Name the most famous person or persons you have met.

[HawgGoneIt]

3 minutes ago, HooverOutlaw said:

Ever meet Dale Sr or Tim Richmond

No. Actually never met Dale Jr. either. He was like the president. They ushered his ass around in a black SUV and brought him right to the spot where he was to make an appearance or whatever and he didn't mingle much outside of the functions he was scheduled for. 

Of the old school guys that don't drive anymore, I met Bill Elliott just a handshake type of thing in passing. Terry Labonte and Jeff Gordon for an autograph session. Mainly handshake and autograph from them. 

 

 

Forgot about Terry Pendleton the old Braves 3rd baseman. He was actually at a NASCAR garage for a session back in the day. I had some friends at Phoenix Racing where I got to go hang out at their garage a bit down in Lynn Haven Florida. I guess their best driver was Jeff Purvis. He was an alright guy. Never really was a famous or big name, nor was the race teams of Phoenix Racing. Small fish in the big pond I guess. 

Love all types of racing and have enjoyed being around it all the way from a casual fan to hospitality passes to being an associate sponsor just this year for Kasey Kahne at Bristol in the spring. Still looking for new and further ways to get involved. 

[HawgGoneIt]

1 minute ago, CCBlackhatter said:

How the hell could I forget meeting "The King"?

My mom had an inside connect who worked at Talladega. I had the pleasure of meeting him at one of his driving experiences there when I was too young to get behind the wheel.

I also met John Force as a real youngster at the Gatornationals in the 90s.

 

The Drag drivers are super approachable generally. I think they have tightened up that a little lately though. Been a couple of years since I went to the Gators. 

Surprisingly enough, you can meet quite a few big names from time to time at Cecil, SGMP. 

[CCBlackhatter]

2 minutes ago, HawgGoneIt said:

No. Actually never met Dale Jr. either. He was like the president. They ushered his ass around in a black SUV and brought him right to the spot where he was to make an appearance or whatever and he didn't mingle much outside of the functions he was scheduled for. 

Of the old school guys that don't drive anymore, I met Bill Elliott just a handshake type of thing in passing. Terry Labonte and Jeff Gordon for an autograph session. Mainly handshake and autograph from them. 

 

 

Forgot about Terry Pendleton the old Braves 3rd baseman. He was actually at a NASCAR garage for a session back in the day. I had some friends at Phoenix Racing where I got to go hang out at their garage a bit down in Lynn Haven Florida. I guess their best driver was Jeff Purvis. He was an alright guy. Never really was a famous or big name, nor was the race teams of Phoenix Racing. Small fish in the big pond I guess. 

Love all types of racing and have enjoyed being around it all the way from a casual fan to hospitality passes to being an associate sponsor just this year for Kasey Kahne at Bristol in the spring. Still looking for new and further ways to get involved. 

Cool stuff brotha.

If ever possible, I'll accept an invite to drink brewskis with your boys. Lol

[AztecPadre]

Honestly, living where I grew up and the circles my family, friends and i run in, the list would pretty long. Now if we are talking people i talk to or see once in a while the list would be shorter. But my favorite, no matter how many times I see and talk to is Clint E. Just a total badass even at 88 years old. Super cool and very generous. Gives to any charity and function I or fam hit him up for.

[AztecPadre]

Ok that sounded conceded, but no other way to say it. Lol. Sorry. So not me.

[CCBlackhatter]

Just now, AztecPadre said:

Honestly, living where I grew up and the circles my family, friends and i run in, the list would pretty long. Now if we are talking people i talk to or see once in a while the list would be shorter. But my favorite, no matter how many times I see and talk to is Clint E. Just a total badass even at 88 years old. Super cool and very generous. Gives to any charity and function I or fam hit him up for.

