During my radio career I met and talked with countless celebrities in various situations. Musicians, TV and movie stars, athletes, politicians and other famous folks were a constant during my 20 years in Chicago media.
Most meet-ups were in radio station studios, lobbies and also on the phone for various interviews. Other encounters were backstage at concerts, movie screenings and other events. Almost all of my brushes with greatness/celebrity were good ones or at least passable. The fame game is a tough one. As David Allen Coe wrote in his classic “The Ride”, “If you’re big star bound let me warn you it’s a long hard ride.”
Maybe it’s not fair but I judged all of my meetings (personal and professional) with famous people by a meet up I had with two stars back when I was 11 years old. At that age my life centered around sports, playing and watching baseball and hockey. Hockey was my constant passion, anything that had to do with the Chicago Blackhawks was top priority in my world.
One Sunday night in the early spring of 1972 I was at home with my father and sister Maryanne while my mother was working as a server at Steven’s Steak house in Elmhurst. Stevens was the best and fanciest restaurant in town and my mom worked a few shifts there each week.
On this particular evening my dad got a call from mom. She had just taken food orders from Blackhawk star goalie Tony Esposito and defenseman Pat Stapleton! The Hawks had a rare afternoon home game that day so a meal out on a Sunday night was in order for these players. Mom told my dad to get me over to her workplace ASAP to meet these guys. My dad gave me the news and I quickly threw on dress pants and shirt, sport coat and tie as he did the same. Stevens was a ‘dress well’ type of eatery and we needed to fit in.
Before closing and being demolished in favor of a Thornton gas station, Stevens Steak House was THE place for the best dining in Elmhurst.
Twenty minutes later my dad and I were in the presence of these two Blackhawk stars as they dined with their wives. Tony spotted me shyly approaching his table and got up to introduce himself and ask for my name. Pat Stapleton did the same and we shook hands and talked hockey for a few minutes. My mom brought over a couple of Stevens menus and Esposito and Stapleton neatly signed autographs and thanked me for being a fan of them and the Hawks. This whole meeting took about five minutes but it was a monster thrill for me.
Tony Esposito and Pat Stapleton were open to having their meals interrupted and were gracious to a young star struck fan. It made for a great story I got to share with my teacher and classmates the next day at school. Tony and Pat showed me even though they were well known athletes, they were as normal and personable as anyone else. From then on, I measured all of my meetings with famous people by the same standard that these two men showed me.
Tony Esposito watches defenseman Pat Stapleton take control of the puck back in the day.
Years after this Sunday night encounter I would often see Tony Esposito around town. He and other Blackhawk players chose Elmhurst as their place to live and raise their families. I never did approach Tony again, one pleasant meet-up years earlier was more than enough for me.
Both Esposito and Stapleton are now deceased but my memory of meeting them lives on. They set my standard for meeting famous people. Thanks again guys!
Next blog- Working on Our Night Moves.