What celebrities have you met? Any cool stories?
My top is probably Ken Griffey jr
He was unbelievably humble and fun to be around.
My top is probably Ken Griffey jr
He was unbelievably humble and fun to be around.
Celebrity encounters
- Thread starter Kingseve1
- Start date
Bunch of sports figures and politicians, probably biggest celeb I shook hands with was George H. W. Bush when he was VP.
Never met any rock stars or big name entertainers, but many years ago, my inlaws took us to a Burt Bacharach show, and we bumped into him when he was about to go onstage at the Civic Center ballroom (was a real small venue, set up like a sit down dinner). He halfway took offense because he thought we were leaving, and wife and I really were just going to the bathroom . . . he laughed and then was really cool, told us to hurry back so we didn't miss the show.
Never met any rock stars or big name entertainers, but many years ago, my inlaws took us to a Burt Bacharach show, and we bumped into him when he was about to go onstage at the Civic Center ballroom (was a real small venue, set up like a sit down dinner). He halfway took offense because he thought we were leaving, and wife and I really were just going to the bathroom . . . he laughed and then was really cool, told us to hurry back so we didn't miss the show.
Was it when he visited London? I remember going (school trip), but I don't remember if I got to shake his hand.
WYMT: President George H.W. Bush visited Laurel County
Met Mr T. His bodyguards were bigger than he was. I was obviously no threat.
He was great.
Talked on the phone briefly with
- Patrick Swayze
- Jerry Lawler
..both as nice as they could be.
Locally Jack Givens. Super cool guy. I’m a football first guy..but straight up ..Jack is my favorite UK athlete all-around.
He was great.
Talked on the phone briefly with
- Patrick Swayze
- Jerry Lawler
..both as nice as they could be.
Locally Jack Givens. Super cool guy. I’m a football first guy..but straight up ..Jack is my favorite UK athlete all-around.
Never any real interactions. Was within 3 feet of Albert Pujols in Cincinnati once when he came over to sign autographs at the dugout back in 2005.
Ali, 2 presidents, Ernie Banks, Roger Clemons, Sutton, Pitino, Bench, "The" mayor of NYC and many others.
I got to shake Ali’s hand while I was working at bravo pitinos back in 1995. The whole restaurant gave him the Ali, Ali, Ali chant. Chills man. Ali was impressive. Even in ‘95
I was caddying for grant Waite in Disney. We are on the range, not knowing if we were going to get in as an alternate. As I’m cleaning clubs, I look up and a big dude is bear hugging grant. I was shocked when I realized it was Ken Griffey. He was looking for a game at isleworth. We obliged. Grant was also a member and good friend of KGjr. So, we played 36, with Ken and his club pro golf buddy.
In between 18s, we had lunch at the isle worth club, no ****, Dee brown and john cook join us for lunch.
This was back in 2004. Griffey talked to me as if we were old friends. He’s unreal. Big dude as well. I’m 210 ish, so I would say he was 230 plus
Before it was so woke, I had a wife and 3 kids in tow in the Atlanta airport on our way back from WDW. Johnny and June Cash came up and went to the VIP lounge to await boarding. The oldest girl was about 11 or 12. She had no idea who Johnny Cash was, but with all the buzz, she decided she needed his autograph. She literally sat in the doorway to the lounge, so he had to step over her as he came out. She was so shook up, she could not move or speak. Just sat there with her eyes bugging out.
By the time I rounded everyone up to board the plane, Johnny and June were at the end of the boarding line and we were right behind them. The kids all had WDW souveniers in hand. Johnny was quiet, but friendly. June was a chatterbox, first asking the kids about WDW and then just being friendly.
By the time I rounded everyone up to board the plane, Johnny and June were at the end of the boarding line and we were right behind them. The kids all had WDW souveniers in hand. Johnny was quiet, but friendly. June was a chatterbox, first asking the kids about WDW and then just being friendly.
Shoulder bumped Kid Rock on Bardstown Road outside of Molly's Friday night before Derby in the early 2000's. He didnt want any of that smoke.
I’ve met a ton. The only real interesting one was seeing Jack White come within in an inch of punching some guy in the face
Sat in a booth behind John Travolta, his girlfriend, and another couple at a Red Lobster in Daytona Beach in the early 80s. My wife was starstruck and Travolta was incredibly nice to people as they swarmed him for autographs. I actually felt bad for him because people kept coming even after they got their food.
