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Two Texas millionaires met at the DFW Airport and got into a conversation. One was
an oilman, Joe Blow from Odessa, and the other was a computer magnate, Mike from
Austin.

During the conversation Joe introduced himself as “Joe Blow from Odessa and he
knew everybody who was anybody.” Mike asked him if he was a betting man and Joe
said that he would bet on just about anything.

“OK”, said Mike, “I’ll bet you $1,000.00 that you don’t know George W. (Bush that is,
governor of Texas)”

“Sure,” said Joe, “George and I came from the same neighborhood, practically grew up
together.”

“All right,” said Mike, “it looks like they have finished servicing my personal jet. I see
the pilot just came out of the lounge, so let’s fly down to Austin and I want you to
introduce me to George W.”

“OK” replied Joe. “Let’s go.”

So they flew down to Austin, rented a car and drove over to the capitol building.
When they got inside Joe told the receptionist that he was there to see the governor and
to tell him that Joe Blow from Odessa was there. She returned in just a minute and told
the two to follow her down the hall to the governors office.

As they entered the office the governor got up out of his chair, shook hands and said,
“Hello Joe, it’s good to see you again. Who is this that you have with you today?”

Joe introduced Mike to the governor and they talked for about 20 minutes and then
left. Mike knew that he had lost that thousand dollars fair and square but thought that
he had a chance to get even.

“OK, so you won that thousand, so now let’s go double or nothing. I bet you two
thousand dollars that you don’t know the president.”

“Oh, you mean Bill Clinton? We went to college together at the University of
Arkansas. We’ve known each other quite some time.”

“While we are out running around, let’s just fly up to Washington and you can
introduce me to the president if you know him so well.”

So they took off to Washington and went over to the capitol building. When they went
in Joe told the receptionist that he was there to see the president and to tell him that Joe
Blow from Odessa was there to see him. The receptionist left and returned in a few
minutes and told the two to follow her down the hall to the presidents office.

The president greeted them at the door and invited them in to be seated. “Well Joe,”
the president said, “it’s been a while since we have seen each other. I’m glad you could
make it this far to visit me. Now, who is this friend you have with you?”

After the introductions they visited for about 30 minutes and then left. Now Mike was
in debt to Joe for three grand but thought that he had another way to get even.

“Joe, you have won three grand and now let’s make it interesting. Let’s go double or
nothing again. I bet you six grand that you don’t know the pope.”

“Oh sure,” said Joe. “I worked security for the Vatican a few years back and the pope
and I got to be good friends.”

“We’ll just see how good a friendship you developed. We’re going to Rome to find out.”

So off to Rome they went. Upon reaching Rome they went straight to the Vatican and
upon entering Joe told the receptionist that he wanted to see the pope and to tell him
that Joe Blow from Odessa was there to see him. The receptionist left and returned
after several minutes and said that the pope wasn’t feeling too well and that he could
see only one visitor today.

“That’s fine,” Joe said. Turning to Mike he said “I’ll go up to see him and I will get
him to walk out on the balcony with me. If you go outside in the plaza you can see us
together.”

Mike went outside and waited in the plaza. In a little while Joe stepped out on the
balcony with an older gentleman in a white robe. Mike had never seen the pope before
and did not know if that was the pope with Joe or just someone else in a white robe.

Looking around, Mike spotted three young boys playing in the plaza. Calling one of
the boys over Joe said, “Son, I will give you ten dollars if you can tell me who that is
standing on the balcony up there.”

“Sure, senior,” the boy said as he looked up at the balcony. “The old man in the robe I
do not know, but the other one is Joe Blow from Odessa.”