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OT: Celebrities you’ve met and impressions

NASCAR drivers, a bunch. Most memorable Richard Petty, Junior Johnson, Cale Yarborough, Dale Earnhardt, Jeff Gordon, Michael and Darrell Waltrip.

Sherwin Williams chartered a flight to New Orleans my job was to see they wanted for nothing. Most down to earth folks I ever met. To a man, the most humble, gracious, easy going folks, country people.
Richard recalled the ‘77 Daytona when Cale passed him while smoking a cigarette on the straight away @ 188 mph.
Cale said he had fumbled with the cigarette lighter or he’d have hit 200 mph. Can you imagine doing that now.

The older drivers had bone crushing handshakes, I could only think of the days before power steering and these old boys grabbing the wheel and getting it.
 
I think the most "excited" I've been was to get Ned Yost to sign a ball for my two sons at spring training right after they won the world series. He asked my boys if they played ball and they said "yes" and he said "work hard, you never know." My oldest really took it to heart and remembers it well, he works really hard and is pretty darn good. The funnier part of the story was 5 minutes later we're walking down the sidewalk and passed a tiny little guy in a Royals uniform twirling a bat and walking the other way. I did a double take and said to my wife, "holy shit, that's Rafael Belliard!" To which she said, "Who's Rafael Belliard?" I got him to sign the same ball and he seemed truly puzzled that I asked. I guess I'm just a child of the TBS Superstation.
 
For a few years I chaired an organization supporting the Ross Film Theater in Lincoln. We hosted several fund-raising events with actors and directors as guests of honor. The nicest and most generous with his time was John Beasley, who is from Omaha and had roles in many movies such as Untamed Heart, The Apostle and Sum of All Fears. He also played an assistant coach in Rudy.

The most painful experience was spending an hour or so prior to an event with Peter Fonda, who wanted badly to be someplace else.

But I think my most amusing encounter was at the Denver airport. I was standing in line to buy a newspaper and noticed the guy in front of me was Philip Baker Hall, aka Officer Bookman of Seinfeld fame. As he paid for his stuff and turned to leave, it was all I could do not to stop him and say, "Party time's over Joy Boy!"
 
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Ok, off-season has begun- I’ve met Don Johnson at Texas-TTU game. Dude was very standoffish with me and my 2friends (skybox area) and then got stuck in an elevator with us. He was very short (not that there is anything wrong with that), couldn’t have been taller than 5’6” but had a hot and young Latina with him. Later found out she was some heiress to a fortune in Central America that bailed him out of bankruptcy so good for him, well done!
tom osborne, hayden fry, bo Schembechler, George Perliss, Dan McCarney, kirk ferentz, bill snyder, barry alvarez, john cooper, jo paterno, bo pelini, mike stoops, bob stoops, chuck long, johnny rogers, dan whitney, alan alda, bob hope, tom brokaw, barack obama, GH Bush, john mccain, judy faulkner, robert ray, babe winkleman, david belin, countless pro players...probably a few more.

Alan Alda I didn't actually speak to. It was at one of those NY restaurants where they have to pull out your table from the wall so a person could sit, then slide it back. the table next to you is about 8 in apart. Sitting next to my lunch partner was Alan Alda, sitting next to me, his lunch partner. Naturally we could hear everything they were discussing(nothing of substance)- it was odd and distracting.

The only a$$ in the group was Babe Winkleman
 
Met former Navy Seal Rob Oneil at a corporate event. Shook hands and talked for about 15 min. Very laid back and friendly guy. Between that meeting and his speech, the man has some great stories to share
 
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Michael Douglas/Catherine Zeta Jones - Super nice people, Michael is really short.
Liv Tyler - Nice but pretty spacey.
Ben Afleck - Dick, Jennifer Garner - Super down to earth.
Juaquin Phoenix - Pretty cool guy, seemed fairly grounded
Most of the Jackass guys. More humble and down to earth than I expected.
Jerry Seinfeld - About what you'd expect.
Big Boi from Outcast - Funny guy.
Steven Segal - Gentle Giant but still terrifying
The guy from Americas Most Wanted - definitely a hypochondriac
Donna from 70s Show - Nice, not as tall as you'd think.
Bobby Flay - Dick

Other encounters - Took a leak next to Evander Holyfield, autogtaph from Steve Urkel when I was a kid, shook Corsos hand at the Coliseum NUvUSC, Owen Wilson, Shook Patrick Roys hand, Had dinner next to Al Davis.
 
