OT: Your Celebrity Encounter

[Joey Bags]

Back in 2004 I was doing a bike ride with my Dad in Bedminster, NJ and we decided to head over to Trump National to check it out. The fairways were still be sculpted and were just dirt but the cart paths were paved. It was around 7PM in the summer so we decided to bike down one of the cart paths to explore thinking no one would be around. Lo and behold a golf cart was coming towards us up the path. We both worried whoever it was would get us for trespassing given everything was still under construction.

We pull off to the side and the cart comes to a stop. Inside are Trump, Melania (when they were dating), and the head of golf operations. Trump gets out and introduces us to Melania and the golf ops head. We chat for the next few minutes about the course and things. I’ll never forget Trump said he thought it was great that my father was spending quality time with me that he wished his father had done more of that. When it was time for them to move on Trump dropped a classic Trump line, reminding us to not forget to tell everyone how beautiful his (unfinished) course was.

I know everyone has their opinions on the man but all in all he was very kind and cordial to us when he easily could have had us arrested for trespassing.

 

[RutgersDom]

Agree about Wayne Gretzky. Read my post above. 6 years later we met up again by chance. He recognized me. Remembered my name and that I was a Yankee fan. It was the beginning of their WS run and we talked about 96 season. He already knew a lot of the Yankees in his first season on the Rangers.

wow...even more impressive...crazy

 

[ScarletEd]

I was at a broadway show around ten years ago. The first act had ended and I headed for the mens room. It was crowded as always. When my turn came to use a urinal, I happened to notice a short guy peeing at the neighboring urinal who looked like Danny DeVito so I asked him " is that you Danny?" He looked up at me and said in a gruff voice "Yeah..wadda ya expect..dis is Noo York, ya know".

 

[rutger80]

Couple of other ones, I just remembered:
In 1980 I was in Towson, I think to broadcast a Women's game for WRSU and ran into Chris Schenkel in the hotel lobby. Of course, I asked him if it was true beer tested better in bottles and he said definitely.

In June 2009 I was on a work trip to Pittsburgh and booked a room in the hotel that just happened to be NHL headquarters during the Detroit-Pittsburgh finals. Chatted with Brian Burke, Brian Lawton and Mark Messier in the bar at the hotel.

Not sure if this totally counts but in late 2010 I was in the security line at LaGuardia and someone said to look over there. Well, standing no more than a few feet away from me was Mike Tyson. He was with a woman and a baby. This was just before The Hangover came out and no one was going near him, at all. A little while later in the terminal, someone took a picture from a pretty good distance, but not a soul was going anywhere near him.

 

[WhoseBusIsThat?]

In addition to my previouly posted urinal use next to Richie Sambora at Newark Airport, I also sat next to Cash Cab guy in first class and sat next table to Kelly Ripa in Morocco at Epcot.
What a depressing list.

 

[BigWill]

Tyson was Heavyweight Champ.

He was at a function with several friends and our Wives.
Taking photo's with all the Wives, 2 of my friends Wives went first.
I was standing behind the photo op.
I noticed that Mike, standing in the middle, had his hands on the butts of both Wives.
Big Smiles on all concerned.

I declined the "honor" of having Mary Anne standing in for the next "photo" opportunity.

 

[knightfan7]

A few more. Had a customer of mine try to set me up with Britney Spears back in 2003ish. Invited me to dinner with her and her brother. I never ended up going for some reason though. Also spent a night with Natalie Portman at Harvard when I was in school.

I worked with a guy who was a close HS friend with one of the big boy band members. His friend flew him out to LA to spend some time together as a college graduation present. He's hanging out at the house when Spears and Timberlake show up. He said Timberlake was a cool dude and Spears was shall we say, a little off center.

 

[RUBubba]

Used to work the door at a good size NJ bar/nightclub and the band Anthrax came in. They were shocked that I asked them for their IDs. Had no clue who they were. Still wouldn't...

 

[knightfan7]

Used to work the door at a good size NJ bar/nightclub and the band Anthrax came in. They were shocked that I asked them for their IDs. Had no clue who they were. Still wouldn't...

