Famous people you've met, and how you met them

[cheeseczar]

Craig Breedlove.

He was setting up his Spirit of America display at the Santa Clara Car show years ago. I noticed he was trying to shove a fair piece of carpet he'd cut (and didn't need) out of the way. I walked up and asked if we could use it for under our car and he said yes. Spent a fair amount of time with him that weekend.

Childhood hero.

[comfortably numb]

Martin Sheen - He was on a family outing at an off track horse racing facility in Ventura CA. We did a kinda after you, no after you, no after you in front of one the self service machines wager macjines. I told him I never watched The West Wing but I did remember The Execution of Private Slovik--that made him smile. Made small talk for a minute or two before he was interupted when Charlie's baby sitter called.

[window]

Tricky Dick in 1972. He was passing thru and spending time at Wally Hickle's house. I lived a few blocks away, put on a coat and tie and strolled over to the area. I went to school with Wally's neices/nephews. Secret Service kept bumping into me - a pat down?

Paul Williams at a restaurant in Singapore.

Jimmy Buffet. I got to attend a "private " concert for a few hundred freinds of one of Jimmy's friends.

The drummer from Canned Heat (he's so famous I don't remember his name) borrowed my practice jersey back in high school. I was reluctant since he said he wanted it so he could get all hot and sweaty.

Between 1989 (or so) and 2003, most of the CART drivers and AJ Foyt, Dan Gurney, Roger Penske. Craig Breedlove was at one of those events.

Derek Bell at the 1996 24 Hours of Daytona.

Tom Cruise and Anthony Edwards.

[skypigeon]

Martin Sheen - He was on a family outing at an off track horse racing facility in Ventura CA. We did a kinda after you, no after you, no after you in front of one the self service machines wager macjines. I told him I never watched The West Wing but I did remember The Execution of Private Slovik--that made him smile. Made small talk for a minute or two before he was interupted when Charlie's baby sitter called.

Considering recent events, that just begs for a smart-alecked response... but I'll behave...

[badart]

Calling Race Dork. I seem to have a picture of you with Emerson Fittipaldi, um, errr, I mean Derek Bell.

Met tons at the Speedway, from Paul Newman on down. Musicians galore, including Stevie Nicks in all her coked-out glory.

[Jamski]

And I met the last name in big band music, namely Sy Zentner.

Geez, Si Zentner. I loved his music. His version of the James Bond them was dead-on. Yes, he was the last of the breed, sadly.

Leaving out the racing folks, of course...I guess of the famous folks I have met the ones I was most favorably impressed with were Jill Sobule (best remembered for "I Kissed a Girl", which ironically is one of her lesser tunes) who is an absolute delight, and David Brashears, who for all of his ascents and film credits was just an ordinary guy sharing stories. The same can be said for Roger Brucker, who arguably is the "Godfather" of caving in Mammoth. What a neat guy, and another with a zillion and one stories to tell. If you haven't read his books, you're missing out.

Also, Doug Preston and Lincoln Child (of the Pendergast series of adventure-mysteries) signed my caving helmet.

[JMFVET]

Not pleasant, but Jesse Jackson and his bodyguard ran into me (literally) in an airport. Didn't like him before and liked him less when neither offered an apology or excuse me.
Met Steve Wozniak in a line at the local July 4th celebration. I had no idea who he was (Co-founder of Apple Computers for those that don't know) until my girlfriend saw spotted him and almost had a seizure.
Bobby Unser many many years ago in Albuquerque
Barry Minter of the Chicago Bears in his rookie season. He lived upstairs from me in a 4th story walkup. After a game (IIRC Green Bay) he pulled up in a limo just as I was getting home from watching the game. He asked if he could hang in my apartment for a while as he was to sore to walk up the stairs. He dropped onto my couch and after a couple beers he went upstairs.

