This weird guy walks into a bar and says to the regulars, "Hey, listen up,
guys: I know everybody there is to know in this world....personally.
In fact I'm ready to wager $10,000 to prove it!"

The guy on the next stool says, "Gimme a break. That's impossible.
Look at me, for example--do you know me?"

The first guy answers, "Of course! Ed Thompson! Don't you remember? I
met you at Club Passim--that big fundraiser in 1974. My name's Bobby
Pecker--don't you remember me?"

Ed, startled, says, "wow--yeah. You're right. I remember now.... you
were there .... but I still don't believe you know everybody there is!
For example.... ummm .... do you know Al Gore?"

"You bet I do," says Bobby. "Want me to prove it?" and he goes straight
to the pay phone and dials Gore's personal number, right out of his head,
and proceeds to talk to the Vice President for 20 minutes, laughing and
promising to get together soon.

Ed is naturally impressed, but still skeptical. After a few minutes he
narrows his eyes and says, "OK, dude. What about the Pope?"

"What about him?" says Bobby.

"You gonna tell me you know the Pope?" asks Ed.

Bobby looks him in the eye and says, "Tell you what. You and I are going
to fly to Rome. We're gonna go to the Vatican. I'll show you I know him.
The loser of the bet pays expenses."

So the two of them travel to the Vatican, and Bobby requests an audience
with the Pope, which is immediately granted. Ed agrees to remain in St.
Mark's Place watching the balcony where Bobby claims he's going to appear
next to the Pope.... and sure enough, when the Holy Pontiff appears on
that famous balcony, Bobby is standing right by his side, and the two
are chatting and smiling like old pals.

At which point Bobby looks down to see if Ed is watching, but he sees Ed
start to reel and roll his eyes-- and finally Ed collapses on the
cobblestones. Bobby excuses himself, leaves the balcony, and runs down
to Ed's side to see what's happened.

The dazed Ed has this to say: "That you knew me...ok. That you knew the
bartender, ok. That you turn out to be buddies with Al Gore, well,
maybe.... But when you show up next to the pope on his balcony and this
guy standing next to me in the Square says, "Hey--who's that guy standing
next to Bobby Pecker?".... that was just too much for me.