At one point yesterday (at the Northern Plains Open) I was standing within 10 feet of enough Olympic hardware to make some small countries proud (no political comments here, please) - Tom & Terry Brands, Ben Peterson, Randy Lewis and Sarah McMann were all in my general area. I'm just such a goober that I can't help but be awestruck in the presence of Olympic success
I am right there with you. The last time I took Karissa to the Bodybar tournament at the OTC, we walked into the wrestling room I must have looked like a little kid. It was a whose who of USA wrestling.
I would be pretty gooberiffic, too. At World Team Trials a few years back, Ezra and I met Zeke Jones, Kenny Monday and Kevin Jackson, all hanging out in our hotel lobby. They all introduced themselves, "Hi, I'm Kenny," and we couldn't help but giggle.
I'm the same way. A few years ago I won an auction to have dinner with Rulon Gardner and tour the Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs. It was like wrestling fantasy camp and I still consider it money well spent.
Yea on any Sat. during the youth season in Oklahoma you never know who you will run into at a tournament. John Smith, Kenny Monday, Jamill Kelly, Danny Hodge and the list goes on.
Has anyone thought that we may have some members/lurkers here on this forum that may be of similar elite athlete/coach status, and, if we knew their true identities, we'd all feel a bit gooberish when posting here? ;-)
I felt like a goober this first time I went to Dan Gable's house. Of course that was in 1984 and I was 13 so, I was a goober. I'm right there with you guys.
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"He quits, not because he wants to, but because he has to. He has no choice.
" -Tom Brands 01/20/08
I also think that the fact that we get a chance to be goobers is one of the reasons that wrestling is amazing. How many basketball fans are at a tourney and see Michael Jordan, Larry Bird, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Roy Williams just chillin' and taking in the action? None, that's how many. Our stars are stars to be sure, but they are also just part of the family.
I became friendly with Randy Lewis through the other forum and met up for drinks when the Worlds were in NYC in 2003.
After hitting a few bars, we all went back to the hotel and up to Nancy Schultz's room where I ended up partying with Lewboo, Kendall Cross, and Kenny Monday. A few Greco & Michigan guys were up there too. It was a good time.
This past November Lewis called me and said he'd be in town for the NYAC tourney. Someone ended up booking his hotel all the way in Brooklyn, so I told him he could crash with me. It made perfect sense as I only live 5 minutes away from the NYAC. He ended up staying the entire weekend. Friday night we grabbed a quick bite and then sat on my couch till 4am drinking beers and watching films.
The next night I was supposed to go out for a friend's 30th bday party. I told my friend I probably couldn't make it since I had a friend who is an Olympic champion staying with me on short notice. He and his wife couldn't understand why I couldn't just bring him along. Anyway Lewboo and I went for a few drinks after the day's events and were planning on hitting my friend's party later. Well, I don't know if any of you have ever hung out with Lewboo but he's one twisted f*ck who can tell one hell of a story. He's a loud f*cker too. For those who haven't you're really missing out. After a few drinks and a few stories, I realized I wasn't going anywhere. I kept asking him to tell me another one. Next thing I know it's like 2:30a and we're completely shit faced holding each other up as we walk out of the bar.
How cool is it that I had an Olympic Champ crashing on my couch for a entire weekend? By Sunday my wife didn't think it was so cool.
I'm such a goober! 
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