No, the trip was a mobile phone company random draw. Took Lou to dinner after the game and chatted about the 1950 kick that won the NFL Championship in the Browns first NFL Season. Browns went to six NFL championship games in a row - still the only tram to do that. In fact we went to the NFL Championship game in 11 of our first 20 seasons and zero since.
So my Grand Parants in the 80's had a place in Del Ray Beach Florida. My Grandma was in the mall getting her hair done. My Grandfather often talked to random people. I was sent in to see how long my Grandma would be so we could see if we needed to come back...before cell phones. So that is the set up, lol.
Anyways I come out of the mall and see my grandfather talking to a random stranger, like I said this was not unusual. I go up to them to say hi and introduce myself and the stranger hands me a ring. I look at the ring and it says "Hall of Fame" on the ring. I look up at the guy to ask who he is and he says ":Lou Groza"...I was like wow "Lou the Toe?"
Anyways, he had seen my Grandpa's car with the Cuyahoga County Ohio Plates and asked him if he was from Cleveland. Of course he was, conversation begun. Funny thing is at first when my Grandpa asked what Lou did for a living, he said Insurance Salesman, it wasn't until he said his last name that my Grandpa figured out who it actually was.
You spend a whole afternoon with the guy, so you already know he is humble, sincere, nice and full of amazing stories. One of my favorite stories of all time, and I would have loved to see a football game with the man, I am sure its one of your favorite days in your life too.
