3GenerationHoya
Century (over 100 posts)
Levance Fields eats Donut Ham-Hamburgers.
Posts: 173
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Post by 3GenerationHoya on Mar 24, 2005 1:45:34 GMT -5
So I was sitting in Reagan National Airport at my gate waiting for my flight to board when they called all first class passengers to get on the plane. I looked up briefly and caught a glimpse of what looked to be a familiar imposing figure. I nudged my sister (also a Hoya student) and said, "Could that possibly be John Thompson getting on our flight?"
She was doubtful at best, but then, she had barely seen him walk by, and I wouldn't really expect her to pick him out of a lineup anyway.
Finally, our group was called to board, so we lined up and headed on to the plane. As we inched along the line it suddenly stopped with my sister and I standing and waiting at the very front of the first class section. I look to my right and there he is - JT II is sitting right next to me, looking quite stoic.
I lean over and ask, "Excuse me sir, are you John Thompson?"
The man barely acknowledges me and shakes his head no. So I feel embarrassed - maybe I somehow mistook this man for JTII... maybe he just wants some peace and quiet while he travels...
"Actually, yes I am" comes the familiar booming voice from JTII after an awkward second or two, and he breaks into a grin.
All I could muster at that point was "iamahugehoyafan"
He chuckles lightly and holds out his hand while asking my name. I tell him my name, and shake his hand. He says "nice to meet you."
At that point the line begins to move again and I head to my seat. My brush with college basketball greatness was over, and I was shaking from the excitement as I sat in the cramped chair.
As my dad put it, "I always knew JTII had a sense of humor."
I can only guess that he came to Chicago for the NCAA regional games this weekend. But I don't think I'll ever forget meeting the greatest college basketball coach of all time (maybe I'm a bit biased).
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GUHoya07
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,083
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Post by GUHoya07 on Mar 24, 2005 1:56:41 GMT -5
That's a terrific story, thanks for sharing it.
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RBHoya
Diamond Hoya (over 2500 posts)
Posts: 4,124
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Post by RBHoya on Mar 24, 2005 2:05:53 GMT -5
Great story man, Congrats!
I was within 5 yards of JTII last night at McDonough, when he first came out of the locker room area (not the locker room area where the Hoyas are at half and postgame, the other one where CSF went... not sure what to call that). Anyway, hes enormous in person. I cant imagine having him as a coach everyday in practice. So intimidating Id imagine.
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3GenerationHoya
Century (over 100 posts)
Levance Fields eats Donut Ham-Hamburgers.
Posts: 173
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Post by 3GenerationHoya on Mar 24, 2005 2:16:04 GMT -5
Yeah, being 6'5'' I don't often feel small next to other people but JT II had that effect on me.
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Gold Hoya
Golden Hoya (over 1000 posts)
Posts: 1,578
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Post by Gold Hoya on Mar 24, 2005 3:32:04 GMT -5
he's probably doing the Chicago games on radio for Westwood One.
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Post by ColumbiaHeightsHoya on Mar 24, 2005 9:03:06 GMT -5
It's national by the way, not reagan. I refuse to call anything reagan. Even that big ass building downtown is simply, that "big ass building downtown".
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Post by HoyaDestroya on Mar 24, 2005 9:14:57 GMT -5
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Post by showcase on Mar 24, 2005 9:31:49 GMT -5
Flying in and out of National is great for stuff like that. I remember seeing John McCain on one flight, and Lenny Wilkens on another. Congrats on mustering "imahugehoyafan," by the way. "Brilliant!"
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Boz
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
123 Fireballs!
Posts: 10,355
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Post by Boz on Mar 24, 2005 9:49:21 GMT -5
Flying in and out of National is great for stuff like that. I remember seeing John McCain on one flight, and Lenny Wilkens on another. Congrats on mustering "imahugehoyafan," by the way. "Brilliant!" Oh, those bitter, bitter liberals. There they go again. God, it's going to suck for you to have to recognize the Ronald Reagan $10 bill as legal tender in a few years. ;D Just kidding. However, perhaps a modicum of respect for just this one reason, if nothing else. Whether you are liberal or conservative, after all, Ronald Reagan is the man who delivered the following remarks to a certain basketball team in 1984: www.reagan.utexas.edu/resource/speeches/1984/40784b.htm Hate George W. if you must, but wouldn't you love to hear something similar in the next couple of years? Go Hoyas!
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Post by younghoya32 on Mar 24, 2005 10:01:45 GMT -5
AWESOME STORY!!! During the Big East Tourney I greeted JTII as well. I also sat next to the royal family, mrs. thompson (III) her 3 children and another elderly man (her father maybe). Well when they announced the Uconn starters it was to my pleasure that the older child, a daughter, pointed her thumbs toward the floor and BOOOOOOOed them!!!
