circpro
01-22-2007, 09:05 PM
Who dat? (http://www.suntimes.com/sports/football/222285,CST-NWS-saints21.article)
Process server tackles Saints linebacker at hotel here
Former suburban star named in paternity suit
January 21, 2007
BY ANNIE SWEENEY Staff Reporter
Who dat, New Orleans linebacker Danny Clark?
A private eye serving you with court papers?
After Clark and his Saints teammates checked in to their hotel Saturday -- as fans belted out their longtime chant, "Who dat?" -- a private detective snagged him with court papers, alerting Clark he'd been named in a paternity suit by a Chicago woman.
Clark, who was all-conference as a quarterback and linebacker at Hillcrest High in Country Club Hills and played at the University of Illinois, was getting into a stretch SUV outside the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place when Michael Slevnik caught him.
"I'm sorry about this,'' Slevnik told Clark, who wears No. 54 -- the same number as the Bears' Brian Urlacher, whose paternity problems played out early in the season.
After Slevnik explained the nature of the suit, which Clark politely acknowledged, he advised Clark to show the papers to his attorney. Then he wished Clark luck.
"I had my figures crossed," said Slevnik, a rabid Bears fan who waited three hours in the hotel lobby for his mark.
'This was interesting'
Slevnik passed most of the day on an overstuffed chair -- conspicuous in a gray business suit and black overcoat with a manila envelop tucked under his arm -- plotting how he would get to Clark. As the afternoon passed, the sea of black and gold swelled, and the "Who dats" got louder.
The Saints finally arrived about 3:30 p.m., and Slevnik crushed into the crowd outside to try to grab Clark, but hotel security was too tight.
About an hour later, Clark emerged from the lobby elevator, and Slevnik chased him to his waiting Excursion. Clark was good-natured during the half-minute encounter.
"This was interesting, it really was,'' said Slevnik, who figured he has served about 8,000 court papers.
The papers on Clark had to be served in person but not necessarily in Cook County, said Bernard Rinella, the attorney representing Alisha L. Pate, who claims Clark is the father of her son, Alijah Danny Clark.
As for Saints fans who might want a flag tossed for unnecessary roughness the day before a big game, Rinella said Alijah was born only three weeks ago -- just before New Orleans beat Philadelphia and headed here.
"It was perfect timing,'' he said, adding that Pate has quit working to raise Alijah. "We're doing this for the child.''
Rinella had to admit, though, that if all this distracts the Saints'No. 54, it's a welcome side effect.
"We're pulling for the Bears,'' he said.
Process server tackles Saints linebacker at hotel here
Former suburban star named in paternity suit
January 21, 2007
BY ANNIE SWEENEY Staff Reporter
Who dat, New Orleans linebacker Danny Clark?
A private eye serving you with court papers?
After Clark and his Saints teammates checked in to their hotel Saturday -- as fans belted out their longtime chant, "Who dat?" -- a private detective snagged him with court papers, alerting Clark he'd been named in a paternity suit by a Chicago woman.
Clark, who was all-conference as a quarterback and linebacker at Hillcrest High in Country Club Hills and played at the University of Illinois, was getting into a stretch SUV outside the Hyatt Regency McCormick Place when Michael Slevnik caught him.
"I'm sorry about this,'' Slevnik told Clark, who wears No. 54 -- the same number as the Bears' Brian Urlacher, whose paternity problems played out early in the season.
After Slevnik explained the nature of the suit, which Clark politely acknowledged, he advised Clark to show the papers to his attorney. Then he wished Clark luck.
"I had my figures crossed," said Slevnik, a rabid Bears fan who waited three hours in the hotel lobby for his mark.
'This was interesting'
Slevnik passed most of the day on an overstuffed chair -- conspicuous in a gray business suit and black overcoat with a manila envelop tucked under his arm -- plotting how he would get to Clark. As the afternoon passed, the sea of black and gold swelled, and the "Who dats" got louder.
The Saints finally arrived about 3:30 p.m., and Slevnik crushed into the crowd outside to try to grab Clark, but hotel security was too tight.
About an hour later, Clark emerged from the lobby elevator, and Slevnik chased him to his waiting Excursion. Clark was good-natured during the half-minute encounter.
"This was interesting, it really was,'' said Slevnik, who figured he has served about 8,000 court papers.
The papers on Clark had to be served in person but not necessarily in Cook County, said Bernard Rinella, the attorney representing Alisha L. Pate, who claims Clark is the father of her son, Alijah Danny Clark.
As for Saints fans who might want a flag tossed for unnecessary roughness the day before a big game, Rinella said Alijah was born only three weeks ago -- just before New Orleans beat Philadelphia and headed here.
"It was perfect timing,'' he said, adding that Pate has quit working to raise Alijah. "We're doing this for the child.''
Rinella had to admit, though, that if all this distracts the Saints'No. 54, it's a welcome side effect.
"We're pulling for the Bears,'' he said.