Sports stars you ran into the past...

Hmmmm. I don't have a real impressive list.

I met Alan Ashby at a Baskin Robbins one night when I was 10 yrs. old or so. He was real nice. I know he is not a big star or anything, but as an aspiring catcher, i really looked up to him.

When I worked at Toys R Us in college, I met a few people. Cythia Cooper came in once during the height of the Comets run. But, the best was Ken Caminiti and his wife coming in to Xmas shop. It was RIGHT after he won the MVP playing for San Diego. I try to bother "celebrities" in public but i saw him, he looked up at me and I said,"Congratulations." He responded with, "I appreciate it." So, i heard he was kind of an a** to people but he was cool in the brief encounter I had with him. Funny thing is that no one else in the whole store recognized him.

Met Biggio briefly at the opening night of the Rockettes last year when he sat a few seats over from me. He was there with his family and got a HUGE standing ovation from the crowd.

 

Have crossed paths with many athletes but used to frequently run into Olajuwon at my previous employers building. Very gracious. Last summer I ran into Hakeem at my current employers building and later that day as I walked into 24 hour fitness Shaq was walking in as well. Pretty weird day. Speaking of 24 hour fitness Shawn Kemp was a regular there and once saw Andre Agassi working out there as well. He was very nice to the many people who wanted him to pose for a picture. Shaq was as well.

 

I saw Kareem Abdul-Jabbar at LAX airport when I was a little kid. My older brother pointed him out to me.

 

Matt Bullard. He's pretty good at pop-a-shot

 

Great Guy: Shaq, Kevin Bass (when I was 8 he qualified as a star to me)
Not Great, Not Horrible: Kelvin Cato (not a star, I know)
Jerk: Barry Bonds

Forget the others.

 

My boy Clyde:

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Good 'ol Roger:

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Oilers HOF'ers and Legends:

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Sat court side once and ran into the whole Rockets and Trailblazers squads.

 

I've been around Calvin Murphy a couple of times (he's a family friend).
Used to work with Drew Pearson once a week during the football season back in 2000. Very nice guy. Met Roger Staubach when we did an interview with him that year as well.
Been in the Cowboys lockerroom at Valley Ranch when several cowboys were in there, Dat Ngyen, Raghib Ishmail (sp) don't remember who else was there.
Used to shoot highlights for the TCL baseball league and last year Rusty Greer was a head coach, so I saw him a few times at the games.
Does Mark Cuban count? Ran into him in Vegas during a convention one year.
I don't get star struck anymore because I'm kinda used to Not being able to ask for autographs, etc..due to my former job in sports TV production.

 

I saw Roger Clemens three weeks ago at Best Buy.

And there is my Jelafied Shane Battier story.

I was at Spring Training going up to Drayton's office to get our tickets (I got hookups) and Carlos Lee got into the elevator with me. I told him that I drafted him first in my fantasy baseball league. He got weird and said, "Uh, thanks man. I'll do my best." I was the coolest nerd ever at that point in my life.

 

Whole Rockets team almost... Yao, Mcgrady,Deke. Scola, Head, Bonzi before he was traded.

Blazers.. Drexler few times, Kevin Duckworth, Rasheed Wallace, Cliff Robinson, Zach Randolph, Sergio Rodriguez

Former Ducks NBA/NFL players ....Aaron Brooks, Luke Ridnour, Haloti Ngata, Demetrius Williams, Onterrio Smith

 

Was he a pilot?

 

When I lived in the Denver area, I almost literally ran into LaPhonso Ellis at Blockbuster video. His little daughter wanted to watch Black Beauty for what apparently was the millionth time, and The Phonz wasn't having any of it.

I worked at Burger King there when I was in high school, and Phonz went through our drive-thru as did John Elway. Scott Hastings came in to eat once as well...

As a waiter at Olive Garden here in DFW, I've waited on Larry Allen, Dat Nguyen, Ron Stone, Derek Ross, Richie Anderson, and Kelvin Garmon...

 

I saw Ron Jeremy at Bush Intercontinental Airport during Chrismtas season in 2005.

 

Basketball - Hakeem Olajuwon, Rashard Lewis, Cynthia Cooper, Calvin Murphy, Moochie Norris, Reese Gaines
Football - Jason Babin, Travis Johnson
Baseball -Shane Reynolds

But the only person I actually talked to was Shane Reynolds. I don't really like to bother athletes, and I won't talk to them unless they're standing right next to me.

 

I was on a Continental flight to Indianapolis with the entire Rockets team in 1994. Got to see them all up close as I was the last person who boarded the plane. Rudy said it was OK for me to put my bag in the overhead bin above him.

 

BWAHAHAHAHAHAHA!

 

Used to bump into Craig Biggio (and his wife) at Randall's all the time. Met Craig Reynolds (Astros) many years ago, where he told me a pretty hilarious story about arguing a call with an ump on the field. Met Hakeem (pure class) and David Robinson (who, despite my dislike for the Spurs, I must admit was a really, really nice guy). But my all-time three best brushes with sports greatness were:

3. Got to spend several weekends watching football and drinking beer with Earl Campbell at my Dad's sports bar. Lots of fun, but kinda sad to see how far he's fallen physically.

2. Ended up chatting with Warren Moon about the intricacies of the run-and-shoot for about and hour and a half during a New Kids on the Block concert (don't ask).

1. Spent an afternoon with Gene Peterson talking about sports. Let me tell you: that guy bleeds Rocket red. He is just as devoted and enthusiastic about Houston sports in person as he is on the radio. The Rockets HAVE to keep the season going, if only to keep Gene on the air.

 

1. Aaron Brooks signed my facebook

2. Saw the entire Pistons team a year ago at the Ritz Carlton New York around 2 in the morning one weekend. I think they flew in from DC that night. ie: Chauncey, Rip, Tayshaun, Amir Johnson, Flip Saunders, etc etc plus Trainers and staff.

3. Saw Clyde Drexler at the movie theaters (we walked out in the same pack)

 

But they're at work . That's like saying you chatted up some strippers at the strip club. BUT STILL, courtside is NICE. I'm jealous.