OT: Your best celebrity encounters?
- Thread starter MtNittany
- Start date
I promise you won’t have to bail me out next time.
ironically both occurred in Miami
Dec 1985 ran into Joe he was walking along one of the boardwalk areas-- I suppose out to get his walk in just got a nice Penn State response to our We Are nothing great but pretty cool none the less
October 1991 My buddy and i went down to the game spent the weekend in Miami. We decided to check out Penrod's On The Beach, huge place big bar (the bar had a ton of Nebraska and Oklahoma memorabilia ..i assume because of the Big eight tie in to the orange bowl). We figure we hang out on the beach played a little beach volleyball get drunk stuff like that. End out in a pickup volleyball game with Jose and Ozzie Canseco. Needless to say they were big dudes no match for them athletically. When we left noticed them hanging around their twin white slant nose porsche 911's with a group of ladies in the parking lot
Dec 1985 ran into Joe he was walking along one of the boardwalk areas-- I suppose out to get his walk in just got a nice Penn State response to our We Are nothing great but pretty cool none the less
October 1991 My buddy and i went down to the game spent the weekend in Miami. We decided to check out Penrod's On The Beach, huge place big bar (the bar had a ton of Nebraska and Oklahoma memorabilia ..i assume because of the Big eight tie in to the orange bowl). We figure we hang out on the beach played a little beach volleyball get drunk stuff like that. End out in a pickup volleyball game with Jose and Ozzie Canseco. Needless to say they were big dudes no match for them athletically. When we left noticed them hanging around their twin white slant nose porsche 911's with a group of ladies in the parking lot
This was the joke: "What do you see when the Pillsbury dough boy bends over?
Doughnuts
In 2005 at the Maxwell Awards Ceremony in Atlantic City, I met Coach Dick Vermeil on the elevator. Vermeil was very kind and allowed me to have a photo taken with him.
Vermeil was in his early 70s at that time. He nearly crushed my hand with his powerful handshake. A truly wonderful and gracious man.
Vermeil was in his early 70s at that time. He nearly crushed my hand with his powerful handshake. A truly wonderful and gracious man.
A night or two before my dad and I attended Super Bowl XX (Da 85 Bears trouncing the Pats) my dad somehow got through his employer tickets to a party hosted by NBC.
I didn’t truly “meet” but at various points passed within a few feet of Franco Harris, Roger Staubach, Terry Bradshaw… and Mr. T
I didn’t truly “meet” but at various points passed within a few feet of Franco Harris, Roger Staubach, Terry Bradshaw… and Mr. T
My dad finagled a LOT of sweet tickets through his job over the years. Once we were sitting a few seats behind home plate at an Orioles game, when around the 6th inning or so an attractive woman came down the aisle with two young kids and sat in front of us.
My dad was sure she was some random mom sneaking her kids into the “good seats” for the end of the game and they’d soon be kicked out. I immediately recognized her though as Ashley Judd. She’d been sitting with Cal Ripken Jr’s wife in their suite and then decided to take the Ripken kids down to sit where they’d get a close up look at their dad at bat.
I had to quietly clue my dad in to who she was.
Side note — I still clearly recall the pleasant view when Ms Judd stood up in front of us for the 7th inning stretch
My dad was sure she was some random mom sneaking her kids into the “good seats” for the end of the game and they’d soon be kicked out. I immediately recognized her though as Ashley Judd. She’d been sitting with Cal Ripken Jr’s wife in their suite and then decided to take the Ripken kids down to sit where they’d get a close up look at their dad at bat.
I had to quietly clue my dad in to who she was.
Side note — I still clearly recall the pleasant view when Ms Judd stood up in front of us for the 7th inning stretch
I dated Morgan Fairchild….yeah, that’s the ticket.
As a kid got an autograph from OJ Simpson at a Bills summer training camp. Was on the Massachusetts Gov’s Committee on Sports and Physical Fitness with Dave Collins and Bobby Orr. Nice guys. Met actor Joe Pantoliano in the lobby of a fancy hotel in Lake Louise Alberta when we were checking out after a ski vacation. It was probably 5:00 am. We were waiting for a shuttle to take us to the airport. He was shuffling along in his bathrobe and pajamas. He came over to us and struck up a conversation asking about our trip and where we were from. When traveling we usually say Chicago since most people wouldn’t recognize the small town in Illinois where we live. He responded that we were practically neighbors since he was from NY. Guess being out of country, anyone from the US must have been practically neighbors. Also staying in the hotel at the same time were Alec Baldwin and Marcia Gay Hardin among others. They were having a celebrity fund raiser for clean water.
Met Franco Harris at a tailgate at Northwestern. Met Joe a couple of times at various alumni events. Had him sign a football for me as a gift for my dad’s 70 birthday.
