Big Joe was bragging to his boss one
day, "You know, I know everyone
there is to know. Just name
someone, anyone, and I know
them."
Tired of his boasting, his boss called
his bluff, "OK, Big joe how about Tom
Cruise?"
"Sure, yes, Tom and I are old friends,
and I can prove it." So Big joe and his
boss fly out to Hollywood and knock
on Tom Cruise's door, and sure
enough, Tom Cruise, shouts, "Big joe!
Great to see you! You and your
friend come right in and join me for
lunch!"
Although impressed, Big jo's boss is
still skeptical. After they leave
Cruise's house, he tells Big joe that
he thinks Big joe's knowing Cruise
was just lucky.
"No, no, just name anyone else,"
Big joe says.
"President Obama," his boss quickly
retorts.
"Yes," Big joe says, "I know him, let's
fly out to Washington."
And off they go. At the White House,
Obama spots Big joe on the tour and
motions him and his boss over,
saying, "Big joe, what a surprise, I
was just on my way to a meeting,
but you and your friend come on in
and let's have a cup of coffee first
and catch up."
Well, the boss is very shaken by
now, but still not totally convinced.
After they leave the White house
grounds, he expresses his doubts to
Big joe, who again implores him to
name anyone else.
"The Pope," his boss replies.
"Sure!" says Big Joe.
"My folks are from Poland, and I've
known the Pope a long time."
So off they fly to Rome. Big joe and
his boss are assembled with the
masses in Vatican Square when
Big joe says, "This will never work. I
can't catch the Pope's eye among all
these people. Tell you what, I know
all the guards so let me just go
upstairs and I'll come out on the
balcony with the Pope."
And he disappears into the crowd
headed toward the Vatican. Sure
enough, half an hour later Big joe
emerges with the Pope on the
balcony. But by the time Big joe
returns, he finds that his boss has
had a heart attack and is surrounded
by paramedics.
Working his way to his boss' side,
Big joe asks him, "What happened?"
His boss looks up and says, "I was
doing fine until you and the Pope
came out on the balcony and the
man next to me said, "Who's that on the balcony with Big Joe?"