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Your brushes with greatness


cwsox
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I met Paul Simon (thelate Illinois Senator, not the musician), Julian Bond (pre-drug allegations), several Bears players from the late 80's teams (cousin with season tickets was dating a Honey Bear!) and I stepped on B.B. King while visiting Hollywood! I stepped out of a shop and walked right into him. His body guards were pretty mad, but he was pretty cool, and invited my wife and me to see him at some show he was playing that night at a small blues club somewhere. Had tickets waiting for us at the door! That was cool.

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Frank Thomas and many other White Sox players over the past 10 years.......

 

Torii Hunter, Matt Lawton, LaTroy Hawkins, Koskie, etc....(I know, I know...)  They all played on the Fort Wayne Wizards, an A Ball team here when they were affiliated with the Twins....Sean Burroughs is probably the biggest name that's been here that's now playing for SD.

 

Mike Davis, Bobby Knight, Calbert Cheaney, Tom Coverdale, Damon Bailey.....

 

Deion Sanders, Rod Woodson, Lamar Smith, Jason Fabini.....

 

Evan Bayh, Tom Wyss...

 

My uncle is also Marc Summers (my mom's brother), of the Nickelodeon fame in the 90s.....

 

I've met a few others, but I'm having trouble thinking of them now.  I'll add others in an edit later if I can remember.

your uncle hosted double dare thats f***ing awesome :headbang

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Haha yessir. It's pretty crazy; there were talks of him hosting some game show on CBS to find the "next Martha Stewart" after her whole prison thing went down. It's been awhile since I've heard anything from him; so I don't know if they still decided to go ahead with the show or not.

 

Also....My uncle was in the final 2 to host the Hollywood Squares that is on now, when they brought that back. However, they took Tom Bergeron over him, because my uncle was "too short." :angry: Crazy stuff.

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My uncle is also Marc Summers (my mom's brother), of the Nickelodeon fame in the 90s.....

That's pretty cool. His fight to get where he did and not let OCD keep him from making it is a great and inspiring story.

 

Still, he seems like he'd be pretty easy to screw around with at family parties and stuff...

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Wow, this should be a long one...

 

Met Dick Vitale several times over, so many that I can't even remember all of them. Great guy.

 

Coach Izzo on three occasions, once at an AAU tournament where we talked at length about recruiting for MSU and how things were coming along. Definitely would consider this my most memorable person I've met.

 

Also Coach Crean a few times, another class act.

 

Many Sox players, most memorable being Borchard because he remembers me by first name and takes time to come and talk to me at Knights games when he's in town. Then of course everyone who's been at Soxfest and such, then a few minor leaguers like Jeremy Reed for the interviews.

 

Jalen Rose and Donyell Marshall when I was youngster backstage at the NBA Draft. I was 12 at the time and both were great to meet, especially Rose since I was a fan of the Fab Five.

 

Danny Fortson and Jamaal Tinsley after a Pacers game after I sat next to their agent at the game and he took us down to introduce us to both of them.

 

A boatload of pro wrestlers, including Steve Austin, the Undertaker, Jim Ross, Chris Jericho, Matt and Jeff Hardy, Lita, Dean Malenko, Perry Saturn, Brock Lesnar.

 

Roons and Farmio....two of the greatest right there... :headbang :headbang :headbang

 

For DBAH0, your former boy Reece Gaines here at the bars in Louisville.

 

That's all I remember off the top of my head.

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Took hitting lessons from former Giants, Rockies, Marlins, Angels catcher Steve Decker. Current hitting coach of the Fresno Grizzlies.

 

Saw Harold Reynolds at Salem Centre Mall in January 03. Nodded to him as he was talking on a cell phone. He looked at me and knew that I knew who he was.

 

Had an autograph turned down by Mark Cuban because I handed him a small sign that said "Go Blazers" at last year's playoff series. He turned around, than turned back and smiled. It was cool.

 

Talked to former WWF wrestler Matt Borne (AKA Doink the Clown) on his local Portland wrestling show.

 

Shook hands with wrestlers Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas.

 

Had my picture taken with Terry Porter and Clyde Drexler when I was young and didn't realize how cool that was. :angry:

 

Saw former NBA player Mychal Thompson at my stepbrothers Little League game.

