Fred Haley

Title: Leatherheads, feature film
Cast: George Clooney, Renee Zellweger
Extra: Fred Haley
Producers: Grant Heslov, George Clooney, Casey Silver
Director: George Clooney
Script: George Clooney, Stephen Schiff, Duncan Brantley, Rick Reilly

Surprise! Secret is out
When I first saw the article on Leatherheads sign up, I thought what the heck, the odds are slim but it would be interesting and a challenge to see if I get called.  I never told my wife I was going to apply, which later proved to be regrettable.

I spent only about an hour and a half to my surprise as the line moved along fairly quickly.  There were photographers snapping shots as people were going through the procedure, but little did I know that they would prevent me from keeping this to myself. 

The next day as I entered the “Y” for my workout, one of my cronies greeted me with “Hello Leatherhead!”  Semi-surprised, I asked him what he was talking about.  He said, “I saw you on the Internet on Greenvilleonline.com signing up for Leatherheads.”  This somewhat disappointed me because I had not intended to tell anyone I had signed up in case I didn’t make it.  I wouldn’t have to listen to sarcastic remarks from friends and family.

That evening at home, my wife was surfing the Internet on her Clooney watch and yelled to me from her office.  “You sorry thing, why didn’t you tell me you were going to do this, you know I would have gone with you.”  Finally, I apologized enough to calm her down somewhat. 

Thankfully, casting call wasn't a joke
After about three weeks passed, I saw an article on starting dates and locations and I figured I didn’t make the cut. Then on Wednesday before Leatherheads started shooting on Monday, I received a call telling me to come to South Batesville Road for wardrobe.  I was surprised to say the least because I figured they had already filled the cast as it had been so long.

I had several emotions as I thought about the opportunity and the possible ramifications of this venture.  Hey, maybe I’ll be discovered and they’ll want me to come to Hollywood. Ha!  Maybe I’ll be seen enough that when I go out after this, people might recognize me and say, “There goes that Leatherhead guy.”

En route to wardrobe on Wednesday, all of a sudden a thought hit me that stirred up several emotions.  What if my “Y” buddy, who saw the shot on the Internet, had set me up?

I suddenly imagined him telling the guys what a dummy I was for falling for the fake phone call from Leatherheads.  I could image them laughing and discussing the various gigs they would hit me with when I came back to the Y.  A flash of vengeance rushed through me and I thought, “You’ll pay for this if it is a set up!”

As I pulled up to the guardhouse at the wardrobe site, I said a quick prayer to let this be true and not just a farce originated by my friend. 

I gave the man my name and anxiously waited as he checked his list.  “Yeah, here you are, Fred Haley, Dayton Coach and fan, go ahead to wardrobe.”  the guard said.  A sigh of relief and a tinge of excitement hit me as I realized, “Damn, I owe my “Y” buddy an apology!”