I have probably already shared this story at some point, but it’s not like any of you would bookmark it or remember, plus, I’m old and forget crap … what was I saying??? Anyways, when I was a kid, I was obsessed with getting football in basketball player autographs at the games. Over those years, I had some really awesome experience with different athletes like Danny Ainge, Scott Runia, Jim McMahon, Devin, Durrant, Gifford, Nelson, Fred Roberts, Glenn Redd (the best time to get football player autographs were during recruiting visits when they would post recruits, at basketbal games and would all sit in the same section) and a whole bunch of others, but one of the coolest experiences was with Gary Furness, if you remember him.

I happened to be waiting down by Will call with my parents where the players come in, or used to come in, to the Marriott Center, and when he walked in, I asked for his autograph and mentioned that it was my birthday. He got really excited for me, and said “if you meet me here after the game, I’ll have a birthday present for you”. So I made sure we stayed afterwards and he showed up with a team picture that had been signed by the entire team. Those kinds of memories create lifelong fans. I agree with Barkley that athletes shouldn’t be our role models and everything else, but when you actually find some that play at a high-level, but are also just awesome people they can have an amazing impact.

In contrast, when Larry Bird and Magic Johnson played each other at the Huntsman Center in the NCAA championships one of my buddies was able to get down around the players during the week in between practices, and tboth Magic and Bird told him to beat it when he asked them for autographs. He said Magic was at least nice about it, but Bird not so much. I know BYU doesn’t have a corner on nice athletes, but I sure love the culture that BYU coaches and players have built.