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I guess the most famous person I've met has to be Ndamukong Suh. I waited on him when I worked at Lazlos in the Haymarket. I wanna say it was his soph or junior year, he had just started to break out to where I knew who he was. Nice guy, drank a lot of water.

McKeon and his girlfriend used to come in pretty regularly, I know this board doesn't love him but they were always fine to wait on. I waited on Bobby Newcombe there once as well. Couldn't figure out why he looked so familiar til he handed me his credit card. I'm sure there were other players, I just don't recognize most of them without their number on their chest.

Chuck Liddell came in there one time with a big group, they weren't my table, this was shortly after he bought Mickey's.

Waited on Jerry Taggae at Granite City once by I didn't know who he was at all til he handed me his card, he was before my time.

Oh and LOL one time (I worked at a lot of different restaurants) Melissa Midwest--then Melissa Lincoln--came into Famous Daves and none of the dudes on staff could place where we knew her from...until we could.

Ha...Yeah I met her while she was bartending at Lava Jays (in Omaha, now gone) and at Runza. I was "friends" with her roommate, who of course did nothing but rip on her non-stop and refused to give me her digits. Bitch.
 
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Michael Douglas/Catherine Zeta Jones - Super nice people, Michael is really short.
Liv Tyler - Nice but pretty spacey.
Ben Afleck - Dick, Jennifer Garner - Super down to earth.
Juaquin Phoenix - Pretty cool guy, seemed fairly grounded
Most of the Jackass guys. More humble and down to earth than I expected.
Jerry Seinfeld - About what you'd expect.
Big Boi from Outcast - Funny guy.
Steven Segal - Gentle Giant but still terrifying
The guy from Americas Most Wanted - definitely a hypochondriac
Donna from 70s Show - Nice, not as tall as you'd think.
Bobby Flay - Dick

Other encounters - Took a leak next to Evander Holyfield, autogtaph from Steve Urkel when I was a kid, shook Corsos hand at the Coliseum NUvUSC, Owen Wilson, Shook Patrick Roys hand, Had dinner next to Al Davis.
Seagal. Heard many stories from people who know him and worked with him. They all say he is a flaming douche. Maybe you caught him on a good day. Lol
 
Talked to Randy (macho man ) Savage in Frankfurt airport. Not tall, but arms as big as my legs.
Standing in line at a Taco Bell outside of Nashville, Tour bus pulls up on the side it said Bocephus, out walks Hank William's jr. He came in with 2 gals.
 
I've pissed next to a few celebrities:

NU Men's Gymnastics coach Francis Allen (quasi celebrity) in the alley behind "Vern's Cornhusker Club and Suds Pub" in Fullerton, CA. We were both intoxicated after a NU-UCLA game in the early 90's.

Rick Springfield at LAX (in a restroom this time).

Martin Short at the Second City Comedy Club in Chicago (he wasn't performing, he was in the audience with Steve Martin when they were doing their comedy tour a few years ago).

Didn't form any impressions of any of them, because that would have been damn creepy. In hindsight, I could have started a photo collection titled "inappropriate selfies with celebs".
I pissed next to Johnny Carson at a game in 88. He wore a green velvet suit (no shit), short, with a huge pumpkin head. He was with a tall, pretty blond. Didn’t say shit to him.
 
Laura Dern, Coach Devaney, Dr. Tom Osborne, Coach Frost, Coach Pelini, Bobby Bowden, Bob Gibson, Coach McDermott & Son. Houston Alexander, Bud Crawford. Pat Berhns, Coach Orgeron, Trev Alberts, KKKirk Ferrets. Myself.
 