[NoviVespa]

Only one. Was at Indy for Pole Day. After activities, we always went to the motel next door to freshen up. Large clean washrooms. Went upstairs to the floor with the restaurant, the hall was completely empty except for one man leaning against the wall. It was Bobby Unser. So, I walked up to him and asked if I could shake his hand. He obliged. Then I said, "Thank you, and good luck."

--

[cheeseczar]

Not pleasant, but Jesse Jackson and his bodyguard ran into me (literally) in an airport. Didn't like him before and liked him less when neither offered an apology or excuse me.
Met Steve Wozniak in a line at the local July 4th celebration. I had no idea who he was (Co-founder of Apple Computers for those that don't know) until my girlfriend saw spotted him and almost had a seizure.
Bobby Unser many many years ago in Albuquerque
Barry Minter of the Chicago Bears in his rookie season. He lived upstairs from me in a 4th story walkup. After a game (IIRC Green Bay) he pulled up in a limo just as I was getting home from watching the game. He asked if he could hang in my apartment for a while as he was to sore to walk up the stairs. He dropped onto my couch and after a couple beers he went upstairs.

Two similarities to yours. When I worked at Apple in Cupertino I met with Steve Jobs a few times (as few as possible... ).
Also had a run in with someone that included bodyguards...Secret Service actually. I came barging out of the men's room at a wedding reception and slammed directly into Tommy Thompson...the Secretary of Health and Human Services. Security closed in quickly but he brushed them off, I excused myself, and that was it.

[KevMcNJ]

Paul Sorvino of GoodFellas, Law & Order, and numerous other rolls in the movies and on TV....Dad was able to answer his questions, we talked about the area and a few other things and were on our way.

Great story

Martin Sheen - He was on a family outing at an off track horse racing facility in Ventura CA. We did a kinda after you, no after you, no after you in front of one the self service machines wager macjines. I told him I never watched The West Wing but I did remember The Execution of Private Slovik--that made him smile. Made small talk for a minute or two before he was interupted when Charlie's baby sitter called.

Loved him in The Dead Zone. a part made for him

Evel Kneivel pulled into our driveway in the early 1970s lost and needing directions. He was looking for the local dirt track, I dont remember him ever jumping there but I assume he had a gig there that night. My older brother told him where it was and as he was backing out one of the neighborhood kids yelled out
"say hi to Evel Kneivel for me"

To which he replied, " I am Evel Kneivel" I was maybe 4 or 5 at the time but we all agreed that the guy did look like Evel so we all assume it was he.
He was towing a motorcycle.

I confused Greg Biffle one night and actually cost him a race. He was making an appearance at a track I worked at and they set up a match race between he and some other driver. I forget who it was, may have been Ward Burton. It was a 5 lap raceIIRC. They came down for two to go so I showed them the furled white and checkered flags which has foerver meant two to go where I grew up.

He got passed and in Voctory Lane while they were interviewing the winner he comes up to me and asked what I was doing with the flags. I told him it meant two to go. He was laughing and said something like Ive never seen that before and you got me so confused I got out of the gas and he passed me

It was a meaningless race so he & I had a good laugh over it.

I had some one from Deadliest Catch as a customer when I was driving for the Seattle airport shuttle company. She said the boats were as miserable as it looks on TV. I think it was Sigs wife. She was on a couple of the early episodes

[MethanolBuzzed]