 

Jerome Kersey sat behind me at a minor League baseball game when he was a member of the Sonics, I believe.

 

Made eye contact (and smiles :headbang :headbang :headbang )with the Big Hurt when he was on his way to BP. He was at 1,999 career hits, and I made a sign that said, "Big Hurt 2000 hits!" Of course he didn't get it there. That one is my favorite.

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Took hitting lessons from former Giants, Rockies, Marlins, Angels catcher Steve Decker.  Current hitting coach of the Fresno Grizzlies.

 

Saw Harold Reynolds at Salem Centre Mall in January 03. Nodded to him as he was talking on a cell phone.  He looked at me and knew that I knew who he was.

 

Had an autograph turned down by Mark Cuban because I handed him a small sign that said "Go Blazers" at last year's playoff series.  He turned around, than turned back and smiled.  It was cool.

 

Talked to former WWF wrestler Matt Borne (AKA Doink the Clown) on his local Portland wrestling show. 

 

Shook hands with wrestlers Shelton Benjamin and Charlie Haas.

 

Had my picture taken with Terry Porter and Clyde Drexler when I was young and didn't realize how cool that was.      :angry:

 

Saw former NBA player Mychal Thompson at my stepbrothers Little League game.

 

Jerome Kersey sat behind me at a minor League baseball game when he was a member of the Sonics, I believe.

 

Made I contact (and smiles  :headbang  :headbang  :headbang )with the Big Hurt when he was on his way to BP.  He was at 1,999 career hits, and I made a sign that said, "Big Hurt 2000 hits!"    Of course he didn't get it there. That one is my favorite.

I met and spoke to Blackhawk broadcasting great Pat Foley between periods of a Hawks game back in early 2002.

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I've met the following people through the Independent movie I was in:

Gina Lynn-Porn Star

U God-Member of Wu-Tang-Really cool guy, talked to him a lot during the filming. I had his number he wanted to hang out with me, but lost it

Kamal Ahmed-Member of the Jerkey Boys

KK Holiday-Former MTV VJ

Jill Nicolini-Playboy model and was on Married by America or something like that

Sharissa-Motown diva

Naked Cowboy-Plays his guitar in his underwear in Times Square, NY

A Fomer Dolphins/jets player can't remember his name

 

Other people:

Jose Viscano-Autograph's after the game

Bobby Bonnia-After the same game before he drove away I had a minnute chat with him, to busy for an autograph though

Chad Pennington, curtis Martin and other jets too but I dont remember their name

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Good Looking Women: Model Cindy Crawford in Marshall Fields while she was doing some shopping. Deborah Norville at a charity tennis event.

 

Musicians: Steven Stills and David Crosby in a hotel lobby in Schaumburg.

 

Hockey Players: Mikita, Bobby Hull, Tony Esposito, Darren Pang, Dale Tallon, Denis Savard, and several of the current Blackhawks. Gordie Howe, Phil Esposito, Bobby Orr, and lots of others, some famous, some not so famous.

 

Baseball Players: Frank Thomas, Jim Parque, and Jeff Abbott at a bar in Kansas City.

 

Politicians: Both Mayor Daleys, Sen. Dick Durbin.

 

Sports Announcers/Radio Guys: Bill Melton, Bruce Levine, Harry Teinowitz, Hawk Harrelson, Tom Paciorek, Darrin Jackson, Jack Brickhouse, Vince Lloyd, Pat Foley, Bill Gardner.

 

Sports Management: Ken Williams, Jerry Reinsdorf, Bill Wirtz, Bob Pulford, Billy Reay, Mike Keenan, Jacques Martin, Howard Pizer.

 

If I had to name some of the nicest people, it would be in no particular order Deborah Norville, Darren Pang, Denis Savard, Jim Parque, Bruce Levine, Hawk Harrelson, Jack Brickhouse, Bill Gardner, Ken Williams, Mike Keenan.

 

Interestingly enough, Bill Wirtz was very gracious when I met him a couple of times in person and once when we talked over the phone.

 

The only remotely bad experience was meeting Pat Foley because he was really preoccupied and didn't look me or my dad in the eye, but no biggie.

