One of the interesting ones was spending a day with Susan Sarandon and tim Robbins a couple of days after 9/11 feeding first responders at a firehouse in the Gramercy area.
OT: Your stories of a brush with famous people.
- Thread starter Rutgers NJ
- Start date
Was at a car wash on Route 1 in Princeton and I'm standing on line behind this pretty big guy. The cashier kept on looking up at him and said "Do you know that you look like Chevy Chase?" In this real a--hole voice he says "Thats because I am."
I didn't say anything but standing outside we were both waiting for the undocumented asylum seekers to finish toweling down the cars. He puts something in the Tip Box and says to the workers "I just put $20 in there so do a good job."
He wasn't trying to be funny, just was a dick.
I didn't say anything but standing outside we were both waiting for the undocumented asylum seekers to finish toweling down the cars. He puts something in the Tip Box and says to the workers "I just put $20 in there so do a good job."
He wasn't trying to be funny, just was a dick.
I was heading to the turnpike toll booth when a car cuts me off, I make a wtf hand gesture. The car goes thru the toll, I go thru. The car then pulls a u-turn back the opposite way so now I can see the driver. It’s Lawrence Taylor. He just laughed at my gesture.
Had the opposite experience with him. He was speaking at a small event I attended and just berated a friend of mine for asking a question that Koppel felt he had already covered in his speech.
About 10 years ago when I used to belong to the NYSC in Wyckoff, Joe Morris was a regular and got to know him pretty well. Built like a bowling ball now but solid like one too. Very nice guy.
Harry Carson is a regular at the Market Basket and Starbucks. Stays to himself and pretty much everyone just leaves him alone. Kerry Kittles lives just a couple of houses down…
Harry Carson is a regular at the Market Basket and Starbucks. Stays to himself and pretty much everyone just leaves him alone. Kerry Kittles lives just a couple of houses down…
Met Mickey Mantle signing autographs back in early 80s in Toms River at the opening of a new store. Nice guy. Was in Vegas and on an elevator, doors open, and it’s Anna Nicole Smith with a couple bodyguards and a tv crew filming for her old tv show. The bodyguards just said “get out”. The former Yankees GM Gene Michael used to play alot of poker at the Borgata. I thanked him for the late 90s dynasty. James Caan was also at table next to me at Borgata playing NL hold about 10 years ago. He was very nice to everyone around, I didn’t bother him.
Can't believe I forgot to post this in my original post. After my ACL surgery in 1984, I'd rehab at The Hear Institute in Red Bank. A state of the art place for all kinds of rehab. They had a direct link to Riverview Medical Center for heart patients, a dunk tank for checking body fat, Cybex machines out the Gazoo, anything you can think of. The owner was hired to go on every tour of Bruce Springsteen's band. I'd see and chat with Bruce, Max and even Clarence as we seemed to be on the same 3 days a week schedule. Bruce there mostly for endurance, and Max to rehab his wrists, not sure about Clemons reason. Met Denny McLain and Bill Mazer at Mickey Mantle's in Manhattan when Bill used to do his radio show for WFAN at Mantles.
Another strange one for me...Back when our son had a major tear in his MCL - he got scheduled for surgery by Dr. James Andrews...Those around sports for a while, know who he is.
Down at the facility, he meets the wife and I at the door and spends a good hour or so with us. Nicest old grandfather type you will ever meet.
My wife has no idea who he is but the whole time- I am thinking how many sports careers he had saved.
Down at the facility, he meets the wife and I at the door and spends a good hour or so with us. Nicest old grandfather type you will ever meet.
My wife has no idea who he is but the whole time- I am thinking how many sports careers he had saved.
This one didn’t happen to me, but a funny one a friend told me many years ago.
My friends father worked in NYC. He was going to enter a building with a revolving door. A guy walked in just before him and started to push the revolving door fast. He kept pushing it around a few times so my friends dad couldn’t exit. Finally the guy stopped pushing and got out. My friends father got out behind him. The guy, reaching for the knot of his tie said “oh I could never figure those things out”.
