MELBOURNE, Australia – You never know who you’ll meet when you plop down on a couch to watch NFL football.
Thursday, I met Cliff Riley. He is 99, which was unbeknownst to me at our casual meet-and-greet.
He is fascinating. He has his own Wikipedia page. He served in World War II. His mom lived to 112. He played Australian Rules football and cricket at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, site of the 49ers’ season opener against the Los Angeles Rams in the NFL’s first regular-season visit.
I didn’t know anything about Riley as I took a neighboring seat to watch the NFL season opener between the Seattle Seahawks and the New England Patriots, which finished up on a screen above a fireplace inside the Commonwealth Golf Club.
We got introduced. I immediately stood up to shake his hand. Sure, use proper manners, but this man’s friendly smile also oozed a well-lived and respected life.
The 49ers’ playing at the MCG came up in conversation, and whereas 100,000-plus fans are expected for the NFL debut here, Riley offered a unique perspective. He joked about what it was like playing cricket and footie in such a big, historic venue before sparse crowds.
There wasn’t much time to learn more about him. Ol’ Cliff had a tee time to fulfill, and off he went. But we ran into each other a few minutes later down by the pro shop.
“G’day. Have fun, will you,” said Riley, reinforcing what pretty much has been my life motto.
Crossing paths with such a beacon of light is something to appreciate, even more so than a dawn-patrol round of golf with colleagues and sinking a birdie putt on the penultimate hole.
One of our hosts, Trevor Harvey, told me his father used to sell newspapers at the MCG when American military (Marines, U.S. Army Air Forces) were housed there during World War II in 1942-43. The troops would buy all the newspapers so that his father, Bruce, could pick up food for them in town.
Trevor later filled us in on Riley’s life and his upcoming centennial. In his honor, I’ll say I shot a 99 on my scorecard, give or take a few balls that got lost amid the cockatoos.
FIREFIGHTER KINDNESS
Locals have been so chipper and nice. Example: The fire station next to my hotel does not sell T-shirts as memorabilia or for fundraising. But when I told Firefighter James that my son, Grant, was just starting classes at a U.S. fire academy, he rushed into the building and came out with a vintage Fire Rescue Victoria T-shirt for him.
James is from Geelong and knows nothing about American football. Asked to pick between San Francisco and Los Angeles, he replied: “SF.” Even he knows better than to call it San Fran.
INMAN-ABOUT-TOWN
Just some quick observations before game time:
— Game week officially has a Super Bowl vibe. The grounds surrounding the MSG certainly have the security and hospitality tents similar to the NFL’s end-of-season banquet.
— It shouldn’t have been surprising to see an influx of 49ers, Rams and NFL fans on the eve of the game. But lines to enter the NFL’s second-story pop-up store stretched a block in both directions – all to overpay for merchandise.
— Sometimes it’s OK not to rush into the heart of Melbourne’s Central Business District. Needing a better table to type on this laptop, I searched for local cafés and bars. Right around the corner was a spot with an A+ vibe – and no other patrons, which made for a chillaxing time, at a spot called Angry Dog.
— Look both ways when crossing a street, especially in Australia with an opposite traffic flow to Tasman’s.
— The 49ers worked out an Aussie who has tried to switch sports from rugby league. Ben Te Kura is 6-foot-7, 269 pounds. This was announced by the team a day before its opener. Had it been earlier, this could have further bolstered the 49ers’ global fan base.