Think it was my junior year at North Texas 1972-73 . We had our 1st house we were renting after 2 years in the dorm We rented the house from Coach B the North Texas Tennis coach who played running back for the 49'ers back in the day.
Anyway we had a 12 inch black and white TV in our living room . During the day before noon and afternoon classes on WFAA TV Dallas the 700 Club was on. Pat Robertson was the host of this Christian Broadcasting show and it was set up like the Johnny Carson show. Pat had a side kick like Ed McMachn and back then it was religious not political Later on Pat became part of the Republican far right and I think ran for President .. But this was way before that. The show was out of Virginia Beach and we would finish classes walk home make lunch and turn on the 700 Club. Pat was absolutely crazy blaming any natural disaster on Homosexuality and the teaching of Evolution . He had my favorite segment where he performed miracles on taped shows he had gone to. It was my favorite part where he called down people in the audience that had brain tumors or couldn't walk and he would put his hands on them and say a prayer and the tumors were gone and people that walked up there with help were dancing and cured He would put his hands on there heads and pressed to get the devil out of them. He had a few of his spotters catch the people as they passed out when he put his hands on their heads . The people that had the tumors would look into the camera and smile pretending to be cured. The people that couldn't walk would start moving their legs and before you knew it were dancing and jumping up and down Meanwhile the audience is cheering and clapping . At the bottom of the screen were telephone numbers to call to pray and donate money to the 700 Club.
Well one of my roommates Spaceman [ nick name because he was from NY but his brain was burned out on all the drugs he did } A few days before he tested positive for VD so was going to the North Texas Campus Health Center getting his penicillin shots.
So as usual its noon time and we turn on the 700 club. Pat Roberson is doing his things and I decide to call the number on the screen It was a dallas area code number. Spaceman is not in our living room and I'm with about 4 or 5 of my other roommates and buddies . I call the number and a lady answers and I explain to her about my roommate Spaceman and he caught VD. She reads me a short prayer and asks how much am I going to send to the address and she read s the prayer and makes sure I know the address . I thank her and everyone in my living room is on the floor laughing not believing that I called .. We all hear the screen door open on our porch and its the Spaceman , He asked what did I miss on the 700 Club and he explains why he was late He was at the health center because he no longer has to go for his penicillin shots he is cured ..So I jump up off the couch and bow to the TV and say " praise the lord " Everyone follows me and we all are bowing saying praise the Lord. Spaceman is looking at all of us saying "WTF are you guys doing"
So yesterday I read the Austin Chronicle and see on page 3 the head line is " Pat Robertson 93 dies televangelist " I get 3 text messages from my North Texas buddies and they all recall the famous telephone call. One of them who is now a retired Dallas teacher says to me " box did the Penicillin at the health center cure Spaceman or was it Pat Robertson prayers .. I said I lean on the side of medicine but we will never know . I am waiting for the Spaceman to text today
Pat Robertson RIP
I could write a book on the Spaceman He was about 5'8 small build and was the Westchester County Golf champion He caddied at Westchester CC and although got his degree at North Texas he became a professional caddy on the women's tour . He just retired a few years ago Also caddied on the National tour . He played college golf and was recruited by St Marys in San Antonio. After two years there he transferred to North Texas but didn't make the North Texas college team For every great NY High school golf player the state of Texas had 10 just like him. He worked for the golf course at the University. I learned from him that size doesn't matter because he could out drive any player on scholarship. He became good friends with Coach Ferrill the NT golf coach . Its all in the wrists. He went to my HS in NY but his nickname was Spaceman. And he was spaced out. He married after graduation a girl who he met and moved in our house. She was a devout Quaker and when they married Spaceman had to be interviewed by the elders of their church. One of the questions was that they require 15-20 % of his earning to go to their church. He was in a room with about 7 elders sitting in a chair with everyone surrounding him He told the elders that " its none of your business " I'm sure the vote was 7-0 against the wedding but they married and for the next 10 years he bought a winnebago parked in every Walmart parking lot in the country and caddied all over the country. A year after we moved in the house Spaceman went outside to rake some leaves He piled all the leaves into a corner on the back porch and got some gasoline and lite the leaves Only problem was the leaves were attached to the outdoor wooden fence. I was inside with my other roommate watching TV and we smelled something burning. When we went outside, the entire fence was on fire getting near the house. We called the Denton Fire Dept and they came and put the fire out before it spread to the house. They saved the house thank god We then had to call coach and tell him of the damage. He came and looked at the damage and said directly to me " my wife said don't rent that house to those damn yankees " I could go right now and ask my wife and just mention Spaceman and she has 10 times more stories. I know he will text me in the next few days about Pat Robertson He lives in Indiana and his wife has been institutionalized because she went off the deep end. My wife always says they put the wrong person away ... lol
Finally texted me He didn't see Pat had passed away . Space said he hasn't read a newspaper in 15 years. He retired as a caddy on the tour sold the Winnebago still iives In Richmond Ind plays golf everyday. Always said when he was eligible for the senior tour he would join but that never happened . Said he has called me 100 of times but my mailbox has been full. He was dialing the wrong number. We talked about former buddies of ours . His son rory changed his 1st name He collects social security but I don't understand that . He never worked other then be professional caddy.I guess caddies get social security but he is healthy and doesn't remember the Pat Robinson incident . But he does remember he got VD anyway he is doing fine and it was good catching up with him.
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