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A lot of the Bears players over the years on Fan Day at Bears Camp. Pretty much said hey to most of them, but got to actually have conversations with a lot of the lesser known guys.

 

Man Soo Lee is awesome, talked to him for a while during a rain delay.

 

Former President Clinton when he ventured into Michigan City for campaigning a few years back. We were walking in front of his limo and then he stopped and looked out the window and smiled and waved at me, or maybe it was my mom. :lol:

 

Ron Kittle at a baseball camp, and his son is pretty cool.

 

Bryce and Homer Drew are neighbors of one of my friends so I've met them.

 

Bill Melton and Mosse Skowren at the Sleepover night. Kelly Wunsch and his family too. That's about it that I can think of now.

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Met Chris Chelios and Brett Hull at the Hangge-Uppe.

 

Met Heather Locklear's brother at a wedding in California

 

Hit Gene Siskel in the head with a Christmas Tree

 

Also provided X-mas celebratory items to Alison Payne, Linda McLennan, Corey McPherrin and Gary Fencik.

 

Heckled Tori Spelling in Vegas as she played blackjack with a friend of mine at a $10 table.

 

Bumped into a dazed k.d. Lang the next morning at the same casino

 

Used to mow the lawn for Walter Jacobson's b****y mother in law

 

Spoke with Mike North and wife on the phone a few times regarding softball stuff

 

Met virtually every pro beach volleyball player active in 1995

 

Met John Mahoney at a street fest in Oak Park

 

Had Chris Zorich threaten to break my arms

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Former President Clinton when he ventured into Michigan City for campaigning a few years back. We were walking in front of his limo and then he stopped and looked out the window and smiled and waved at me, or maybe it was my mom. :lol:

What was your Mom doing in Clinton's limo? :D

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I don't have much at all...

 

Got autographs from Foulke, Bagwell, and Hoiberg of ISU fame.

 

Had email correspondance with Sirotka, BMac, Cotts, Baj, Bull.....

 

Ate BBQ with Bobby Douglas, wrestling coach at ISU and Johnny Orr and his wife before a Cyclone football game....

 

....That's about it...

 

Oh, I know Jason Cage.

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I met Chris Zorich at the Comiskey Park Stadium Club Restaurant. He dropped eating just to take a picture with me. What a nice guy.

 

I ate dinner with the ISU baseball team plenty of times, and Neal Cotts was there from time to time.

 

That's all for now...

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Gary Sheffield practically ran me and my buddy over with his Lexus when we were in NYC during spring break last March.

 

We gave him the :fyou

 

Met Steve Kerr when I was a kid. He came to my grade school and put on a 3 point shooting show. He spent a few minutes with me afterwards and the next day I hit a three to win a game. My family sent him the tape and we got a nice letter back saying that he enjoyed it.

 

I also met Digger Phelps and had dinner with the guy at a banquet for ND's marching band. I call him once in a while on my cell phone. I almost got him to go on the end of the year senior pub crawl.

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I've met a ton of musicians, but these are the ones I think are kind of cool for one reason or another, the names might not mean a whole heck of a lot to most here, but "greatness" is all relative, and these folks are great to me, except for Axl:

 

Axl Rose

 

Brian Baker from Minor Threat, Dag Nasty, Government Issue, Bad Religion, Junkyard...and the list goes on and on...

 

All of The Dogs D'Amour and I hung out for hours one night, mainly Steven James, Tyla, and Jo Dog.

 

Hung out with Mother Love Bone that same night, mainly Bruce Fairweather, who I was supposed to get together with to play, but things just didn't work out.

 

I know Rocky Shades from 80's UK Glam Gods Wrathchild.

 

I met all of The Lords Of The New Church, including having Stiv Bators call me a "f*g". :lolhitting

 

Wattie the vocalist for Punk legends The Exploited

 

Bill Steer from Carcass

 

Steve Youth from 7 Seconds bummed a cigarette off of me. rolleyeyes.gif

 

I met Danielle Dax...hummina, hummina, hummina... :wub:

 

A girlfriend of mine was banging Nivek Ogre of Skinny Puppy. Luckily this knowledge came to me just in the knick of time... ;)

 

Ginger of The Wildhearts knows of me...heh...a good reason I didn't go see them recently.

