I just happened to see this Greg Oden photo on Deadspin and couldn't help cracking up. It reminded me of the Bodog party a couple years ago out here in Vegas at the Rain nightclub in the Palms. Reggie Jackson was the featured speaker at the Bodog conference that year and was hitting on just about every girl he saw. I had asked him to pose for a picture with my friend Brad earlier in the evening, and the pic didn't turn out so I approached him at the party and he rolled his eyes like "not this guy again" and looked much like Oden above. Very funny stuff - I need to find that picture and post it.
This got me to thinking, what is your best or worst experience meeting a pro athlete in person? Surprising or disappointing. My all-time best was getting an autograph from Bears great Walter Payton as he was leaving the Chicago Auto Show back in 1984. He was just about to leave the show and was on the phone with someone but still took the time to sign a football for me and football card for my sister. A true class act.
Look at O'Shea getting into the picture at the last Bodog party
Me and Mark Cuban at the Bellagio
> Last day to get Matty's 30-day All-Access Pass for a special low price!
Ha, check you out! You're now one of those "who's that guy" in a photo :)
Geez....Even though I do not get star struck anymore, when I was like in my early 20's we were at this strip club and James Toney was there. I went up to him and get his autograph and the pen slipped and fell right on his jacket with the pen tip exposed. Thank god it was too dark for him to notice if his jacket was marked. lol.
Funniest was at the BetUS VIP Super Bowl Party here in Detroit. There were tons of old NFL guys there and in the pisser we were talking to Jim McMahon and he was trying to act all cool. So I look at him, smile and go, yeah, you were that QB on TECMO BOWL in the 80's right? :)
Oh, yeah my all time fav was when my group of guys from my old site won the Las Vegas Hilton NFL Super Contest. My friend the Factsman invited me down to the Bahamas for their Super Bowl Party and go on stage with him to handicap and give out picks and props.
So we are at this table with NFL Hall of Famers and this one old white guy from the 50's kept staring at my wife's tits the WHOLE TIME. It was classic.
The best part was we go on stage and break down the game. I used RJ's props and go like 4-1 and also nail the game and total. Factsman on the other hand goes like 0-10 on everything. So at the start of the 4th he comes and grabs his wife and goes we are watching the rest of the game from our suite. I ask him, Joe, why you leaving early? He tells me that unless I feel like fighting off a mob, I better let him slip out. LOL. Turns out he was walking around and some drunk redneck was fuming about his picks.Turns out he thought Joe was some connected insider and bet across the board on everything. So he starts bitching to Joe, and Factsman in his goombah voice tells him "to *** off you fucking redneck". Well he did not notice the guy had a gaggle of drunk hillbilly friends and they take chase. Joe is ducking and diving and sneaks out the back. Man, that was a great trip. LOL.
I'm sure there are plenty of people that have Sean Avery blowjob stories. I'm not one of them, for the record.
That Bodog party was crazy. Midget Ninjas and unlimited top shelf booze.
Was at the Mirage a couple years after it opened and was sitting in the book with some buddies watching college football. It was middle of the afternoon and I had an aisle seat. I looked over a few feet away and there was Reggie Jackson standing there looking up at the board. I nudged the guy next to me and said look there, it's Jackson. About a minute later two young men walked up and very politely said, congrats Reggie on making the Hall, these poor guys didnt even bother him for an autograph. Jackson turns and sneers at them, can't you see I'm busy and looks at both of them like they both have big ol bats in their caves. The guys looked pretty let down and just walked away. I looked over at Jackson and said really classy move asshole. He just ignored it but I know damn well he heard me. What a creep!
Agreed Spartan - he was the Barry Bonds of his era.
Just a few weeks back, I got a chance to meet Darrin Sharper and he signed my jersey. He was a class act and he actually shook my hand. He was very down to earth and a stand up pro........Very cool............
I'll throw this one in for the good side of the ledger. I grew up in a small town called Moberly, Mo. Moberly has won 4 national titles in Jr College basketball and the Greyhounds have produced some great coaches and players. Cotton Fitzsimmons was coaching there when I was a little kid and he used to let us use the gym after practice and give us tips, very, very cool guy. Charlie Spoonhour coached there, have drank beer with Charlie and he is a hoot. Dana Altman coached there and he was a neat guy, went to Mizzou games with Dana. Some of the better players included Mitch Richmond who was first rate, (but cannot swim or play softball) and Gerald Wilkins. Dominique came one weekend to visit his little brother and was horsing around in the gym doing dunks and it was just unreal. All my experiences with those dudes were A+
Took my kid to Stockton to see the 9er's a while back and met Kevin Barlow. (before he was a total bust) Anyway he was great, rapped with us for a few signed my kids hat and then left and came back with a golf cart and passed out ice water. Little did my kid know he sucked, but he still talks about how cool he was.
The first week I worked for the Pats I was walking behind Tom Brady in the Pats locker room and he turned suddenly and bumped into me. He patted me on the shoulder and said, "Sorry buddy, my bad." That's one I will be telling the grand kids about.
I was also in the Colts locker room after they beat the Pats to go to the Super Bowl. Dan Klecko - who I knew from his time in NE - came up and gave me a hug and then poured that fake champagne over my head. Obviously, as the years go on I will replacing the name "Dan Klecko" with "Peyton Manning" in that story for obvious reasons but it was still pretty cool to be a part of that celebration.
took my step-son to go play laser-tag and while waiting these guys kept coming out saying damn that little kid keeps getting us .As the night ended we walked out the door and this guy came running out to tell us to wait a sec. .He ran to his truck and came over with a picture and signed it .Turned out it was Seth McClung. He asked whats your name then told him im gonna remember you as AKA Terminator . It wass good for the kid
I basically know all the Redskins Players since 99 since my girlfriend and I go to Several away game and stay at the team Hotel most of the Time. I would say the nicest Players Were Stephen Davis , Lavar Arrington, Sean Taylor , and Clinton Portis... By Far the Worst Experience was Bruce Smith .. My girlfriend ask him for a Picture at the Hotel and He said No, That he was waiting for his Family
MET CHRIS MULLIN WHILE HE WAS STILL PLAYING W/THE WARRIORS AT AN IRISH "RIVERDANCE" CONCERT IN S.F. NICEST & I MEAN NICEST GUY YOU COULD EVER MEET.HIS WIFE IS IRISH & HE WAS ABOUT TO TAKE A TRIP TO IRELAND SO WE TALKED A BIT ABOUT THAT & BASKETBALL & GENERAL B.S. HE STOOD THERE & TALKED TO ME & A FEW FRIENDS FOR OVER HALF AN HOUR. HE INVITED US OVER TO HIS HOUSE IN WALNUT CREEK, WE NEVER WENT, BUT A TRULY NICE GENUINE GUY. WISH HIM NOTHING BUT GOOD.
I have a few stories - but must defend Reggie Jackson. Spent an entire day with him and didn't have a single complaint.