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Post by FreeNachos on Mar 24, 2005 10:09:16 GMT -5
You should have said - "What's up Thompson?" And seen if he went Knight on you....
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Post by WilsonBlvdHoya on Mar 24, 2005 10:22:37 GMT -5
You should have said - "What's up Thompson?" And seen if he went Knight on you.... Nah, Knight only goes ballistic at refs or when someone congratulates him in public on how well he's currently managing his anger/temper (ask the President of Texas Tech!!). JT2 would probably just turn up the disdain but I don't see him reproaching total strangers, especially if they introduce themselves as fans.....
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SFHoya99
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 17,736
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Post by SFHoya99 on Mar 24, 2005 10:32:14 GMT -5
Congress also call french fries "freedom fries."
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Post by ColumbiaHeightsHoya on Mar 24, 2005 10:44:17 GMT -5
Thank you SFHoya. I can't wait to go to Europe this summer as I have officially renamed the pound & euro, W DOLLARS. For example, a pint of guinness costs three pounds which should be $4.50 or $6 W DOLLARS.
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Post by Gtown4Life on Mar 24, 2005 10:48:43 GMT -5
I got a handshake from JTII at MSG during this years big east tourney(UCONN game)...he walked right by me and I was doin hoyas chants in front of the syracuse band and I happened to say Thompson! and i ran over and shook his hand. Great Feeling!
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SFHoya99
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 17,736
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Post by SFHoya99 on Mar 24, 2005 10:49:44 GMT -5
Thank you SFHoya. I can't wait to go to Europe this summer as I have officially renamed the pound & euro, W DOLLARS. For example, a pint of guinness costs three pounds which should be $4.50 or $6 W DOLLARS. Regardless of politics, I have a real issue with naming anything after a president so quickly. It's much too soon to evaluate Reagan in any real capacity, and the Republicans' spree to name everything Reagan is indicative of Congress' complete inability to do anything worthwhile. But that's off-topic. How about them Hoyas? And how the heck did JTII fit in an airline seat, even first class?
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lichoya68
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
OK YOUNGINS ARE HERE AND ARE VERY VERY GOOD cant wait GO HOYAS
Posts: 17,438
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Post by lichoya68 on Mar 24, 2005 12:27:13 GMT -5
great story about jtjr but not atypical i remember him saying in the old days.. hed not give autographs but would rather shake hands and meet and talk to you ..actually patrick would do the same thing give you some time and not just a signature go hoyas beat the gamecocks ;D
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EasyEd
Platinum Hoya (over 5000 posts)
Posts: 7,272
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Post by EasyEd on Mar 24, 2005 13:16:27 GMT -5
It's funny how very few people reacted against naming the Kennedy Center, RFK stadium, Kennedy International Airport, and numerous other places, schools and buildings just weeks after JFK or RFK died. Perhaps if you young adults were to study history and note what communism really was and what the cold war was all about and its frightening possible nuclear consequences and what Reagan did to bring communism down in the face of vicious attacks from his political enemies, you wouldn't be so quick to condemn recognizing him in the naming of a few places.
I know this is way off topic but this is not the first time posters have used this board as a means of expressing their political opinions.
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SFHoya99
Blue & Gray (over 10,000 posts)
Posts: 17,736
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Post by SFHoya99 on Mar 24, 2005 13:23:38 GMT -5
It's funny how very few people reacted against naming the Kennedy Center, RFK stadium, Kennedy International Airport, and numerous other places, schools and buildings just weeks after JFK or RFK died. Perhaps if you young adults were to study history and note what communism really was and what the cold war was all about and its frightening possible nuclear consequences and what Reagan did to bring communism down in the face of vicious attacks from his political enemies, you wouldn't be so quick to condemn recognizing him in the naming of a few places. I know this is way off topic but this is not the first time posters have used this board as a means of expressing their political opinions. Well, since RFK died nine years before I was born, I can't comment too much on that. I should say I don't really care about naming rights much. I suppose it is nice. I don't like how it has become a political weapon. I will stand by the fact that you cannot evaluate Reagan as a President yet. He gets way too much credit for the fall of communism and for some reason gets off scott free for arming death squads in Central America by selling weapons to people who would use them against us. That said, no one is all good or bad, and we need time to evaluate.
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Post by Hilltopper on Mar 24, 2005 13:25:37 GMT -5
lichoya68 wrote: "great story about jtjr but not atypical i remember him saying in the old days.. hed not give autographs but would rather shake hands and meet and talk to you"
I have not asked anyone for their autograph since hearing Coach talk about that one year at basketball camp.
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