In the spring of 2003 four personal trainers based in metropolitan Atlanta, Georgia moved to Las Vegas, Nevada. The gym at which they worked was located near Interstate 215 and South Eastern Avenue. Currently operating under the name Edge Athletic yet a Gold’s Gym in 2003, members included MLB slugger Jeremy Giambi, fighter and entertainment personality Laila Ali, professional gridiron football players Mike Wahle and Mike Flanagan, MAGA republican Priscilla Sensi, hospitality major Joyce Slusher, and hundreds more.
One of the aforementioned four trainers and the only fitness pro in that gym teaching kettlebells, I was approached one afternoon by a man in his late fifties. He halted me mid-step by placing a hand on my shoulder, just beyond the check-in area and in full view of both front desk staff. “Now what you’re doing is really impressive, ya got everybody’s attention, and I’m sure it works. Just don’t try to get me to do it,” he said with a smile. My response was instant, and deferential. “I wouldn’t dream of something so crazy, Sir.” After a nearly imperceptible pause, he responded with “Alright.”
I continued my walk to the front desk, where Chris (a basketball player from Texas who had done 5 years in the Philippines’ professional league and worked for Gold’s at that point) stated in a hushed tone, ”That was Reggie Jackson.”
