Famous people you've met

When I was in college I was Bill Cosby's assistant for a day when he was performing in Dallas. Really, really amazingly cool guy. Consumed more chili dogs from The Angry Dog than I ever thought possible but other than that he just wanted to hang out, drink scotch and watch college football before his first show.

Watched game one of the NBA finals at a table with a very drunk Dirk Nowitzki and Mike Modano one year.

Did shots with Charles Barkley late night when he was in Dallas calling a Mavericks playoff game. At the time he was so big he was sweating sitting still with a cold drink in his hand.

A friend of mine worked at Cowboys Sports Bar when I was in high school and he used to sneak me in. This is before one of the coaches banned the players from going there so I got to spend some time around Nate Newton(back when he was literally twice the man he is now) and Michael Irvin who were regulars and pretty much the reason the entire team was banned from going there.

Met a couple people from various bands, but nothing too significant. Other than that, just people who are very famous in certain circles but I would likely have to explain who they are if I listed. Looking through my list it seems I must be rather personable when I drink as I managed to survive all these encounters.

 

Having worked in the automotive aftermarket business I have met quite a few famous people. Off the top of my head...

Ice-T & his wife Coco
Sylvester Stallone
Eli Manning
Osi Umenyiora
Dave Meggett
Bart Oates
Mark Sanchez
Martin Brodeur
Cam'ron
Jim Jones (the rapper not the cult leader)
Wyclef Jean
Fat Joe
Mario Barth (semi-famous tattoo artist)
Ahmad Bradshaw
Lawrence Taylor
Susan Sarandon and Tim Robbins
Jerry Seinfeld
Swizz Beats

there are a few more I can't recall at the moment...

My personal favorite was Bill Russell. I spent about an hour chatting with him at work and it was a pleasure. He is a really nice guy and a LEGEND! I really felt humbled talking to him.

 

Bumped into Roger Federer in 08 @ the Atlantis Hotel in Dubai. Nice guy, wished him good luck!

 

I met Chuck Norris; he let me survive (it was at a book signing; cool guy...his beautiful wife was there too...she's taller).

I met Jeff Foxworthy and his dad, also at a book signing...both very nice people.

Maybe some others, but don't remember...I don't keep track of names well.

 

I've been fortunate enough to have a lot of access to people at the old Boston Garden and current TD Garden. I was able to meet most NHL and NBA players throughout the 90's.

Some of the most notable experiences / interactions were with:


NBA

Majic Johnson - very friendly and courteous.
Michael Jordan
Larry Bird - kind of arrogant and not very personable
Reggie Lewis - great guy! The last time I saw him was the night he collapsed during a playoff game. He died that summer.
Charles Barkley - was actually nervous to meat him given his reputation. Turned out he was probably one of the friendliest guys you could talk to.

NHL

All the old timers are great guys... Bobby Orr, Phil Esposito, John Bucyk, Gordie Howe, Brad Park, etc...
Ray Bourque - also a great guy. I got to know him casually and still see him around once in a while.
Joe Thornton - A very fun and friendly guy. Spent many nights out at the bars together his first couple years in the league.
Mike Modano - *****head. At least he was the one night I met him.
The Stanley Cup - OK, it's not a person, but I did get my picture with it when they had the all-star game in Boston during the 95-96 season.


Entertainment

Kelsey Grammer - quite nice. I saw him the night they filmed Cheers at the Garden (When Kevin McHale ended up counting the bolts in the parquet during a game)

Aerosmith - These guys are just AWESOME. Especially Steven Tyler. If there is one guy that acts EXACTLY like you would expect, it's him. No matter who else is in the room, he draws everyone's attention. I've met him a couple times. First was backstage at a Pearl Jam show in 1994. Very cool. After talking for a couple minutes he just walks over and jumped on a large Boston cop's back and started singing.
Most recently, I had a meeting at Timberland (shoes) last spring and were in their lab with Steven for 4 or 5 hours. No awkward silence. As soon as there is a lull, he just starts telling stories. I heard some pretty cool things about the history of the band and people they have been involved with.

Prince - Talk about a Napolean complex. I worked as a runner for him for a day. That guy was one of the most arrogant and unfriendly people I've ever come across.

 

Actors?
David Alan Grier, we were on the same flight; I acknowledged him. At least I'm pretty sure it was him LOL.

Aries Spears - At a stand up night in Kalamazoo. He was a nice guy, and pretty good at reading the crowed.

Tim Allen - I really wouldn't want to say anything here. I hear he opens up nicely if you have a beer with him.

TV personalities

David Hobbes
Bob Varsha - These two guys, I can't say enough good things about them. Not only are they both very knowledgeable, but very enthusiastic about what they do, and both have a great sense of humor.

Barry McGuire - Truly as odd in person as he is in the TV show. But in a good way.

