As usual, Bubba was bragging to his boss one day, “You know, I know everyone who is anyone. Just name someone, and I know them.”

Tired of the constant boasting, his boss called his bluff, “OK, Bubba how about Tom Cruise?”

“You bet. Tom and I are old friends, and I can prove it.” So Bubba and his boss fly out to Hollywood and knock on Tom Cruise’s door, and sure enough, Tom Cruise, shouts, “Bubba! It’s great to see you! Why don’t you and your friend come in and join me for lunch?”

Although impressed, Bubba’s boss is still skeptical. After they leave Cruise’s house, he tells Bubba that he thinks Bubba’s knowing Cruise was just lucky.

“Okay, just name someone else,” Bubba says.

“Okay, smart guy. President Bush,” his boss quickly retorts.

“Yes,” Bubba says, “I know him, let’s fly out to Washington.” And off they go.

Sure enough, the President has Bubba and his boss escorted into the White House and motions for them to sit down, saying, “Bubba, what a surprise! I was just on my way to an important meeting, but you and your friend come on in and let’s have a cup of coffee and catch up.”

Well, Bubba’s boss is very shaken by now, but still not totally convinced. After they leave the White House, he expresses his doubts to Bubba, who again implores him to name anyone else.

“How about the Pope,” his boss replies. “Sure!” says Bubba. “My folks knew his parents, and so I’ve known the Pope personally a long time.”

So off they fly to Rome. Bubba and his boss are assembled with the masses in Vatican Square when Bubba says, “Just standing out here in the crowd 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 Bubba emerges with the Pope on the balcony. But by the time Bubba returns, he finds that his boss has had a mild heart attack and is surrounded by paramedics.

Working his way to his boss’ side, Bubba 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 guy on the balcony with Bubba?”