Actually a couple. My favorite story is I was working at a credit union (around 1988-89) in El Toro, CA. We had a Gold's Gym in the same center. Well...the actual name at the time was Kenny Norton's Golds Gym. I would have to go outside every morning before opening to get the balance totals off of the ATM machine. Every morning this HUMONGOUS black man in the ever famous neon flash workout pants that had the velcro on the waistband and a very tight fitting T-shirt. I would get nervous and hug the machine. The man could have snapped me like a twig.

After a couple of weeks he stopped to talk to me and asked if he scared me? I laughed and said yes, because (like I said) he could snap me like a twig. He started laughing so hard. I looked at him like he's was crazy. He puts his hand on my shoulder "Honey, I walk by every morning to make sure nobody messes with you." I laughed and thanked him. He said, 'Well I guess introductions are in order. He held out his hand and said 'Ken Norton, pleasure to meet you.' I shook his hand and said "My name is LeNetta, it's a pleasure to meet you too." I looked at him kind of funny. Then asked if he owned the Golds Gym. He said he did. He said good by since I had to get back to work. When I went inside my coworkers were standing there staring at me with their mouths open. I looked at them 'What??' Do you know who you were just talking to? I said yes he introduced himself to me said his name was Ken Norton. One of my coworkers gawked at me "That's all you have to say?" ; 'Yes, why?" "Former Heavyweight Boxer mean anything to you? " ; 'Not really though his name does sound familiar.' He shook his head at me and didn't say anything else.

The next morning Ken came by we said 'Hi' I asked if I could ask him a question. He said sure. 'Were you a boxer by chance?" He laughed so hard I was a bit dumbfounded. He put his hand on my shoulder again giggle "Yes ma'am, I am a boxer and before you go any further. I believe I had a pretty good career and a great life." NO it still didn't click in my brain. I told him he'd have to share some stories with me some time. He laughed some more , said only when I figure out why everyone was treating me so strangely.

So back in the day when the internet did not exist I had to ask around. My lovely younger brother told me I was a total idiot. Explained to me that he was a professional boxer and had been the Champ. I had vaguely remembered 11-year-old girls didn't really follow boxing. But we did watch the fight he won, because back then you watched all the major events.

So later that week, I apologized for my denseness. He laughed again. Said it was very refreshing for someone not to fawn all over him and treat him normal. I laughed and said I would have done that anyway.

He really was one of the nicest people I have ever met. He would occasionally buy our office breakfast or lunch. He walked by just about everyday for the 3 years I was there would discuss his kids and vacations and such. I was a newlywed so I didn't have much to talk about.

Sorry so long. like I said it's my favorite story for a lot of reasons. I think mostly because I felt like such an idiot for not immediately knowing who he was.