It was Rodney Dangerfield.
My friends father worked in NYC. He was going to enter a building with a revolving door. A guy walked in just before him and started to push the revolving door fast. He kept pushing it around a few times so my friends dad couldn’t exit. Finally the guy stopped pushing and got out. My friends father got out behind him. The guy, reaching for the knot of his tie said “oh I could never figure those things out”.
It was Rodney Dangerfield.
Used to run into Joe Morris in a surprising number of pick up basketball games. Yes, very nice guy. Very bad basketball player.
being maybe 5ft6 at most and maybe 260lbs or more. And no longer has his Cuse speed...I can see him wanting to play but not being all that good. lol
Worked at Spring Lake Pharmacy sold Ray Liotta toothpaste, THE END. Oh and they must have troweled on his makeup while making movies because his face was one huge pock mark.
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My wife used to be an event planner for a sports memorabilia company when that market was hot so “met” bunch of sports celebrities, but two events/acquaintances stood out.
First one was an event for the MLB 300 game winners. Tom Seaver walks in late and was pretty much known as not being much of a smoozer with the public. As he enters the room during the cocktail hour he looks over at me and you could see a look of recognition, like he thought he knew me. Came over shakes my hand and says, “ Hi, how are you.” I replied, “Good Tom, how’s Nancy and the kids.” Couple of guys I knew were there and were like, “How do you know TOM SEAVER?”
The other was a gambling cruise out of Long Island with several Yankees. I was playing craps and Goose Gossage walks over and says somewhat loudly, “How do you play this game?” He picks up the dice and asks what number do you want me to roll?” Bunch tell out 7 or 11! He rolls 2 Yo’s and 1 seven. He then rolls a number (don’t remember which), makes the point and keeps the dice for at least 20 minutes, rolling all kids of numbers and hamming it up with the crowd. Everyone at the table made a nice chunk of change thanks to Goose.
First one was an event for the MLB 300 game winners. Tom Seaver walks in late and was pretty much known as not being much of a smoozer with the public. As he enters the room during the cocktail hour he looks over at me and you could see a look of recognition, like he thought he knew me. Came over shakes my hand and says, “ Hi, how are you.” I replied, “Good Tom, how’s Nancy and the kids.” Couple of guys I knew were there and were like, “How do you know TOM SEAVER?”
The other was a gambling cruise out of Long Island with several Yankees. I was playing craps and Goose Gossage walks over and says somewhat loudly, “How do you play this game?” He picks up the dice and asks what number do you want me to roll?” Bunch tell out 7 or 11! He rolls 2 Yo’s and 1 seven. He then rolls a number (don’t remember which), makes the point and keeps the dice for at least 20 minutes, rolling all kids of numbers and hamming it up with the crowd. Everyone at the table made a nice chunk of change thanks to Goose.
I know I’m in the minority but I don’t share the fascination with “famous” people.
Oh, one more: my next door neighbor is Brian Leonard.
I have had serveral …but my reality is Charles Barkley was stalking me in 1994, as I ran into a Marino’s bar and grill in coconut grove , rhe rock ridge saloon in New York City on a rock street and a high end steak house (I forget which one ) in Phoenix , all in a 5 week period in the winter of 1994
Story about Charles Barkley. We were staying at the Dunes in Vegas. It was to be Barkley’s rookie season. Dr. J was sitting at a roped off unlimited black Jack table. Barkley was sitting at a 2 dollar table.
I’m not everyone is but they lead to interesting discussion.
I played 20/40 limit hold ‘em a couple of times with Michael. Really nice guy but extremely quiet at the table. One time he was seated on my immediate left, wearing a Yankees warm-up jacket and a big WS Champions ring…a few times over the course of the afternoon players from around the room would come over to look at him or approach to greet him. He seemed to be getting a just little bit annoyed with it. The whole time was just thinking to myself, maybe don’t wear things that scream “I’m Gene Michael” and they won’t bother you. I did get a laugh out of him when he sucked out on me in a big pot and I dryly said, “I always like Bud Harrelson more”.