Ha. I did the same with the late boxer Arturo Gatti. He thought it was funny......thank goodness lol.

 

[batts]

In the late 70s, my friends and I went to a fall Yankee / Red Sox game at the Stadium. As we were walking to our seats, George Steinbrenner emerged from his luxury box. We said: "Hi George" and he replied in a very friendly tone: "Hi boys." George had his ways, but he was very cordial to us that night.

The fans, however, were not very cordial that night as there was multiple fights and beer throwing incidents. A guy few rows from me got hold of a beer vendor and purchased his entire tray of beers which he promptly flung at nearby Red Sox fans.

 

[ouchmyknee]

Ha. I did the same with the late boxer Arturo Gatti. He thought it was funny......thank goodness lol.

Was in AC with a girl once who had a little too much sauce and see's this guy walking towards her wearing a silk Versace shirt unbuttoned down to his chest. Anyways, the girls starts railing into the guy about his lame shirt, etc. I see the guy, realize it's Gatti, and claim that I don't know the girl.

 

[famousbill19]

Agree about Wayne Gretzky. Read my post above. 6 years later we met up again by chance. He recognized me. Remembered my name and that I was a Yankee fan. It was the beginning of their WS run and we talked about 96 season. He already knew a lot of the Yankees in his first season on the Rangers.

Just another quick Gretzky story. My sister was VP at the NHL and was part of a small group in a business-related conversation with him. In conversation, he dropped a casual F-bomb. He made eye contact with my sister (who has worked in the NHL for 20+ years and has heard/dropped plenty) and immediately stopped the conversation and apologized to her for his language. Class act.

 

[knightfan7]

Was in AC with a girl once who had a little too much sauce and see's this guy walking towards her wearing a silk Versace shirt unbuttoned down to his chest. Anyways, the girls starts railing into the guy about his lame shirt, etc. I see the guy, realize it's Gatti, and claim that I don't know the girl.

A bit later on he walked past me. I stopped him and said I just hadn't recognized him. He said no worries. I told him I had seen the Tracy Patterson fight on TV then added something stupid like "Boy, you two really went at it all night". He put his hand on my shoulder, smiled, and said "Yeah I know. I was there".

 

[BigWill]

Key Grip on the 7 UP commercial being filmed before the No Mas Fight.

Duran was eating all day from the crew buffet table.

He brought his Wife/couple kids and HIS GIRL FRIEND.

 

[Blitz8RU]

Me

I encounter myself everyday. So many anecdotes to tell, don't know where to start...

 

[Blitz8RU]

I’ve met a ton but here are that stood out.
Lawrence Taylor: he was in rehab at the same time my uncle was in. Told my brother and I to stay away from drugs.
Richard Nixon: met him at the circus when I was 5. He talked with my father for awhile, signed his ticket stub and rubbed my head.

Which head did he rub? Or was it both?

 

[rureadyforsomefootball]

Both my encounters with a celebrity involved an elevator. First time was at Shea Stadium with some friends on our way up to The Diamond Club. Pressed the button to go up, and out steps Bob Murphy. He was very cordial and off he went to call the game. The other time was at Resorts in AC back when they were doing a remake of The Honeymooners. My wife and I and several people were watching Jackie Gleason play Baccarat in the roped off area for a couple of minutes before heading back to our room. Go to the elevator, push the up button, and the door opens and it's Art Carney! He looks at me, and I guess he figured I'd start a scene, so he pushes the door closed button, and off he goes, lol.

 

[Blitz8RU]

Back in 2004 I was doing a bike ride with my Dad in Bedminster, NJ and we decided to head over to Trump National to check it out. The fairways were still be sculpted and were just dirt but the cart paths were paved. It was around 7PM in the summer so we decided to bike down one of the cart paths to explore thinking no one would be around. Lo and behold a golf cart was coming towards us up the path. We both worried whoever it was would get us for trespassing given everything was still under construction.