As a former restaurant manager, we had a number of celebrities come through. We used to have Doc Antwerp from the Tiger King come in with tow of his wives (he would say one was his sister). They were big vegetarians and would take the leftovers back to feed to their elephant. Once one of them ordered a vegetarian version of a steak salad, but someone took the regular steak salad to them. The woman screamed saying the steak may as well have been a dead rat on the salad.
When that location closed, I transferred to Florida, and we had way more celebrities come in. Chad Pennington, Clint Hurdle, and Chris Davis all came in a few times. Jim Breuer was scheduled to perform at a local comedy club, and came in as I stood at the host stand and said “Table for a party of five.” I said “I just gotta shake your hand.” We got them a table pretty quickly.
The week of the Senior Bowl, Mike Hull came in with his family the day of the game because he left due to an injury. I nearly ran into him as he walked down the stairs.
The biggest probably was Jerry Springer. He had a home near our location. He would come in during spring training when we were on a two hour wait and say “Hey Dave, think you can get us a table?” I’d say “Let me see what I can do Jerry.” He was nice, but liked to sit in a booth out of the way so he wouldn’t garnish much attention.
When that location closed, I transferred to Florida, and we had way more celebrities come in. Chad Pennington, Clint Hurdle, and Chris Davis all came in a few times. Jim Breuer was scheduled to perform at a local comedy club, and came in as I stood at the host stand and said “Table for a party of five.” I said “I just gotta shake your hand.” We got them a table pretty quickly.
The week of the Senior Bowl, Mike Hull came in with his family the day of the game because he left due to an injury. I nearly ran into him as he walked down the stairs.
The biggest probably was Jerry Springer. He had a home near our location. He would come in during spring training when we were on a two hour wait and say “Hey Dave, think you can get us a table?” I’d say “Let me see what I can do Jerry.” He was nice, but liked to sit in a booth out of the way so he wouldn’t garnish much attention.
posted version of this before. Was in Beverly Wiltshire hotel getting on elevator and see a pretty blond pushing big hard case toward elevator. Pretty, not knock out, it's Hollywood after all pretty California blond. I hold elevator and help pull these case on elevator. I assumed she was some assistant to some big shot and said "wow they have you pulling the heavy load today" or some such. And she laughs and says oh these are my shoes for my shoot this week. Your shoes? yes for my shoot. We get to her floor I held get the case off and push its to her room and through the door, she thanks me and pops into the room and did NOT invite me in. Was Heidi Klum.
Took a leak next to Paul Kantner (of the Jeff Air fame) at a fund raiser., had a nice chat.
Dan Marino used to come into Sam and Bernies in Oakland and buy rounds and act the big shot.
Posted in RRHOF. had dinner and nice conversation with Paul Simon (of Simon and Garfunkel)
Sat in Jane Fonda's seat in Ted Turner box at a Braves game (neither was there)
Used to see and chat with Franco Harris in and around Children hospital in Pitts back in day.
Would see and chat a little with Neil Young in Palo Alto in the early 90s
He played roughly for two and a half hours.. The time went by so quixkly. His music was as entertaining as his storytelling. He talked about an enciunter when he was in high school and met Ozzy. I hope they are together again!
Back in 2012 I was a rookie CO at the jail. I was in the Lobby when a female volunteer came in. My coworker was the Lobby Officer and he asked me if I recognized the volunteer. She was just some older lady that I didn't recognize. He said watch this. As he was checking her in he started to play Highway to the Danger Zone from Top Gun. The volunteer was pissed. After she walked away he told me who she was. It was Kelly McGillis. Forget the image you had of her from Top Gun and imagine that woman's grandmother after a rough life.
I'm sure I've had other encounters but I'm not one to make note of or get star struck when I come across someone famous.
PS I wasn't a close friend but I was friendly with and partied with Donyell Marshall on a few occasions while we were at Reading High.
I'm sure I've had other encounters but I'm not one to make note of or get star struck when I come across someone famous.
PS I wasn't a close friend but I was friendly with and partied with Donyell Marshall on a few occasions while we were at Reading High.
Football people:
*Got to say gmorning to JoePa every Mon, Wed, & Fri (unless there was an away game) on Curtain as he walked to campus and I rode the Laurel Glen big brown bus.
*Bruce Clark since his then GF lived about two doors down from me at Laurel Glen. She was a bleach blonde who was really built. First saw her out wiping down her car in shorts and a halter top. Very exciting until she turned around and I got a look at that 'butter face'. But Bruce was nice enough.
*Irv Pankey put me right on my azz as I was running down the Pattee steps and turning right to get to class in the Moore Building. I ran right into his chest and went down like I was shot, and I have never been a little guy. He was really nice about it and helped me up.
