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04/29/2008: "An LA Moment"
Whenever I talk to people from other parts of the country and they find out I live in Los Angeles, they inevitably say something like, "Know any movie stars?" They apparently forget that this is a city with nearly 4 million residents, and it's not like they're just walking down every street. Once in a while, though, you do run into the periodic celebrity ...
Most Sunday mornings, you can find me at the Riviera Car Wash in South Redondo. There's seldom a crowd if you get there early enough, and it's a great opportunity to enjoy an early morning coffee break. I use that particular car wash in part because it's near where I grew up, but also because it's frequented by the successful folks who come down from Palos Verdes. As they say, if you want to be successful, watch successful people.
This past Sunday I rolled in for the usual wash, and settled in the waiting area. While I was paying for the wash, I'd noticed a guy walking around in a Los Angeles Dodgers jersey bearing the name and number of Maury Wills, the great basestealer (and probably the best player not in the Hall of Fame). As we passed each other on the way to the waiting area, I noticed that the jersey was autographed by Wills - several times. I thought it was pretty strange to be wearing an autographed jersey around like any other shirt, but didn't give it much thought as I began my wait and watched those also getting their cars watched.
There's a mix of personalities in any such group setting, but there's always that one that stands out from the rest. In this case, it was a large black man in his 50s, who was talking at length about his career as a cook and his desire to open his own restaurant. His much older, much smaller companion was trying hard to feign interest, but clearly had little. At the same time, Jersey Guy is hovering around the pair, anxious as a catburgler. The whole scene was surreal, and didn't make much sense until the larger man stepped aside and I got a good look at the smaller man. He was older and smaller than in his playing days, but it was Maury Wills himself - and a well dressed Wills at that. In a flash, it all became clear - the big guy is putting the pinch on Maury to invest in his dream restaurant, while Jersey Guy is just a toady fan suffering from serious idol worship.
Most of the bench I was sitting on was open, and Wills and his would-be business partner settled in on the other end. With his back to me, I couldn't hear most of the pitch, but clearly the guy was trying to convince Wills that he was ready to step up from fry cook to entrepreneur. In the meantime, the toady fan continued to hover, clucking about how he'd already tipped the guy cleaning Wills' car. It was all I could do to keep from laughing.
Soon the big guy stood up and moved off to take a call. Not one to be star-struck, I wouldn't stare, but I glanced over at Wills. He caught my eye, and said with a sigh, "It's always something" and laughed. I smiled as well and said, "Mr Wills, I don't want any more than to shake your hand and tell you you were my grandmother's favorite." As he shook my hand - and rolled his eyes at how old my grandmother must have been - I asked him what his plans were for the day. "I have a lunch date with three beautiful ladies", he said, and with that his car was ready. With posse in tow, he was gone.
I love LA ... :-)
