Wednesday, July 14, 2004
Autograph hunters stake out celebritiesSTATELINE -- Being a fan of Michael Jordan means being able to wait … and wait … and sometimes wait some more.
Jordan, the Mount Everest of celebrity, at least when it comes to the annual American Century Championship golf tournament, was scheduled to tee off at 11:50 a.m. Tuesday for his practice round at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course.
Nearly 100 fans gathered near the golf cart barn not long after 11 a.m., waiting for their hero to show. Many wore Jordan’s name across their back; many more were prepared to offer up something for him to sign.
Like an urban legend, the belief of his presence grew into fact as more and more people joined the masses.
But he wasn’t even at the course yet.
Jordan arrived a little after 1 p.m., and teed off with his friend, NBC commentator Ahmad Rashad, at 1:30 with what was far and away the day’s largest gallery – about 150 – following him off the first tee, his ever-present cigar in his mouth.
Tuesday marked the first official day of tournament week for the 15th annual celebrity golf tournament, a 54-hole event that starts Friday. It also was the day of the first of three celeb-ams (another is today and the third Thursday), which tournament organizers tout as the best days to get autographs.
That’s what Carlos Carmonay was hoping to do. Carmonay was dressed shoulders to toes in Jordan wear -- a Chicago Bulls home jersey, home shorts and Jordan’s Nike shoes.
“I’ve been a big fan ever since I was a little kid,” said Carmonay, 26, of Hayward, Calif. “I always asked my dad for Jordan shoes. No matter how much they cost, I had to have my Jordans.”
Like everyone else, though, Carmonay would have to wait until after Jordan’s practice round. He didn’t mind. Jordan’s autograph is something special.
“He’s a legend,” Carmonay said. “Once he’s gone, his name will last forever as one of the best to ever play the game.”
The crowds on a sunny but breezy Tuesday were fairly small, but consistent with Tuesdays of ACCs past. That made autograph-hunting fairly easy, and most celebrities – including Gary Carter, Billy Joe Tolliver, Vinny Del Negro and Steve Bartkowski – were more than willing to cooperate.
Donald Trump, making his first appearance at the ACC, arrived late in the afternoon with his fianceé, model Melania Knauss, and got in five or six holes of practice with NBC Sports executive Jon Miller and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Keenan McCardell.
“It’s a very nice course,” he said as he posed for photos and signed autographs for fans.
“I played OK for the first time on the course.”
Jordan, the Mount Everest of celebrity, at least when it comes to the annual American Century Championship golf tournament, was scheduled to tee off at 11:50 a.m. Tuesday for his practice round at Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course.
Nearly 100 fans gathered near the golf cart barn not long after 11 a.m., waiting for their hero to show. Many wore Jordan’s name across their back; many more were prepared to offer up something for him to sign.
Like an urban legend, the belief of his presence grew into fact as more and more people joined the masses.
But he wasn’t even at the course yet.
Jordan arrived a little after 1 p.m., and teed off with his friend, NBC commentator Ahmad Rashad, at 1:30 with what was far and away the day’s largest gallery – about 150 – following him off the first tee, his ever-present cigar in his mouth.
Tuesday marked the first official day of tournament week for the 15th annual celebrity golf tournament, a 54-hole event that starts Friday. It also was the day of the first of three celeb-ams (another is today and the third Thursday), which tournament organizers tout as the best days to get autographs.
That’s what Carlos Carmonay was hoping to do. Carmonay was dressed shoulders to toes in Jordan wear -- a Chicago Bulls home jersey, home shorts and Jordan’s Nike shoes.
“I’ve been a big fan ever since I was a little kid,” said Carmonay, 26, of Hayward, Calif. “I always asked my dad for Jordan shoes. No matter how much they cost, I had to have my Jordans.”
Like everyone else, though, Carmonay would have to wait until after Jordan’s practice round. He didn’t mind. Jordan’s autograph is something special.
“He’s a legend,” Carmonay said. “Once he’s gone, his name will last forever as one of the best to ever play the game.”
The crowds on a sunny but breezy Tuesday were fairly small, but consistent with Tuesdays of ACCs past. That made autograph-hunting fairly easy, and most celebrities – including Gary Carter, Billy Joe Tolliver, Vinny Del Negro and Steve Bartkowski – were more than willing to cooperate.
Donald Trump, making his first appearance at the ACC, arrived late in the afternoon with his fianceé, model Melania Knauss, and got in five or six holes of practice with NBC Sports executive Jon Miller and Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Keenan McCardell.
“It’s a very nice course,” he said as he posed for photos and signed autographs for fans.
“I played OK for the first time on the course.”
