Ion Tiriac, 87, reminisced about an episode from half a decade ago, specifically in 1976, when he personally negotiated the price for a TV appearance by Nadia Comaneci, who was 64 at the time. This negotiation was not with Romanians but with wealthy Americans, who were willing to pay handsomely for an exclusive interview with the "Goddess of Montreal," who had just won three Olympic gold medals.

The two have a close relationship, and they were seen together at a Madrid tennis tournament this spring. Ion Tiriac, in a recent interview, indicated that Nadia Comaneci was among the first to awaken his entrepreneurial spirit.

In 1976, when Nadia Comaneci earned the historic 10 at the Montreal Olympics and won three gold medals, Ion Tiriac had a brilliant idea to capitalize on her image. At the time, she was highly sought after by North American TV networks. Ion Tiriac, who was in the U.S., contacted CBS and proposed an exclusive interview with Nadia Comaneci. CBS offered a million dollars, an astronomical amount for the era.

Tiriac then called back home to convince the restrictive communist system to allow Nadia Comaneci to appear on an American network. This was not possible, and Ion Tiriac's attempt to generate a million dollars failed.

The Montreal Olympics of 1976 remain the most cherished memory of Nadia Comaneci's life, and she has never parted with the costume she wore during her historic performance. She has lent it to the Hall of Fame but has never sold it.