We pull off to the side and the cart comes to a stop. Inside are Trump, Melania (when they were dating), and the head of golf operations. Trump gets out and introduces us to Melania and the golf ops head. We chat for the next few minutes about the course and things. I’ll never forget Trump said he thought it was great that my father was spending quality time with me that he wished his father had done more of that. When it was time for them to move on Trump dropped a classic Trump line, reminding us to not forget to tell everyone how beautiful his (unfinished) course was.

I know everyone has their opinions on the man but all in all he was very kind and cordial to us when he easily could have had us arrested for trespassing.

My impression of Trump is that he's a giant toddler.

Equally capable of great kindness and great cruelty with a penchant for temper tantrums when things don't go his way.

 

[wisr01]

I have had only a few but my favorite was unbeknownst to me at the time. Back in 2009 I took my family to Florida for ten days that included the Beef O'Brady bowl and seeing grandma and Aunt Donna for a week in Orlando. One day, I decided to slip out and play golf. The hotel where I stayed got me on the International Course at Champions Gate. I show up and they said you will be playing with Scott (Last name shared later).

I met this kid named Scott and we had a great 4 hours of golf. His game was the best I have ever played alongside. His game was amazing. I asked about him and he said he played college golf at Tennessee Tech (I think) and was trying to make it to the PGA tour. At the time he was playing Carolina Hooters Tour... He complimented me and said I had a nice game but what was holding me back was my short game. BTW I took his advice and spent the last decade working mostly on short game stuff.

A few years later I am watching the PGA Tour event at Greenbrier and wouldn't you know it is the kid I played with...Scott Stallings. He won that day and a few more times on tour. He is still out on tour today. The difference between him and myself (someone who has played as low as a 2 hdcp) was astronomical, especially around the greens. When I asked him what he needed to improve without hesitation he said SHORT GAME. The guys on tour all have amazing short games.

 

[hankee18]

My impression of Trump is that he's a giant toddler.

Equally capable of great kindness and great cruelty with a penchant for temper tantrums when things don't go his way.

It's funny I thought the topic of this thread was celebrity encounters.

No one gives a **** about your opinion of Trump. He lost. Your side won. Give it up.

 

[Scarlet dollar]

I knew several growing up before they were famous. I lived on a talented block in Highland Park. My next door neighbor was Jerry Levine, who played Stiles in Teen Wolf and Tom Cruise's best friend in Born on the Fourth of July amongst many other movies. Across the street on one side, was Roxanne, who played the head cheerleader in the movie Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. Across the street on the other side was Marc Sosin, tv's Salt Water Fisherman. He was always screaming when my football went on his lawn. Five houses down the street was Willi Garson, who had a major roll in Sex and the City, amongst many others. His dad was a big Rutgers supporter and season ticket holder. Not bad for my little neighborhood.

 

[Spare130_rivals]

In 2012 I met mayweather at a press conference he was doing in NYC to promote his fight with Miguel cotto.. Completely different than what you see on camera. As soon as he got outside and was met with a massive crowed asking for autographs, he told everyone to calm down and said don’t worry because he wasn’t leaving until everybody gets an autograph. He took a few minutes just to BS with me and a few other people. Cool guy.

Also I know he’s not a celebrity outside of this forum.. but I’ve ran into Quincy douby in the park, the mall, and IHOP and he’s one of the nicest people I’ve ever met. I think when I saw him in IHOP it was like 3 days after he got drafted.. he was so down to earth about everything. I’m glad he had a successful career.

 

[Spare130_rivals]

My impression of Trump is that he's a giant toddler.

Equally capable of great kindness and great cruelty with a penchant for temper tantrums when things don't go his way.