Clint Eastwood is one I'd definitely like to meet. To know Clint may never get that chance is very unfortunate. Lol

[AztecPadre]

9 minutes ago, HawgGoneIt said:

No. Actually never met Dale Jr. either. He was like the president. They ushered his ass around in a black SUV and brought him right to the spot where he was to make an appearance or whatever and he didn't mingle much outside of the functions he was scheduled for. 

Of the old school guys that don't drive anymore, I met Bill Elliott just a handshake type of thing in passing. Terry Labonte and Jeff Gordon for an autograph session. Mainly handshake and autograph from them. 

 

 

Forgot about Terry Pendleton the old Braves 3rd baseman. He was actually at a NASCAR garage for a session back in the day. I had some friends at Phoenix Racing where I got to go hang out at their garage a bit down in Lynn Haven Florida. I guess their best driver was Jeff Purvis. He was an alright guy. Never really was a famous or big name, nor was the race teams of Phoenix Racing. Small fish in the big pond I guess. 

Love all types of racing and have enjoyed being around it all the way from a casual fan to hospitality passes to being an associate sponsor just this year for Kasey Kahne at Bristol in the spring. Still looking for new and further ways to get involved. 

But are racers really considered famous, even tho its regional? Cuz I can name many local kats I know. Lol. Kidding kidding!!

[AztecPadre]

Just now, CCBlackhatter said:

Clint Eastwood is one I'd definitely like to meet. To know Clint may never get that chance is very unfortunate. Lol

Haha. First met him as a kid in the mid 80's. Pops had some business ventures with him in town. Just a fucking badass man. Tall too.

[HawgGoneIt]

1 minute ago, CCBlackhatter said:

Cool stuff brotha.

If ever possible, I'll accept an invite to drink brewskis with your boys. Lol

Well, not sure I'd call any of them my "boys" since the Phoenix racing days. Today, it's all about money. I mean, you get to hang out and whatever with the guys you sponsor if you go that route, but, it's all business. I think of course if you stay involved enough for long enough you can make some connections. 

For instance the Kasey Kahne sponsorship got me private meetings with the team, driver and owner. Pictures with the driver and car that I'm licensed for use for one year as an advertisement etc if I want. Another level up on the sponsorship ladder and I could have sat on the roof of the hauler with the crew chief for the practices and during the race as well. All business. Gotta pay to play. 

[BigDrop]

Blaze Starr.

The day I turned 16 I drove our car forty miles from Silver Spring to the “block” in Baltimore to hopefully get into the Gayety burlesque theater on East Baltimore street.

A driving rain storm and absolute fear of traffic and getting lost didn’t matter, I had fantasized about this all through tenth grade and nothing was going to stop me.

They didn’t ask for ID either.  I walked into the theater and looked at the empty seats:  there was one in the front row on the far side of the stage.  I had no idea of what I was getting myself into but I thought I should be as close as possible.

There were several comedians and a couple of strippers who preceded Blaze.  What was notable about the girls is that they took everything off.

Everything.  For a 16 year old on his birthday my dreams had never approached this.  Actually I really wouldn’t have know what to imagine.  

Blaze Starr was the most famous strip tease artist in the world.  There was a pit directly in front of the stage with several musicians in it.  Each side of the stage actually fronted a couple of seats which allowed the dancers to perform only a few feet away from those at the end of the first row.

Like me.

When the dancers interacted the 75 or 100 men in the theater all yelled, hooted and cheered.  There was a vicarious thrill and expression to each response to a dancer.

They were loudest for Blaze.  Who picked on those who seemed to be most embarrassed to be in the Gayety.  On the far side of the stage she brought a man to the front of his seat while the audience erupted.

Then she strutted down to my side and stared straight at me.  And my 16 year old innocence and fear.  And obsessive curiosity. All the while scrunching into my seat submissively fearing I’d be thrown out because my age would be discovered.

And that I’d never been to “second base” before let alone this.  Blaze stood at the end of the stage and cooed that I should stand up and walk over and watch while she powdered her ...

