drove a charter bus and worked with several NBA players when they were here to play against the Indiana Pacers. I drove The Chicago Bulls for several years. Michael Jordan was a member of the team at that time.
I quickly learned that Michael Jordan called some people a nickname if he didn’t know that person’s proper name. I heard him use the nickname, “Partner” a few times when he spoke to me. One time, I spoke first and said to him, “Have a good game, Partner”.
He quickly accepted the challenge, and he figured out ways to sneak up behind me and be the first to shout the word, “Partner”. This continued for a few seasons.
Many years ago, I had a job that involved assisting new sales agents in their new positions. I was working with a very nice gentleman in Houston, Texas. We were calling on automobile dealerships. He was a new sales agent, but we were working with established customers.
We stopped at a local Chevrolet dealership. We always dealt with the parts managers in these businesses. We were talking with the manager and a couple of assistant managers. The agent I was with introduced me to them and explained that I was working with him for that week and that I lived in Indianapolis.
I noticed that the parts manager nodded his head to one of his guys. I figured he was sending him back to work. After a few minutes, someone tapped me on the shoulder and when I turned around, I was facing A.J. Foyt. He owned that business. He came to the parts room to meet someone from Indianapolis. We had a nice visit and exchanged several stories. A couple of them involved former race car chief mechanic and Southsider, Joe Langley. We didn’t visit very long but it was memorable.
A few years ago, while I was driving a school bus for Beech Grove City Schools, I made plans, and several friends were going to a boys’ basketball game. When I arrived at the game, I saw my friends and started walking down the side of the court to sit with them. As I was walking along, I saw the boy’s coach, Matt English talk with a couple of other guys. I stepped past them and didn’t make eye contact with any of them.
I was a few steps past them when I heard my name being called. I turned and saw Coach English waving me back to him. He had spotted me and he wanted to say hello. We didn’t know each other very well but I felt very honored that he wanted to share a handshake and a big smile.
As many know, we lost Coach English to cancer a few years ago. He is physically missing but the memories and his “WE B4 ME” motto are as strong as ever. His wife, Angela English works for the school system. She has done such a wonderful job keeping Matt’s memories strong.
I have a special “WE B4 ME picture hanging in my office. Thanks, Coach…
Shonk is a 1960 graduate of Southport High School, a ’63 grad of Indiana Central College (now the University of Indianapolis) and a retired bus driver from Beech Grove Schools. He can be reached through email at [email protected].