February 11, 2004 - A Tribute To Greatness
Today marks an important FJ.com holiday. One of my first spiritual leaders was brought into the world on this day. The first few years of his life were spent in Michigan, but he was raised in a small suburb of West Palm Beach, Florida. He was the son of a strict, disciplinarian police officer and he went by the nickname "Buddy", which was bestowed upon him after winning a schoolyard race - "Nice race, Buddy," his schoolmates said. His interest in running and track-related events led him to a football scholarship at Florida State University, where he played 2 seasons as a running back and was scouted by the Baltimore Colts and the Detroit Lions. But an unfortunate injury ended his football career.

After losing the ability to play football at a competitive level, Buddy enrolled at Palm Beach Junior College and studied art appreciation and English literature after noticing that all of his preferred classes were already full. Salinger's "Catcher In The Rye" inpired a love in Buddy for literature, and a forced-upon-him audition for a college drama production of "Outward Bound" sealed his fate.

Buddy turned to acting.

After making several films, landing some television roles, and nailing loads of famous chicks, Buddy was selected to be in a movie that changed my life. Buddy's co-star in the movie was Jerry Reed, who was actually the first musician I'd ever seen in concert. I was 8 at the time. Some of you may have already figured out who I'm talking about. The rest of you, please meet one of my all-time heroes:

First, Smokey and the Bandit was actually shot in part in my hometown of Jupiter, Florida. The sequel featured even more hometown shots. Remember the drawbridge that Smokey's car was perilously perched atop, before plunging into the waiting waters below? That bridge was about 2 miles from my house. Many a childhood afternoon was spent on the banks of the river that the bridge crossed. Just across the bridge from my house was the Burt Reynolds Dinner Theatre, which for many years brought live theatre featuring then-top celebrities to a small town in northern Palm Beach COunty.

A personal highlight for me came in 1995... Burt donated a statue of a replica of a Seminole Indian to the Florida State University football team, but needed it to be shipped from his home in Jupiter to the Florida State locker room in Tallahassee. Coincidentally, my father happened to be driving up from Jupiter to Tallahassee to meet me for a football game. He was selected to deliver the statue, and deliver it to the Athletic Department. (pictures forthcoming, if I can ever get this damned scanner to work...)

Those of you who think I'm only doing this as some sort of sarcastic, snotty joke, and question my sincerity as a proud Burt Reynolds fan need only know... I once had every single episode of B L Stryker on videotape. I own an unreleased film of his called Hostage Hotel. I even took a date to the Backstage restaurant once simply because Burt was rumored to be in town. At the time I could have cared less about the girl who came with me. (I was wise beyond my years...) I OWN HIS AUTOBIOGRAPHY.

And if all of that's not enough, just read the autograph:

Happy 68th Birthday Burt! - From a fellow FSU Alumni, Jupiter Florida resident, and successfully transplanted Southerner - your friend always, James.

Those who wish to seek more information on Burt Reynolds are invited to visit the following websites:

Burt Reynolds Trivia Tribute
E! Online Biography
B L Styker
Smokey and the Bandit
Smokey and the Bandit 2

You should all also click the logo below to go visit Burt's official website. But if you don't feel the need to do so, you can just click here to wish Burt a happy birthday

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