There is more to this but not for now.  However I must add that whether a US President or Ric Flair (who I sat next to on a flight in the late ‘80’s) nobody-nobody!-could top Blaze Starr.  

To this day I am deeply appreciative that I wasn’t ID’s because I have a memory that could never be replaced.

In home room the next day nobody believed me.

[AztecPadre]

5 minutes ago, BigDrop said:

Blaze Starr.

The day I turned 16 I drove our car forty miles from Silver Spring to the “block” in Baltimore to hopefully get into the Gayety burlesque theater on East Baltimore street.

A driving rain storm and absolute fear of traffic and getting lost didn’t matter, I had fantasized about this all through tenth grade and nothing was going to stop me.

They didn’t ask for ID either.  I walked into the theater and looked at the empty seats:  there was one in the front row on the far side of the stage.  I had no idea of what I was getting myself into but I thought I should be as close as possible.

There were several comedians and a couple of strippers who preceded Blaze.  What was notable about the girls is that they took everything off.

Everything.  For a 16 year old on his birthday my dreams had never approached this.  Actually I really wouldn’t have know what to imagine.  

Blaze Starr was the most famous strip tease artist in the world.  There was a pit directly in front of the stage with several musicians in it.  Each side of the stage actually fronted a couple of seats which allowed the dancers to perform only a few feet away from those at the end of the first row.

Like me.

When the dancers interacted the 75 or 100 men in the theater all yelled, hooted and cheered.  There was a vicarious thrill and expression to each response to a dancer.

They were loudest for Blaze.  Who picked on those who seemed to be most embarrassed to be in the Gayety.  On the far side of the stage she brought a man to the front of his seat while the audience erupted.

Then she strutted down to my side and stared straight at me.  And my 16 year old innocence and fear.  And obsessive curiosity. All the while scrunching into my seat submissively fearing I’d be thrown out because my age would be discovered.

And that I’d never been to “second base” before let alone this.  Blaze stood at the end of the stage and cooed that I should stand up and walk over and watch while she powdered her ...

There is more to this but not for now.  However I must add that whether a US President or Ric Flair (who I sat next to on a flight in the late ‘80’s) nobody-nobody!-could top Blaze Starr.  

To this day I am deeply appreciative that I wasn’t ID’s because I have a memory that could never be replaced.

In home room the next day nobody believed me.

Haha. Still with the gift to paint a picture. Weren't you the guy who did the blog about in n out burger years ago? I remember reading it and just clinging to the thought of how loud my stomach was roaring. Lol

[CCBlackhatter]

This fella in the video may not be famous, but he has as big or bigger impact on the world than most of the stars listed in this thread.

It's a pleasure knowing the "Plant Man". 😎

 

[CCBlackhatter]

19 minutes ago, AztecPadre said:

Haha. First met him as a kid in the mid 80's. Pops had some business ventures with him in town. Just a fucking badass man. Tall too.

Tell him I said "what's up" and you can show him my post about meeting him. Y'all can both laugh together, although I'm not certain Clint has ever laughed before. Lol

[HawgGoneIt]

Oh shit! I forgot...

I met Rufus! 

And Rush Propst. 

Those are pretty famous fellas. 

 

[BigDrop]

15 minutes ago, AztecPadre said:

Haha. Still with the gift to paint a picture. Weren't you the guy who did the blog about in n out burger years ago? I remember reading it and just clinging to the thought of how loud my stomach was roaring. Lol

Thank you, AztecPadre, much appreciated.  It was “the 5,000 mile hamburger” on Chowhound which I am not able to link but can be googled.

[Cossacks]

35 minutes ago, AztecPadre said:

Honestly, living where I grew up and the circles my family, friends and i run in, the list would pretty long. Now if we are talking people i talk to or see once in a while the list would be shorter. But my favorite, no matter how many times I see and talk to is Clint E. Just a total badass even at 88 years old. Super cool and very generous. Gives to any charity and function I or fam hit him up for.

I’m only joking.

