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Posted on 7/3/17 at 8:06 am to OldSchoolHorn
Having lived in Fayetteville for close to two decades before I moved away this year I've met quite a few athletes and coaches over the years.
Nutt was always polite but very stand offish and gave off an a-hole vibe. Had some classes with Matt Jones. Nice guy and very laid back. He was really into becoming a teacher when he graduated back then. Had another class with two of the Arkansas DBs, I always get their names mixed up, one sat in the back and slept all class and the other was sharp as a tack. The kind of guy that if the professor asks a question you'd better have good hand speed because he'd answer in a heartbeat.
Nolan Richardson used the same bank I did and for two years our schedules, for whatever reason, synced up to the point where we would run into each other there once a month or so. Really nice guy who would sign autographs for customers and always seemed happy to meet people. You hear about how he felt isolated and disliked by everyone while he at Arkansas but people seemed to adore him. I think his feud with Broyles was so toxic it soured him on everything up there for a while.
Nutt was always polite but very stand offish and gave off an a-hole vibe. Had some classes with Matt Jones. Nice guy and very laid back. He was really into becoming a teacher when he graduated back then. Had another class with two of the Arkansas DBs, I always get their names mixed up, one sat in the back and slept all class and the other was sharp as a tack. The kind of guy that if the professor asks a question you'd better have good hand speed because he'd answer in a heartbeat.
Nolan Richardson used the same bank I did and for two years our schedules, for whatever reason, synced up to the point where we would run into each other there once a month or so. Really nice guy who would sign autographs for customers and always seemed happy to meet people. You hear about how he felt isolated and disliked by everyone while he at Arkansas but people seemed to adore him. I think his feud with Broyles was so toxic it soured him on everything up there for a while.
Posted on 7/3/17 at 8:22 am to Central Pork
Ran into Arnold Palmer in the bathroom @ Dallas Airport. Actually I was at a urinal taking a leak and looked around and low and behold, he was standing at the next one doing the same. He finished first and walked to the lav and started talking to another guy (probably his pilot). After I finished, I washed my hands and as I walked by them, we nodded at each other. I was flying out to Hawaii (Maui) and as it turned out, the resort where I was staying was hosting the PGA tour event that weekend. While there one afternoon, I decided to go down and watch a little bit of the tournament. I walked over to a back nine green where there were some small wooden bleachers overlooking the green. When the players finished putting out, they had to walk by me to get to the next tee box. So I'm sitting there, and guess what!....here comes Arnie in the group playing through. They finish the hole and start walking past me to the next tee box and he looks me dead in the eye and stares for a second, gives me a big nod of the head and walks on by. After he pasted, I laughed out loud to myself because I realized that when he saw me, I looked familiar but he obviously couldn't place me so he did the polite thing and faked it! I briefly ran into him years later, but didn't mention the first encounter.
This post was edited on 7/3/17 at 8:25 am
Posted on 7/3/17 at 8:53 am to Central Pork
In 1986, a buddy and I went to the bar in the Marriott Hotel in St. Louis following a game against the Astros. Who pulls up a stool next to us but Yogi Berra. We spent the next hour swilling beers and listening to Yogi stories. The next morning, I met Nolan Ryan in the hotel lobby. Memorable weekend.
Posted on 7/3/17 at 8:56 am to Wicked Pissah
Met Phil Rizzuto in a bagel store.
Met Carl Banks at a sports memorabilia show I was working. His manager shows up and he is a guy I knew in high school.
Met Carl Banks at a sports memorabilia show I was working. His manager shows up and he is a guy I knew in high school.
Posted on 7/3/17 at 9:04 am to Central Pork
When I was a lad, my Dad took me to my first MLB game in Cincinnati for a night game between the Reds and Dodgers. We stayed at a hotel downtown, which happened to be where the Dodgers were staying. I was too young to recognize the players in their street clothes, but we bought a baseball in the gift shop so I could get some autographs.
We got onto the elevator with three men dressed in suits and asked if they were with the Dodgers, and they were and signed the baseball. The three names: Leo Durocher, Johnny Podres, and Sandy Koufax.
I didn't realize how neat that was at the time.
We got onto the elevator with three men dressed in suits and asked if they were with the Dodgers, and they were and signed the baseball. The three names: Leo Durocher, Johnny Podres, and Sandy Koufax.
I didn't realize how neat that was at the time.