JJ Watt - Douchebag
Brian Cushing - Super Cool
Andre Johnson - Super Nice Guy
Derek Wolfe - Interesting Cat
Von Miller - Interesting Cat
Demarcus Ware - Nice Guy
Kirk Herbstreit - Nice - Wasted hitting on college chicks
Rece Davis - Super Nice Guy
Larry Bird - Awesome dude. Gave me a high five after the Nuggets game
Philip Rivers - Really nice dude
Antonio Gates - Super nice guy
Evander Holyfield - Great to the crowd
Pete Rose - **** that guy
Magnus ver Magnusson - Big dude, Super nice, horrible English at the time
Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers - Really fun dudes
 
JJ Watt - Douchebag
Brian Cushing - Super Cool
Andre Johnson - Super Nice Guy
Derek Wolfe - Interesting Cat
Von Miller - Interesting Cat
Demarcus Ware - Nice Guy
Kirk Herbstreit - Nice - Wasted hitting on college chicks
Rece Davis - Super Nice Guy
Mike Tirico - Super Nice
Larry Bird - Awesome dude. Gave me a high five after the Nuggets game
Philip Rivers - Really nice dude
Antonio Gates - Super nice guy
Evander Holyfield - Great to the crowd
Pete Rose - **** that guy
Magnus ver Magnusson - Big dude, Super nice, horrible English at the time
Roger Clyne & the Peacemakers - Really fun dudes
 
I met Roger Craig (my all-time favorite football player) on a plane. Super friendly guy.

My wife and I also met Danny Koker from the TV show Counting Cars at The Rio in Vegas. Also a super friendly guy. He’s exactly how you see him on TV.

I also had lunch one time with Brian “Dexter” Holland, lead singer of The Offspring. He was a nice guy also.

Met The Undertaker. He’s a jerk.
Met Hacksaw Jim Duggan. He was a nice guy.
 
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Andra Franklin, he left us way to soon, frank solich, governors Nelson and Heinamann, a number of the old wrestlers like mad dog and reg parks, vern Gagne and son
 
Laura Dern, Coach Devaney, Dr. Tom Osborne, Coach Frost, Coach Pelini, Bobby Bowden, Bob Gibson, Coach McDermott & Son. Houston Alexander, Bud Crawford. Pat Berhns, Coach Orgeron, Trev Alberts, KKKirk Ferrets. Myself.

A whole group of athletes, and Laura Dern? how did you meet her? And what is she like in person?
 
When I was younger, maybe junior high, I got roped into watching my 3 month old niece while my sister got her hair done. SO when there i am, sitting in the waiting area of a hair salon with my niece, and who walks in, but Keanu Reeves.
I was nervous as hell, and just kept looking at him, as he read a magazine and waited, but didn't know what to say. Pretty soon though my niece started crying, and I'm trying to quiet her down because I didn't want her to bother Keanu, but she wouldn't stop. Pretty soon he gets up and walks over. He started running his hands through her hair and asking what was wrong. I replied that she was probably hungry or something. So, Keanu put down his magazine, picked up my niece and lifted his shirt. He breast fed her right there in the middle of a hair salon. Chill guy, really nice about it.
 
Ok, off-season has begun- I’ve met Don Johnson at Texas-TTU game. Dude was very standoffish with me and my 2friends (skybox area) and then got stuck in an elevator with us. He was very short (not that there is anything wrong with that), couldn’t have been taller than 5’6” but had a hot and young Latina with him. Later found out she was some heiress to a fortune in Central America that bailed him out of bankruptcy so good for him, well done!
I sat in the back seat with Coach Frank Kush ASU, the year before he beat us, met talkative George Allen, shook
hands with Harry Carey at a San Francisco baseball game. Oh and saw Dick Vitale giving his daughters away to
the players in the San Francisco dugout. Rode an elevator with Tom Osborne, just him and I, I was totally intimidated. And I coached the sophomore team for Frank Solich at Lincoln Southeast.
 
I had lunch with Gregg Allman in a soul food joint in Macon GA in 2011. Nice guy, fantastic food.
 
Shook hands with President Ford. Met Jay Novachek at a Sam's Club and got his autograph for my wife.

Grew up with Andy Roddick's brother. Andy was in diapers at the time and was a holy terror.