[Coletrain06]

I've never really been enamored by celebrities, so I never try to go out of my way to meet anybody..... but I guess through happenstance my family became friends with Nick and Drew Lachey's Dad and step mom. I see and talk to them all the time. 

For any music lovers....last year I went to a Bela Fleck and the Flecktones concert, and after the show outside the entrance, Futureman was just hanging, somehow relatively unnoticed so we talked to him for a bit.

[The Colonel]

Where’s Sammy?  😎 I’d like to see what tiers these celebrities fall into! 

[ThunderRam]

While this is off-topic, it's a fun topic so props to @HooverOutlaw for starting it.

Before I list a few of my interactions, let me first preface that years ago I used to contribute album & concert reviews and artist interviews for a local music publication that was funded by a music store chain I once worked for and that I also spent a couple years writing content for a Sacramento Kings themed website circa 2001-2005. That obviously put me in a position to meet and interview lots of musicians and athletes.

• Zakk Wylde: One of the coolest interactions I've ever had. I think it was around 1994 and he was playing at a local dive for a project called Pride and Glory. I was granted an interview for our publication. I ended up hanging out on his tour bus, drinking beer and playing Tony La Russa Baseball on Sega Genesis. The dude was among the nicest, most accommodating celebs I've ever met.
   
• Gene Simmons: This meeting was completely serendipitous and occurred at the Thunder Valley Casino within the first year it opened (2003ish). While playing blackjack, I was told that Gene Simmons and Steven Tyler were in the casino (they were doing a co-headline tour at an area amphitheater). I ended up stumbling across Mr. Simmons in one of the upscale bars and oddly nobody was talking to him. I ended up having a fairly long conversation with him. I think the fact that I was never a big KISS fan and that I didn't come across as star struck probably was refreshing for him. Like Zakk Wylde, the guy was as friendly and nice as could be. Very smart cat. I never did cross paths with Mr. Tyler that night, but I've heard he's a good guy too.
   
• Slash: The top-hatted one happens to be one of my favorite guitarists of all time (along with Stevie Ray Vaughan). I never conducted an interview, but was able to meet and talk with him after several low profile gigs between 1995 and 2000. He was always very polite, friendly and accommodating. Interesting side note, I own the pinball machine he designed for Data East back in the early 90's. Loudest. Pinball. Ever. Made.
   
• Mark Cuban, Al Michaels and Doc Rivers: Another serendipitous meeting (kinda sorta) at the old ARCO Arena. I was granted media access to the Kings practice facility for the 2004 playoffs. In the media room, I was lucky enough to chat with Al Michaels and Doc Rivers (who were covering games for National TV).
  
  It was so surreal to have a personal convo with the guy that once said "Do you believe in miracles?! YES!". And I recall asking Rivers (who had recently won Coach of the Year and was fired from Orlando) if he had interest in ever coaching again. He was non-committal --- but not more than a month later, he was announced as the Boston Celtics new coach. Not sure why, but thought the timing of it was cool.
  
  Anyway, after media availability for all the Kings players and coaches (CWebb, Vlade, Peja, Bibby, etc) I got to follow the other media members over to the arena where the Mavericks were practicing. Like a few of the 'real' media guys, I was leaning up against the scorers table watching Dirk, Nash, Finley and co. at shoot around when suddenly I realize that the guy sitting on the scorers table about 5 feet away is none other that Mark Cuban. This is 2004 and he's fiddling around with a PDA and having some kind of problem with it. I happened to work for a wireless provider at the time (data support) so I offered my help. I ended up in a 30 minute convo with him and one other media guy.
  
  The cool part is that we had a friendly disagreement over our recollection of the score of a game played a few years earlier. I came oh so close to throwing out a "I'll bet you $1000 I'm right" dare to him to see what he'd do, but never did muster the balls the follow through. I was 98% sure I was right though. When I got home later that day, I double-checked and was exactly right. Completely missed out on a potentially golden opportunity.
   
