You never know who you'll meet on a plane

By GRAHAM OSTEEN
Item Editor-At-Large
graham@theitem.com

My column this week started out as an expose of what's on everybody's mind -- polygamy in Sumter County -- but something else came up that merited immediate attention.

My responsibilities as "Editor-At-Large" include detailing brushes with interesting characters, so I'm compelled to pass along a recent conversation I had with former Chicago Bears quarterback Jim McMahon.

McMahon was the renegade quarterback of the 1985 World Champion Bears, a magnificent team that included the late Walter Payton, William "Refrigerator" Perry, Mike Singletary and Coach Mike Ditka.

They did the "Superbowl Shuffle" video, which represented the 1980s at its ridiculous finest, and McMahon was famous for wearing headbands with odd messages like "Pluto." His famous quote, "Outrageousness is nothing more than a way to wake people up," was the creed he lived by as a player. He drove Ditka completely crazy, and they were a great team to watch.

I was traveling on Spirit Airlines earlier this week, and after settling in to my roomy exit row seat that didn't recline, I noticed that the man next to me, just across the aisle, was in great pain. He was so uncomfortable the stewardess asked if she could help in some way.

The man's wife said he was having shoulder surgery the next day, and that he would be better soon. A bag of ice would help, she said, and it was delivered promptly. I knew immediately it was McMahon.

He had on the trademark mirror sunglasses he wears as a result of a childhood eye injury that makes him sensitive to light, and he basically looks the same as he did in his prime. He's still in great shape, and he's one of those rare people who look like a professional athlete, even at 48.

So I'm sitting there throughout the 90-minute flight about two feet from him while he's writhing in pain with his wife rubbing his neck and shoulders. It was awkward, and I'm trying to read my stack of newspapers and act like I don't notice.

What can you do?

On one hand, my Southern Sunday School upbringing compelled me to do something that would show human kindness and compassion. On the other hand, it was none of my business, and an obvious case of a former pro football player who has been broken down into a terrible state of physical pain. He played the game, and now he's paying the price. Entertainment at that level has grim consequences.

We finally land and he's a little less agitated, but clearly ready to get off the crowded plane. Right before it's time to stand up and get moving I say, "Jim, I sure enjoyed watching you play football. I'm sorry you're in pain. Hope you get better."

He looked over at me through those mirror sunglasses and said, "Thanks."

That was the conversation. He headed out just in front of me with his wife and disappeared into the terminal.

My old pal, Jim McMahon.



Many thanks to Wallie Jones, the great P-15 coach and doctor of dentistry, for a recent letter to the editor that will soon be published on this page.

He made some kind remarks about The Item's historic role in this community, and we all -- the family and the staff -- appreciate it.

The new Monday format continues to generate discussion, and I spoke with several more people earlier this week. After going through it page by page with one fairly irritated gentlemen, he conceded that what we're trying to do makes sense.

It is a radical departure, but we're going to keep working on a "hyper-local" Monday edition. We appreciate the input, and we're listening. As I said before, we have a great staff, and this new product will continue to evolve and improve each week.


Graham Osteen is co-president of Osteen Publishing Co. and Editor-At-Large of The Item. Contact him at The Item, 20 North Magnolia St., Sumter, S.C., 29150; graham@theitem.com, or call 803-774-1352.