I’ve played poker with a few famous people. A great way/place to interact with them just being themselves. Razor Ruddock was a classic case of don’t judge a book by its cover. Super intimidating looking but a joyful, gregarious guy the one time I played with him.
I met Dale Berra at the screening of his dad's documentary "It Ain't Over", I thought he'd be more handsome.
I don't have a big fascination either, but I do get a kick out of some of these stories hearing funny or interesting interactions, many showing who these people really are ie Chevy Chase or that they are regular people.
Met Jackie Mason in a NYC restaurant as he walked by our table and said "oye, crowded in here tonight", and we all cracked up just hearing his voice. For you younger people, pull it up on Youtube and you'll understand.
Checked the IDs of the whole band Anthrax when they came into the bar I worked at. I had no idea who they were, even the dude with the long beard.
Took a leak next to a VERY drunk Bruce at a restaurant/bar down the shore 25 years ago.
Met Dwight Gooden while getting a haircut in Metuchen. Very nice guy, talked to me an my son for 10 minutes.
Saw Charles Oakley in Miami airport.... gave him a very wide berth as he did not look happy, so I never said hello.
Met the former and current POTUSA, plus once when he was "just" the guy on the Apprentice. Talked golf briefly. Also met his daughter... failed to make a lasting impression....
Met Supermodel Nikki Taylor. Also failed to make a lasting impression.
Met Elle MacPherson at a Knicks game. Once again, failed to make a lasting impression... but whatever perfume she was wearing was amazing.
Met Jackie Mason in a NYC restaurant as he walked by our table and said "oye, crowded in here tonight", and we all cracked up just hearing his voice. For you younger people, pull it up on Youtube and you'll understand.
Checked the IDs of the whole band Anthrax when they came into the bar I worked at. I had no idea who they were, even the dude with the long beard.
Took a leak next to a VERY drunk Bruce at a restaurant/bar down the shore 25 years ago.
Met Dwight Gooden while getting a haircut in Metuchen. Very nice guy, talked to me an my son for 10 minutes.
Saw Charles Oakley in Miami airport.... gave him a very wide berth as he did not look happy, so I never said hello.
Met the former and current POTUSA, plus once when he was "just" the guy on the Apprentice. Talked golf briefly. Also met his daughter... failed to make a lasting impression....
Met Supermodel Nikki Taylor. Also failed to make a lasting impression.
Met Elle MacPherson at a Knicks game. Once again, failed to make a lasting impression... but whatever perfume she was wearing was amazing.
Too many to list as I see them all the time, and some who'd be considered friends, but I was at a dinner with Adriana Lima in her prime which immediately came to mind. What a specimen.
1. My wife and I drank with John Gotti for 2 hours at Use to Be's in Mantoloking
He and I both bought each other drinks and he gave my wife a kiss on the cheek at the end of the night
2. Mick Jagger walked by me as I lay on the floor at the airport with a messed up back in Barbados
I said "Hey Mick?" He never slowed and just said "allright"
3. I was eating dinner at a restaurant in Aspen sitting no more the 20 ' from a stage where the Nitty Gritty Dirt band was supposed to play John Denver and Jimmy Buffet walked in
John Denver sang Rocky Mountain High and Take Me Home, Country Roads
Buffet sang Volcano and Margaritaville
4. I had dinner and sat next to Rod Gilbert at friends 50th . He was a very nice guy with a very nice wife
5. I drank and talked NBA basketball for a few hours with Earl the Pearl at a Devils game.
I happened to know a lot about NBA basketball in the 60s and 70s and both our companies were being hosted in a box at the Meadowlands
I actually tried to walk away from him as I didn't want to bother him. Earl grabbed me by the arm and said , " I'll talk NBA basketball all night if you like "
6. When my son was being recruited to Rutgers for soccer , we went to a football practice. Greg ran over in the middle of practice and started telling my son why he should go to Rutgers
7. Ran into Donald Trump Twice while my daughter was temporarily living in a town home in the middle of Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster.
