I was at the YMCA State swim meet this past weekend at UB and who do I pass in the hallway at the Holiday Inn in Amherst off of 290? Non other than LaLaLaLaLaLaFontaine...

Pretty much it was great timing...I got bad directions to a hotel to visit some of my swimmers in the Resident Marriott in Cheektowaga on Friday. I was sick so I didn't have the energy to comprehend they were wrong and it was out of the way. Pretty much, I was taken in a circle around Buffalo and of course went the wrong way on Walden Ave. About 10:00 I leave the Marriot and get back in ten minutes.

So here I am...PISSED OFF about the bad directions because I need to sleep for the next 2 FULL days of swimming and b/c I felt like shit. I lost about an hour's worth of sleep...So I get into the hotel and in the hallway I make eye contact with this guy in a cap and see a "Companions In Courage" patch on his fleece.

After about 5-10 seconds I stop and was like "HOLY SHIT!" So I ask this guy, "Hey are you Pat LaFontaine?" He replies very friendly-like "yes"... so I told him I was a big fan and went over to shake his hand. We bullshitted for a couple minutes about the hockey tourny, the swim meet, and his foundation. I didn't want to creep him out since it was late so I just told him "it was an honor to meet you". Ha, I was so appalled I was in this guy's presence I was gitty like a schoolboy.

What a classy dude. It made my weekend...as did of course the 75% best times my swimmers picked up too. BTW, fuck the UB pool architect for those shitty blocks!

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"...they came down into the stands and asked if I knew how to do play by play. I said...No. But. I'll take a shot at it if you want".- Rick Jeanneret

That's awesome that you met him. I did once as well, was a wonderful person.

BTW, totally agree with you about UB's blocks. I swam in high school (many years ago now :p ) and they sucked back then too. Terrible.

Haha that's a cool story. Thanks for sharing.

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Wheelhouse

Sounds like a chill dude. Id love to meet him.

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LETS GO BUFFALO!

i love when you meet a famous athlete and they treat you like an equal and not below you. shaquille oneal is very very accommodating as well.

thats awesome, and he always seemed like a good guy.

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Cool story! Guess there was reason why you got bad directions, huh?

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"Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Hockey Night in Buffalo