We all have had our brush with famous or well known people. I have met Bruce Springsteen, very sincere & polite guy, Charles Bronson, big jerk, Diana Ross, pretty & cool. I went to grammar & high school, with Mad Dog Vinny Lopez, he lived 2 blocks away and was Bruce's original drummer. Also went to high school with Gary Talent, Bruce's bass player. Also Southside Johnny Lyon, very cool, and Vin Baker of the celtics, very nice, man is he tall!

I am not asking to impress, just for the fun of it.

So, who have you met, or who do you really know, that is famous?
No fibbing now!

 

Does Shamu the Orca count??

 

Sure. As does Flipper, Lassie, Fury, Charlie Mc Carthy, Froggy, Clarabell, Bozo, and Howdy Doody!

 

If you grew up in a small town on the Canadian prairies like I did, there's not much chance of bumping into a "celebrity". Frankly, people didn't really care about famous people anyway, unless you were a hockey player.

Waxy

 

I ran into Denzel Washington in Crested Butte during the X-Games in '98. Literally. I was walking along with my head down carrying my snowboard, and I ran right into this guy. So I look up to say excuse me, and it was him...we exchanged a nod and I continued toward the ski lift.
I once watched an entire redneck, mulleted white trash family mob down on this guy in a Denny's. He was a recently retired local television news anchor having breakfast with his wife. All of a sudden, this fat, moomoo wearing woman screams "oh my GOD! You're Bob So-and-so! Oh my GOD, KIDS! It's Bob So-and-so! Can we have our picture taken with you? Joey, grab the camera!" He looked up from his plate of food, paused, and said "Get the F away from me!", and continued eating. One of the coolest things I have ever seen. I also held the door open for Rage Against The Machine at the same Denny's, though I didn't realize it until after they were outside. I would have hounded them for autographs...
BDV

 

Very appropriate topic for my 500th post! Does that make ME a celebrity?

Anyways, I got to yell at Paul Newman when I was 16 years old.

I was working at a restaurant/ ice cream stand, and it was the first really warm day of the season. Of course, there was a line a mile long at the walk-up window for ice cream. I was working the window by myself, goin' out of my mind. Somebody stuck their head around from the restaurant side and said, "could we get a few sundaes to go?" Without looking up I said sure, that I'd be with him in a minute. I'm trying to wait on people at the window, and no more than 60 seconds go by when the same voice says, "we're kind of in a hurry." As I'm turning around I'm saying (in my firmest 16-year-old voice), "I'll get to you as SOON as-" and then I saw who it was. Oops. The look on the woman's face at the window should have been some sort of clue, with hot fudge running down her open jaw!

Mr. Newman was in town filming the movie "Slapshot," and he mentioned to a buddy that he'd like to go motorcycle riding. There was a motorcycle shop right next to our restaurant, with extensive bike trails out back. They somehow found out about the place, and the owner was only too happy to accomodate them. Afterwards, they decided to get some ice cream and- well, the rest is history. I tried to apologize (I don't even remember what I said, I was so embarrassed), but he was great- said something about he should have realized how busy I was, and just waited his turn. A true gentleman.

 

That what is so interesting about these celebrity encounters. One never expects it. I could care less for celebrities but it is fun to see how goofy some people can act when they realize what they are encountering. I did'nt even know who Vin Baker was when I met him so we just chatted non chalantly. If I had been goofy and asking for an autograph, I think he would have walked away. I knew he must have been a hoopster, but really had no clue. Nor did I really care.

Unless you live in Podunk, like Waxy, (no offense old boy), I think just about everyone has a story.

Waxy, you gotta get out more fella!

 

OK, my one and only encounter with fame.

Some buddies and I went to Edmonton to take in their playoff games. We happened to be staying in the same hotel/suites that a lot of the Oilers actually live in. We rode up on the elevator with Oiler Captain Jason Smith (at that time a 3rd string D man), George Laroque, and one other guy I can't remember. We just chatted casually till we got off the elevator.

I don't feel like I've missed out in the least. I don't understand the world's fascination with celebrities. Getting an autograph is one of the most ridiculous things I can think of if you're over 10 years old. I wouldn't cross the street to meet 99% of the "celebrities" out there.

Quite frankly, I think most celebrities were the geeks in high school that were in the drama club or smoking cigarettes out behind the school. I thought they were losers then and chances are they're losers now (albeit losers with a lot more money and power than I have). Why gaining celebrity makes them any more important to people is a mystery to me.

