BSB Fans Get Lucky Break At Bob Hope Classic

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: Feb 18, 2003 Source: The Desert Sun Submitted By: Julie and Fabby LA QUINTA -- They spotted their prey lurking behind the 18th green and quickly closed in. Sara Alderete on one side, Julie Mugallanez on the other, faithful Fabby Vasquez behind the point-and-shoot. This was the prized catch they had waited for since morning. "A.J.! A.J.! A.J.!" There he was. A.J. McLean of the Backstreet Boys. At last. Sara and Julie quickly posed with their idol as Fabby tried to squeeze off a few frames. Then the course marshal came by. "No photos," he huffed. "No cameras." They begged, they pleaded. Even Julie's dad, Basilio, chimed in. Then the boy in the raspberry beret broke in. "They can take one of me," McLean said quietly. "I don't mind." Fans: 1. Marshals: 0. This was the other game played Thursday at La Quinta Country Club on the second day of the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic. While Aaron Baddeley was tearing up the back nine -- only a bogey on No. 18 cooled him off -- star seekers were hard at work staking out the best holes to grab a glimpse, or, if they were lucky, a clandestine photo of their favorite star. The hunt started early for our girls from Palm Desert, and their patience was rewarded. Sara couldn't wait to tell the tale. "In the morning, we saw him practice," Sara said, "and we said, `Can we take a picture?' He said, `Not now, but toward the end.' He's really nice. He's the best." Better than Trevor? O-Town's Trevor Penick had his share of fans, too. "Trevor's the coolest person ever," Fabby said. There was a lot of cool to go around at the celebrity course Thursday: Staind's Aaron Lewis, McLean, Penick, BMX'er Dave Mirra, baseball star Ken Griffey Jr., retired Los Angeles Laker Ron Harper, Kevin Sorbo of TV's Hercules. And don't forget Andy Williams. He's still got it, Classic spokesman Jordan Miller said. "The athletes have their people," Miller said, "But Andy Williams? I think he's still the man here." Tell that to Jan Popp and Jill Slinkard of Redlands. For the sisters in matching tie-dye and visors -- even their binoculars matched -- their man for years has been singer Michael Bolton. They've gotten Bolton's autograph. They've seen Bolton's concerts. They drove to the Monterey Peninsula to watch Bolton at Pebble Beach. They've seen Bolton before at the Hope -- this is the sisters' fourth year at the tourney. And now, in the lush grass off the fairway, they had their lenses trained on Bolton as he walked the green at No. 12. "I like Michael Bolton," Popp said. Really? Back to No. 18. Antonia Velasquez, sister Carmen, and friends Valerie Perez and Janet Villegas, all of La Quinta, had just surrounded Hercules star Sorbo, picked up an autograph and some small talk with the star. "I can go home and say, `Yeah, Kevin Sorbo. Hercu-leees!' " said Valerie, 17. But like Sara, Julie and Fabby, these girls had their sights set on A.J. They had heard the three girls had a photo taken with the Backstreet Boy, and now Antonia and her crew were parked in front of the clubhouse hoping for their chance. "This is the only exit, right?" Carmen asked with a smile. Comment on this item. Recent Comments Submitted by: link building d39eIj I really enjoy the blog article. Fantastic. Submitted by: peto4ok Submitted by: temnotak Submitted by: nikelir Submitted by: Mary Submitted by: Kevin Submitted by: Louise Submitted by: Dirk Submitted by: James Submitted by: Michael Pollitt Comment on this item. Next Item: Boy's growing pains Prev Item: A.J.: Backstreet Boys "Together Forever"