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re: Chance encounters with famous athletes
Posted on 7/3/17 at 12:28 pm to TheJones
Posted on 7/3/17 at 12:28 pm to TheJones
quote:
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
The room went dead comment made me remember when I was with a group at On the Boarder, which is generally pretty noisy, a guy and lady walk in waiting on a table. This lady must of been a stripper or porn star. She had huge tits that she was displaying and high heels. As they walked to their table, all you could hear was her heels hitting the floor.
Could porn stars be considered athletes?
0
Posted on 7/3/17 at 12:29 pm to Central Pork
I sat by Willie Stargell on a flight from Atlanta to the West coast. I was determined not to bother him, but he started a conversation and we talked most of the way. He was cracking jokes and gave me his autograph. Really, really nice and classy guy.
Posted on 7/3/17 at 12:30 pm to Central Pork
Brother and I had finished a round of golf in Auburn and ran into Bo Jackson in the parking lot putting on his shoes. We talked briefly and he was cordial and gave my brother an autograph.
I ran into Marie Osmond at a club she was to perform in. Looked dang good and was very nice.
Ran into Robert Redford and Merlin Olsen at the airport on different occasions. We did not speak, just a hello.
Also, met Shaq at a downtown hotel in Denver as he was coming off the elevator. Shook my hand and said hello with his big shaq smile. Dude was enormous.
I ran into Marie Osmond at a club she was to perform in. Looked dang good and was very nice.
Ran into Robert Redford and Merlin Olsen at the airport on different occasions. We did not speak, just a hello.
Also, met Shaq at a downtown hotel in Denver as he was coming off the elevator. Shook my hand and said hello with his big shaq smile. Dude was enormous.
This post was edited on 7/3/17 at 12:32 pm
Posted on 7/3/17 at 12:40 pm to Central Pork
I was on 2 flights between Houston and B'ham w/ Robert Horry. My then 4 year old exchanged a Roll Tide w/ him.
On the return flight back to Houston he sat a couple rows behind me and a lady sitting next to him asked him what he did for a living. When he said he used to play basketball she asked if he was any good. I and a couple others around that heard the conversation nearly died. His iPad screen was a pic of all his rings which was pretty cool.
On the return flight back to Houston he sat a couple rows behind me and a lady sitting next to him asked him what he did for a living. When he said he used to play basketball she asked if he was any good. I and a couple others around that heard the conversation nearly died. His iPad screen was a pic of all his rings which was pretty cool.
This post was edited on 7/3/17 at 12:42 pm
Posted on 7/3/17 at 12:43 pm to tigerbaby17
Spotted and talked with Joe Montana at an airport ... I think it was BWI. He was nice enough. I was in much awe.
Had a really nice one-on-one conversation with David Robinson outside USNA's Alumni Hall. Super nice guy...and, not every day that you talk to someone that tall.
Long time ago ... spotted Sting and Lex Luger as a gas station. I was very young and too scared to talk to them ... but, it was them ... I'd know.
Was buddies with Jake Delhomme at St. Genevieve's/Teurlings in Lafayette back in the day ... not sure if that counts. Very proud of him and happy for him...though, have not spoken to him or seen him in decades.
Posted on 7/3/17 at 12:44 pm to navy
OH ... I also saw Gerry Dinardo (while he was LSU HC) at some breakfast joint ... I think it was a Denny's.
I just remember being hungover.
I just remember being hungover.
Posted on 7/3/17 at 1:35 pm to Central Pork
Right before I went to the mall one day I'm reading the sports page and it says Oil Can Boyd had signed with the Expos. That afternoon I'm walking through the mall and see Oil Can with an Expos hat on. Very skinny dude but very outgoing.
Another time I'm standing in the lobby in a Jackson hotel lobby wearing a Mississippi State shirt and up to me walks Ed Orgeron. This was the summer right before his first season, and he introduces himself and mumbles good luck this season. I nodded and said the same.
ETA: played in a softball tourney against Steve McNair about two weeks after he was drafted by the Oilers. Said it was his last softball for a while because his agent and the Oilers were finishing up his contract and with all the money they were investing they didn't want him getting hurt playing softball so he had to quit playing. He played 1st Base that day so he wouldn't have to throw much. That big dude could mash a softball. Just realized it's almost the anniversary of his death. RIP Steve McNair.