Don't get me wrong, there are a few celebrities that I would like, or would have liked, to get to know.

Waxy

On Edit: Think Hugh Hefner and a bevy of Bunnies in one certain particular mansion.

 

i accidentally bumped into the lead singer from system of a down when i was trying to get backstage at ozzfest. also got up close with alot of the bands there.

my brother built a tee and chipping green for neil o'donnell at his house in jersey, so ive been to his house, but never got to meet him.

someday id like to meet big daddy velvet and get his autograph though

 

While I was growing up in Quitman Texas one of our neighbors was a skinny little girl (younger than I) who grew up to be Sissy Speick. That is what everyone called her then and I believe she hasn't changed.

 

"My word Prescot, have you ever heard of such shameless namedropping as this?"

"Vulgar, Edward, utterly vulgar I should say."

B.O.B.
Sorry, couldn't resist a poke. Like Waxy, I too was a true provincial, growing up in West Virginia. My only claim to fame was during my teen years, hearing Sam The Sham and the Pharaohs at the Belpre Skateland. (Shows you how far poor old Sam had slipped.)

A few years later, I was in Morgantown, WV, along with others, awaiting the arrival of Edmund Muskie when he was on thecampaign trail. As he stepped off the plane, I remember thinking I had never seen a more haggard looking individual. Approaching the small crowd assembled on the tarmack, it was if someone reached over and flipped a switch on his back. Out came the automatic pumping hand and the biggest, fake, condescending smile I've ever experienced. Never trusted another politician from that day forward.

 

These people in person were:
Dwight Yokum -- Ugly
George W.Bush -- Personable
Senator Norm Coleman, MN -- Charismatic, high energy
Senator John Ensign, NV -- Politician all the way

 

My list is so long,I am going to have to either edit in numerous times or type it out on a word processer and paste it later.

It is probably close to 100 people.

Most of them I met and spent time with were at the 88 Winter Olympics.

Waxy, Brien is right,you have to get out more.

Here are a few in order of meeting and where I met them.


Musicans:
Paul Anka > Vegas 1980 after the show sat at my table and talked.

Politicans:
Ralph Klein > 70's Drink beer with in the St. Louis Hotel
Peter Lougheed > 70's

Sports:

Lynn Swann > Calgary 88
Peter Jennings > Calgary 88
Ken Dryden & Family > Calgary 88
Mickey Mantle >in Hawaii in1976 While Golfing
Bert Olmstead > Played Golf with at Turner Valley
Wayne Gretzky > Made his Pizza > Calgary 1983
Mark Messier > Made his Pizza Calgary 1983
Lanny MacDonald > ( His Daughter is My Niece's friend)
Al McInnes > Pizza Place
*Add at least 30 other NHL Stars*

Mick Eurusoni (sp) Calgary 88
Bruce Jenner >Calgary 88
Katarina Witt > Calgary 88
Debbie Thomas > Calgary 88
Brian Orser > Calgary 88
Brian Boitano > Calgary 88
Peggy Fleming > Calgary 88
Elizabeth Manley >Calgary 88
Larry Mahan > Calgary 88
Ingemar Stenmark >Calgary 88
Bonnie Warner > Calgary 88
Tie Domi > M/B Show Oct 2000

Actors:
Chevy Chase > 2 years ago In Calgary while making Snow Day
Dustin Hoffman > Morley Ab,while making, Little Big Man
Ann Archer > Calgary 88
Lee Marvin > Calgary while making, Prime Cut
Don Johnson > Calgary while making Dead Bang
Clint Eastwood > Calgary during the making of Unforgiven
Donna De Verona > Calgary 88

TV Celebrities:
Roone Arledge > Calgary 88
Ted Koppel > Calgary 88
Jim McKay > Calgary 88
Kathy Lee & Frank Gifford > Calgary 88
Al Michaels > Calgary 88
Mike Bullard > Toronto Show Oct 2000/2002
Joe Flaherty Mike Bullard Show
Jack Whitaker > Calgary 88
Chris Shenkle > Calgary 88

and of course

Ken Payne > Dearborn Michigan January 2003

 

 

Maybe so, but he's a damn good musician. I've seen him twice, the first time was an incredible show. The second time the audience was more interested in drinking beer and fighting than him, he lost interest played a very quick, mediocre, 90 min set and left. I can't say as I blame though, I almost left.

Waxy