• Scottie Pippen: As a still young kid in 1987, I was an uber Michael Jordan fan. While we didn't have tickets to the Bulls game that year, my mom drove me up to ARCO Arena to try to get MJ's autograph after the game. Back in those days, the original ARCO (closed in 1988) was fairly easy to meet the opposing teams as they had to exit the building past fans to get to the team bus. I met and captured autographs from TONS of players from 85-88. You name the player, I probably met them.
  
  Anyway, MJ exited the building with about a dozen security guards and got right on the bus. He didn't stop for anyone. But a rookie Pip, who most fans didn't know yet (but I did) hung out for a good while. I always remembered him doing that once the Bulls started winning titles and he became a house hold name like MJ too.

 

I got a bunch more stories I could share, but this seems long enough as it is.

Thanks for all the stories you all have shared. They're cool to read.

[Cossacks]

2 minutes ago, ThunderRam said:

While this is off-topic, it's a fun topic so props to @HooverOutlaw for starting it.

Before I list a few of my interactions, let me first preface that years ago I used to contribute album & concert reviews and artist interviews for a local music publication that was funded by a music store chain I once worked for and that I also spent a couple years writing content for a Sacramento Kings themed website circa 2001-2005. That obviously put me in a position to meet and interview lots of musicians and athletes.

• Zakk Wylde: One of the coolest interactions I've ever had. I think it was around 1994 and he was playing at a local dive for a project called Pride and Glory. I was granted an interview for our publication. I ended up hanging out on his tour bus, drinking beer and playing Tony La Russa Baseball on Sega Genesis. The dude was among the nicest, most accommodating celebs I've ever met.
   
• Gene Simmons: This meeting was completely serendipitous and occurred at the Thunder Valley Casino within the first year it opened (2003ish). While playing blackjack, I was told that Gene Simmons and Steven Tyler were in the casino (they were doing a co-headline tour at an area amphitheater. I ended up stumbling across Mr. Simmons in one of the upscale bars and oddly nobody was talking to him. I ended up having a fairly long conversation with him. I think the fact that I was never a big KISS fan and that I didn't come across as star struck probably was refreshing for him. Like Zakk Wylde, the guys was as friendly and nice as could be. Very smart cat. I never did cross paths with Mr. Tyler that night, but I've heard he's a good guy too.
   
• Slash: The top-hatted one happens to be one of my favorite guitarists of all time (along with Stevie Ray Vaughan). I never conducted an interview, but was able to meet and talk with him after several low profile gigs between 1995 and 2000. He was always very polite, friendly and accommodating. Interesting side note, I own the pinball machine he designed for Data East back in the early 90's. Loudest. Pinball. Ever. Made.
   
• Mark Cuban, Al Michaels and Doc Rivers: Another serendipitous meeting (kinda sorta) at the old ARCO Arena. I was granted media access to the Kings practice facility for the 2004 playoffs. In the media room, I was lucky enough to chat with Al Michaels and Doc Rivers (who were covering games for National TV).
  
  It was so surreal to have a personal convo with the guy that once said "Do you believe in miracles?! YES!". And I recall asking Rivers (who had recently won Coach of the Year and was fired from Orlando) if he had interest in ever coaching again. He was non-committal --- but not more than a month later, he was announced as the Boston Celtics new coach. Not sure why, but thought the timing of it was cool.
  
  Anyway, after media availability for all the Kings players and coaches (CWebb, Vlade, Peja, Bibby, etc) I got to follow the other media members over to the arena where the Mavericks were practicing. Like a few of the 'real' media guys, I was leaning up against the scorers table watching Dirk, Nash, Finley and co. at shoot around when suddenly I realize that the guy sitting on the scorers table about 5 feet away is none other that Mark Cuban. This is 2004 and he's fiddling around with a PDA and having some kind of problem with it. I happened to work for a wireless provider at the time (data support) so I offered my help. I ended up in a 30 minute convo with him and one other media guy.
  
  The cool part is that we had a friendly disagreement over our recollection of the score of a game played a few years earlier. I came oh so close to throwing out a "I'll bet you $1000 I'm right" dare to him to see what he'd do, but never did muster the balls the follow through. I was 98% sure I was right though. When I got home later that day, I double-checked and was exactly right. Completely missed out on a potentially golden opportunity.
   
• Scottie Pippen: As a still young kid in 1987, I was an uber Michael Jordan fan. While we didn't have tickets to the Bulls game that year, my mom drove me up to ARCO Arena to try to get MJ's autograph after the game. Back in those days, the original ARCO (closed in 1988) was fairly easy to meet the opposing teams as they had to exit the building past fans to get to the team bus. I met and captured autographs from TONS of players from 85-88. You name the player, I probably met them.
  
  Anyway, MJ exited the building with about a dozen security guards and got right on the bus. He didn't stop for anyone. But a rookie Pip, who most fans didn't know yet (but I did) hung out for a good while. I always remembered him doing that once the Bulls started winning titles and he became a house hold name like MJ too.

 

I got a bunch more stories I could share, but this seems long enough as it is.

Thanks for all the stories you all have shared. They're cool to read.

Great stuff there.

[Wooderson]

Nobody really big here...had regular interactions with former Giants corner Philippi Sparks when I worked the driving range in college. Missed out on meeting Charles Barkley by about five minutes while there too (I was in the picker while my co-worker was shmoozing at the tees).

 

My dad was classmates with the drummer for 90s one-hit wonder hair band Mr. Big, so got to meet him back in '87 or so when he was touring with John Parr (I acknowledge story is marginally better had I met John Parr. 

Final one is former Notre Dame/NFL tight end Irv Smith, whom I met at a Primerica event a lady friend dragged me to.

[ThunderRam]

9 minutes ago, Wooderson said:

Missed out on meeting Charles Barkley by about five minutes while there too (I was in the picker while my co-worker was shmoozing at the tees).

 

Never did meet Charles, but I saw him at a club in Downtown Sacramento one time. Back in the 90's there used to be a huge strip of nightclubs at the K Street mall called 'America LIVE'. During the NBA season it was common place to see Kings players and their opposition there after games -- specifically an upscale club called 'Gators' (I'm pretty sure that was the name). Anyway, my friend spotted and pointed out Barkley one night  -- who was out on the dance floor surrounded by about a dozen hot white girls. It was in that moment that I realized how much I hate all these guys ............ 😋

[Cossacks]

Off the top of my head. 

Met Bing Crosby in the pisser at candlestick park when I was a little kid. Didn’t have much of a clue. But  my dad did and pointed him out and started to talk to him. Got an autograph after he zipped and washed up.

Huey Lewis

James Hetfield (short guy, but really cool)

Lars Ulrich (also cool dude).

Sean and Robin Penn

Joe Montana (friends dad was a Sgt. at SFPD and did alot of security details when he would make public appearances in the City during the 80’s). So we’d hang out, but never bugged him. Years later used to see him at his kids hoops games when they were younger and see him driving around occasionally.

Ken Stabler

Sat next to Sammy Hagar at Sams Cafe.

Bunch of Nascar guys out at Sonoma Raceway. 

Goeorge Lucas. Took me for a tour of his house and showed some me original Star Wars memorabilia. 

Guy Fieri (celebrity??) See him often. My brother knows him and usually goes to a Raider game with him. 

Went to Jr. high with Rynona Wider before she left the school after kids bullied the hell out of her. 

[Belly Bob]

I used to smoke crack with Rob Ford when I was on business in Toronto. 

He was a good guy. Real down to Earth. 

 

[Cossacks]

14 minutes ago, Belly Bob said:

I used to smoke crack with Rob Ford when I was on business in Toronto. 

He was a good guy. Real down to Earth.