thePATRICK EWING STORY
Once Upon A Time...
...I couldn't believe my chinky-eyes! There he was — Patrick Aloysius Ewing, Sr. — perhaps the greatest New York Knicks' basketball player of all-times!When I saw my childhood idol: Patrick Ewing — the legendary NBA Hall Of Fame center at JADE TERRACE/CHINA CLUB in NYC, I almost wet my tighty-whities.
As he approached the entrance to the main floor of CHINA CLUB, I can see him turning-down numerous autograph and picture requests from the surrounding club-goers.
But I wasn't surprised...
...I knew his story.
[NOTE: It is well-documented that Patrick Ewing of the New York Knicks is not media-friendly and the same can be said for when it comes to his fans wanting an autograph or photograph via Boston Herald's "Inside Track" — "NBA great Patrick Ewing dancing up a storm at Whiskey Park and refusing to sign autographs or pose for cell-phone pictures"]
With those thoughts in mind, I finally saw a paparazzi-esque opportunity to snap a photo of My All-Time Favorite Basketball Player — The Beast From The East a.k.a. The Hoya Destroya a.k.a. The Warrior!!!
 |
| Patrick Ewing giving a pound to a fan at Jade Terrace – China Club |
As you can see, he seems to have noticed my flash and looks-away w/ a mean ice-grill (not even acknowledging or making eye-contact w/ the person he is shaking hands; doing the 'soul-brother' handshake with)...
...a split-second after this historic photo, Ewing darts towards me whilst gesturing w/ his right-hand — vehemently motioning for me to 'STOP' — and shouted in what sounded like a 'SLO-MO' replay on a VCR, "NOOO!"
HOLY CRAP•A•ZOID!
I was literally shook beyond belief — just imagine Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo waving his index-finger after blocking a player's shot attempt!
 |
| Déjà vu - Patrick Ewing leaving some random guy hanging; living up to his reputation |
Honestly, I thought #33 was about to grab for my camera and crush-it into itty-bitty lil' pieces w/ his bare hands — but I truly believe he saw how frightened I was and simply walked-away, "WHEW!"
 |
| Patrick Chewing seems discontent |
Ironically — I saw both Patrick Ewing & Dikembe Mutumbo a few years later, on a Tuesday night at LOTUS. But I learned my lesson from my previous encounter/incident and took these photos from afar.
Patrick Ewing & Dikembe Mutumbo in a private VI.P. area at Lotus, NYC
I did -however, bump into Mount Mutumbo near the restroom/lounge area and asked him for a quick photo-opt but he kindly declined.
In hindsight, Dikembe Mutumbo — one of the NBA's Greatest Shot Blockers & Defensive Players, actually began explaining to me why he refuses to take photos but honestly, all I heard was, 'MUMBO-JUMBO' and loud music!
It's ironic how Dikembe & Patrick — two All-Star centers from the same college (Georgetown Hoyas); eventually played on the same professional NBA team (New York Knicks) and abide by the same code of ethics, "NO PHOTOGRAPHS — NOT IN MY HOUSE!!"
~The End~
 |
| As fate would have it, I randomly saw a lost and dumbfounded Dikembe Mutombo Mpolondo Mukamba Jean-Jacques Wamutombo near Saks & Fifth Ave in NYC |
 |
| "I don't know who he is but I know he's somebody" — exact quotes (word-for-word) from a star-struck tourist after shaking Mutumbo's hand |
No comments:
Post a Comment
"Be as smart as you can, but remember that it is always better to be wise than to be smart."