Thursday, July 14, 2022
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ANTHONY BLUES BARBATO
One of a Kind
THE PROM AND THE CADILLAC
Photo Credit: The Awesome Gentleman Louis DeRiggi “louie”
I was really close to Blues, as our entire teams of 79 -
And 80 were..a large very kind no nonsense kind of guy who hit things done. I met Blues by chance one day at a place called Mr. Sub, who happened to have, to this day, the best cheesesteaks on the planet…”how do you like the Hall kid, they call me Blues, do you play ball there”…I play basketball and baseball yes sir, “No, football I mean,?”
No sir, I have to work during football season…
He writes his number on a piece of paper and says, “we are looking for football players that have heart, if you ever want to change schools, give me a call”
I looked up at him and said, “I hate it here coach, and they hate me just as much”…
Listen kid, talk to your parents, be honest with them, and then have them give me a call…
It’s exactly what I did…and a couple of weeks later Coach had facilitated the entire thing…several of my Seton Hall classmates had also transferred. Already there was a legend in the making, Jerry Gallichio whom had scored 105 points in an elementary school basketball game!!
The school was great! Finally GIRLS!! Anyway, we get to spring practice and Blues pulls up in cherry brand new 1979 Cadillac Coupe de Ville!
For a kid from Vailsburg at the time, THAT, was the holy grail of vehicles…just beautiful in every way…
He quickly made it known that he was in charge of getting us in shape…trust me we got in shape and he was an ass kicker…don’t even think of giving up…your ass was running back and forth to the gym from Metcalf for the 3 hour duration!
After a couple of weeks I get invited to a prom and I accept…broke and no car I’m in a dilemma! I know! I’ll borrow Blusies caddy!! Surely he will let me borrow it!! He loves me!!
I get the courage to ask him one day after practice, I had busted my ass in order to lay the groundwork…”GREAT work today Danny, GREAT work his voice boomed across Metcalf!!
I waited and waited until he put the bag of footballs in his Caddy…
Coach, I have a huge favor to ask, I don’t have a car for the prom next week and I wonder, we’ll was hoping that you would let me borrow your Caddy, ILL BE CAREFUL, I promise…
He looks at me with that serious face and a slight smile curves his mouth…
“Danny, you got some real balls don’t you, you kids from Vailsburg always surprise me, and let me tell you, I don’t surprise easy”
Coach I promise, I will take care of it like it’s mine!!
Listen kid when and what time is the prom? He dutifully took meticulous notes.
I’m in I thought!! WTH he said yes!!! I told all my buddies!! I got a caddy for the prom!!!
Comes the moment in time and there I am on the sidewalk, waiting for Blues…
A stickler for being on time, there in the golden dusk, it appears…The Dove grey legendary Coupe DeVille…My heart filled with joy and gratitude..
Wait there’s another car behind him…geez that cars HUGE!! What the hell??
Bluesy pulls up Amd get out of his car with Mr. Wiegel, another hero of mine…Amd he says…
Danny, see this picture? That’s my mother, I love her more than life!! BUT she don’t even get to drive my car!!!
BUT, since you had the balls to ask, I got you and your date a limo for tonight…enjoy it!
Mr. Wiegel’s laughing and tears burst into this kids eyes…turns out Bluesy had a friend in the Limo Business and in many other places to…
What a gentleman, He’s I. My heart everyday…today the love of Cadillac Coupes lives on…I drive a CTS Coupe..it dawned on me today that it is the relative of the coupe deville I once admired so much…
