Macca00 wrote:DivotMaker wrote:Wilt was legendary. I knew him personally and was actually a guest at his home in the Summer of 1979 and met many of Wilt's girlfriends. There were 15-20 of them, just hanging all over him. Also met one of his most famous neighbors during this same visit...Farrah Fawcett. Thought I had died and gone to heaven because I was in love with Farrah at the time as many males were, but she was not even the best looking one there...most famous for sure though....
Dude, that is wild! That's an awesome story.
L
(jealous)
Thanks. I feel very lucky to have known Wilt. This may come as a shock to many, but he was a regular guy in person (unless you were from the media). I got to know Wilt on a 1979 trip to Taiwan with a number of top US Track and Field athletes (Renaldo Nehemiah, Edwin Moses, Earl Bell, Billy Olsen, etc..). We were brought over to compete in the 1979 Asian Games (Taiwan's National Track Meet). We picked up Wilt in Honolulu on the way where he owned numerous restaurants and had sizable real estate holdings. When we got to Taiwan, Wilt went everywhere we went, even downtown. It was hilarious to see the reaction of the Taiwanese people as he walked by on the street, However, many Taiwanese recognized him and asked for a photograph. He was gracious and polite and accepted EVERY request.
We were in Taiwan for a full week. When it came time to compete in the stadium, I was surprised to see Wilt in the athlete entrance area. I asked if he was allowed on the field and he said yes. Then he asked if it was okay if he watched me compete. I told him it would be an honor. So not only did he watch me compete and watched my bag with my shotput and discus, he actually shagged both of them during warmups and watched every throw. I was blown away. He told me T&F was his favorite sport right up there with Volleyball. Basketball was a distant 3rd.
Once I finished competing, he and I went to watch the others competing in the field events. He even offered to carry my shot put, which I thanked him but declined.
I shorten the ending up here as I am way off topic, but the day before we were supposed to leave for the US, I got a phone call from home saying my grandfather had passed away. I made arrangements to leave that day and when I get to the airport, Wilt is in line to get his boarding pass. He looks around while in line and spots me in line. He signals for me to come up with him. I did and he told me he hates to fly alone, especially on long trips. Asked me if it was okay if he bumped me up to First Class to sit next to him. I think we all know the answer. Flew to Tokyo Narita where we were told the flight to Honolulu would be delayed from 9 PM that evening to 7AM the following day to replace an engine. Wilt was PISSED. Since the nearest hotel vacancy was 2 hours away, we had to find a way to sleep at the airport. We ended up sleeping on the floor of the terminal about 6 feet apart. When I woke up the next AM, it looked like a scene from Gullivers Travels as Wilt was completely surrounded by people hovering over him as he lay on the floor. He woke up and was unfazed and was actually very polite to the people and he signed autographs and accepted photo requests. A TRUE CLASS ACT!
We get to Honolulu and I have an 8 hour layover, so he invites me to come with him in his limo and gives me a tour of his real estate holdings and lunch at one of his restaurants. When he brought me back to the airport in that same limo, he gave me his business card and asked if I was going to be competing in the US Nationals at Walnut Creek coming up that summer. I told him that I had already qualified and would be there. He invited me to stay at his house during the meet and I told him I would do it if my Coach would let me. Coach said okay as long as I was on time to the meet and during this stay is where I got to know Wilt really well, stayed in his mansion with 27 bedrooms (in Bel Air) and was within walking distance (next door) of Farrah Fawcett and eventually met and talked to her during the party at Wilt's home after the meet....yep, it was quite an experience and one I love to share with others.
Sorry for the OT post...I was in a chatty mood this AM....