Met wrassler Kevin Nash going through the airport in Atlanta. He was signing things for a group of maybe 10 kids, and I slowed down and said "hey, didn't you used to play basketball for Tennessee?" He had a blank look for a second, then laughed and said yeah..
Met wrassler Kevin Nash going through the airport in Atlanta. He was signing things for a group of maybe 10 kids, and I slowed down and said "hey, didn't you used to play basketball for Tennessee?" He had a blank look for a second, then laughed and said yeah..
Have told this story before….definitely my favorite encounter. Back in 2000, I was interviewing at George Washington University for a position in their athletic department. During the interview, my future boss asked, “Who is your favorite NBA team?” I answered with the Celtics since they had a lot of UK guys and Pitino.
He said, “Oh really? I have someone for you to meet.” We walked into the locker room and he says, “Coach, I want you to meet someone”. This older voice says, “Leave me alone, I’m taking a dump.” Toilet flushes and around the corner comes Red Auerbach in his tighty whities. I couldn’t”’t believe it. I actually played racquetball with Red a couple times.
Turns out, the guy interviewing me, and my future boss, was the son of Sam Jones, HOF Celtic great. Got to play golf with him a couple times.
I’ve been fortunate in my line of work to have some interactions with a number of athletes and coaches.
He said, “Oh really? I have someone for you to meet.” We walked into the locker room and he says, “Coach, I want you to meet someone”. This older voice says, “Leave me alone, I’m taking a dump.” Toilet flushes and around the corner comes Red Auerbach in his tighty whities. I couldn’t”’t believe it. I actually played racquetball with Red a couple times.
Turns out, the guy interviewing me, and my future boss, was the son of Sam Jones, HOF Celtic great. Got to play golf with him a couple times.
I’ve been fortunate in my line of work to have some interactions with a number of athletes and coaches.
I saw Brad Pitt in NYC. I'm from Long Island and would take the train into the city sometimes. I read in the paper he was filming a movie in Central Park. I went to the Museum of Natural History and was walking back. I saw a guy walking towards me. A group of girls were across the street yelling and taking pictures. He walked past me and I froze as I realized who it was. He shook his head and smirked; as if to say "don't blow my cover." A photographer was following about 20 yards behind. He crossed the street and ducked into a hotel. It was around the year 2000. I shook Bill Cosby's hand at the Penn Relays, he smiled and seemed nice at the time. Dennis Johnson walked past me at the airport in Seattle in the early 2000's. Big dude; looked a legit 6-4 and was built like a linebacker. I thought I saw Heath Ledger at Denver Airport but I can't be sure it was him. But I think it was. he was tall, and had an accent and was carrying a snowboard. He was on line at Starbucks a few people ahead of me. He was famous but had not yet become super famous.
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No, was sometime before 1988 at some kind of fundraiser, I got invited because I was a Repub precinct poll watcher for the 1984 election. I remember he seemed really tall, and that Barbara seemed really old, he looked a lot younger than her, although they were about the same age.
Dozens, especially in Vegas. Most recent was sharing an elevator with Megan Fox and Machine Gun Kelly at the Wynn last year along w/ a very large and bad *** bodyguard. He said "wassup" and she smiled....and yes, she is flawless.
Bunch of sports figures and politicians, probably biggest celeb I shook hands with was George H. W. Bush when he was VP.
Never met any rock stars or big name entertainers, but many years ago, my inlaws took us to a Burt Bacharach show, and we bumped into him when he was about to go onstage at the Civic Center ballroom (was a real small venue, set up like a sit down dinner). He halfway took offense because he thought we were leaving, and wife and I really were just going to the bathroom . . . he laughed and then was really cool, told us to hurry back so we didn't miss the show.
Like most everyone else who has been around Lexington I have met some UK players like Zadarius Smith, Kenny Walker, Jeff Sheppard, etc. I also met Dale Earnhardt Jr once when he was younger and he was a bit of an entitled jerk at that time to be honest. I ran into Darryl Strawberry on the streets of NYC once but just in passing as we were crossing a street so no time to stop and chitchat. 
Personal escort for OJ Simpson when I worked for Churchill Downs. Glad I survived it.
Shook Kareem Abdul-Jabber’s hand and met Gregg Maddux in a hotel lobby
Just me in the mirror every morning.
Helluva guy, but the years are taking their toll, it appears.
Helluva guy, but the years are taking their toll, it appears.
Like most everyone else who has been around Lexington I have met some UK players like Zadarius Smith, Kenny Walker, Jeff Sheppard, etc. I also met Dale Earnhardt Jr once when he was younger and he was a bit of an entitled jerk at that time to be honest. I ran into Darryl Strawberry on the streets of NYC once but just in passing as we were crossing a street so no time to stop and chitchat.
