Celebrity Run-in's

Greensboro, NC – Diverting away from baseball for a day to cover a different topic. Have you ever met anyone famous that you want to go around telling everyone about? Most of the “famous” people that I’ve met are professional sports players. Last year, after having an "alfresco" lunch in Boston, I met Jim Bowden, the GM of the Nationals. He was a pretty nice guy, who posed for a photo with me. I saw Gary Williams, head coach of Maryland Terrapins basketball, at Clyde’s in Rockville, MD a couple of years ago. Last December, we nearly saw Andruw Jones, center fielder of the Atlanta Braves, at Stoney Creek Steak House in suburban Atlanta. As you can see, my list is basically sports figures.

While back in Maryland earlier this month for an unfortunate event, a funeral, I was involved in a discussion with my aunt and others about, “If you could have dinner with one person in the world, who would it be?” The responses around the table have lapsed from my memory (because we’d been up for 16 hours), but my response was Bono from U2. Being a lifelong U2 fan, coupled with the uncountable number of hours that Bono puts in for aid to Africa through the “One” campaign and the “RED” program, I have no doubt that my mind would be quite stimulated. Well, lo and behold, last Thursday while dining in Phoenix, AZ for a real estate convention, my aunt and her co-worker were serendipitously seated next to the man himself, Bono. I am pretty close to my aunt, so I had the honor of receiving the first text message upon her seating arrangement. After repeated requests from me to talk to him (and obtain an autograph for her favorite nephew), my aunt told the waiter to put Bono’s tab on her check. Upon learning that his tab was paid for, Bono arose from his seat and initiated a conversation with my Aunt Bud that went something like this:

Bono: You really don’t have to do this for me.
AB: It’s really not a big deal; you’ve been an inspiration to me and my family. Your music is played everyday in my house. I first saw your show in 1983 in Philadelphia. So, this is the least I could do for you.
(Ed. Note: This is a "business" lunch, so I wouldn't say it's really on AB's dime anyway.)
Bono: Wow, one of the original shows. I want to hear you sing.
AB: I don’t think that’s a good idea. Would you mind, in fact, I know you’re going to mind, but I’ll request it anyway, would you take a picture with me?
Bono: Sure … (sticks his face to my aunt’s and grins) … do I have any crap in my teeth?
AB: I think you’re good.

The following picture is taken:

My aunt’s co-worker couldn’t pass up the opportunity:


Bono gives my aunt a hug and leaves. My uncle hears the news immediately and instructs my aunt to not hug anyone until she returns home.

Later on in the night, the friend that Bono was having lunch with, ran into my aunt in the hotel (apparently they were both staying in the same resort). Bono told his friend to pay her back. My aunt kept the Bono money and made five bucks on the entire transaction.