March 20, 2000

The following is not a typical athlete's journal entry. You will not read about how many points were scored, who won, or who was difficult to guard. Mostly because of what you'll read about below. Instead, you will experience The World According To Me. Each week, I'll be posting another entry, so stay tuned ...

What an exciting and busy week in My World. I did a bit of traveling and met quite a few people. Let's take a peek inside ...

I made a trip to Kansas City and read a book to 2,000 elementary school aged kids. They won a contest for reading a certain number of books. After my journey into Kidland, I flew to Peoria, Illinois to speak at a luncheon. I was fortunate to spend three days in Peoria. If you have never been there, I highly recommend it. I think it was listed as one of the top honeymoon spots ... right behind Hawaii and the Caribbean. Actually, my visit there really touched my heart. I had the opportunity to visit both a children's hospital and a shelter for abused women. It was a harsh reality check and made me thankful for each one of the blessings I have!

I had the opportunity to visit both a children's hospital and a shelter for abused women. It was a harsh reality check and made me thankful for each one of the blessings I have!

After a week of travel, I was excited to return to NYC. I had to fly through St. Louis and when I got there I learned that my flight to the big apple was delayed for two hours. I spent the time hanging out with some college baseball players I met on the airplane. They were sweet guys - on their way to play UCLA. Of course, one of the players couldn't understand why I wouldn't let him take a picture of him posting me up. It wasn't the picture that bothered me so much. I just didn't want to be standing in a crowded airport terminal with a young man posting me up as his friends snapped a photo. I don't know ... for some reason I thought it might draw some unnecessary attention.

When I finally landed in NYC well after midnight, the skies were clear and it was 70 degrees. Interesting, since the official reason for the delay was "weather in New York."

A good thing about traveling is that it affords me the time to catch up on my reading and current events. While I was perusing some newspapers, I found a few items I thought you would like, especially since the Tonya Harding piece in my last World was such a hit!!!

Some Interesting Tidbits of Info.

 A man was accused of stealing items from Roy Rogers' (deceased cowboy film star) family museum. Included was a pair of red-white-and-blue cowboy boots and a white Stetson hat. OK, the only person who should wear such a get-up should be WORKING at a museum ... Giddy-up!
 Speaking of museums, there is a museum in Philadelphia, Penn. that has 900 fluid-preserved specimens. Included are the world's largest human colon (the size of a cow's) and a cancerous tumor removed from President Grover Cleveland's jaw. I wonder how popular the museum cafeteria is?!
 An Arkansas beauty queen who often publicly spoke out against alcohol abuse had to surrender her crown. Why? Well, just hours after she urged members of a civic club not to drink and drive, she was arrested for drunken driving! She is also under investigation for harassing members of Mothers Against Drunk Driving. I hope they take away her license to drive tractors now!
 Friends and family of rhythm and blues star "Screamin'" Jay Hawkins have created a Web site to search for the 57 children he reportedly fathered. The site asks, "Are YOU one of Jay's kids?" I don't even know what to say about this one ... it is funny on its own!
 A man was slashed across the face on the dance floor of a club in New York City. He was also stabbed at the club a couple weeks before. OK. All I know is that if I got stabbed at a club, I wouldn't be back there a few weeks later ... or ever again for that matter. They must play that FUNKY music!
 A young Brit named Trevor Tasker flew to South Carolina last week to meet and marry his online love. But the Associated Press reports that his girlfriend was actually a 65-year-old woman who was jailed earlier this month after authorities found the body of a man in her freezer ... (I had a particular friend in mind when I added this story!!!)

My Little Movie Review

Boiler Room: Good movie, especially if you have seats. I was late and watched the first part sitting on the floor in the back of the theatre. It took me about 10 minutes to unstick myself from the floor.

Reindeer Games: Terrible. It is not even worth renting. Even if a friend rents it, don't watch. It is a waste of time. I found myself laughing AT the movie at times. Very, very bad.

Wonder Boys: I thought this movie was funny. Just seeing Michael Douglas spend a lot of time in a fuzzy pink bathrobe is worth the price of admission ($9.50 in NYC).

A movie about women's basketball entitled Love and Basketball is coming to a theatre near you. I haven't seen it yet. However, I did go to L.A. and read for a part in the movie. I kinda knew I wasn't going to get the part when I realized they were having me read for the role of an African-American point guard!

My World Post Office

I was inspired by the owner of the Dallas Mavericks who answers every e-mail sent to him by fans. He even puts his e-mail address on the Jumbotron during Mavs' games. I don't have a Jumbotron (yet), but I've been answering a lot of the e-mails lately. Here's a sample of good ones ...

Well, I don't really have a question. I just wanted to say THANK YOU so much for e-mailing me. It truly made my day. So far my day has been outstanding. In the mall I shook hands with Peter Warrick and now an e-mail from you. WOW! In ghetto terms, "You is really off da chizznit."
Well, thank you.
Mamie

I had to ask Mamie what the heck "off da chizznit" meant. She said it was pretty much the same as saying something is "da bomb." Mamie has also promised to keep me updated on what she calls "ghetto terms!" As an aside, I'd think Peter Warrick would be avoiding malls these days!

Most of the time I do find your column amusing, but do you really need to lecture your fans on the proper way to approach you? Don't you think that you should be happy that you have fans in the first place? Afterall, without your fans where would you be?
Sallie

I appreciated Sallie's e-mail. This is the same thing my mom has been telling me since day one of my column. I guess we all hate to admit that our mom is right. However, I do hope the fans realize that when I write things like "proper fan etiquette," it is with tongue in cheek and meant to be amusing. And Sallie, without fans, I would still be the only one reading The World According To Me!

Shout Out Time

 Jason Beckman and my other stranded baseball friends in the St. Louis airport.
 JD Lover. Howard tells me your new "do" is driving 'em wild!
 Michelle Singer: keep doing what you do. You are a bright spot in this world.
 My tapas-eating friends at the Divine Bar. Can we have a booster seat for my friend next time?
 Harold ... what did you do with your game, my friend?
 Toni, Michele, and Yvonne - my Brooklyn posse.
 The mother of one Liberty employee (who shall remain anonymous) who e-mails me and tells me to keep an eye on her son ... he's doing just fine, Mrs. Guy.