[legendsport]

Los Angeles, CA: June 27, 1928:

"Hey, Pop! Over here!"

Rufus Barrell's eyes hadn't yet adjusted to the dim interior of the restaurant and he squinted as he gazed around. Finally as his eyesight recovered from the bright sunshine, he spied his eldest son waving from a table in the back of the room.

Smiling, Rufus nodded his thanks to the maitre'd and started walking.

Joe stood up as his father reached the table and thrust out his right hand. "Hey, Pop, it's great to see you," he said.

Rufus quickly sized him up and was pleased at what he was seeing. Joe looked healthy and more importantly, he looked happy. The last few years had been a rollercoaster for Joe and Rufus was relieved beyond measure to finally see some of the old spark back in his son's eyes.

"This is Dorothy," Joe said, motioning towards a striking blonde woman sitting across from Joe.

"Dorothy, this is my father, Rufus," Joe said.

Rufus couldn't quite keep the surprise off his face and with a slightly raised left eyebrow said, "It's nice to meet you, Dorothy."

"Likewise, I'm sure," the blonde replied in a sultry voice.

Joe's grin took a wolfish turn and he added, "Dorothy was Miss California last year."

Rufus didn't know what to say, so he simply sat down. As he did he noticed a fourth place setting at the table. "Is someone else joining us?" he asked Joe.

Joe nodded. "Yes, Bill Whitney will be joining us." He looked at his watch and frowned a bit, adding, "I thought he'd be here by now, to be honest."

As if on cue, a young man hustled over and apologized for being late. "We had a bit of a problem at the distribution center," he said.

Rufus immediately saw the family resemblance. This had to be William W. Whitney III, grandson of the FABL founder and son of the Chicago Chiefs' owner Wash Whitney. Rufus was gifted with a prodigious memory and did some quick calculations.... Bill Whitney was just about the same age as Joe. The question was how they'd hooked up.

As Whitney sat down, Joe looked at his father and as if reading his mind, explained. "I looked Bill up when I got to town. I had talked to his father about leasing their ballpark in Chicago for the Wildcats. Nothing came of that, but he did say he'd be willing to let us lease Knights Stadium for our postseason tour." In one of the more bizarre situations in baseball, the Chicago Chiefs owned the stadium in which the Los Angeles Stars played their games - and the Stars were the top minor league affiliate of the New York Stars. Just another of the original William Whitney's better business moves.

Bill Whitney spoke up, saying, "It turns out the tour never happened, but Joe and I hit it off. I was pleased when he decided to stay here in LA."

This last remark was news to Rufus. He turned to Joe and asked, "Stay here? As in permanently?"

Joe shrugged and nodded. "Yeah, I'm staying here. My playing career is done and Carl Boon doesn't need my help in running the Wildcats. I've retained my percentage in the team, but I won't be going back to Chicago to play."

Rufus saw Joe shoot a glance at the strikingly attractive woman across from him (she was stirring her drink and looked bored - Rufus idly wondered if the drink was alcoholic). His son continued, "I'm actually thinking about going into the film business."

"Really?" Rufus asked, surprise written all over his face.

Bill Whitney laughed and said, "Yes, Joe actually had a bit part in our most recent picture."

"You make movies? I thought your business was fruits and vegetables..." Rufus replied.

Nodding, Whitney explained that he had taken the money he'd be left by his grandfather, which he'd received when he turned 25, and used it to open his own motion picture studio. "We're small potatoes at the moment, but I have big plans," he finished.

"The picture I was in was Bill's fast talkie, Pop," Joe said with pride. "I play a cowboy, get gunned down in a shootout and fall into a water trough."

Bill was smiling again and said, "Joe's a natural, Mr. Barrell."

Joe nodded at Dorothy. "Bill has Dorothy here under contract. She's a fantastic actress."

Bill again put in an addendum to Joe's statement saying, "Now that we've got sound, I needed someone with a voice and looks. Dorothy here has both. We did need to do something about her name, though."

Dorothy raised her glass and took a drink. She gave a faint smile and murmured, "Thanks, Bill." Rufus definitely agreed... she did have a great voice.

Joe leaned over and whispered, "Dorothy's real name is Myrtle. Bill said that was a no-go for a movie star so Myrtle Bates became Dorothy Bates."

Rufus looked at Whitney. "What's your father think about all this?"

Bill waved a hand dismissively. "He's skeptical. His focus is on the produce business... and the basbeall team, of course. And I know that's the family legacy. But a man's got to carve his own path, am I right?"

Rufus nodded in agreement. He was still a bit stunned... Joe's football career was over... and now he wanted to be an actor?

Joe leaned over and with a wide grin, told Rufus, "Bill's going to have me play Tarzan, Pop!"

"Tarzan? Really?" Rufus tried - and failed - to keep the disbelief out of his voice.

"Yes," Dorothy said. She was looking at Joe with a small grin on her face and continued, "He certainly has the physique for it."

Joe actually blushed a bit. Rufus was bewildered by all this. Bill jumped in and added, "There are some legal niceties to take care of, and Joe needs some lessons. Luckily the part doesn't require a lot of speaking," Joe grimaced a bit at this, "and it's an athletic-type role, so Joe will be a great fit."

"Wait til I tell your mother about this," Rufus told his son.

Their food arrived and the quartet set about eating. As he ate, Rufus filled Joe in on Danny's engagement to Gladys Summers. "He actually proposed to her at a Five and Dime lunch counter in Nashville. He's with the Knoxville Knights now," Rufus explained. Joe shrugged; he still didn't care much for baseball.

"That Danny... he was probably terrifed she'd say no. But couldn't he come up with something more romantic than a Woolworth's?" Joe asked. Rufus saw Dorothy watching Joe with a wry grin.

Rufus laughed. "I guess not. He's too much like me, I suppose. The way I proposed to your mother..."

Joe raised a hand and chuckling said, "I've heard the story, Pop. And yes, he must take after you."

Joe looked at Dorothy and added, "I'm more of the direct, take charge type myself."