 

I know THEE Trash Brats, Ricky Rat actually, but have not spoken to for a bit of time now.

 

Got my butt kicked almost by Beefcake and Oderus of GWAR, for supposedly tripping Beefcake at a convention. :lolhitting

 

About an hour later Gwar Woman was trying to avoid slobbering fans who were chasing her around, so she pulled up to me and more or less acted like I was with her, and all the guys left. I talked to her for a few minutes, really cool lady!

 

I met Jackie Chan at a book signing, if you want to call that "meeting", which I don't. Shook his hand and ran as the line was pushed through.

 

I met Dan Simmons at another book signing. That one I will say was actually a "meeting" as it was a smallish turnout, and he even did a little artwork for my signing, and I got back in line and dropped a bunch of more books on him.

 

Met George Romero at the debut for his film Bruiser.

 

So there is a bunch of "nobodies" for all of you to look at and say "so what???" about! :cheers

 

Oh...and as a kid, some guy from the Bears moved into a house down the street from me. He used to play football with all my friends and I. He was out due to a knee injury the following season and never played again. I have no idea who it was now though. I should try and find out who he was, as he was a REALLY cool guy.

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I have also had several meetings...mostly with local sports guys.

 

Met the entire '93 Blackhawks, Most of the 2002 team, most of the 2000 team, Steve Larmer, Doug Wilson...the list goes on.

 

Rode in a golf cart with Darren Pang at one of Kevin Matthews golf outings. At that same outing I met Barry Williams(Greg Brady), Danny Bonaduce, Kev, Pat Foley & Dale Tallon. Also met Steve & Garry, Brandmeier, Coppock, Buzz Kilman and Mr. Jimmy Shorts.

 

In football, Da Coach, Dan Hampton, Butthead(Kevin Butler), Matt Suhey, Tom Thayer and several others from the '85 team.

 

Michael Jordan was at a golf outing and we went out there at lunch and he saw us with ties on and told us to "get back to work". Met Steve Maltais of the Wolves at the same course.

 

Met a bunch of the AVP players in the late 80's early 90's. Got pictures with Karch Kiraly and heckled the crap out of Smith & Stoklos. I thought Stokie was gonna come into the crowd and beat my ass.

 

I know I am forgetting some, but ...

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Oh, I also have a baseball sitting on my computer here at work, signed by Pat Maris and all of the Maris kids. My wife has a REAL close family, and one of her cousins got married to this guy. I sent him tons of music, and he decided to do something nice back for me, so he had his Aunt and cousins sign the ball for me. Yes, he grew up playing ball with his uncle Roger and all that kind of cool stuff. His family are the ones who maintain Rogers gravesite. I went and saw it while I was at my wifes Grandmothers funeral. She was buried just a few rows over from Rogers. It's a cool ball, and a whole bunch of cool stories. They also seem like REALLY nice people.

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I've met a ton of musicians, but these are the ones I think are kind of cool for one reason or another

on one great night at the Old Earl of Old Town (and we are talking before most posters here were born, back in 1973) I went to discuss a contract for a gig with Bob Gibson (Chicago folk singer, not the pitcher) and ended up spending a wild evening with him, Steve Goodman, Ed and Fred Holstein, and Bonnie Koloc. Almost all of them are dead now - other than Goodman being a cubs fan, he was a really great guy, in fact, all of them were just wild and fun.

 

And I did indeed get Gibson to appear at my college for a reduced rate... :lol: :headbang

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on one great night at the Old Earl of Old Town (and we are talking before most posters here were born, back in 1973) I went to discuss a contract for a gig with Bob Gibson (Chicago folk singer, not the pitcher) and ended up spending a wild evening with him, Steve Goodman, Ed and Fred Holstein, and Bonnie Koloc.  Almost all of them are dead now - other than Goodman being a cubs fan, he was a really great guy, in fact, all of them were just wild and fun.

 

And I did indeed get Gibson to appear at my college for a reduced rate...  :lol:  :headbang

I was born then, so I ain't that young.

 

Ha!

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