Starstruck

I have friends who run into "stars" in Whole Foods and Target. I have a co-worker who knows where her favorite star lives and sends him gifts for his birthday and at Christmas. However, I could be sitting next to someone famous and not even realize who they might be. I'm usually in a rush trying to finish shopping, eating, etc., and just don't take the time to see who is around me. (Rushing is a curse my mother taught me.)

Last Friday night I was coaching my 8 year old's basketball team and I was oblivious to the fact that I was in the presence of a star.

Coaching seven girls who are ages 7-8 is a challenge. The gym is always loud, they are running and it is difficult for them to hear any guidance I might need to share with them. Being a natually loud person, my yelling is even louder than normal. At one point I had screamed, "Get into the zone defense," about 15 times and was getting ready to say it again, when suddenly, I was interrupted.

A very tall, angry man had approached me and began yelling in my face. His team was getting beat 18-6 (by our team) and obviously, it didn't make him happy. In the midst of his yelling, I realized that he really only wanted me and everyone else around to know that he "was a PROFESSIONAL sports player." Everything else was a blur, except when he lunged towards me as if to strike me.

For once in my life I would have been "starstruck," had the league coordinator not escorted the gentleman away from our bench.

I must say that even though he yelled in my face for quite some time, I still wouldn't recognize him from Adam if I saw him again. However, that is not the case for everyone. The PROFESSIONAL was spotted at a hospital in Murfreesboro today selling surgical equipment. A client of his was asked who he was, and she was quick to say he was a former Tennessee Titan. When researched, he also played for the Saints and finished his career several years back with the Bears. How disappointing it must be to go from being spotted as a "PROFESSIONAL sports player" to now, "the 6' 6" guy who verbally attacked a 5' 5" female coach of a 7-8 year old girls' basketball team." Now, I'm thinking I should have asked for his autograph!