For some reason, I was laughing about this story today.
In 2002, I was working for Pepsi and was following boxing more closely than I do now. Tyson v Lewis was oddly scheduled for Memphis, that was in our market, and the Pyramid was our account. I called the GM down there and asked if I could get ring side seats. I didn't care what they cost, I'd gladly pay for them, I just wanted access. I got a call from him several weeks later. He said I was invited to be in the sky box, hotel paid for, a limo would pick us for a pre-party hosted by a KFC franchisee, and the tickets were taken care of. Then he paused. "I want to tell you why you're attending. There were a lot of people, I received hundreds of calls, mostly from people ranking far higher than you. But of all those calls, you were the only person who offered to pay for your tickets".
But that's not what I was laughing about. There was a line of limos at the back executive entrance. A lot of celebrities attending the fight. And a pack of paparazzi waiting. I watched as the other limos opened, the flashbulbs firing. Then we got to the front of the line. I opened the limo door, the cameras went up to eyeballs, then dropped immediately, without a single flash. I laughed at the time, and it still makes me laugh.