John McElroy - Not really that 'famous' but he definitely has an ear to the industry, and it shows. He is definitely candid if you discuss the industry with him.

Peter Jennings - Nice guy, from what I recall. I was about 4 years old.

Pat Robertson - Very genuine man; and not at all like a politician from what I remember. I was very young back then.

Misc. local TV anchors and reporters that few would recognize. Most of them were egotistical, self centered, and vapid. I think only the weather men weren't whom I have met.

Auto Industry -

Bob Lutz - A man after my own heart. I wish I had 1/2 the work ethic he has, and am 1/2 as active at his age.

Ralf Giles, Chris Bangel, J Mays, Camilo Pardo, Peter Horbury, Chuck Jordan... Hau Tai Tang, Jamal H. , Tom Watts, John Coletti... and countless others in high places

Science -
Bob Ballard - the guy who found the Titanic! Sometimes his passion for science shines, and other times he is very political ... at least at fundraiser dinners LOL. I've met him in both situations. I don't think scientists get much more "famous" than him.

I've met numerous other leading scientist in the Radio Astronomy field as well.

Athletics -
Sergei Federov - He's a superstar, knows it, however, he is very approachable. Nice guy
Jonathan Ericson - HUGE! That guy is nothing but gristle, and quite a nice fellow.
Henrik Zetterberg - Another good uy. I'm told he dug one of my photos of his car being driven in angler
Steve Yzerman - I lived in the same town, and once filled up next to him at the gas station.

I don't even know where to begin with race drivers... But, I've never met the biggest 'stars' But I have had champagne with race winners more than once... overall winners, not just class winners at that

Musicians
Megadeth ca 2000. This is the only time I was star struck... here I was in the presence of one of my rock heros. Dave gave the most bad-ass response to my silly question ever... "What is your favorite thing to do on guitar?" - Dave - "I use it as a weapon!"
About 18 months ago, my old roommate had a meet and greet with the band... everybody had something for them to sign. He bought a tapestry off the Megadeth website, and brought that to be signed. Dave looked groggy, and sedated. He saw the tapestry, and said "What is that?! Your BLANKET?" My former roommate was dumbfounded... didn't Dave approve merchindise on his own site? It would've been appropriate to respond with his response to me... "I use it as a weapon!" But it didn't happen that way lol.

Ted Nugent- What a quick talking sharp minded fellow
Ekoostic Hookah - some of he easiest going guys on the planet.
Gogol Bordello (Specifically Eugene Hutz) What an over the top guy, and very approachable, high energy, and smarter than I expected)
Apples in Stereo - who? I didn't know either lol. Talented people that were big in the early 90's I guess.

 

I'd have to say the most nicest person was Underwater Photographer Stan Waterman.

 

1. Fran Tarkenton
2. Larry Csonka
3. The Guess Who
4. Bad Finger
5. Foghat (got smashed with them at the hotel)
6. BigTex, lol

Oh almost forgot about Gregg Bingham back in '73-'74, he was the guest speaker at my elementary school and I won the raffle, a football signed by the team that year.

 

I've forgotten more than I can actually name.

 

I've never met anyone famous, but have found myself in chance proximity to a few.

-Coach Tom Landry in a Dallas movie theater lobby, 1977

-Andy Warhol in a New York City hotel lobby, 1980

-During a trip to Europe in 1998, my wife and I had just walked out of Westminster Abbey, and found that the road separating that structure from the houses of Parliament was lined with people awaiting a royal motorcade from Buckingham Palace. We caught a glimpse of Queen Elizabeth as her very cool old Rolls Royce limousine passed by.

I'm sure there's one or two more but they don't come to mind right offhand.

 

I've met a few over the years;

-John Travolta
-Annie Lennox
-Gerard Depardieu
-Bob Seger
-Alto Reed
-Erin Cummings
-Luca DiMontezemolo
-Sergio Pininfarina
-Jackie Stewart
-Andre Ribeiro
-Henrik Zetterberg
-Emma Andersson
-Sergei Fedorov
-Jonathan Ericsson
-Chris Chelios
-Niklas Kronwall
-Jack Johnson
-Lindsey Hunter
-Rip Hamilton
-Cliff Robinson
-Ndamukong Suh
-Calvin Johnson
-Maglio Ordonez
-Georges St. Pierre
-Tommy Hearns

 

One of my friends maintains his jet!

 

I would LOVE to meet Travolta one day!! He is a living legend!

Is he related to Chev Chelios?

[ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fG8mA4NVbk0[/ame]

 

I've met and had a long chat with Hugo Weaving. I went up to him when I saw him and ended up having a few drinks with him. The chat (which I thought would've been short) turned out to become an almost 2 hour chat haha.

