MMeM, Vol.11 Issue 9 – Not that guy

This past week I had been hearing about this guy, Aaron Levi, that was in his early 50’s and had lived his life knowing that he had been adopted as an infant. Like many who are adopted, he had always wondered about his birth parents. Over time, he got up enough courage and nerve to ask his adoptive parents about his birth parents and he learned little. Eventually, through his own research and the bits of information he learned from his adoptive parents he tracked down his birth mother.

He had always known or figured out that he was bi-racial, and felt he was most likely the product of an African-American and Caucasian. He had become a very learned man over time and was a professor now who always found himself drawn to English heritage and history. He always found this a bit odd among his friends growing up but didn’t think much of it. Then he met this birth mother who, was in fact, a caucasian from (drumroll) Great Britain originally. Ah hah! He thought. So, he asked about his birth father, did she know, could she tell him who he was? She did. She told him that his father was, none other that Wilt Chamberlain. He didn’t know who Wilt was as he had never been a big sports fan, but I found this whole story fascinating. Imagine, living your life always wondering who your parents really were and then finding out your father was arguably the most famous basketball player and “player” of the 20th century.

This story was being revealed in the newest issue of Sports Illustrated, March 9, 2015. That’s important as I went looking for it on March 8, 2015.

I thought I had to get a copy of this story which was apparently in the most recent edition of Sports Illustrated. This would be a great little get to drop off at my dad’s later in the day as he had grown up watching Wilt and his battles with Bill Russell and the like. I went to several stores and couldn’t find it. Finally, I went to a K-mart and was bending and stooping thinking to myself what is going on? How can I not find SI? Then a very helpful K-mart employee, Amanda, asked if she could help me. I explained what I was looking for and she immediately pointed to SI directly in front of my FACE, at eye level, with about 10 issues on the shelf. DOH! But, it was the SWIMSUIT issue.

I was so embarrassed. She took it off the shelf and handed it to me and I said, “Oh, I’ll bet the one I’m looking for with this story is in the next issue which isn’t out quite yet, but I’ll take this one anyway.” I thought to myself, obviously I can give this to my dad and he’ll be just as pleased with this as if I’d found the one with the Wilt story. She replied, “Oh, well if it’s not the one you’re looking for, then don’t worry about it…” And then I said, “No, I’m not going to BE THAT GUY who gets handed the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue by pretty young sales associate and refuses it. No, not me. I’ll take it.”