8. Played soccer in a practice game against Carli Lloyd . I was playing with a bunch of male coaches from The PDA just to help out Glen Crooks
9 I sat right next to Sharon Stone at ringside in Vegas for Riddick Bowe and Evander Hollyfield . She was beautiful but honestly I didn't talk with her much.
10. I played in a 4some with Brian Leonard at Neschanic in and outing
11. The nicest for me was Ken Daneyko.. I was in 7-11 maybe 30 years ago on the way home from the shore. Ken is making a coffee next to me and I said to him , " boy, I wish my daughter was awake in the car, she's a huge devil fan ". My daughter was about 7 or 8 and asleep in the back seat . As I was getting ready to pull out and Ken was knocking on my window. I put down the window and he asked " can I wake her up and say hello?'
He and I both bought each other drinks and he gave my wife a kiss on the cheek at the end of the night
2. Mick Jagger walked by me as I lay on the floor at the airport with a messed up back in Barbados
I said "Hey Mick?" He never slowed and just said "allright"
3. I was eating dinner at a restaurant in Aspen sitting no more the 20 ' from a stage where the Nitty Gritty Dirt band was supposed to play John Denver and Jimmy Buffet walked in
John Denver sang Rocky Mountain High and Take Me Home, Country Roads
Buffet sang Volcano and Margaritaville
4. I had dinner and sat next to Rod Gilbert at friends 50th . He was a very nice guy with a very nice wife
5. I drank and talked NBA basketball for a few hours with Earl the Pearl at a Devils game.
I happened to know a lot about NBA basketball in the 60s and 70s and both our companies were being hosted in a box at the Meadowlands
I actually tried to walk away from him as I didn't want to bother him. Earl grabbed me by the arm and said , " I'll talk NBA basketball all night if you like "
6. When my son was being recruited to Rutgers for soccer , we went to a football practice. Greg ran over in the middle of practice and started telling my son why he should go to Rutgers
7. Ran into Donald Trump Twice while my daughter was temporarily living in a town home in the middle of Trump National Golf Club in Bedminster.
8. Played soccer in a practice game against Carli Lloyd . I was playing with a bunch of male coaches from The PDA just to help out Glen Crooks
9 I sat right next to Sharon Stone at ringside in Vegas for Riddick Bowe and Evander Hollyfield . She was beautiful but honestly I didn't talk with her much.
10. I played in a 4some with Brian Leonard at Neschanic in and outing
11. The nicest for me was Ken Daneyko.. I was in 7-11 maybe 30 years ago on the way home from the shore. Ken is making a coffee next to me and I said to him , " boy, I wish my daughter was awake in the car, she's a huge devil fan ". My daughter was about 7 or 8 and asleep in the back seat . As I was getting ready to pull out and Ken was knocking on my window. I put down the window and he asked " can I wake her up and say hello?'
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Walking around Reliant Stadium at the 2006 Texas Bowl I struck up a conversation with a guy I didn't know. It turned out to be Brian Leonard's dad. He invited us to his family's tailgate and told everyone we were the long lost cousins from Virginia.
Ran in to Henry Kissinger in a stairwell while I was heading down to pick up a rental car in Washington DC. He was talking to someone and invited them over to his house that weekend.
Was at Manny's steakhouse in Moonachie, NJ when NYG lineman Troy Archer hops up on a table and says "I'm taking on all comers". Nobody took him up on it.
Was in Monterrey, CA way back in 1977 and saw Johnny Carson's sidekick, Ed McMahon. I was too shy (back in those days) to walk up and ask for an autograph. He saw me staring me and gave me a dirty look. A couple weeks later he mentions his Monterey trip on the Johnny Carson show. I was afraid he'd mention being harassed by tourists LOL.
