 |
November 11, 1996
"I will cross the ocean for you
I will go and bring you the moon
I will be your hero, your strength
Anything you need
I will be the sun in your sky
I will light your way for all time
I promise you
For you I will"
On the surface it seemed like a typical premiere, with deejays Leo Quiñones and Wendy from L.A.'s KIIS-FM serving as defacto masters of ceremonies on a stage that, fortunately for me, was situated directly across the red carpet from me. Yet Warner Bros. turned a simple movie opening into a show of sorts. Prior to the major arrivals, the Looney Tunes characters who appear in the film were paraded out onto the red carpet one by one--two new evil characters, Sylvester and Tweety, Taz, Wile E. Coyote and the Road Runner, Daffy, and Bugs and newcomer Lola, who was very much the crowd favorite at the event, stealing her boyfriend's thunder. After each one had emerged, Quad City DJs and a trio of dancers took the stage and performed their hit "C'mon N' Ride It (The Train)" and a double dose of the Space Jam theme song while the cartoon characters danced along. The big dancer of the group was Wile E. Coyote, a regular Tony Manero who didn't appear to quit dancing throughout the entire event.
Once the impromptu concert was over, Quiñones and Wendy reclaimed the stage and interviewed the incoming guests. Despite a star-studded guest list that included the likes of Harrison Ford, Will Smith, and others, the turnout was quite weak. Among those on hand were Space Jam co-stars Wayne Knight (who gave me the brushoff), Danny DeVito (with Rhea Perlman and children); and Theresa Randle; producer Ivan Reitman; Earvin "Magic" Johnson; Tyra Banks; Coolio (who snubbed the KIIS crew); Los Angeles Lakers coach Del Harris; Henry Winkler; Sabrina, the Teenage Witch star Melissa Joan Hart; music producer David Foster; and my former classmate in this past spring quarter's Film and Music class, Urkel himself, Jaleel White. Kevin Costner reportedly was on hand but entered through a back entrance. During the arrivals Quiñones kept on asking the crowd if they were having fun. While most people yelled "Yes" I stood there quiet, unamused. At times he would look at me, obviously noticing that I was not caught up in the "festive" atmosphere.
By the time Michael arrived at around 2:40pm I could feel my stomach doing flip-flops, and I probably would have vomited had I eaten something before. He blazed a trail on the red carpet with his lovely wife Juanita and surrounded by numerous handlers, photogs, and other press. He moved rather quickly as if he did not want to be bothered, but, fortunately for me, he stopped for an interview with Quiñones at the stage. There he was, standing directly in front of me, with a few shutterbugs trying to get their shots in and other media shoving their microphones in their face. I stood there calling his name, holding out my AJFC membership card and a letter I wanted to give to him. Michael didn't turn any of his attention away from the interview though for a brief second I could see and feel that he was looking right at me. However, once the interview was done, he rushed up the carpet to do his interviews with the television media, not stopping once for any fans, which came as somewhat of a selfish relief to me. The diehard fan who had stood next to me was obviously disappointed, and he asked if the afterparty would take place any place nearby. Unfortunately for him and for me, the post-preem celebration took place at an undisclosed location not in the vicinity.
Once everyone was in the theatre the event crews started to clear out all of the equipment, carpet, and barricades. Crowds still waited around but usually only for a minute or two before going on their way. I stood by the parking lot with only a couple of security people--and not a barricade--holding me back, again waiting, this time for the people to come out. One person who left early was Lakers coach Harris, with whom I had a brief exchange. He was quite cordial, and no one around me seemed to know who he was. After about an hour of waiting by the parking lot I noticed a fleet of limousines turn the block of Hollywood Boulevard directly in front of the theatre into a parking lot, so I decided to move to that area, once again stuck behind a barricade.
At around 4:50 the doors to the main auditorium opened, and out poured the sea of people. A smattering of familiar faces could be seen making a mad dash to their vehicles--Magic, Danny DeVito, Coolio, Tyra Banks--but no signs of the guest of honor. By 5:10 the massive crowd in front of the Chinese was clear, and there was no sign of Michael, who had obviously, wisely made his exit another way.
On the way home I felt a sense of hurt though not as strong as the one I had experienced exactly one and a quarter years earlier. What cushioned the blow was the fact that he didn't make time for anyone; it was not like he passed me over and left me in the cold. Yet by the time I had arrived home a sense of heartcrushing reality set in. Was this it? Was this my only other chance, and now it's gone? I had done all within reason to see my dream could true and yet there I was--and here I still am, a blubbering mess like I was that night exactly fifteen months earlier, no closer to meeting Michael than I was eight years ago...
Space Jam: The Non-Review
A Tale of Two Michaels
MJ & MD: Together Again, for the First Time
Sign the Michael Jordan Guestbook
Michael Jordan Chat
Michael Jordan Chat Forum