My Chat with Friends

 I was asked by my friend Ashley Wahl of the O.Henry Magazine to take a stab at this concept:  Imagine this, I am able to sit down and have a beer (lemonade, ha) with any 5 people I’d like. Time is irrelevant. I can choose people who are famous, dead or living. Why would I pick who I picked? What questions would I ask them, and where would I want to meet them?

After thinking this would be a fairly simple task, I am finding that narrowing this down to only 5 influential individuals is extremely difficult, but I’m going to give it a try. Here are my 5 people that I’d love to chat will! (In no particular order)

1). Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr. – Dr. King, in my opinion, is the most influential figure in American history. Being best known for his role in the advancement of civil rights with nonviolent tactics, he is definitely at the top of my list. With Dr. King being a man of such significant words, we would meet at the place where he spoke his last words, in room 306 at the Lorriane Motel, in Mempis, Tenn. Having so much of an influence on how we live today, I would want to know how it felt to not be accepted by so many. Also, what made him continue to believe that his thoughts and beliefs were right, because so many felt the opposite. Like Dr. King, I feel that ALL people are created equal. No matter a person’s race, sex, ethnic background, sexual orientation, and don’t forget disAbility, everyone should have the same opportunities and be treated with full respect.  I admire Dr. King for many things, but one that stands out the most is his ability to speak up for those who could not speak out, and he did so with the understanding that there would a potential for violence against him, but the importance of his message overruled his fear. I would also ask if he could fast forward his life to 2013, would he proud of what he spoke for and what  he had accomplished, but maybe more importantly, what more would he do? After picking his brain and after enjoying a glass of iced sweet tea, I would proudly sit beside him on that balcony and face the world.

2). Michael Jordan – Michael Jordan, what more can I say, probably the greatest American basketball player that ever played the game. An All-Star, a closer, a clutch performer, and a 6-time Champion, it would be an honor to be in his presence. Winning 6 Championships with the Chicago Bulls, there is no question where we would meet, the place where those banners hang in the rafters, the United Center in Chicago, Ill. As we sit on the team’s bench (where Michael was rarely at) and enjoy some Gatorade, the first question I’d ask would be, what did it feel like to be unstoppable on the court? The way he would take over a game was unbelievable. At the end of a game, when his team needed a bucket, everybody in the arena knew he would get the ball, but there was nothing the opposing team could do, but hope he would miss the shot. How did he handle that pressure, pressure every night? Being in the spotlight 24/7, did it ever get old? As a competitive person myself, I’ve never had the experience of making that game-winning shot or that buzzer-beater, but I look at Michael Jordan as more than an athlete. As dominant as he was on the court, how can I be just as dominant at my game, life. Every time when the odds are stacked against me, like Michael, look straight in the face of adversity, give a wink, and say, ‘’I got this’’.

3). ‘’Texas Dolly’’ Doyle Brunson – Being one of the ‘’Grandfathers’’ of poker, Doyle Brunson made my list for many reasons. Now at the young age of 79, ‘’Texas Dolly’’ as he is known to the poker world, has virtually accomplished every achievement as a gambler and professional poker player. Brunson has won 10 World Series of Poker Bracelets (winning the Main Event in 1976 & 1977), has 1 World Poker Tour title to his credit, a Poker Hall of Famer, and in 2006, was recognized as being the #1 most influential force in the world of poker. I had the privilege of meeting Brunson in Las Vegas in 2009, but unfortunately it was only for a brief second as we were both on break during a tournament we both were playing. Obviously, as we sat across from each other at a poker table in Vegas, most of my questions would be about the ‘’old days’’ when poker was illegal everywhere and definitely not socially accepted. I can imagine as Brunson would tell his stories over a stiff drink, the stories would be filled with things like running from the law, playing in underground poker games, and the occasional run-in with ‘’not-so-nice’’ people, all of which I think has made what poker is today. As he has played poker for over 50 years, what are the differences in the game today as opposed to his younger days and, in his option, has the evolution of the game made the game better? As an ambassador of poker, what advice would he give poker players today, like myself, to ensure they respect the game as he has done for so many years?  As Brunson continues to be a leading force in the poker world, he was once quoted saying, ‘’A man with money is no match against a man on a mission’’, showing that ‘’Texas Dolly’’ is much more than a gambler, but a man of great character.

4). Harry Caray – If you are a baseball fan, you know who Harry Caray is. If you are a Chicago Cubs fan, you Definitely know who Harry Caray is. As a life-long Cubs fan, I grow up listening to the legendary announcer call Cubs games on WGN. Known for his oversized black glasses and larger than life personality, Caray is one of the most influential sportscasters in Major League Baseball history. Caray started his broadcasting career in 1945 with the St. Louis Cardinals, then continued with the Oakland Athletics, Chicago White Sox, before taking his last job with the Chicago Cubs following the 1981 season. The amount of history that Caray knows is what amazes me. As we would sit in the press box overlooking Wrigley Field, I can imagine the stories he would tell would increasingly get more hilarious as he partook in his favorite drink, Old Style Beer produced by Budweiser. I’d ask questions about how baseball has changed over his lifetime, who is the greatest baseball player he had ever seen, and if he thought baseball players make too much money today. Honestly, my questions would not be my focus, I would just like to sit and listen to his stories for hours. Anyone that listened to a Cubs game knew that Harry Caray loved what he did and Caray’s most famous contribution to baseball is his legendary singing of the seventh-inning stretch. At the end of the evening, I would ask if he would join me in singing ‘’Take Me Out To The Ballgame’’ one last time and of course at the end of the song, we’d shout, ‘’LETS GET SOME RUNS!!!”

5). Bob Marley – As reggae music’s most influential pioneer, Bob Marley’s feel good messages were primarily focused on the social issues of his homeland. Marley is considered to have given voice to the specific political and cultural problems of Jamaica. Having such an impact on Jamaica and the people of Jamaica, there would be no doubt that his homeland would be the perfect setting for our meeting. Sitting by the beach, enjoying the ‘’herbal remedies’’ of the land, and listening to Bob sing hits like ‘’I Shot the Sheriff’’, ‘’Three Little Birds’’, and ‘’Jamming’’ would be the highlight of the day.  I’d want to know how much religion played a part in his music, with him being a vital member of the Rastafari movement. As Marley began to get more popular, did he feel pressure to continue to speak up for his people? I’m sure he was ridiculed for opposing opinions of the norm, so what gave him the drive to go against popular demand and continue to spread the word of the struggles of Jamaica? I think the messages of love and being kind to one another are messages that can be relevant to all people and can last for many generations to come. Having so much of an impression of life, not to mention music, is why Bob Marley made my list. Music has a dramatic degree of how we think and act, and as a music lover myself, I don’t think artists today take advantage on speaking about positivity. Marley was a man that looked at life as we all should, with kindness and an opportunity to make everyone’s life better.

Even though I could only choose 5 individuals, there are many more that I would love to spend time with. As you know, I pride myself on being an open book. So, if anyone has questions for me or wants to know my thoughts/ideas on a particular issue, feel free to ask!

Much love people! Be well!

~ by jcranfill on February 13, 2013.