My dad had two great ones but not former Gators. He was at a White Sox game with his dad and sat next to Connie Mack. That was the former owner/manager of the A's and not the former Florida politician. He also attended a play in Chicago and sat next to Walter Payton.
I know that. I wonder if he would have done as well under his real name: Cornelius Alexander McGillicuddy III.
My best brush with greatness ($1 to David Letterman) is sitting next to Bo Diddley on a plane from Atlanta to Gainesville. We got to talk about music for about half the flight before he was recognized. Then he went into his routine. I think that he liked talking about music. He seemed really engaged. I also stood behind Ray Charles at a rental car line in San Jose. He had somebody else with him so I guess that he wasn't the driver. LOL. Never said a word to him. I was too much in awe. This is probably too deep for NBN but I sat at Pizza Palace when it was at Dixie Cream at a table next to Phillip Glass. My wife knew that I was a HUGE fan but I just wanted to leave him alone. His music is not for everyone. At that time he had just played at the Gainesville High auditorium. The next time he played in Gainesville it was at the Phillips Center. But he was famous the first time he played in Gainesville.
I've never really met anyone famous, but I did set up chairs for Mel Tillis once in the gym at my high school for a show. Nice guy. And once, while I was hiking up a mountain in Grand Teton National Park, a pretty middle-aged blonde in a big floppy hat came down the trail, with another, slightly older woman. We passed by them and my wife said, "That was Olivia Newton-John." I said, "Ah, bullsh*t." But then I thought for a moment and said, "Hold on," and then followed them down the trail a bit, acting nonchalant, to where they stopped to look out at a view over the lake. The blonde said, "This is love-lay." Thick Aussie accent. Yep, it was her. I was also once in an elevator in Tampa with Hulk Hogan. He's a big guy but not nearly the beast they make him out to be.
Way back in the day before we had cable my wife and I happened to catch this on our local PBS channel about halfway through. I had never heard the piece before but immediately knew it was a Glass piece. I had heard other things that he had written and specifically remembered Einstein on the Beach.
I've had those Forrest Gump moments of running into famous people by accident. Rode down an elevator in DC with Sly Stallone, who was near my height at 5-8. I stood between Tom Cruise and Billy Crystal for about 20 min waiting for an elevator in old Yankee Stadium after extra inning World Series game. I did ask Billy C, "I kinda recognize you, didn't you play shortstop for the Yanks long ago?" He replied Wiseguy! We laughed, they only talked about family, friends, etc while I kept quiet. Had several drinks with Dandy Don Meredith. Played pool with Chi Chi Rodriquez and Harry Reese (the Pieces people). Met Sophia Loren. Met Modonna in Paris, we were both jogging one morning and ended up side by side....I didn't know it was her until I recognized her and noticed the 2 body guards jogging behind us. Had lunch outdoors next to Doris Day, about 45 years ago, when she was still very pretty. Easy on the eyes and ears. Had dinner with former racer then announcer, David Hobbs. He was a real character. Met some F1 drivers, the best was Michael Schumacher on an elevator in Montreal. Chatted on a sidewalk in New Orleans with Tommy "Hit Man" Hearns. Best of all was meeting Johnny Unitas and asking him a question about the 1958 OT game for NFL title on his play call in OT when he threw an out pass to the TE inside the 10. He took the time to explain his reasoning in great detail. "It was the safest play to call".
How could you resist sitting behind him and just quietly counting?!? 1, 2, 3, 4 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 I would have loved the opportunity to do that
Wow… this thread has really gone in different directions! as for celebrity run-ins, my most interesting was nearly getting into a fight with OJ in a Bahamas casino. This was post murder/acquittal. In retrospect, I wish a punched him. Oh well….
Yeah but before you hit him you should put on a glove that doesn't quite fit so he couldn't acquit. Too soon???
I live near Dan Marino and see him all the time. Used to see Zach Thomas and Jason Tyler at restaurants, gas station, … as well. Not as much any longer. Random story is that I sat next to Emmitt in a movie theater once and sat next to Dick Clark at a play in NY once. Felt sorry for the Clark family. Everyone kept coming up and asking him to sign their playbill during the show. We had to keep passing playbills to him through the aisles. Celebrities don’t get much of a break when out in public.
Minimalist composer, along with the likes of Steve Reich. Did you attend either of the Glass concerts? I'd be curious to know the instrumentation and if he played. I know him only as a composer.
Attended him at Gainesville High with his ensemble and he played. Also saw him at the Phillips Center but I don't remember that concert as well. Also saw his opera The Fall of the House of Usher in Louisville. I have some Steve Reich music on CD but never heard any of his compositions live. On of the most outstanding performances I ever heard was the Jacksonville Symphony performing the John Adams piece Harmonielehre at the Phillips Center. The musicians were all smiling knowing that they were performing something very special. Even the stodgy attendees that normally only wanted the old war horses gave it a standing ovation. It was magical.
About 30 years ago, my son and I were walking west down University Avenue toward the President's home. Stephen Stills walked right past us on that skinny sidewalk. I stopped and turned back to see him. My 10 year old son asked me why we stopped. I said, "That was Stephen Stills!" Stills was a good 10 feet past us but still turned around and smiled back at us. My son then asked me, "Who is Stephen Stills?"
Great story and situation. Now about your skills in teaching your progeny about what is great music...
