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Previously, I mentioned Jerry Colangelo. I also saw him once here in Portland at Memorial Coluseum, which is where the Blazers played before moving to the Rose Garden. He was in the lobby talking on a pay phone (remember those?). At the time, he was the owner of the Phoenix Suns. I recognized him, and after he got off the phone (I could hear him talking about a trade!) I introduced myself and told him I had gone to HS with his sister, Rosemary, and that I once saw him at a party at his parents house. He actually remembered the party, although he didn't remember me. We talked about our old HS for a minute, then he had to leave.
And speaking of Jerry - when he did go to my HS (years before me), he was a pitcher on our baseball team. One of the other pitchers on that same team was Jim Bouton. I also saw Jim here in Portland. After his career was basically over, the class A minor league Portland Mavericks baseball team hired him on as a promotion. I went to one of the games and he was warming up in the bullpen. I leaned down out of the stands and yelled that I had gone to the same HS as him. He smiled and came over to the stands. I was able to reach down and shake his hand. Just like with Jerry, Jim and I talked for a minute about our old HS. I also told him how much I liked his books about baseball. He said that if I had one with me (which I didn't), he would autograph it for me. It was quite an experience.
BTW - the HS I was referring to is Bloom HS in Chicago Heights, Illinois.
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Yom HaShoah
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