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Poster: high flow Date: Nov 10, 2006 12:21pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: The Walton Story

Well, I've told this before but...ok! You talked me into it... 12/4/90 Oakland Coliseum I had a job w/ the Golden State Warriors, so I had an all-access press-pass and knew all of the guards/ushers at the venue. We'd arrive early and go hang-out in the W's front office w/ the ticket-sales guys. Duffels packed w/ tie-dye, beer and whatever else we could stuff in. How I met Walton I was working at the John Wooden Basketball camp and met a guy "Tom" who was the JV coach at St Ignatius in SF. He was also a long-time friend of Walton. So, we were introduced. Also at that time I had only studio tapes and Tom hooked me up w/ some brilliant sbds. Truly an awakening. So, over a year later, the stage was set. I had been arriving early to all the Oakland shows and saving seats for Tom in exchange for various goodies. One night he said,"Bill will be in town w/ his wife tonight. Can you save 2 extra seats?" Of course, the answer was YES! Walton showed-up well after the start of the 1st set, as to avoid unnecessary attention. We all stood and danced through the 1st set. He departed before halftime. Bill re-emerged during the 2nd set opener. We rocked-out until drums/space, when he finally sat down and whipped out a doobie. So, there we were. Me, my 3 young buddies, Tom and Bill. Sitting in a row elbows on knees watching the action on stage. That's when it hit me..."we're the Cetics bench players!" Hilarious moment for me. Anyhoo, the doobie was passed and the evening progressed and Bill snuck back stage before the end of the encore. Saw him a few times after that and he remebered me, which was a thrill. Almost 16 years ago now...how time flies.
This post was modified by high flow on 2006-11-10 20:21:46

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Poster: ronniewrites Date: Nov 10, 2006 12:24pm
Forum: GratefulDead Subject: Re: The Walton Story

That's a fantastic story...I remember when the Celtics' Robert Parish got busted trying to mail some quantity to himself. I can imagine the shenanigans that went on among him, Walton and Mc(in)Hale.