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Notice how none of these stories are about him getting hammered and passing out at Cy's Roost, stealing a cell phone, robbing a Burger King, beating someone up, driving drunk or doing something else that is completely stupid? Nice that everyone's experience has been positive, that is not always the case. Never heard one bad word about Freddie.
Thought I would add my Freddy encounter.
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In the week prior to the 1993 NCAA tournament, I was lucky enough to attend an ISU practice to get autographs. The practice concluded and my 8-year-old self and two of my friends went into the Cyclone locker room.
We got to see all of the players. Meyer was bench pressing; Justus Thigpen was jamming out to MC Hammer on an eight track and Michalik was combing what little hair he had left.
Keep in mind these guys were like gods to me. But Freddie was above them all. We approached the Mayor while he was applying his Speed Stick - I distinctly remember it was Speed Stick. He asked us about school and told us to come to Iowa State when we were old enough. My day was made. Heck, my life was made. At the time, it was like meeting the man upstairs himself.
As we were leaving the locker room, we were treated to the not-so-glorious sight of Johnny Orr towel-less. "Hiya kids!" he yelled-like only JO could. Yes, I have seen all of then 70-year-old Johnny Orr. After that we quickly left the building. It's a memory I won't ever forget.
I have never met him but a friend of mine mom babysat him when he was young.
Quote:
Originally Posted by brentblum
Hahaha!! :biglaugh::biglaugh:
This is a good story but since I'm the same age as Fred, I've got to object to the 8 track being dropped in here. Surely you mean CASSETTE?! :smile:Quote:
Originally Posted by brentblum
Ha...what are cassettes? Never heard of them. :jimlad:Quote:
Originally Posted by ca4cy
Whippersnapper!:wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by brentblum
It won't be long until kids don't know what CD's are...
Whooo Eeeee coach! You're naked! :eek:
I was in People's one night when Fred, Loren Meyer, and some others guys were hanging out. I was trying to make some moves on a girl until Fred came over and said, "Hey, that's my girlfriend!". Needless to say, I immediately left her alone...and he later married her.
Through mutual friends, I was lucky enough to be able to hang out with Fred and some of the other basketball players a few times over the next couple years. I reminded him of that story and we laughed about it. I told him how much he scared me - and the fact that Loren was next to him. Dude was a GIANT! Every time I was around Fred, he was gracious, humble, and a perfect example of what a student athlete should be.
I can't tell you how excited I am to know that such an all-around great guy is the head coach of our basketball team.
Lol, he was not. I used to coach against him though. Know him a little bit. He is a nice kid. Obviously one of the best in his class. :smile:Quote:
Originally Posted by Cydkar
I met Fred at a Center Court game years ago at the community center. I got his autogragh while he was doing his stretches. A couple years ago at the Barry Stevens Tribute Game I had my picture taken with the Mayer. He is such an incredibly nice man!
I did see Fred run a stop sign in Huxley once. When I was a 5th grader or so, there was a summer park and rec basketball league at the outdoor court in Huxley. The guy running it invited Fred to come play with us the last day. This was right after he graduated from ISU. He pulled up an an All-Sport van and ran a stop sign in the process. He then played with us and of course took it easy on us, but he did kind of misdribble once and get his pocket picked. The kid tried to go the other way to lay it in but was promptly rejected by the Mayor. Afterwards he gave us all free All-Sports and signed anything we had.Quote:
Originally Posted by cyatheart
I worked in the rec center downtown that those guys played summer league in. One game, Loren got tossed by the refs and was rather irate - out of control irate actually.Quote:
Originally Posted by ISUinOR
Boss told me to "get him out of the gym!".
:eek:
yes - Loren was huge. I'm 6'4" and he still towered over me. Turned out to be a really nice guy (once he calmed down a bit)
I never had any run-in's with Fred. Talked with his parents on more than a few occassions. Extremely nice people and it's obvious where Fred gets all his fine qualities from.
My last year at ISU in 1989 I got to know Fred's dad Eric. We were on some student/faclity committees together. I remember talking to Eric about Fred who was clearly a rising star who hadn't committed to a school yet and Iowa was recruiting him hard and it wasn't clear if ISU would get him or not.
I knew Fred was good, but never figured he'd have the long career he did as well as become the ISU coach one day.:smile:
Eric was a great professor. Smart, easy to talk to, popular with the students. Just a great man and I really enjoyed dealing with him. I saw him 3 or 4 years after I graduated and he still remembered me which I thought was impressive. Fred had an awesome teacher in him.
It doesn't appear the apple fell very far from the tree and I'm very excited we have such a quality man in charge of Men's Basketball.:notworthy: