Great story about Cheney. I really appreciate stories like these that leave a lasting memory of a kind and generous man.
Thanks for posting.
There are so many guys in sports whose public personna, or game personna are very different from their true personalities. I worked a couple of US Open tennis tournaments as a student, as a security guard in the men's locker room. Ilie Nastase who was by all means an irrascible villain, was a joksester and well liked by other players. Every once in a while, a kid would stop him on the grounds and ask for an autograph, and he would take the kid up to the locker room to get 30. I was once complaining to another player what an ass the heir apparent as villain, John McEnroe was. The guy stopped me nicely and say, "You've got to know Mac. He is one of the most generous and genuine friends off the court." The most popular player among the kids who worked in the locker room? Jimmy Connors, by far. He was warm and friendly with everyone there. I learned later that he grew up on the public courts, and had an appropriate built in disdain for the well to do tennis club set.