I was friends with Lawrence Roddick in elementary school. Played basketball and little league with him. Was over at his place quite a few times.
 
I sat in the back seat with Coach Frank Kush ASU, the year before he beat us, met talkative George Allen, shook
hands with Harry Carey at a San Francisco baseball game. Oh and saw Dick Vitale giving his daughters away to
the players in the San Francisco dugout. Rode an elevator with Tom Osborne, just him and I, I was totally intimidated. And I coached the sophomore team for Frank Solich at Lincoln Southeast.
I've got you in my death pool.
 
attended a dallas mavericks (Rodman was playing for them at the time)- Bucks in later 90’s (courtside seats) and who walks on court and sits 1 foot in front of me- Roy Jones Jr. All the NBA players flocked to him and a lot of “hit me up after the game and we’ll go out” was said. At the time he was considered pound for pound the best and he was a super nice guy. I unfortunately did not become his best friend during the game, but I tried. Good dude
 
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attended a dallas mavericks (Rodman was playing for them at the time)- Bucks in later 90’s (courtside seats) and who walks on court and sits 1 foot in front of me- Roy Jones Jr. All the NBA players flocked to him and a lot of “hit me up after the game and we’ll go out” was said. At the time he was considered pound for pound the best and he was a super nice guy. I unfortunately did not become his best friend during the game, but I tried. Good dude
ive never forgotten how he got jobbed in seoul '88.
 
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attended a dallas mavericks (Rodman was playing for them at the time)- Bucks in later 90’s (courtside seats) and who walks on court and sits 1 foot in front of me- Roy Jones Jr. All the NBA players flocked to him and a lot of “hit me up after the game and we’ll go out” was said. At the time he was considered pound for pound the best and he was a super nice guy. I unfortunately did not become his best friend during the game, but I tried. Good dude
Didn't meet Rodman but at a club in Dallas he had invited a few girls we were with to Vegas on his jet. They turned him down. I was like can we go too?? No luck. Leon Lett also there.
 
.
Met Wayne Gretsky at the airport in Maui 20+ years ago. He was with his family, flying to LAX. I recognized him before boarding the plane, and got his autograph. He could not have been any nicer.
.
Have met Mark Rypien, Joe Theismann, and Rick "super freak" James (he was high on something).
.
I like boxing, and was seated across the aisle from boxing analyst / writer Bert Sugar on a flight a number of years ago. He was wearing this trademark fedora hat. We had a nice talk. He was headed to a boxing "legends" event at a casino. He wasn't pleased when I told him there were no craps tables at the casino.
 
was in a bar back in 92 and in came Sam Elliot and sat two chairs down from me. I recognized him but was too afraid to say anything. Two minutes later he turns to me and says, whats a good place to eat around here. We talked for over an hour and he bought me three beers and a shot of jack. Damn nice guy who loved to talk about his Harley so that's what we talked about.

Met Suzzane Summers. Yes she really is that stupid.
 
Royce Gracie:

Trained with him for a couple years at his academy in Torrance in the late 90's. Also, the rest of the family. Great people, very humble and an awesome teacher.

Jim Flowers:

He used to go to my church. I remember being really shocked as to how gray his hair was back in '88, and he seemed like a very nervous dude.

Eric Crouch:
Awesome guy, hilarious.

Mike Trout:

Signed a baseball for my son. Was very nice to all the fans I saw him interact with.

We heckled the shit out of Ian Kinsler at a Red Sox game about 10 years ago, sitting right behind their dugout. He was a really good sport and even did the orchestra conducter thing to egg us on. Great time.

David Prowse:
The man in the Vader Suit. Came to my elementary school in '83 or '84. Was literally 7 ft tall. It was so disappointing, because it was the first time I realized Darth Vader wasn't a real robot. He was really nice and gave me an autographed photo. I felt like the kid from a "Christmas Story" meeting santa, and I couldn't even say football or death star.
 
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was in a bar back in 92 and in came Sam Elliot and sat two chairs down from me. I recognized him but was too afraid to say anything. Two minutes later he turns to me and says, whats a good place to eat around here. We talked for over an hour and he bought me three beers and a shot of jack. Damn nice guy who loved to talk about his Harley so that's what we talked about.