Also met Kate Winslet, but she was just a bit arrogant imho

last but not least, maybe not any of your favourite but Jos Verstappen (F1 driver long long time back). Yes that's the Dutch guy who always ended on the side of the track

 

More than I can recall, most from Vegas....But the funniest guys I have ever met in my life were Drew Carey and two guys named Ryan and Greg. It was back when he had his show and a friend of theirs was playing BJ with me in the high limit room at Paris. They walked up to him and once I heard Drew's voice I knew who he was but he did'nt have glasses on so looked a little different. All the guys were on his show but since I don't watch TV I don't know last names. Ryan was so hilarious I had tears coming from my eyes, he just kept ragging on his buddy for losing his @$$ every hand and was cominh up with the wittiest comments ever.

 

My Father was an arena manager in a major American city beginning in the mid-60s through 1991...an amazing run. His office was often used for major acts to use as their dressing room. On many occasions, beginning when I was very young until I went to college I had opportunities to meet many celebs. Some of the more notable encounters:

On the Beatles first and second tours in the late sixties I was a small boy and had the opportunity to "hang" with the guys in the office before the show...playing soccer, cards. They allowed me in and trusted me probably because I was so young - 8-10 - and they knew I didn't want anything.

Mickey Dolenz, the drummer of the Monkeys, took me drag racing in the parking lot of the arena in the GTO custom that accompanied the group on the tour. Burn outs for 30 minutes!

Partied with Van Halen. Dated a couple of the Ice Capets from the Ice Capades asked Dorthy Hamill for a date - got turned down! Had snacks with Michael Jackson, actually met the real Elvis. In my senior year of high school got main floor tickets for my entire class for Elton John - center, rows 8-24.

Went Tarpon fishing and had lunch with Ted Williams (the ball player not the homeless guy). Dinner with Rick Wagoner, chairman of GM, about 6 times. He loved to buy the wine! Good times.

 

Just saw this thread.

I guess the most famous people I know/knew were the Newmans (Paul, and Joanne). Joanne is from Marietta GA and both of my parents have known her all there lives. She is a very nice lady and Paul was awesome as well. I used to sit and talk about cars with Paul when me, my mom, and Paul and Joanne used to go to lunch together. They (now Joanne) has a always had a house in Marietta. Joanne used to show up at my moms work in curlers to go to lunch sometimes.... both very down to earth people.

I've met:
Brett Favre when he was with the Falcons, he used to be known as Buckhead Brett for hanging out at all the bars in Atlanta and well thats where I knew him from.
A lot of wrestlers, both Steiners, The Giant ect... used to see them all the time when WCW was in Atlanta.
Arthur Blank owner of the Falcons nice guy.
John Meyer when he was up and coming in the bars around Atlanta.
Keifer Sutherland in a bar in Atlanta (yes he was blitzed) he was a funny guy.
I've met lots of people in bars I guess....
Ludacris (tiny dude)
Both Andre and Big Boi from Outkast

 

Come to Clearwater, downtown, hang around for a bit......keep your eyes open, but it may be hard to spot him wearing white along with the rest of the folks...........

 

I've met a few, but the two highlights are shaking Walter Payton's hand and talking one on one with Steven Tyler for a couple of minutes while his wife shopped.

Even superstar millionaires ***** about their wives spending too much money.

 

Clearwater?

 

Florida
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Great, make it more intriguing why don't you DH!

Jerry, could you please share some of your experiences that you might consider
fun/appropiate -of course matters of privacy and sec. enter in this topic-
but whatever you might consider a memorable encounter to share with us kids.

Cool stuff everyone, thanks for sharing and keep em' comin'!

 

JUST SPOKE TO LAST NIGHT ON MY HOUSE PHONE....JOHNNY BRENNAN OF THE JERKY BOYS

 

Formerly a home to Nigel Mansell, is the eastern U.S. HQ for Scientology, of which Mr Travolta is a member.

KevFla

 

Not in any specific order but....an eclectic group

Pamela Anderson
Adam Sandler
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Jesse James
Pete Rose
Rick & Kathy Hilton
Bruce Jenner
Mike Tyson
Vitor Belfort
Randy Couture
Kevin Randleman
Mark Coleman
Jay Leno
Phil Baroni
Francesco Quinn
Ingo Rademacher
Pete Rose
Hugh Hefner
Jon Lovitz
Ozzy Osbourne
Magic Johnson
Jeff Garcia
Mark Cuban
Seth Green
Steve McNair
Royce Gracie
Phil Maloof
Stone Cold Steve Austin
Tara Reid
Sean Odonnel
George Parros
Frank Shamrock
Shaq
Luke Longely
Anthony Gobert
Aaron Gobert
Natalie Jackson
Miguel Duhamel
Josh Thompson


I'm sure a few others I can't think of........