Richard Castellano (Clemenza) from The Godfather used to like the bar at Ramapo College in NJ which was called "The Pub". I went there and used to hang out in the pub a lot but never really spoke with Richard who seemed like a really private guy.
Ran in to Henry Kissinger in a stairwell while I was heading down to pick up a rental car in Washington DC. He was talking to someone and invited them over to his house that weekend.
Was at Manny's steakhouse in Moonachie, NJ when NYG lineman Troy Archer hops up on a table and says "I'm taking on all comers". Nobody took him up on it.
Was in Monterrey, CA way back in 1977 and saw Johnny Carson's sidekick, Ed McMahon. I was too shy (back in those days) to walk up and ask for an autograph. He saw me staring me and gave me a dirty look. A couple weeks later he mentions his Monterey trip on the Johnny Carson show. I was afraid he'd mention being harassed by tourists LOL.
Richard Castellano (Clemenza) from The Godfather used to like the bar at Ramapo College in NJ which was called "The Pub". I went there and used to hang out in the pub a lot but never really spoke with Richard who seemed like a really private guy.
I should have mentioned Phoebe Cates ("Fast Times at Ridgemont High").
I was in a Hudson Valley tourist town on the Hudson taking photos. I walked into a bookstore with a 35mm camera around my neck. I turned the corner of an aisle and standing in front of me was Cates dressed casual in sweats. I recognized her right away - not always easy with lady celebs minus the make-up.
I started hearing The Cars "Moving in Stereo" in my head. Then when she looked-up and saw me standing there with a camera, she gave me a look of wariness and I'm sure she thought I was after her photo. Kevin Kline was also there but on other side of store. They are still married. Not many can say Phoebe Cates gave them stink eye!
I was in a Hudson Valley tourist town on the Hudson taking photos. I walked into a bookstore with a 35mm camera around my neck. I turned the corner of an aisle and standing in front of me was Cates dressed casual in sweats. I recognized her right away - not always easy with lady celebs minus the make-up.
I started hearing The Cars "Moving in Stereo" in my head. Then when she looked-up and saw me standing there with a camera, she gave me a look of wariness and I'm sure she thought I was after her photo. Kevin Kline was also there but on other side of store. They are still married. Not many can say Phoebe Cates gave them stink eye!
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Me and my buddy (freshman year roommate at RU) were in the China Club on a Monday night in the early 90’s. Back then it was a hot club and all the celebs showed up on Mondays. Guy taps me on the shoulder asking me if I had a light- it was Michael Hutchence of INXS. We chatted him up for a while and he proceeds to show us pictures of his French villa and his girlfriend at the time- Kylie Minogue. He invites us into the back room where all the celebs were partying with the beautiful model types. There we meet John F. Kennedy Jr., amongst others. JFK Jr. was soft spoken and totally unassuming. A real sweetheart of a guy. So down to earth. Meanwhile, Hutchence, although nice, was on top of the world at the time as INXS was at their peak. Predictably, he was arrogant and full of himself but hey, he got us behind the rope so to speak! Completely memorable night. Ended up leaving after 3.
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Daneyko reminded me of meeting Phil Esposito a few times. Late 80’s or early 90’s- his daughter owned a cabin next to my buddy’s hunting cabin up in Phoenicia NY. She was a bit of a wild one but married. If her husband wasn’t up there- she would try to hook up with everyone. Phil was up there a few times but not that friendly- one year- just before we went up there- her husband caught her- shot her(didn’t kill her) and then shot himself. Never saw her or Phil again.
I somehow forgot one even tho I mentioned MTV and this is really random.
Jon (don't remember his last name), the guy who created the original MTV theme song. was a friend of my sister. He's from Livingstion and it was him that you heard biting the apple at the end of the Apple commercial. He became a fairly well known music producer
And while we're on music, I played on the West Orange pop warner team with rock promoter John Sher.