Marshall Faulk - Ran into him at Indianapolis International Airport in 1994. Nice guy.
Nick Nolte - While he was preparing for Blue Chips, there was a basketball recruit game at GC's HS Gymnasium (IIRC) that he was watching. There were a few IU recruits there that my grandpa had wanted to see play. I think it was in 1994?
Wayne Gretzky - My wife and I attended a Coyotes Game Night at Jillian's in Phoenix, which was held for charity. He signed autographs for a good two hours. I remember him being very quiet. February 2007.
Jeremy Roenick - Met him at the same Coyotes Game Night, probably one of the nicest pro athletes I've ever met. February 2007.
Trey Hillman - Royals manager in Spring Training, 2008. I guess you can say he's an icon in Japan. Won several titles with one of the Japanese teams over there. A real nice guy, even helped me get a BP session prepared for the Royals that season.
Frank White - Royals great, Spring Training 2008. We had a conversation with him while we were waiting for a BP session to complete.
George Brett - Spring Training 2008. Don't know that I'd say I met him, but did exchange greetings.
Rich Vogler - Met him a few weeks before he died. I remember him being very friendly.
Helio Castroneves - Met in Victory Lane last year at TMS. He was nice, but very tired so he didn't say much.

Other Racers: At Indy 500 Community Day 2002, Vasser, Buhl, Papis (great guy), Redon, Barron, Kanaan, and Scheckter that I can recall offhand. David Hobbs at USGP in 2005 (found out later my friend Tom is good friends with him).

I've interacted with several players from the Royals and Rangers in 2008. The Royals in particular earned a fan for life in me. Then I've met a handful of other lesser known Coyotes players.

While the wife and I were on a trip to Beverly Hills in 2007, we walked past Peter Gallagher coming out of a coffee shop as we were walking to a Baja Fresh. Then, I believe the lady's name is Joely Richardson (she was in The Patriot and Nip/Tuck), that we saw at the Hollywood Mall. Then I still maintain that it was Paris Hilton that walked right past us on Rodeo Drive.

[Race Dork]

HEY!



Wasn't me!

I met President George W. Bush at the White House back in 2008. My ex girlfriend at the time got me a tour of the West Wing from her family friend who worked in the State Department.

In 2006 I met Gene Simmons in Gasoline Alley

This past September I met Patrick Dempsey at the Grand Am event at Miller Motorsports Park. I was one of the finalists to win the Madza RX-8 they were giving away last year. Too bad I did not get the car. Some "race dork" won the car. This guy wore racing shoes and was all decked out. The guy was a friend of some of the Grand Am drivers and did not associate with the rest of us before or after he won the car. I got a all expensives paid trip to Utah which included Air, Hotel, transportation, and pit passes. Good stuff The best part of the trip was I got Patrick to call my girlfriend which she was very happy about. Good brownie points.

[Race Dork]

I met Robert Plant in 1994. He and his band were assembling their stage set and rehearsing at what is now called the Lakeland Center, and one of his roadies came into the electronics store I worked at looking for some gear for backstage. I delivered it and got to watch a run thru of the set, and then sat behind Plant in the seats while he watched the lighting choreography. It was the 29 Palms tour.

btw... he didn't care for the lighting stuff... shouted "were you high when you wrote this!"

I laughed!

Also met Burt Reynolds, Harold Katz (former owner of the 76ers) and Mr. Rick Mears working as well, did lots of work in the latter two's homes.

[indysteve]

I met Bill Monroe, the Father of Bluegrass Music, at the bluegrass festival in Beanblossom sometime in the '80s. He shook my hand and autographed a copy of Bluegrass Unlimited magazine I brought which had him on the cover. When I think of him, I always remember this quote: "I've never passed by a man who wanted to shake my hand."

I shook hands with Butler basketball coach Brad Stevens in the Hinkle Fieldhouse parking lot last March about six hours after his team had defeated Kansas State to win the West Regional championship and advance to the Final Four at Lucas Oil Stadium. It was about 3:30 am.

[Truth Detector]

Pidge: I too, met Vonnegut, as a Butler student in 1977. Same deal...Lecture...Meet and greet... I stalked him the whole day, and caught him outside the Student Union Building mid-afternoon. he spent about 5 minutes with me, and was very gracious. I talked about Shortridge, where he and my Mom attended. He had this "MAGNETIC" thing about him...His persona just drew you to him...

My mom & her siblings were also Shortridge grads. My late uncle was in Kurt's class. There was no love lost...