I've never had a bad celebrity experience, but I always look like a total loser when I meet someone I admire like that. I don't know why -- I don't do anything dumb, I think I just don't have the best approach or something. I met Greg Howard here in Houston (he plays a unique instrument called the Chapman Stick -- he's one of the best, if not the best player in the world). He's a really good guy and all, but when I came up to him and asked him to sign the CD, he kindof seemed a bit surprised at me, and was kindof like "Yeah . . . Alright", when he was able to talk with other people for like 10 minutes. I dunno, I just suck at it. Same thing happened with Devon (my favorite female musician/artist). I met her in LA, and I just DIDN'T handle it well at all -- I came off feeling and probably looking like kindof a weird loser. BUT I'M NOT!!! I'm just the biggest fan she has this side of the Missisippi. That's no exaggeration -- she's not well known outside of Virginia, and I'm a huge fan from somewhere she's never even toured before. I dunno, I didn't screw up my meeting with Weird Al, but I had a group of people with me . . .
This isn't necessarily a criticism of you per se, jello77, but as a person in the limelight, an athelete just can't win. Like AI said once in an interview- he can stay there and sign autographs for 2 hours or more, hand feeling like it's gonna fall off. But then, we he finally stops to go home to be with his kid, or to go get treatment for an injury or something, he becomes an "a-hole." You know, i guess it depends on what you think an athlete's responsibility is as a celebrity. For me, it certainly doesn't entail spending endless amounts of time autographing stuff each day when they could be home with their families, or preparing for a game. I think it's important to develop a rapport with the fans, but how much is enough? There seemingly ISN'T ever enough to the fans...and the athletes suffer for it.
Eddie Griffin gave me a dirty look at Newark Airport. This was back when he was with Seton Hall. I mumbled his name to my friend and he his head turned and he gave me a not so friendly glare.
I might have mentioned this encounter before on the BBS, but I will mention it again. In Sam Cassell's last season with the Rockets (I think it was his last season), he had a serious injury that kept him out for a little while. So, since Sam had time, he went to a San Jacinto Ravens home game and watched his old JuCo team play. I was at that game, and during halftime I and my little stepbrother went up to him (quite discreetly, mind you) and asked him for an autograph. He told me he would sign autographs at the end of the game, and to wait until then. My brother and I accepted that and went back to our seats to wait. With about 2 minutes left in the game, Sam (and his entourage) got up and went into the Raven's lockerroom before anyone could catch him and ask him for an autograph. Okay, fine, I thought. He wants to visit with his old coach and the players before he signs autographs. I could handle that. All the people who wanted autographs hung out and waited at the lockerroom entrance for him to come out. There was maybe 20 people there total. It would have taken him 5 minutes to sign the autographs he had promised. After a while (at least an hour), some of the cheerleaders came out and said that he had signed autographs for them, but that he was going to leave soon. He told us Sam was going out the backdoor. So at that point, the group of people waiting for autographs got a little pissed and stormed into the lockerroom. I ran ahead of them and saw Sam heading for the back door. I asked Sam, "Hey Sam, how about that autograph you promised?" He completely ignored me and left. I can understand if a player doesn't feel like signing autographs. Even if it is only 20 or so, fine, if you don't want to, that is your right. But don't tell your fans, the people that cheered for you at junior college games before you were a millionare, that you will sign their autographs, and then skip out before the game and run away from them. That really pissed me off. A year from then, at the San Jacinto Raven's basketball camp, Sam was scheduled to come in and work with the kids on one of the 3 days. He never showed. I am not a big Sam Cassell fan after that. But I did get an autograph from Steve Francis when he played there, as well as George Gervin (his son played there for a season).
Jim Rome commonly refers to David Robinson as "The Little Mermaid" rather than "The Admiral." Darrryl Hannah played a mermaid in "Splash." I thought a Jodi Benson reference wouldn't go over as well...
About 5 years ago Dream and Clyde got mad at me for skipping school when they came to Utah to play the Jazz and they refused to sign any autographs and told me to "go to school". Then a year or two later I was in the mall..that's connected to the Rockets' hotel... waiting for players and Barkley came walking out and told us to "Get the **** out [of the hotel]" then he signed on paper for almost everyone who asked.
I had a lousy celebrity experience with George Thorogood. He was a guest at the wedding of the drummer in a band I used to play in. The band got up at the reception and played a few songs. We then asked George to join us. His answer, in terms similar to these, were "why the f*ck should I get up there with you scum-sucking amateurs". I did have the good grace to respond with "well who the f*ck needs a has-been like you. You couldn't WRITE a song if your life depended on it". I had consumed a few cocktails by then.... Good celebrity experiences include Brian Setzer, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jimmie Vaughan, Hakeem, Kenny Smith & Craig Biggio.
