One morning when I was eating some breakfast at McDonalds, a rumor began brewing that Tim Duncan was visiting my hometown for a quick look (Del Rio is a quick look no matter how long you stay here). It was just a couple weeks after his first season in San Antonio, so I didn't really believe in the hype. Just as I was finished with my meal, he arrives at the McDonalds parking lot. I knew this was my one chance to meet him because apparently no else in the restaurant noticed he was about to enter. I scurry over to the entrance and wait for him, trying my best not to make a scene and ruin my chance to have a 1 on 1 conversation with him.
He approaches the door, and at that moment I greet him with a calm 'Hi, Tim'. He tells me that he already knows that I'm a cool guy since I'm the first fan he's met in town that hasn't become hysterical and began screaming when approaching him. I feel very excited to know that I'm already on his good side. He tells me that he really would like some McDonalds breakfast but isn't really in the mood to be flooded by loud fans in the restaurant since he is not a morning person. He then asks me if I could get his meal for him while he waits outside in his car for me. I felt weird that it's my first time meeting Tim Duncan and I'm getting him breakfast, but hey, it's Tim Duncan, so whatever, I was happy doing favors for him.
I leave the restaurant, go to his car, and hand him his food. He invites me in his car to chill so I can keep him company while he eats. Of course, I accept his offer. So we're just there in his car laying back relaxing and talking about his experiences in his first year in San Antonio, and it seems as though we're hitting it off just swimmingly. And it dawns on me that I'm almost late for work at the ER. I inform him of my situation and he insists that he drives me to work, saying that 'it's the least he can do for being relaxed around him'. I also accept that offer, and as soon as we are about to leave the parking lot, I noticed a friend of mine who is also working in the ER but has the day off, has just parked in the lot.
I call the friend over as he looks surprised since he believes that the car I'm in is mine. He approaches the car and Tim rolls down his window and you can imagine the surprise that gave my friend as he just notices I'm hanging out with Tim Duncan. He straight up hugs Tim through the window, and begins bombarding him with questions. I told him that we're on the way to the hospital because I'm late for work, and a sigh of disappointment comes from him, as he realizes his one time meeting Tim Duncan is over. And at that point, Tim comes up with another offer. He tells the friend of mine that if he covers for me at the ER for today, he'll give him 4 tickets to next season's opener and a locker room pass to meet him again after the game. He accepts the offer, gladly, runs into the restaurant to grab his breakfast, gives Tim another hug and takes a picture with him, and goes to work in my place.
I ask Tim what he wants to do since he got me the day off of work, and he brings up the idea of going to the gym for a little shootaround. I'm thinking to myself, 'oh my God, I'm gonna be playing basketball with Tim Duncan, what can be better?'. I excitingly accept the offer and show him the way to the local gym.
I'm just realizing that this is starting to become just the perfect day for me; meeting Tim Duncan, getting the day off, and now I'm gonna be playing basketball with him. I must be dreaming.
So we arrive and we change into our gear and start with a shootaround. A couple of other guys come into the gym and ask us if they wanted to play a little 2 on 2 match. Of course, me and Tim dominate, beating them 70 to 22. After that, I play him a free throw shooting contest, whoever makes the most out of 50, and he won, 38 to 36. I then play him a game of horse, and he beats me again, with his last shot being an underhand fullcourt shot backwards. When he made that shot, my jaw dropped. We continue on playing in the gym, and as we start to get worn down in the evening, he says he wants to get out of there and go do something else. He says he can really go for a game of bowling now. I show him the way to the alley, and the perfect day just keeps on going, the bowling alley is completely empty, allowing us to have more time playing and less time with bombarding fans. Let me tell you, he's an awesome bowler. We played 2 games with Tim beating me both times by at least 115 points.
By that time, it's already about 6 or 7 pm, and he says it's time for him to get out of town and back to San Antonio. We go to get some lunch at Chili's (he ordered one of the burgers, I forgot which one. One of the big mouth burgers) before he leaves. He drops me off at my house and tells me that I'm a pretty cool guy and that he'd like to hang out again next time he's in town. I tell him that that would be awesome and to just call me when he's back. We share our goodbyes and he tells me that next year he'll make sure that the Spurs win the championship.
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