For a period of time I was convinced Kenny Walker lived in the Beaumont Kroger. No matter what day of the week, no matter what time of day, he’d be there shopping in his track suit
- Saw Rodman at a casino once and then he sat across from me on a flight to Calgary about a year later
- Ran into Evander Holyfield on the street in Atlanta last fall. I went up and talked to him. He seemed happy to be noticed. He was wearing a sweatshirt that said “Holyfield”.
- Talked to Meta World Peace at the Bellagio
- Sat next to Val Kilmer on a Southwest flight
- Was in the same plane as Usher (allegedly). Didn’t see him but my buddy did.
- Sat next to Jordin Sparks on a flight. Had no idea who she was but she let me know she won Ido. Awesome gal. Her dad played for the NY Giants so o talked to her about that the entire flight.
- Sat next to Pat Day on a flight. Really nice guy.
- Was on a flight with Macy Gray when she was popular
- Sat one table over from Annette Benning in a restaurant in Charleston, SC.
- And the best one… was in a restaurant with George HW Bush, Jim Baker and their wives in Houston. Only two other tables of people in there. One was a group of women Bush was flirting with and getting pictures. We were three guys. Secret Service told us “don’t even think about going over there”, but I did talk to Baker.
I waited on him at Cracker Barrel in 2007 a couple of days before he was kicked out of Ruby's in Louisville.
I make sure not to bug celebs for pics or handshakes, they’ve heard it all and prob just want to chill for the most part.
I did sit next to Dierks Bentley on a SW flight once. Super cool chill dude. We were both headed to AZ to watch Spring Baseball and ended up next in line to each other boarding.
I didn’t recognize him from Adam and some teenies started getting all goggly looking at him.
He and I made jokes as to who they were looking at, introduced ourselves and my dumbass still didn’t put 2 + 2 together after he said his name(and we’re at the BNA airport
).
Once he figured out I had no idea who he was he asked to sit by my dad and myself so those little gals wouldn’t sit next to him and make his flight miserable.
Spoke for about 30 minutes and then threw our headphones on. Really chill dude.
I did sit next to Dierks Bentley on a SW flight once. Super cool chill dude. We were both headed to AZ to watch Spring Baseball and ended up next in line to each other boarding.
I didn’t recognize him from Adam and some teenies started getting all goggly looking at him.
He and I made jokes as to who they were looking at, introduced ourselves and my dumbass still didn’t put 2 + 2 together after he said his name(and we’re at the BNA airport
).Once he figured out I had no idea who he was he asked to sit by my dad and myself so those little gals wouldn’t sit next to him and make his flight miserable.
Spoke for about 30 minutes and then threw our headphones on. Really chill dude.
Met a bunch of WCW wrestlers at the hotel after a Nitro in Louisville around 97-98. I remember Lex Luger being a jerk and Hall and Nash being awesome. There's a picture somewhere at my dad's of Kevin Nash picking me up for a chokeslam. They seemed genuinely happy that me and my buddies made a B-line for them instead of sting and Hogan. Too many people around those two.
Met Shawn Michaels at an airport in Houston a few years before that. He was really short and trying not to be recognized. I was around 11-13 and got a high five.
Eminem passed by me in another airport (Detroit I think) and gave me a head nod when I noticed him. I tell my kids that we're basically best friends now.
Saw Michael J Fox in DC on a school trip for my kids. No one noticed him and I said "Good Luck McFly" as I passed and he smiled and thanked me. Extremely nice guy.
Met Shawn Michaels at an airport in Houston a few years before that. He was really short and trying not to be recognized. I was around 11-13 and got a high five.
Eminem passed by me in another airport (Detroit I think) and gave me a head nod when I noticed him. I tell my kids that we're basically best friends now.
Saw Michael J Fox in DC on a school trip for my kids. No one noticed him and I said "Good Luck McFly" as I passed and he smiled and thanked me. Extremely nice guy.
Muhammed Ali: he came into the Bacons department store in Louisville where I was working and sat down in the ladies shoes department and began signing Muslim prayer books and handing them out. I think I still have one.
Ken Griffey Sr.: came for an autograph signing at Value City in Louisville back in the 70s.
Derek Anderson: met him in an elevator in a downtown Louisville office building.
Jack Givens: met him at the SECT in Nashville out in front of Bridgestone Arena. Got a picture with him.
Huey Lewis: someone I worked with had back stages passes so I got to meet him.
