"A great man is always willing to be little."
Ralph Waldo Emerson
2010? A magazine editor’s job is 10% editing copy, 20% generating dope ideas, and 70% executing them/putting out fires. • I had this idea to highlight men from every major sport. My NBA pick was this young, new Wizard. I convinced my boss to give him a shot. I call his people, make an offer. He agrees, then pulls out right before the shoot; he is no longer available because “he’s headed to Miami to party with D. Wade and Lebron James for the playoffs.” I’m sorry, what? He’d rather party with household names than become one? Oh, ok. 😐 I hang up and go into panic mode. I have a hole in my story. I can’t tell my boss I have a problem and no solution. I have a friend who works for the NBA. I call her. She calls back 10 minutes later: “hey, @amareisreal said he can do it.” Me: WHAT?!?! I give her shoot deets, ask for his sizes and food preferences and an address to send a driver. I’m told Mr. Stoudemire doesn’t need any of that. • Day of the shoot, his call time is like 10AM. His clothes and stylist @lovingrachel arrive at 9:30. At 9:50, a PA reports there’s either a chauffeured Rolls Royce or Bentley idling downstairs. At 9:55, in walks The Amar’e. Quiet, but personable. He’s freshly cut. No barber required. Make up gives him a light dusting for shine. His stylist hands him an outfit and he goes to change. He does 3 looks for @mrdblanks in like 30 minutes. The Amar’e does an interview for the magazine, another one on video for the site in one take. He graciously takes pics with staff and THANKS US for having him. He rolls out in under an hour. • I get why he’s a Media Darling. He’s professional, efficient, and likable. You WANT to work with him. Nearly all A-list celebs are like this. It’s how they become A-list. We loved The Amar’e so much, he got two pages instead of one. • Two days later, that Wizard’s MOM calls my work phone. There’s been a mistake. He IS available and she will personally escort him to the shoot. Sorry, it already happened. She offers to have him pay for another shoot so he can be included. I feel bad. She wanted church and salon bragging rights cause her Baby made the @essence. Can’t happen. And that’s his fault, not mine.
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