Kareem, from outer space

If someone asks you if you want to interview Kareem Abdul-Jabbar you say yes, even if you have no idea what to ask him about. I went to interview him practically straight off the plane, and realized I had nothing to ask him. I was told I had 15 minutes to interview him as I was standing outside waiting. I was obviously not going to ask him about basketball. What do you ask Kareem Abdul-Jabbar about? Ah, yes. TV and movie cameos.

I crowdsourced some questions from twitter. One of which was from @MattSebek:

Kareem responded, “Full House because I only did that once.” Cold. So cold. He talked to me about Airplane! and how fun that was, but then complained that although he loves acting they always wanted him to play himself, which he didn’t want to do. He then went into great detail about how he would ideally like to play a man from outer space: “I have the athletic skills and martial arts training where I could do it and it would be incredible.” You sure do, Kareem, You sure do. Someone get on that TV pilot stat.

I also asked him to be my valentine, which he respectfully declined. I asked him again. No such luck. Good thing I didn’t waste my time with construction paper and doilies last night.

After a few minutes I cut the bullshit and told him I wanted funny pictures. The woman in the room seemed hesitant. He suggested I stand on a chair so I could be as tall as him in a photo. I was too short. He cracked a quick joke about me being short and then I asked him if he would pick me up. I got a hard no. Maybe next time.