Cris Collinsworth: met him at a restaurant in Lexington.
Mark Roth: (professional bowler) came to Louisville for a bowling fund raiser for the Crusade for Children.
Rick Robey: was the partner for our realtor we used to sell my moms old house.
Ken Griffey Sr.: came for an autograph signing at Value City in Louisville back in the 70s.
Derek Anderson: met him in an elevator in a downtown Louisville office building.
Jack Givens: met him at the SECT in Nashville out in front of Bridgestone Arena. Got a picture with him.
Huey Lewis: someone I worked with had back stages passes so I got to meet him.
Cris Collinsworth: met him at a restaurant in Lexington.
Mark Roth: (professional bowler) came to Louisville for a bowling fund raiser for the Crusade for Children.
Rick Robey: was the partner for our realtor we used to sell my moms old house.
Leland Melvin - born and raised local former NASA astronaut who went on two missions into space
And probably several members of the infamous Falwell family - you know the Falwells of Liberty University. With Sr. infamous for calling the Teletubbies gay amongst a slew of other things that are far more vile than that and Jr. infamous for being a sex addict who literally got cucked by a pool boy amongst many other things.
And I met the below all in about a span of around 4 years.
Chris Herren - the former infamous drug addict hooper from the 90s that played in college and in the NBA. He spoke at one of the schools I was working at and I met him afterward for an article the Athletic Director wanted me to write.
Cory Alexander - the former UVA and NBA player, does commentary work for ESPN for college basketball and NBA on ESPN Radio if they didn't fire him in their recent bloodletting. Used to work with him when he was coaching.
Jay Bilas - He was the featured speaker at a banquet the basketball team hosted at said school I worked at.
Andy Katz - Worked side by side with him at an ESPN basketball game my school was in.
Rick Pitino - The basketball coach at the school lined him up to speak with the team on a tripe where our school and Louisville were both playing. This was after at leas tone of his many scandals so everything he said rung pretty hollow.
Dom Starsia - former UVA men's lacrosse coach, one of the GOATs of the sport. Lacrosse coach at my school brought him and his son, who I went to college with and hated, into town to discuss zone defense with him over lunch and coach insisted on introducing us.
And probably several members of the infamous Falwell family - you know the Falwells of Liberty University. With Sr. infamous for calling the Teletubbies gay amongst a slew of other things that are far more vile than that and Jr. infamous for being a sex addict who literally got cucked by a pool boy amongst many other things.
And I met the below all in about a span of around 4 years.
Chris Herren - the former infamous drug addict hooper from the 90s that played in college and in the NBA. He spoke at one of the schools I was working at and I met him afterward for an article the Athletic Director wanted me to write.
Cory Alexander - the former UVA and NBA player, does commentary work for ESPN for college basketball and NBA on ESPN Radio if they didn't fire him in their recent bloodletting. Used to work with him when he was coaching.
Jay Bilas - He was the featured speaker at a banquet the basketball team hosted at said school I worked at.
Andy Katz - Worked side by side with him at an ESPN basketball game my school was in.
Rick Pitino - The basketball coach at the school lined him up to speak with the team on a tripe where our school and Louisville were both playing. This was after at leas tone of his many scandals so everything he said rung pretty hollow.
Dom Starsia - former UVA men's lacrosse coach, one of the GOATs of the sport. Lacrosse coach at my school brought him and his son, who I went to college with and hated, into town to discuss zone defense with him over lunch and coach insisted on introducing us.
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On a smaller scale than Ali and Griffey, I have played golf with:
Gay Brewer
Bubba Watson
Steve Pate
Mac O Grady
Kenny Knox
Dick Mast
George McNeil
Hit range balls with
Charles Howell
Adam scott
Charley Hoffman
Opposite end of range
Tiger at isleworth. I don’t really count because I was still 350 yds away
Norman was the guy I wanted to meet.
Gay Brewer
Bubba Watson
Steve Pate
Mac O Grady
Kenny Knox
Dick Mast
George McNeil
Hit range balls with
Charles Howell
Adam scott
Charley Hoffman
Opposite end of range
Tiger at isleworth. I don’t really count because I was still 350 yds away
Norman was the guy I wanted to meet.
She drinks blood though so got to be some flaws in the head lol
I guess add Richie McKay to my list. Current head basketball coach at Liberty. Helped out their athletic department at some games over winter break the other year ago. McKay always had to make weird comments that didn't make a damn bit of sense to each table worker before every game.
PGA tour players. Not really celebrities