Sunday night around 6:30 the phone rings.
A woman asks if there’s room at the bar around 7:30 for 2 people. She also asks if they can sit on the kitchen side so they can see the basketball game.
It’s a couple who moved to the area last fall. They come in about every 10 days or so. They’ve been out of town.
When they arrive she’s very grateful that we have room, but the game they wanted to watch is already over. They wanted to know who’s be playing in the final four.
I ask who she was rooting for. She didn’t have a team but wanted to know who was playing Duke.
I ask her why.
She informs me that Duke is her team. At which point I explain we can’t be friends anymore and that we’ll be booked the next time she calls for a reservation. She is now dead to me.
I did say all if that.
She laughs and asks why.
- Duke vs UK.
The shot heard round the world.
She laughs and tells me that she understands.
She then tells me that she worked at a children’s cancer center in North Carolina and that CL would make regular appearances there to cheer up the kids.
I share my experience that day bartending. O’Charley’s Nicholasville Road. Packed. Shoulder to shoulder.
The shot happens. The game is over. The bar is empty in 90 seconds.
I get them seated.
We laugh more about the rivalry in their way out.
But I’m still not sure we can be friends.
I'd Like to Speak to the Manager!!! 