*Had a psych class with Booker Moore. Dude was a pr!ck and as dumb as a sack of toenail clippings.
*Rocky Bleier spoke at a conference I attended. He hung out and talked to a small group of us after for quite a while. Good guy.
*Keith Dorney a few times when I lived at Briarwood. He and I both knew a merchant there.
Non-football:
Wally Shirra. He was speaking in Camp Hill and a friend of mine knew him and his family. Cool guy with some wild stories.
Andrew McCutcheon. I won some drawing and got box seats and a tour of PNC Park. Got to sit in the dugout while the team took BP. Cutch was a really sweet guy. He let me wear his helmet and hold his bat. Side note: I played a LOT of baseball, but I never saw guys hit like that before close up. Jeepers!
*Got to say gmorning to JoePa every Mon, Wed, & Fri (unless there was an away game) on Curtain as he walked to campus and I rode the Laurel Glen big brown bus.
*Bruce Clark since his then GF lived about two doors down from me at Laurel Glen. She was a bleach blonde who was really built. First saw her out wiping down her car in shorts and a halter top. Very exciting until she turned around and I got a look at that 'butter face'. But Bruce was nice enough.
*Irv Pankey put me right on my azz as I was running down the Pattee steps and turning right to get to class in the Moore Building. I ran right into his chest and went down like I was shot, and I have never been a little guy. He was really nice about it and helped me up.
*Had a psych class with Booker Moore. Dude was a pr!ck and as dumb as a sack of toenail clippings.
*Rocky Bleier spoke at a conference I attended. He hung out and talked to a small group of us after for quite a while. Good guy.
*Keith Dorney a few times when I lived at Briarwood. He and I both knew a merchant there.
Non-football:
Wally Shirra. He was speaking in Camp Hill and a friend of mine knew him and his family. Cool guy with some wild stories.
Andrew McCutcheon. I won some drawing and got box seats and a tour of PNC Park. Got to sit in the dugout while the team took BP. Cutch was a really sweet guy. He let me wear his helmet and hold his bat. Side note: I played a LOT of baseball, but I never saw guys hit like that before close up. Jeepers!
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I used to work security at the xfinity mobile arena where the Flyers and 76ers play. There was an afternoon game when the Flyers and Rangers played. After the game I get a call over the radio to meet at the elevator. Myself and 4 other guys went to the elevator and out comes Wayne Gretzky - he was playing for the Rangers at the time. He was holding a handful of hockey sticks. We were to escort him to one of the private suites to meet some business partners I guess. We get to the suite after hearing a few “is that the great one?!” He turns around says thanks to us and hands the guard next to me a stick.
Met Rick Wise in the Fidelity Bank in Warminster--either a couple of days before or a couple of days after his no-hitter and two HRs vs the Reds. The teller told me who he was, and told me I should ask for his autograph. Still have it.
I was also once a part of the Crew Chiefs organization (akin to the Chiefs' Red Coats) with the Columbus Crew of MLS and got to meet and know quite a number of players and staff. We worked with them on charitable things too. It's different now, but it was a fun time. An example--I'd gotten to know Mark McCullers, who was GM of the Crew for a few years. A couple of years after his tenure, I was attending an FC Cincy game (before MLS days) and heard my name called. It was Mark--he was consulting with them on thir application to
I was also once a part of the Crew Chiefs organization (akin to the Chiefs' Red Coats) with the Columbus Crew of MLS and got to meet and know quite a number of players and staff. We worked with them on charitable things too. It's different now, but it was a fun time. An example--I'd gotten to know Mark McCullers, who was GM of the Crew for a few years. A couple of years after his tenure, I was attending an FC Cincy game (before MLS days) and heard my name called. It was Mark--he was consulting with them on thir application to
Eeeek!
I have a reserve losto with my wife... The 4 women I reserve the right to leave her for should I get the chance (was 5 until Raquel passed)...
Morgan Fairchild
Jaclyn Smith
Christy Brinkley
Susan Lucci
There my wife and I are in an ice cream shop in Garden City LI and there's Susan Lucci. My wife strikes up conversation with her while I stood there dumbfounded and totally star struck. I had my chance and blew it
Morgan Fairchild
Jaclyn Smith
Christy Brinkley
Susan Lucci
There my wife and I are in an ice cream shop in Garden City LI and there's Susan Lucci. My wife strikes up conversation with her while I stood there dumbfounded and totally star struck. I had my chance and blew it
That, my friend, is the lament of every Irishman. Sigh.
Before the Braves left WPB, they had a corporate membership at what is now the Dye Preserve - where I worked. Avery, Smoltz, Glavine, and Maddux played almost every afternoon during spring training. Avery was younger and the only one we could coax to go out with us at night. All four of them were great guys. Smoltz was the best player. 2 Lefties in the group every day. A short one and a tall one.
