Posted by ChuckC (216.128.199.108) on April 06, 2001 at 11:41:12:
Would You Like Seconds?
Mr. Gary Colson (my employer's brother), a retired basketball coach whose coaching career included schools such as Pepperdine, Fresno St. and New Mexico St. relates this story from years past:
A player was recruited from the jungles of South America to play basketball... back in the days when academic achievement was secondary to winning, and professors were allegedly pressured to pass star athletes. His family was brought to the United States, and all their living expenses were taken care of. He was supplied with a furnished apartment, (of course, none of this could ever be PROVEN) and the fellow was a top performer for the team. The only problem they had with the guy was that he could not read or speak English. This was only a minor stumbling block back before the NCAA decided that players should get an education, too.
To show his gratitude for bringing him to the United States and setting him up with such a comfortable lifestyle, the player invited Mr Colson and the recruiter over to his apartment for a meal. They weren't quite sure what the main course was, but it had a most "distinct" flavor; unlike anyhing they ever had before. Through broken Spanish & English and alot of gesturing, they asked the Star Player what it was that they were dining on... At first, he didn't understand their questions, but finally figured it out and replied "Ahpo"...
"Ahpo? Hmmmmm, must be some local dish they serve alot. Exactly what is ahpo?" they asked.
More gestures and broken english followed and the player couldn't communicate an answer, so he finally motioned them to follow him into the kitchen. He opened the cupboard to show them what "ahpo" was, and there, stacked neatly were numerous cans of "ALPO"...
I don't know if they ever finished their meal but he did say he never ate over at THAT player's home again.