Jon (don't remember his last name), the guy who created the original MTV theme song. was a friend of my sister. He's from Livingstion and it was him that you heard biting the apple at the end of the Apple commercial. He became a fairly well known music producer
And while we're on music, I played on the West Orange pop warner team with rock promoter John Sher.
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Interviews: Bernard King, Dave Cowens, Dr. J, Larry Bird, Dominque Wilkins, Kevin McHale, Bobby Jones, Darryl Dawkins, Dave Wohl, Mike Fratello, Randy Wittman, Doc Rivers, Vern Fleming, Hugh Durham, Bobby Cremins, Mark Price, John Salley, Fred McNeil,
Encounters: Cookie Rojas, Bobby Valentine, Gerald Riggs, Don Rickles, Kevin Willis, Terry Forster, Howard Cosell, Bobby Cox, Ken Norton, Ray Scott, Phil Rizzuto, Jim Karvellas, Beau Bock, Chris Webber, Brian Jordan, Artis Gilmore, Bobby Wine, Jeff Torborg, Bailey Robertson and last week: Brandon Jacobs.
Also walked by Joe Theismann and Cathy Lee Crosby at a blackjack table at Caesars in Vegas.
Encounters: Cookie Rojas, Bobby Valentine, Gerald Riggs, Don Rickles, Kevin Willis, Terry Forster, Howard Cosell, Bobby Cox, Ken Norton, Ray Scott, Phil Rizzuto, Jim Karvellas, Beau Bock, Chris Webber, Brian Jordan, Artis Gilmore, Bobby Wine, Jeff Torborg, Bailey Robertson and last week: Brandon Jacobs.
Also walked by Joe Theismann and Cathy Lee Crosby at a blackjack table at Caesars in Vegas.
Oh crap... forgot about meeting The Fonz, Henry Winkler, at a hotel way back in college. Had no idea he was as nice of a guy as he is. The guy on TV that did that show with WIlliam Shatner and George Foreman... yeah, that really is him.
Too many to mention but I’ll share a funny (long) one…
While in college in the 80s on Cook we had an extra guy given to us by Housing for our Newell apartment. Portuguese, very quiet. Used to go home a lot on the weekends. Turns out he had a job. He was the valet for the comedian Alan King. Didn’t brag about it, just mentioned it in conversation one time.
Fast forward many years later and I’m on the FDNY at this point. One of our guys killed on 9/11 had a side gig driving the tennis players back forth from Manhattan to the US Open in Queens. He hit it off with Dr J’s daughter, Alexandra Stevenson. So much so she got us all invited to the men’s final (Sampras/Agassi) at the US Open the following year, 2002.
They had us all line up on Center Court for the National Anthem which was sung by Art Garfunkel’s kid who sadly looked just like his dad. I was at the end of the line and the camera was right in my face towards the end of the song. I thought, cool I’m going to be on National TV on CBS. No dice as the Jet game went into OT so that part was never shown. LOL
We figured after the Anthem we’d be ushered off the court and that would be it. But the president of the USTA at the time who was on the sidelines said, “where are you guys going?” And invited all of us up to the President’s Box with all the swells.
So we get up to the box and there are celebrities and athletes everywhere because of the big deal final of Sampras/Agassi. Heidi Klum is even prettier in person, Caroline Rhea is not.
Charlie Rose kept taking as much swag as he could. Even stuffing some hats down his pants.
Former Mayor David Dinkins and his wife were there as they are big tennis fans. Neither though is a fan of the FDNY and let us know by their body language when we arrived. Especially when one of my friends went up to Hank Aaron at the bar and said, “Bobby Bonds! You’re my favorite baseball player of all time!” knowing full well it was Hank Aaron. Hank knew he was kidding around and they both had a good laugh about it.