Met Suzzane Summers. Yes she really is that stupid.

Freaking sweet
 
Sat with Uncle Ted Nugent back stage for about 4.5 hrs after a concert and we just talked about anything and everything under the sun. I of course intentionally brought up controversial topics just to hear him go off. there were about 6 others in the room. Me Jack Nicholson on a ski lift in Aspen a long time ago. didnt know it was him --i said he looked familiar and he said "he just has a familiar looking face i guess". then with about 30 seconds before we were to dismount from the chair lift he pulled his goggles up and exposed his shit eating grin and said "Do you know me now"? Met Vince Faragamo about 5 years or so down at the Rose Bowl. I was with 2 other buddies and i asked if he minded taking a picture. He said Sure. i handed him my camera and took a picture of me and my 2 friends and we all had a good chuckle. Met Mark Henry from WWE fame "Sexual Chocolate" prior to getting into WWE. He was 425lbs and 6'4" and could dunk a basketball. i was working at the olympic training center while he was the USnational heavyweight lifter. He lifted me over his head for a pic. went to school with the huskers head wrestling coach. met Steffi graff at an outpatient physical therapy center--not bad looking in jeans. Met Fred Couples at the same P.T. center. met WWF road warriors, Nature boy Rick flare, Gold dust, Sting, and Rick steiner at a gig that i worked doing some sportsmed stuff. Rick steiner was very very scary.
 
Sat with Uncle Ted Nugent back stage for about 4.5 hrs after a concert and we just talked about anything and everything under the sun. I of course intentionally brought up controversial topics just to hear him go off. there were about 6 others in the room. Me Jack Nicholson on a ski lift in Aspen a long time ago. didnt know it was him --i said he looked familiar and he said "he just has a familiar looking face i guess". then with about 30 seconds before we were to dismount from the chair lift he pulled his goggles up and exposed his shit eating grin and said "Do you know me now"? Met Vince Faragamo about 5 years or so down at the Rose Bowl. I was with 2 other buddies and i asked if he minded taking a picture. He said Sure. i handed him my camera and took a picture of me and my 2 friends and we all had a good chuckle. Met Mark Henry from WWE fame "Sexual Chocolate" prior to getting into WWE. He was 425lbs and 6'4" and could dunk a basketball. i was working at the olympic training center while he was the USnational heavyweight lifter. He lifted me over his head for a pic. went to school with the huskers head wrestling coach. met Steffi graff at an outpatient physical therapy center--not bad looking in jeans. Met Fred Couples at the same P.T. center. met WWF road warriors, Nature boy Rick flare, Gold dust, Sting, and Rick steiner at a gig that i worked doing some sportsmed stuff. Rick steiner was very very scary.
I partied with some wrestlers back in the day. Chris Jericho, Eddie Guerrero, Ming, Fit Finley. All partied and drank in hotel lobby. Talked about life on the road in wrestling. Eddie and Chris really nice dudes. Chris Benoit was in the room next to ours. He was sleeping. Someone knocked on his door waking him up. Came to door looking pissed. Just me and buddy standing there. We were like wasn't us dude. Glad he didn't kill us. Finding out later how unstable he was.
 
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Living in Boston, mostly athletes with a few exceptions. At my old job (financial services), Mitch McConnell stopped by for after hours meeting. He is a funny dude. I've known Dave Portnoy from Barstool and Todd McShay from ESPN since middle school. I was at my usual hangout spot JJ Foley's and Jimmy Fallon walked in. He beat me in Golden Tee. Same bar but different night, some MLB umpires came in after a playoff game. They wear them black umpires jackets everywhere. I don't recall who any of them were. The 2004 Red Sox brought life back to the city. Those guys partied all over the city with the regular folks. Fun times partying with those guys.
 
oh ya i forgot one. had pre fight meal with Tommy the Duke Morrison. He was on the under card with the first Holyfeild-v-foreman fight. met Mr. T that night and jimmy ellison. I was friends with Tommy Morrisons cut man and was invited to the morrison camp for pre fight and given pretty nice seats. Tommy was very calm. poor life choices down the road.
 
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