Flying High With The Champ
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by JasonComack
When I was 6 years old I was flying home from Florida on an American Airlines flight. A buzz was circulating around the plane than NFL Pro-Bowler Rod Woodson was sitting in coach. My dad went to Rod, who was apparently reviewing his contract, and asked for his autograph. Of all things to write an autograph on I got Rod Woodsons on an USA Airlines napkin....And I couldn't be happier. I mean to me at least, autographs are what you make of them. As a 6 year old kid, and as a 21 year old now I never expected Woodsons autograph to be worth anything, but it was a happy memory and when I see the autograph today it makes me feel good.
So why do I bring this up?
Well I guess there's something about airports that brings athletes to me.
I had a rough past couple of days, running around like crazy between NYC, Long Island and Upstate New York. By the time I was ready to make my return trek home from Syracuse today I was totally disoriented. In fact when I checked into the 'Cuse Airport and the guy asked me where I was flying to I responded "Flight 72 to Syracuse."
After checking in I decided some food would help perk me up. Of course my only option for food was crappy pizza at an airport Sabaros. I grabbed 2 slices of sale, soggy pizza and sat down to eat when I heard a strangely familiar voice behind me. I couldn't quite put my finger on where I knew the voice from but in my disoriented state I really didn't care to figure out. Until the voice started talking on the phone.
"Oh yea, you've been working on your take down defense? That's nice" said the voice. "Yea..I've been expecting a call from the UFC management." Wait...I looked behind me. No...it couldn't be. Sitting behind me in an airport Sabaros was none other than current UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Serra. Besides sporting a bad ass affliction T-Shirt he looked like the most inauspicious ass kicker you'll ever meet in your entire life. He wasn't jacked, like the juice heads you'll see in your local gym and he didn't seem to walk with any kind of swagger or ego. He just...looked like your average guy.
I wanted to approach Serra and let him that I'm a fan of his and fhe sport and that I appreciate how he carries himself as an ambassador for MMA.
Serra spent the entire time at Sabaros's on the phone and I thought my opportunity to talk to the champ was slipping away. As fate would have it much like Rod Woodson so many years ago Serra was on the same flight as me.
I was hesitant to approach Serra as I saw him in the airport terminal. I mean he's a star at this point in and I didn't want to be the 9,000 person to come up and bother him. However I heard Serra was a really nice guy and we had a training partner in common so I felt comfortable introducing myself. I was hoping for a handshake maybe a photo but what I got was so much more.
Immediately Serra began conversation "Oh yea you're a fan" I sat down next to him and tried to overcome my "holy shit I'm talking to the UFC Champ/Delirium factor" when Serra said "Hey, take a look at this" he pulled from his blue carry on bag a shinny, gold belt. Holy crap that's the UFC Welterweight title.
Let me tell you that thing is beautiful...and really heavy. I have a picture on my cell phone that I'll try to upload.
I know that not everyone that reads this in an MMA fan but to hold that belt was just....incredible. It'd be like getting to put on Tom Brady's super bowl ring or to hoist the Stanley Cup.
I couldn't believe what a genuinely nice, friendly and down to earth guy Serra was. He signed a picture for me and seemed genuinely pleased that I approached him. Of his new found fame he said "it's all good, all positive."
Serra is truly a class act. Many other mainstream athletes can certainly learn from the way he carries himself.