Another time I'm standing in the lobby in a Jackson hotel lobby wearing a Mississippi State shirt and up to me walks Ed Orgeron. This was the summer right before his first season, and he introduces himself and mumbles good luck this season. I nodded and said the same.
ETA: played in a softball tourney against Steve McNair about two weeks after he was drafted by the Oilers. Said it was his last softball for a while because his agent and the Oilers were finishing up his contract and with all the money they were investing they didn't want him getting hurt playing softball so he had to quit playing. He played 1st Base that day so he wouldn't have to throw much. That big dude could mash a softball. Just realized it's almost the anniversary of his death. RIP Steve McNair.
This post was edited on 7/3/17 at 1:51 pm
Posted on 7/3/17 at 1:37 pm to Central Pork
(no message)
This post was edited on 1/10/21 at 6:43 pm
Posted on 7/3/17 at 1:42 pm to Central Pork
When I was in college I had a class next to Peyton Manning, and since we were both usually early we would talk on occasion. Great guy. I remember the Monday after the Heismann ceremony I saw him and I mentioned it. By the end of our conversation he was calming me down. I was pissed.
Posted on 7/3/17 at 1:43 pm to Central Pork
I met Alex Faedo and other Florida baseball players last week on the elevator in Omaha. Does that count?
Posted on 7/3/17 at 1:49 pm to The Baker
quote:
I almost got in a wreck with Tryann Mathieu in the BWW parking lot.
He was in the stands at one of the home games after he got suspended or whatever.
I think it was vs. Washington.
Anyway, got a nice photo of the Honey Badger with one of my sons.
Seemed like a nice enough kid.
Posted on 7/3/17 at 2:02 pm to Central Pork
Not really a chance encounter but I used to play a ton of basketball at the rec with Tyrann, OBJ and Mingo at the LSU Rec. I was the token white guy 
Posted on 7/3/17 at 2:05 pm to Central Pork
I've done some occasional TV work in the past, and have had the chance to meet a few well-known atheltes. Some of them were:
Warren Moon -- He was not in a good mood when I was escorting him to our booth for an on-air interview session. Didn't seem like he wanted to be there, but from what I've read he was probably having marital problems at the time.
Cheryl Miller -- Was basically her gofer while she was the "sideline" commentator at an LSU basketball game. Very nice person. Very easy to talk to. One of the things I had to do was make sure her halftime interview guest was ready to go. That interview was...
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar -- Kareem was standing near the side of the court when I approached him. I had to get his attention to confirm he was ready to talk with Cheryl Miller so I touched his arm. Big mistake. Kareem said absolutely nothing, but looked at me like he was going to explode, go ballistic, whatever... it was terrifying. Especially since I was only about as tall as his waist. His personal assistant quickly stepped in and smoothed things out. The interview went well.
Art Howe -- this was when he was manager for the Astros, not a player. I was meeting him for an on-air interview before a basketball game. I ducked into the bathroom and stepped up to a urinal, and then nearly pissed myself when I looked over and saw Howe taking piss right next to me. He got a good laugh out of that. Good guy, very easy to talk to.
Bela Karolyi -- Picked him up at his gym in north Houston and drove him into town for an on-air interview. He was busy, but patient about everything. It was like talking to Count Dracula.
Bert Jones -- met him at an LSU football game before a broadcast. He was very down to earth.
Warren Moon -- He was not in a good mood when I was escorting him to our booth for an on-air interview session. Didn't seem like he wanted to be there, but from what I've read he was probably having marital problems at the time.
Cheryl Miller -- Was basically her gofer while she was the "sideline" commentator at an LSU basketball game. Very nice person. Very easy to talk to. One of the things I had to do was make sure her halftime interview guest was ready to go. That interview was...
Kareem Abdul-Jabbar -- Kareem was standing near the side of the court when I approached him. I had to get his attention to confirm he was ready to talk with Cheryl Miller so I touched his arm. Big mistake. Kareem said absolutely nothing, but looked at me like he was going to explode, go ballistic, whatever... it was terrifying. Especially since I was only about as tall as his waist. His personal assistant quickly stepped in and smoothed things out. The interview went well.
Art Howe -- this was when he was manager for the Astros, not a player. I was meeting him for an on-air interview before a basketball game. I ducked into the bathroom and stepped up to a urinal, and then nearly pissed myself when I looked over and saw Howe taking piss right next to me. He got a good laugh out of that. Good guy, very easy to talk to.