So finally back to Alan King. At this point I’m heading outside thru the doors to watch the match and who is off to the side coming towards me but the man himself. Now remember I have that old roommate connection, so I have an opening. As he’s coming closer I put out my hand, as does he. At this point everyone still loves us, right? I’m just about to shake his hand and from behind me comes another hand. A huge one. Apparently Boris Becker was right behind me and I never noticed. So Alan King goes to shake Boris Becker’s hand and begins a conversation with him. All the while my hand is stuck between their handshake. They are still talking and shaking hands and I’m the meat in the sandwich. They finish up and go their separate ways and I’m apparently invisible this whole time. I was the help and in the way. 🤷♂️
While in college in the 80s on Cook we had an extra guy given to us by Housing for our Newell apartment. Portuguese, very quiet. Used to go home a lot on the weekends. Turns out he had a job. He was the valet for the comedian Alan King. Didn’t brag about it, just mentioned it in conversation one time.
Fast forward many years later and I’m on the FDNY at this point. One of our guys killed on 9/11 had a side gig driving the tennis players back forth from Manhattan to the US Open in Queens. He hit it off with Dr J’s daughter, Alexandra Stevenson. So much so she got us all invited to the men’s final (Sampras/Agassi) at the US Open the following year, 2002.
They had us all line up on Center Court for the National Anthem which was sung by Art Garfunkel’s kid who sadly looked just like his dad. I was at the end of the line and the camera was right in my face towards the end of the song. I thought, cool I’m going to be on National TV on CBS. No dice as the Jet game went into OT so that part was never shown. LOL
We figured after the Anthem we’d be ushered off the court and that would be it. But the president of the USTA at the time who was on the sidelines said, “where are you guys going?” And invited all of us up to the President’s Box with all the swells.
So we get up to the box and there are celebrities and athletes everywhere because of the big deal final of Sampras/Agassi. Heidi Klum is even prettier in person, Caroline Rhea is not.
Charlie Rose kept taking as much swag as he could. Even stuffing some hats down his pants.
Former Mayor David Dinkins and his wife were there as they are big tennis fans. Neither though is a fan of the FDNY and let us know by their body language when we arrived. Especially when one of my friends went up to Hank Aaron at the bar and said, “Bobby Bonds! You’re my favorite baseball player of all time!” knowing full well it was Hank Aaron. Hank knew he was kidding around and they both had a good laugh about it.
So finally back to Alan King. At this point I’m heading outside thru the doors to watch the match and who is off to the side coming towards me but the man himself. Now remember I have that old roommate connection, so I have an opening. As he’s coming closer I put out my hand, as does he. At this point everyone still loves us, right? I’m just about to shake his hand and from behind me comes another hand. A huge one. Apparently Boris Becker was right behind me and I never noticed. So Alan King goes to shake Boris Becker’s hand and begins a conversation with him. All the while my hand is stuck between their handshake. They are still talking and shaking hands and I’m the meat in the sandwich. They finish up and go their separate ways and I’m apparently invisible this whole time. I was the help and in the way. 🤷♂️
There are some serious reaches in this thread for being famous
In 1987, was little kid at airport seeing off my dad on a biz trip to New Orleans and Providence basketball team was on same flight headed to Final Four. Pitino was still unknown then but I got Billy Donovan’s autograph and lost it.
Around same time, the New England Patriots were terrible and somehow my local school district convinced several back ups to come the high school and play basketball against the district’s gym teachers. Doug Flutie was incredible basketball player who could dunk easily. Listed at 5’9” or 5’10” but closer to 5’7” or 5’8”. Autograph also lost.
Back then I used to write letters to NBA and MLB stars asking them to send me autographed photos. I included photos and self addressed stamped envelopes. David Robinson was one of few to respond but the autographs were clearly rubber stamps.
Around same time, the New England Patriots were terrible and somehow my local school district convinced several back ups to come the high school and play basketball against the district’s gym teachers. Doug Flutie was incredible basketball player who could dunk easily. Listed at 5’9” or 5’10” but closer to 5’7” or 5’8”. Autograph also lost.
Back then I used to write letters to NBA and MLB stars asking them to send me autographed photos. I included photos and self addressed stamped envelopes. David Robinson was one of few to respond but the autographs were clearly rubber stamps.
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