Posted on 7/3/17 at 9:09 am to Central Pork
I won't name names, but I met a high profile NFL lineman New Year's Eve 1994 at the Cheetah in Atlanta before the MSU/NC State Peach Bowl. Nice guy, gave us autographs and let us catch a ride back to our hotel in his limo. He stayed back at the club. I think he was waiting for one of the gals to get off work.
Posted on 7/3/17 at 9:22 am to Central Pork
I lived in San Antonio for a few years while in the military.
I was eating at Landry's with a buddy and our waiter came by our table pretty stoked about the Lakers sitting at one of his tables. I think it was 1st or second round of the '02 or '03 playoffs. My buddy was a huge Laker fan so we stopped by on the way out. No Kobe or Shaq. The only ones that I could pick out were Kareem Rush, Robert Horry, Rick Fox, and Derek Fisher. I stood back while my buddy talked to them for a minute. Derek Fisher shook his hand and told him that he appreciated his support. Fisher rolled his ankle pretty bad the next night. I told my buddy it was all his fault.
Bruce Bowen sat behind me in church one Sunday morning. I turned around and he introduced himself as Bruce. I said "I know" like a moron.
I sat next to talked to Jesse James Leija at a Spurs game once. One of the other guys sitting around me had to tell me who he was. Pretty nice dude. He spoke to everyone that came by to talk to him and signed a ton of autographs. Shawn Michaels sat right in front of us that night, but I didn't talk to him.
I was eating at Landry's with a buddy and our waiter came by our table pretty stoked about the Lakers sitting at one of his tables. I think it was 1st or second round of the '02 or '03 playoffs. My buddy was a huge Laker fan so we stopped by on the way out. No Kobe or Shaq. The only ones that I could pick out were Kareem Rush, Robert Horry, Rick Fox, and Derek Fisher. I stood back while my buddy talked to them for a minute. Derek Fisher shook his hand and told him that he appreciated his support. Fisher rolled his ankle pretty bad the next night. I told my buddy it was all his fault.
Bruce Bowen sat behind me in church one Sunday morning. I turned around and he introduced himself as Bruce. I said "I know" like a moron.
I sat next to talked to Jesse James Leija at a Spurs game once. One of the other guys sitting around me had to tell me who he was. Pretty nice dude. He spoke to everyone that came by to talk to him and signed a ton of autographs. Shawn Michaels sat right in front of us that night, but I didn't talk to him.
Posted on 7/3/17 at 9:36 am to Central Pork
I went to HS with Hank Aarons kids in Atlanta. used to see him all the time and around Atlanta. In the 1990's he had a lawyer in our building and sometimes would run into him eating a sandwich in the building cafe. A bit shy, wary, but nice enough man.
I've had chance meetings with Evander Holyfield, Isaiah Thomas, Patrick Ewing, Frank Thomas, Bo Jackson, Gayle Sayers, Ray Guy, Herschel Walker, Lee Corso, Bob Davie, and one or two others over the years. I spend a lot of time on planes for work.
I've had chance meetings with Evander Holyfield, Isaiah Thomas, Patrick Ewing, Frank Thomas, Bo Jackson, Gayle Sayers, Ray Guy, Herschel Walker, Lee Corso, Bob Davie, and one or two others over the years. I spend a lot of time on planes for work.
Posted on 7/3/17 at 10:09 am to Central Pork
I was in line at the liquor store with Dameyune Craig.
Posted on 7/3/17 at 10:26 am to Central Pork
Nick Van Exel at a nice restaurant once. Manu Ginobili at a shopping mall about a month later.
ETA: my grandpa met Joe DiMaggio in an elevator in NYC.
ETA 2: My mom met Gene Stallings at a Cracker Barrel in San Antonio.
ETA: my grandpa met Joe DiMaggio in an elevator in NYC.
ETA 2: My mom met Gene Stallings at a Cracker Barrel in San Antonio.
This post was edited on 7/3/17 at 6:02 pm
Posted on 7/3/17 at 10:45 am to Da Blitz
quote:
Met Carl Banks at a sports memorabilia show I was working. His manager shows up and he is a guy I knew in high school.
I ran into him at cigar bar after the SB here in dallas. Nice guy. We shot the shite a few mins, and I asked him where they got the "gatorade shower" idea from as they (mid-80s Giants) are credited as staring it. At least making it a part of the game it is today. Don't remember what he said about who's idea it was on the team, but it was one of those mystery solved for me as i'm a Giants fan. Though I dont remember it. Ha!!