Pretty sure I shared this story here years ago…. …. One warm sunny Friday evening a few years ago I was coming home from the office and had the windows down when Foreigner’s “Long Long Way From Home” popped on Sirius … nearly t-boned a ‘66 Oldsmobile 4-4-2 that pulled into a blind intersection about a 1/4mi from my house … it was Lou Gramm ( his house is not far from mine. Ironically. )
In 7th grade, when everyone else had Cheryl Tiegs and Farrah Fawcett adorning their walls, my first non-sports adornment on my wall was ONJ. 'Twas this one...
The Rush Chair was star struck, and couldn't speak? You have totally destroyed the reputation you built over the past 20+ years on the board.
These type of evolution pictorials don't always use the most accurate pics. With that caveat:
Yeah, she resembled some of those final pics but without the aid of makeup. After I was told who she was it became obvious but I wouldn't have guessed it was her on my own.
I used to work at an insurance company in New Jersey during the summers when I was at PSU. One day a group of us blew off work and went to New York. We had lunch at Planet Hollywood and Regis Philbin was sitting at the next table.
Saw Bruce Willis at Planet Hollywood in London.
Saw Gorilla Monsoon at a Casino in Atlantic City. On previous trip, when I was underage, I was pushed out of the way by one of Donald Trump's security guards. He and Ivana were walking through Trump Plaza on the way to the Tommy Morrison fight.
Mario Andretti used to belong to the same social club as I did, so I would run into him a lot at the bar.
I was able to get past secret service and get back stage when Bill Clinton was speaking at the school where I worked. A secret service agent was just about to kick me out when Bill came over, shook my hand and took a picture with me.
Met John Stossel, then of 20/20, at the airport in San Francisco. I was a big fan so I had to go talk to him when I saw him.
I was brought up on stage (basically as a prop) at a Penn and Teller show in Las Vegas.
There are others but those stand out in my mind. However, they pale in comparison to these two: meeting Franco and talking with him for about 10 minutes at a restaurant in State College and seeing JoePa (twice). The first time my friend and I were driving down Park Avenue, and Joe was walking toward the stadium. It was a Monday after a Saturday game. I put my window down and tried to talk but was actually speechless and couldn't say anything. We had to drive around the block just so I could yell "Good game, Joe!" He waved. A few years later I was living at University Terrace. I left my apartment and was walking up to the Uni-mart. Joe and Sue were walking down the sidewalk, apparently going to a graduation party of one of the players. We talked for a minute. It was a highlight of my PSU years.
Saw Bruce Willis at Planet Hollywood in London.
Saw Gorilla Monsoon at a Casino in Atlantic City. On previous trip, when I was underage, I was pushed out of the way by one of Donald Trump's security guards. He and Ivana were walking through Trump Plaza on the way to the Tommy Morrison fight.
Mario Andretti used to belong to the same social club as I did, so I would run into him a lot at the bar.
I was able to get past secret service and get back stage when Bill Clinton was speaking at the school where I worked. A secret service agent was just about to kick me out when Bill came over, shook my hand and took a picture with me.
Met John Stossel, then of 20/20, at the airport in San Francisco. I was a big fan so I had to go talk to him when I saw him.
I was brought up on stage (basically as a prop) at a Penn and Teller show in Las Vegas.
There are others but those stand out in my mind. However, they pale in comparison to these two: meeting Franco and talking with him for about 10 minutes at a restaurant in State College and seeing JoePa (twice). The first time my friend and I were driving down Park Avenue, and Joe was walking toward the stadium. It was a Monday after a Saturday game. I put my window down and tried to talk but was actually speechless and couldn't say anything. We had to drive around the block just so I could yell "Good game, Joe!" He waved. A few years later I was living at University Terrace. I left my apartment and was walking up to the Uni-mart. Joe and Sue were walking down the sidewalk, apparently going to a graduation party of one of the players. We talked for a minute. It was a highlight of my PSU years.
No one was more surprised than my wife. She still laughs about it.The Rush Chair was star struck, and couldn't speak? You have totally destroyed the reputation you built over the past 20+ years on the board.
I never met him (beyond that brief glimpse at the NBC parry), but in my fraternity house I lived for a year in a room that had once been Franco’s. A black fraternity had lived in that house in the late 60s/early 70s and Franco was either a member or at least rented that room.
This information had been passed down by word of mouth for about 2 decades, but we always wondered if it were true… until it was confirmed by my dad (who keeps coming up in these stories lol… he was always a more natural, well-connected mover and shaker than I ever have been.) My dad happened to sit by Franco on a plane while I was living in that room… he described the house and that corner room to Franco, who said “Yeah, that sounds right!” Dad also found Franco to be very nice guy, as mentioned above.
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