Meeting Shad Gaspard; My First WWE Event; Randy Orton Gets Into it with a Fan

Bear with me, as this kind of got away from me as I was writing it. 

Yesterday was not my typical Friday, I must say. I went to my airport job which is rarity now since I teach during the week. I do the airport gig on weekends only now. School is out so I wanted to make a few extra dollars.

Working at the Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International Airport (Florida) I've seen many celebrities come through: Rapper Trina, 50 Cent, NFL players, comedians, actors, and wrestlers.

My first meeting of wrestlers in transit was around three or four years ago back when Orlando Jordan was still on the WWE roster. (They need to re-sign Jordan. I always liked OJ.) Many of the wrestlers were flying Delta.

I've never been one of those people who run up to celebrities and fawn over them and ask for autographs. I just never saw the point of autographs to tell you the truth. I had a few words with Jordan, who is from Florida, and then went back to work.  

Anyway, it momentarily slipped my mind that the WWE was coming to Ft. Lauderdale for a RAW/ECW Live event. I happened to see four young males walking from terminal to terminal in WWE merchandise but it didn't strike me weird. I just figured they were unsure where the rest of their party was arriving.

Later on I was in the terminal and saw this huge man in front of me who was strangely familiar. Then the fanboys ran up in their RKO and Kane shirts with pictures ready to be signed. It then dawned on me that I was looking at Shad Gaspard of Cryme Tyme. 

Then another man in a black suit with black sheer covering his face made his way down the escalator. Turns out Boogeyman hides his face when he travels.

I made my way over to Shad, said "what's up?" and we shook hands. I told him that we are friends on Myspace (silly, I know) and he laughed and said he's got so many friends on that site he doesn't recognize me. I assured him that I didn't expect him to.

We then engaged in small talk for about five minutes (I was still on the clock for my job).

Let me say that I didn't inform him that I would reproduce our dialogue so I won't quote him word for word.

I asked where JTG was and he explained he went to get the rental car. He then asked where Alamo was located and I informed him.

"When are you guys going to win the titles, man?" I asked. I brought up how they are too talented and over to not have the belt and how they had had that No. 1 contendership status for so long before they were released a while back.

He told me he couldn't tell me when they would get the straps. He has no control over that. He said he's just happy that he has a job and one that he enjoys.

"Yeah, especially in this economy right now, I know."

After a few more minutes I wished him good luck in his match later and then got back to work. More fans went up to him asking for pictures and autographs.

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