Posted on 7/3/17 at 11:01 am to Arksulli
what were the core issues between Broyles and Richardson?
HS buddy was a backup (buried waaay down the list) to Quinn Grovey. Didn't meet Grovey, but I "met" the Grovey weed he brought in for his boys.
Puked all over myself, stripped down to boxers and was running around the apartment complex. We were at this big complex pool party, buddies told me I would make it around full circle bout once every 5 min until I stopped and then they found me passed out in the grass.
I remember nothing, nada. Woke up the next day in the afternoon and a chicks place that was my college stalker, buddies called her in so they wouldn't have to deal with it.
HS buddy was a backup (buried waaay down the list) to Quinn Grovey. Didn't meet Grovey, but I "met" the Grovey weed he brought in for his boys.
Puked all over myself, stripped down to boxers and was running around the apartment complex. We were at this big complex pool party, buddies told me I would make it around full circle bout once every 5 min until I stopped and then they found me passed out in the grass.
I remember nothing, nada. Woke up the next day in the afternoon and a chicks place that was my college stalker, buddies called her in so they wouldn't have to deal with it.
Posted on 7/3/17 at 11:11 am to Central Pork
quote:
Chance encounters with famous athletes
Not sure about the "chance" aspect as much as I was a big guy and he was a big guy and we ran into each other several times at food joints when he was at UK.
Posted on 7/3/17 at 11:14 am to Central Pork
I met Shaq at Don Carter's All Star Lanes in Baton Rouge his junior year. It was New Year's Eve. He was bowling with Vernell Singleton, Maurice Williamson and Paul Marshall.
After they finished I got an autograph and he played video games with me for 15 minutes. Awesome dude...and HUGE!
After they finished I got an autograph and he played video games with me for 15 minutes. Awesome dude...and HUGE!
Posted on 7/3/17 at 11:20 am to Central Pork
Met Charles Woodson in ATL airport. Talked for a minute and got him to sign my luggage tag.
Saw Kevin Greene at a movie theater in AL. I was like 8 years old and it turns out one of my best friends in high school is his nephew so I have gotten to chill with him a few times back in the day.
Saw Kevin Greene at a movie theater in AL. I was like 8 years old and it turns out one of my best friends in high school is his nephew so I have gotten to chill with him a few times back in the day.
Posted on 7/3/17 at 11:25 am to IAmNERD
Most of Alabama has a Charles Barkley story. Personally, I used to see him frequently at an internship because his lawyer was in the same building. Before that, I saw him at a red lobster. He walked in and sat down at an empty table to talk to his mom. The room just went dead
Posted on 7/3/17 at 12:06 pm to Arksulli
quote:
Nolan Richardson used the same bank I did and for two years our schedules, for whatever reason, synced up to the point where we would run into each other there once a month or so. Really nice guy who would sign autographs for customers and always seemed happy to meet people. You hear about how he felt isolated and disliked by everyone while he at Arkansas but people seemed to adore him. I think his feud with Broyles was so toxic it soured him on everything up there for a while.
I was at Midnight Madness as a student about to go into the stands and Nolan walked right up behind me and started talking to me and shook my hand. He also asked one of my buddies if he wanted to join his group golfing in the same year. Such a nice guy.
Left out another one--I was standing in a long line at a Burger King when I was in junior high or high school and the tall gentleman in front of me turned around and introduced himself and we started chatting. It was Coach Eddie Robinson. I was in awe of the man as he was a legend and highly regarded locally. Never heard a single negative thing ever said about him growing up in that area--class act.
This post was edited on 7/3/17 at 12:08 pm
Posted on 7/3/17 at 12:16 pm to Hank Murphy
Shannon Sharpe in ATL airport. Dude is still a beast!
Posted on 7/3/17 at 12:23 pm to Central Pork
Was on vacation in Chicago with my family and was eating at Michael Jordan's restaurant and The Fab 5 from the Michigan basketball team comes in. I was only 16 but I went over and got their autograph on a menu.
Met Roger Clemens a few years ago and he introduced himself as "The Rocket". Hated him even more after that.
Met Roger Clemens a few years ago and he introduced himself as "The Rocket". Hated him even more after that.
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