"The Night" 10 Years Ago Today

Most people are excited to turn 16. You finally get to drive and can enjoy all the freedoms that come along with that. My 16th birthday was no different. I took the car out for a spin (not the prettiest of driving experiences, I have to say) and felt the adrenaline rush from driving for the first time. That was just the beginning of an amazing birthday, however, because that night, December 2nd, 1999 I was going to the Sports Illustrated 20th Century Sports Awards at Madison Square Garden with my dad.

Knowing that Wayne Gretzky was going to be one of the biggest honorees, I wore his Rangers jersey to the event. To be honest, the awards ceremony was sort of dull. Bryant Gumbel was the host and Garth Brooks and Paul Simon were the "exciting" musical guests. They had such a problem selling seats that they took all of us in the nosebleeds and made us move down to make the Garden look more full. When the ceremony was over I rushed down to try to grab autographs but the only significant person to stop and sign for me was Michael Strahan.

Then I saw Paul O'Neill out of the corner of my eye and ran for him. "Paulie! Paul!" I yelled. "I'm a huge fan! Can I get an autograph? Plllleaase!" As I was running, I tripped on the slick MSG floors, fell and hit the ground with a thud. He stopped, turned around, waved at me and apologized that he had to leave.

I was dejected and a little embarrassed but we stuck around to see if I could catch anyone else. No such luck. So we went to leave.

But I really had to pee. Badly. And we were in a part of the Garden I had never been before. We were going down the escalator and I really had to go. So I just decided to open a door and see if there was a bathroom. I walked into a room with bright lights and lot of people in tuxedos. "Where the hell am I?" I asked.

Then it hit me. "HOLY CRAP! I WALKED INTO THE PHOTO SHOOT!" My dad found me and we were standing there totally out of place and not sure what to do. I was in a Rangers jersey and jeans and my dad was no fancier dressed than I. And we were watching all the biggest athletes of the 20th century line up to take a picture.

Bob Beamon, Jackie Joyner-Kersee, Billie Jean King, Evander Holyfield, Chris Evert, John Elway, Bill Russell, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Pete Sampras, Jim Brown, Muhammad Ali, Pele, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Jack Nicklaus, Carl Lewis, Monica Seles, Wayne Gretzky and Joe Montana. HOLY CRAP.

I still have no clue why no one asked us what we were doing there or tried to get us to leave. We obviously didn't belong. But we found a group watching the photo shoot which included Keyshawn Johnson and Muhammad Ali's grandson and just hung out with them. Trying to blend in. Let's just say I forgot that I had to pee.

I turned to my dad and shook my head thinking I was dreaming. I took the camera and went to take a picture. Suddenly, a guy in a tuxedo came up to me. "Oh no! Oh no!" I thought "They finally figured out I'm not supposed to be here. The gig is up."

"Sir," the guy said to me, "all I ask is that you don't take flash photography until we're done with the photo shoot." PHEW! I got some pictures in and have those up on the right.

As we watched the photo shoot, the only thing I remember--besides feeling like I was dreaming--was Muhammad Ali's grandson make fun of stupid comments Keyshawn Johnson was saying. Keyshawn got upset by everyone (including my dad and I) laughing at him and walked away for a while.

Then the photo shoot ended and the athletes started scurrying off. I ran after a few to get autographs and meet some of these amazing athletes. I somehow joined a conversation with Jackie Joyner-Kersee and Monica Seles. Wayne Gretzky signed my jersey (his jersey!) and took a picture with me. I got to see Michael Jordan and shake hands with Muhammad Ali. I don't know who Jack Nicklaus thought I was but we talked about golf for a good 20 minutes. His stories were great.

Bob Beamon walked around with a HUGE smile and said to me he felt like a kid. He was so honored to meet all of his heroes. I knew how he felt.

And then, as the athletes started to disperse, my dad said it was time to go. We had been there for a long time and enjoyed it immensely. But it was a school night and I was still 16. The last thing I remember from the night was leaving to go to the car and Pete Sampras and the beautiful woman by his side (not sure if it was his girlfriend, wife, escort, or what) riding down in the escalator with us. Sampras asked if we were going to the after-party and I asked him where it was. My dad looked at me and said "I think we're going to pass". I was sad to let that night go, but understood.

So often there is a wall between the athletes we all admire and us in the public. Once in a while, those walls come down and you get to meet those people you cheered for or against for so long. Those people you have watched over and over or those famous athletes your dad told you stories about. That night was 10 years ago today and still ranks as one of the best birthday presents I ever received.