When I met Julio Cesar Chavez

It was just after the weigh in for the Morales Pacquiao fight, and I was in the basement of the MGM Grand Garden Arena waiting at the lower exit trying to score autographs from any fighters that were trying to slip out the back. A friend and I were 2 of about 20 people standing in the concourse looking for autographs, the majority of them Mexicans that were there to support Eric Morales. After meeting a few different fighters like Miguel Cotto, Eric Morel, Carlos Hernandez, I spot the legendary Julio Caesar Chavez coming out in the middle of a small entourage. While nearly everyone was still busy talking with Carlos Hernandez, I was the first to spot Chavez, and approached him before anyone else noticed. “Julio, can I get an autograph?” I asked stepping into his way. He put up his hand up and waived me off with a somewhat disgusted look on his face and said something in Spanish as he clearly brushed me off not even breaking stride. Just as he passed me, the small crowd of autograph seekers erupted like Elvis was spotted alive and well. “Chavez! Chavez!” they began madly chanting. He smiled and went over and signed his name for the group of adoring Mexicans. I wasn’t too put out after being clearly dissed, thinking that each of those fans probably wanted that autograph much more than I did. It didn’t take very long for the news to spread and many fans started coming over and chanting his name. He quickly used his entourage to push through the amassing mob that was growing more and more frenzied. It’s AMAZING how popular this guy is in light of all the other fighters I saw in and around the fight. I was slightly disappointed as I had a nice collection of autographs going, and Chavez would have been a nice addition. I didn’t think much of it and continued on with the day and festivities on a Friday night in Vegas. The next morning I was at the MGM Grand around noon, and decided to stop in the gift shop to purchase a disposable camera. As I was looking through the cameras, I noticed none other than JC Chavez right beside me browsing through various packages of cookies, looking really perplexed as to what kind he should buy. I had my program in hand (which is where I was collecting signatures) and quickly reached into my pocket to grab my trusty marker. I knew I had him cornered this time, and figured I’d work the situation to my advantage. I quickly turned to him (before he noticed me recognizing him) and pushed my program and marker right towards him and said: “Greatest of all times?” I don’t know how much English he speaks, and I don’t speak any Spanish, but I know he understood what that meant. He was caught off guard, and didn’t respond immediately, so I just repeated myself: “Greatest of all times?” He cracked the biggest smile and took my program and signed it. He then patted me on the shoulder and turned away to pay for his cookies. Sure enough, by that time a small crowd started to gather (seeing me getting him to sign something) and it wasn’t long before the chanting started up again, and he was forced to make an abrupt exit to avoid the growing crowd. Just thought I’d share this story as he’s fighting tomorrow. =)