I never post, but I felt compelled to share a quick story with everyone about the type of person we’re about to get as our coach.

It was 2008 in San Antonio. My parents just happened to be at the same restaurant/venue as Penny. My mom quickly recognized and decided to approach him. She said, “Mr. Hardaway I grew up in Memphis and have always been a big fan. Do you mind if I could get a quick photo together”?

“Yes ma’am, no problem”, he replied.

My dad, being very technically challenged tried his best to take a good picture, but something went wrong with the flash/lens cover and the photo didn’t take (this was before smart phones were common place).

Penny realized the photo didn’t take correctly, and said to my dad, “Sir I don’t believe the photo took. You may want to take another one just in case”.

Well, Penny was right. The first photo never took and the only picture on the digital card was the second attempt.

This may seem very trivial and not that big of a deal. After all its just a picture of my mom and Penny. However, its stuck with me for a decade now and I’ll never forget it. For a man of such immense status and fame, Penny could have easily pushed my parents aside, or ignored them all together – especially as busy as it was. But he didn’t. He took the extra minute to take another picture because he is a class act and a man of great character.

No matter how much success he has here, I will always be a Penny Hardaway fan.

Nice read. A day before he was drafted into the NBA, I met him at the Hickory Ridge Mall. He was nice enough to sign two signatures for me. He is a class act for sure.

GREAT POST! +2

I remember him high fiving everyone from the front row to the top row at Reliant when we were up 50-20 on MSU. He was lit.

Well, while we're sharing Penny stories,

I was in the Pep band from 2007-2011.

I can't remember exactly which year it was, but Penny had been attending every game, and finally one day, after the game had ended, he was standing next to the court talking with some people. I found a piece of paper and made my way down.

Having watched Penny as a kid, and even collecting the commemorative "Penny's Penny coins", he was such a hero.

So I went up to him and waited for his conversation to end. I asked him nicely for his autograph. He laughed and smiled leaned down and said "You're not gonna bring the rest of the band down here too, are you?" I laughed and shook my head. He happily signed my scrap paper (Which I have since framed).

Then something strange happened.

It caught me off guard the first time.

At the rest of the games that season, any time we were within close range and he saw me, he would smile or high five me with a "Hey, girl!" It was almost like he had made some sort of casual friendship with me. Even after just that one meeting. It was such a neat thing for me.

He is just such a genuinely good person. And I am personally excited to see him become our new coach.

Found it!

I did some work at his home 20 years ago and he came across humble , genuine and friendly. I spent some time with him 10 years ago at a golf tourney and he just seemed like a normal guy. I don't think the fame or money ever changed him.

I have a couple of Penny stories... but the one that jumps out, while he was still a player at Memphis... Tim Duncan, Ernest Smith and a couple of others were at our hotel... we were cutting up. (All under age). Penny called our room then came by to make sure everyone got back before curfew.

Thanks for sharing these stories.

(03-19-2018 06:30 PM)Getsgreaterlater Wrote:  I never post, but I felt compelled to share a quick story with everyone about the type of person we’re about to get as our coach.

It was 2008 in San Antonio. My parents just happened to be at the same restaurant/venue as Penny. My mom quickly recognized and decided to approach him. She said, “Mr. Hardaway I grew up in Memphis and have always been a big fan. Do you mind if I could get a quick photo together”?

“Yes ma’am, no problem”, he replied.

My dad, being very technically challenged tried his best to take a good picture, but something went wrong with the flash/lens cover and the photo didn’t take (this was before smart phones were common place).

Penny realized the photo didn’t take correctly, and said to my dad, “Sir I don’t believe the photo took. You may want to take another one just in case”.

Well, Penny was right. The first photo never took and the only picture on the digital card was the second attempt.

This may seem very trivial and not that big of a deal. After all its just a picture of my mom and Penny. However, its stuck with me for a decade now and I’ll never forget it. For a man of such immense status and fame, Penny could have easily pushed my parents aside, or ignored them all together – especially as busy as it was. But he didn’t. He took the extra minute to take another picture because he is a class act and a man of great character.

No matter how much success he has here, I will always be a Penny Hardaway fan.

