Famous Sports people that you have met....

[Wabash Wonders]

Ive met a few famous sports people over the years, and was curious who some if any have met in their life. I don't mean just seen up close or got their autograph, I mean someone you actually were introduced to or met somewhere and shook hands, carried on a chat or whatever. My stepdad introduced me to a few and I met a couple others on my own or thru a friend. Thru my stepdad I met Dave Gavitt, who was born in my hometown and I met him when he coached Providence. Also met Billy Gardner when he was 3rd base coach for Red Sox. I was about 12 years old, and we went right down to the dugout and shook hands with him and he gave me and my brother each an autographed baseball.(I remember the ink was still wet) No, I don't have the ball anymore,lol. The 3rd person I met thru my stepdad was Joanne Gunderson Carner, who won 43 LPGA titles.
A friend of mine is a good friend of Billy Andrade from the PGA tour and met him one time at a tournament in Hartford. He is a great guy.
Probably the most famous person ive met was Bobby Orr. I played in a charity golf tournament years ago and Orr and Carl Yazstremski were both there as guests. Each one went around in a golf cart and played 1 hole with every group. Luckily we got Orr who joined our group on a hole. I was a HUGE Bruin fan at the time, so I was totally in awe, but birdied the hole I played with him. It was awesome!

I am just curious who others have met and the circumstance behind it...

[pwherr]

Met a few Broncos over the years also some Nuggets.Got Brooks Robinson to sign a ball for my son.Met Jim Brown at a sportsbook in Vegas.He was just sitting there looking a a race form all by himself and I went up to him and introduced myself.I didn't bother him for an autogragh.Nice guy.As for carrying on a conversation for any length of time, Scott Hastings.He showed me his ring(only pro champ ring I ever held).He is a down to earth guy.

[be47320]

was an intern at enterprise rent a car at the airport during college...rented cars and made small talk with a few athletes/celebs during that time...jessica simpson, jenna jameson, matthew mccauneghy, donovan bailey, leonard davis, michael stipe etc...im a huge deal.

[The Judge]

Cuttino Mobley is my boy.

[Bozzie]

I work in commercials.
My list would make most of you think it is BS.
I've met a lot.. I consider it one of the best parts of my job.

D Wade doing 2 converse spots this year was cool, he kept asking me to get him junk food off the craft service table. He's got a nutritionist who basically follows him around making sure he keeps it healthy.

[Windy City Irish]

mark grace (bars in wrigley), ryan sandberg (bars in wrigley) , joe crede & aaron rowand (had to sit with my wife in I in Minny because restaurant was packed) , christian laettner (pumping gas next thing over in atlanta), mike fratello..lol (coming out of a bar in Atlanta with some blonde that was a foot taller than him), gabrielle reese (her and her teammate went out with us after their match in Boston), Len Elmore ( Lyons Pub in Minny a month ago), Mike Mottau ( NJ Devils - D, friend of mine I played street hockey with in his driveway), Tony Amonte, Chris Drury, Keith Thakuck, Jay Pandolfo, etc.... ( BU Hockey), Tom Glavine, Smoltz, Maddux all hung at same bar as me in Atlanta on Tuesday nights.....pizza joint

[walk066]

I had Mariano Rivera at my house once. Long story short, his family lives in DE and my dad and his brother worked together. Rivera was in B-more and came to DE to get fitted for a tux for his brother's wedding. Stayed about 30 mins and signed somethings.

Hung out with Mike Miller (basketball player) on a boat in Atlanta on Lake Lanier. Knocked back a few beers with him.

[The Judge]

Originally Posted by The Judge

Cuttino Mobley is my boy.

Jose Lima is a freak.

[pittviper]

lots .. especially as a kid, because I caddied at Hamilton Golf and Country Club, so i've met almost every PGA golfer who played at that tournament, and talked to them all.. Also caddied for Charles Howell III in the pro-am.. also because I was neighbours with Mike Ulmer (reporter and journalist), in Hamilton. My moms a teacher, and my dad owns a couple businesses, but works from home.. so I wen't with Mike for "take your kid to work day" in grade nine. Got to go into the Toronto Maple Leafs locker room, interview players, also got to go in the Pittsburgh Penguins locker room, so met and interviewed Lemieux and others also.. then wrote an article on my experience, and Mike published a part of it in the Toronto Sun.. also got to watch the game from the press box.

Have met many others, and my cousin is a retired NHL goalie. Allan Bester. He played for the leafs and Detroit as goaltender, so have met him obviously.

[The Judge]

Originally Posted by pittviper

lots

Hockey players don't count, PV.

[pittviper]

Originally Posted by The Judge

Hockey players don't count, PV.

have met lots of CFL players also, as many went to my high school. Steve Staios went to my highschool (his dad owned a convenience store around the corner from my house, called "Pauls Variety" he was a huge dick to kids though. His wife was much nicer. Eugene Levy used to live on my street, before I was born, and my parents knew his parents. He also wen't to my high school. One of my neighbours is cousins with Wayne Gretzky, and I have met him as well as his dad Walter, on more then one occasion.

My friends grandpa used to be mayor of toronto "mayor crombie", so I have played and practiced with the blue jays before, as well as sat courtside at a raptors game (and met the team prior to the game) .. because his grandpa is friends with lots of rich people .. it was pretty cool.

[be47320]

cfl players are less important than hockey players who are less important than golfers not named tiger

[Bozzie]

Originally Posted by be47320

cfl players are less important than hockey players who are less important than golfers not named tiger

I worked on a spot with tiger for nike golf... I was so star struck i could even say anything to him.
He told some dirty jokes ... very cool

.

[pittviper]

Originally Posted by bozzie

I worked on a spot with tiger for nike golf... I was so star struck i could even say anything to him.
He told some dirty jokes ... very cool

.

thats all golfers do.. crack jokes and ask about eachothers wives.. or so it seemed

[Bozzie]

Originally Posted by pittviper

thats all golfers do.. crack jokes and ask about eachothers wives.. or so it seemed

He told black guys with big units jokes..

funny stuff