Seek help. This thread isn’t about him

 

[yesrutgers01]

Kind of funny one. Back in HS, we had a kid who made it to MLB and a pretty decent career as a lefty BP guy, Rick Horton. Cardinals are in town and we must have had 50 of us from school there. Rick is tossing the ball in the OF and Cesar Cedeno is near the stands, we are all calling him over, he comes over and was ask for he could get Rickie’s attention for us. He looks at us in complete contempt- turns around and just walks away. Caught up with Rick after the game and he told us that CC just thinks everything is about him.
Went to college for a semester at Marist when Arik snits played there...Talkest human I have ever seen. There was a hedge line that was at least 6 and a half feet tall and you couldn’t see anyone except this blonde head floating above them. Cool guy but I don’t think he ever dated a girl over 5’4

 

[Scarlet dollar]

I don't know if he qualifies as a celebrity, but I lived a couple of doors down the hall from Bobby Huggins his freshman year at Ohio U. He was the only guy on the basketball team who wouldn't drink or party with us. Later, he transferred to WVU, and I guess he learned how to party there, as alcohol almost ruined his coaching career. I was surprised years later, when he was coaching at the RAC, he saw me and greeted me by my college nickname. Shocked me, to say the least!

 

[RUBubba]

I knew several growing up before they were famous. I lived on a talented block in Highland Park. My next door neighbor was Jerry Levine, who played Stiles in Teen Wolf and Tom Cruise's best friend in Born on the Fourth of July amongst many other movies. Across the street on one side, was Roxanne, who played the head cheerleader in the movie Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders. Across the street on the other side was Marc Sosin, tv's Salt Water Fisherman. He was always screaming when my football went on his lawn. Five houses down the street was Willi Garson, who had a major roll in Sex and the City, amongst many others. His dad was a big Rutgers supporter and season ticket holder. Not bad for my little neighborhood.

I went to school with Jerry Levine's sister.

 

[Scarlet dollar]

I went to school with Jerry Levine's sister.

If I remember correctly, she was dating Willie Garson's brother, Jon, back then. Karen was about six years younger than me.

 

[HeavenUniv.]

The house I grew up in at Lake Mohawk used to be owned by Les Brown.

 

[JoeRU0304]

Fortunately the 'celebrity encounters' I've had have been positive. In June 2001 I was at Gold' Gym in Belleville (at the time it was the closest Gold's to the Meadowlands, which made it a frequent stop for pro wrestlers when working in the area) on the Saturday before a PPV (King of the Ring) and one of the biggest humans I had ever seen in person walked past me as I was walking towards the entrance. He sees my friends and I staring in disbelief, nods and says 'hello', and we mumble 'hello' back and are just stunned silent. One of my friends joking asked, 'what would you do if that guy tried to start something ?' and I remember saying something like, 'I wouldn't fight that guy if I had a car'. We could have sworn we 'knew' him from somewhere but couldn't place him...then we saw someone approach him and ask for a picture, which he politely declined because he wasn't supposed to be publicly photographed without his mask on at the time. We then quickly realized it was Kane/Glen Jacobs.

I worked part-time as a security guard at theMeadowlands Racetrack from 2004-2008 and met a couple of people there while on the job. Wayne Chrebet owned a few horses and was there frequently; he's a short, stocky guy (I'm 6'1" and was probably about 3-4 inches taller than him) and he was very down to earth. I didn't even know it was him until I had been there for about a year or two (would always greet us, make small talk, etc.). I was also stationed at the Finish Line Bar on the Paddock Level one Thursday night when Joe Pesci was there with his friends. I just said 'hello' and then had to make sure no one pestered/ bothered the group. The patrons were pretty much respectful and left them alone.

I met George Foreman at the 2004 Hambletonian (I think he presented the trophy for the Stakes that year) when I was stationed in the Winner's Circle. He was also down to earth and I was part of a crew that had to keep a 'buffer zone' around him so he didn't get swarmed by photographers/ the press. I didn't say much to him outside of 'hello, nice to meet you, thanks for coming' and didn't ask for a picture or anything like that. I know this may sound goofy to some but my thoughts were (and still are) that I was working at the time and my job was to help keep things flowing, not 'mark out' and potentially draw even more attention. Just about everyone in the group acted the same way and Foreman really seemed to appreciate it, thanking us all for being "highly professional" when his 'rounds' were done.

Joe P.

 

[BigWill]

Elevator at the Taj

Regis Philbin gets on. (very short)

I start loudly humming the ND fight song.

He chimes in and we high five as I get off.