Great story bro!!! And I will always be a fan as well!! +3

nice READ!

all I have is a David Vaughn story...


Oh well....

Penny tried to hit on my girlfriend at that time at The Cottage restaurant on summer avenue during his memphis state days. It's funny, because he got embarrassed when he realized her boyfriend was just using the bathroom before he sat at the table. I never seen a black guy get so red.

Best i remember he was driving some suv type vehicle that lowered completely to the ground when parked. It's been a while so maybe i'm not remembering that right. I saw Penny at The Cottage on summer avenue multiple times, he ate there a lot during that era.

Fwiw, The Cottage went downhill, closed and has been recently demolished.

Probably my 2nd best story was before a playoff game vs lakers in phoenix, i flew in and was sitting really really close to the court, and i was giving Penny the "little penny" treatment and just being crazy wearing memphis gear and holding up memphis state's penny for POY penny card and yelling at him until he finally stopped and just turned around to acknowledge me so i would stfu. Lol. Yeah, i was probably drinking too much.

(03-19-2018 11:04 PM)tmoneyinmphs Wrote:  Penny tried to hit on my girlfriend at that time at The Cottage restaurant on summer avenue during his memphis state days. It's funny, because he got embarrassed when he realized her boyfriend was just using the bathroom before he sat at the table. I never seen a black guy get so red.

Best i remember he was driving some suv type vehicle that lowered completely to the ground when parked. It's been a while so maybe i'm not remembering that right. I saw Penny at The Cottage on summer avenue multiple times, he ate there a lot during that era.

Fwiw, The Cottage went downhill, closed and has been recently demolished.

Probably my 2nd best story was before a playoff game vs lakers in phoenix, i flew in and was sitting really really close to the court, and i was giving Penny the "little penny" treatment and just being crazy wearing memphis gear and holding up memphis state's penny for POY penny card and yelling at him until he finally stopped and just turned around to acknowledge me so i would stfu. Lol. Yeah, i was probably drinking too much.

Cool story bro! No seriously.

(03-19-2018 11:04 PM)tmoneyinmphs Wrote:  Penny tried to hit on my girlfriend at that time at The Cottage restaurant on summer avenue during his memphis state days. It's funny, because he got embarrassed when he realized her boyfriend was just using the bathroom before he sat at the table. I never seen a black guy get so red.

Best i remember he was driving some suv type vehicle that lowered completely to the ground when parked. It's been a while so maybe i'm not remembering that right. I saw Penny at The Cottage on summer avenue multiple times, he ate there a lot during that era.

Fwiw, The Cottage went downhill, closed and has been recently demolished.

Probably my 2nd best story was before a playoff game vs lakers in phoenix, i flew in and was sitting really really close to the court, and i was giving Penny the "little penny" treatment and just being crazy wearing memphis gear and holding up memphis state's penny for POY penny card and yelling at him until he finally stopped and just turned around to acknowledge me so i would stfu. Lol. Yeah, i was probably drinking too much.

Surprising.

Interesting.

we've had enough class acts the last two coaches. I'm ready for a coach that will win some damn trophies.

At the Alamodome in 2007, Penny was in front of me in line at the concession stand. After he got his hot dog, a huge throng of OSU and Aggie fans swarmed him for autographs/pics. He was pleasant and accommodating with every one of them even though he just wanted to go to his seat and watch the game. After a few minutes, a couple friends of his got him and escorted him to his seat.

I was amazed how much people not from Memphis loved Penny.

(03-20-2018 08:50 AM)aTxTIGER Wrote:  At the Alamodome in 2007, Penny was in front of me in line at the concession stand. After he got his hot dog, a huge throng of OSU and Aggie fans swarmed him for autographs/pics. He was pleasant and accommodating with every one of them even though he just wanted to go to his seat and watch the game. After a few minutes, a couple friends of his got him and escorted him to his seat.

I was amazed how much people not from Memphis loved Penny.

Man, that's the thing...in the mid 90s, he was Jordan's heir apparent, and Michael would have told you that himself. He was THE superstar for a short time, and it's so easy to forget that now, because he's a local guy here.