Pakistani Michael Jordan fan
Across the aisle from me last week on the commute home sat a distinguished 50-ish, Pakistani-looking guy.
His nose was huge and bulbous, its downturned tip almost touching his upper lip.
He sported a salt-and-pepper moustache that extended from his upper lip diagonally down his face, getting bushier as it reached under his chin to a point 3 inches below his sideburns.
He wore a baseball cap with six alternating black-and-white panes. On the front, one said “23” in white on black. Another had the familiar “Air Jordan” silhouette in black on white.
And he gave 26 cents to the beggar who begins his rap: “Excuse me everyone, I don’t mean any harm, I’m homeless, and hungry….”
How amazing... You mention the beggar on the train and by simply mentioning the first words out of the man's mouth I know instantly who you are referring to. He tends to stumble in from one car to the next on the red line. Unfortunatly, I believe he has been using the same line for many, many years.
I guess once you have your line down you stick to what works. BTW, did he emerge somewhere around the Wilson stop? That's where we'd tend to see him.
Posted by: Ed Knittel | July 26, 2004 at 08:54 AM
That homeless guy is now about the only one I consistently see. And he's everywhere, though that day he was around the Wilson-Berwyn corridor.
And yes, I do think he's somewhat successful, because I usually see him get money from at least one passenger.
Posted by: Kevin | July 26, 2004 at 12:33 PM
" ... I'm homeless. I'm hungry. I haven't eaten in 3 days."
He's been doing that at least since '98, when I moved here ...
I have a hard time keeping myself from laughing out loud when I see him now. It's just so ridiculous!
Posted by: bob | September 10, 2004 at 10:53 PM
Is it possible I just encounter this particular beggar on the blue line to OHare yesterday? He started his routine just as I was getting off at Western.
Posted by: Lesley | May 10, 2005 at 09:52 AM
I've seen this guy off and on for years.
Posted by: Cheryl | May 10, 2005 at 10:49 AM