Bela Karolyi -- Picked him up at his gym in north Houston and drove him into town for an on-air interview. He was busy, but patient about everything. It was like talking to Count Dracula.
Bert Jones -- met him at an LSU football game before a broadcast. He was very down to earth.
Posted on 7/3/17 at 3:19 pm to Central Pork
A small group of us were in the Kodak hospitality suite during a break in Track and Field activities at the '96 Olympics. Bob Mathias and Milt Campbell came in looking for free beer, they were drunk as skunks. They stayed with us because we had credentials from Kodak, they didn't. Fed them sandwiches and beer for hours until the night track session resumed. Traded Olympic pins with both (still have 'em).
Mathias was a 2 time Olympic Gold Medalist in the decathlon, Campbell won the Gold once. The great thing for me is that decathlon was my "specialty" in HS. We won state when I was a junior, and I was 3rd overall as a senior.
Mathias was a 2 time Olympic Gold Medalist in the decathlon, Campbell won the Gold once. The great thing for me is that decathlon was my "specialty" in HS. We won state when I was a junior, and I was 3rd overall as a senior.
Posted on 7/3/17 at 4:27 pm to SeaCay
I've mentioned this story on here before so I won't go into as much detail, but about ten years ago when I was in college I was waiting tables in a restaurant in a nice hotel and conference center. One day Albert Haynesworth and Terdell Sands walked in with two ladies and I had their table.
Not an athlete, but about a year later I was a banquet supervisor at the same place, and I was hauling arse to the other side of the conference center. I rounded a corner and ran straight into Debo aka Tiny 'Zeus' Lister. I bounced back a step or two, looked up and was surprised to see him glaring straight down at me. I said, "Sorry Mr. Lister! I'm in a hurry, but I should slow down around the corners. Big fan by the way!" His glare turned into a smile, and he said, "No problem, man. Have a good day."
Not an athlete, but about a year later I was a banquet supervisor at the same place, and I was hauling arse to the other side of the conference center. I rounded a corner and ran straight into Debo aka Tiny 'Zeus' Lister. I bounced back a step or two, looked up and was surprised to see him glaring straight down at me. I said, "Sorry Mr. Lister! I'm in a hurry, but I should slow down around the corners. Big fan by the way!" His glare turned into a smile, and he said, "No problem, man. Have a good day."
Posted on 7/3/17 at 10:09 pm to Central Pork
I'm from Mobile, Hank Aaron sucks as human being.
Posted on 7/3/17 at 10:42 pm to Central Pork
Roomed with Demarco Murray at OU football camp my Junior year in high school. Played X-box and chilled all weekend...we stayed in contact for a while, real cool guy.
My cousin played for Dallas Cowboys, I met Terrell Owens and Tony Romo once.
My brother-in-law works for SEC Network...I met Tim Tebow and Paul Finebaum last year....Tebow is a great dude, same guy he is on TV.
My cousin played for Dallas Cowboys, I met Terrell Owens and Tony Romo once.
My brother-in-law works for SEC Network...I met Tim Tebow and Paul Finebaum last year....Tebow is a great dude, same guy he is on TV.
Posted on 7/3/17 at 10:56 pm to Central Pork
I literally shook Ryan Mallet's hand. He called me "bro".
Posted on 7/3/17 at 11:09 pm to Central Pork
Not really a good story (stories) but my tailgate spot is near Toomer's corner so I'll see Charles Barkley at least once a season. I've seen Tim Cook as well. Though, I'm still waiting on Bo.
Posted on 7/4/17 at 1:25 am to Central Pork
Went on a Turkey hunt with Kent Hull and Jim Kelly.
Hung out with Walter Payton and his brother Eddie just prior to his death. Great for a life-long Bears fan.
Spent a great week duck hunting with Will Clark.
Spent a fantastic weekend duck hunting with Bo Jackson and Pat Dye. Bo is still the most humble star I have ever met.
Several MLB players along the way that were never superstars, but great guys.
That's all I can remember this late.
Hung out with Walter Payton and his brother Eddie just prior to his death. Great for a life-long Bears fan.
Spent a great week duck hunting with Will Clark.
Spent a fantastic weekend duck hunting with Bo Jackson and Pat Dye. Bo is still the most humble star I have ever met.
Several MLB players along the way that were never superstars, but great guys.
That's all I can remember this late.
This post was edited on 7/4/17 at 1:27 am
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