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biggest "claim to fame" as a sports or entertainment fan, what's yours?

MOXJO7282

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This came up in another thread and I thought it was interesting enough to start a separate thread. I think I have a pretty good one and would be eager to hear others. Someone mentioned a few really great ones in NY baseball history, I'll let them share if they want.

Anyone have any historic music, like the Beatles in 1965 or somethnig like that?


As a sports fan my biggest "claim to fame" was I had NY Ranger season tickets in the 90's and was at the 7th game of the Stanley Cup in 1994 when the Rangers won the Stanley Cup. This was a really big deal because the Rangers hadn't won in 50 years so the excitement in the city after was absolutely crazy.

I remember being offered $2400 for my two tickets and thinking if they lose and I passed up that money it would haunt me forever but thank God they won and it was well worth it.

I was also at the double overtime win over the Devils in Game 7 of the conference finals when Matteau scored to get the Rangers to the Stanley Cup series.
 

artringwald

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In 1992 on our flight to Hawaii I was reading a Sports Illustrated article about the 30 year anniversary of Wilt Chamberlain's 100-point game. The next day we were walking down the street in Waikiki and there was Wilt. You can imagine how many heads turned to see a 7' 1" man wearing pink pants walking down Kalakaua Ave. I may have been the only one that new what he was doing on that day 30 years ago.
 

heathpack

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Many years ago, when I was a kid in NY, my dad worked for a defense contractor. Back then, it was ok for subcontractors trying to get work to give sports tickets to my Dad. Usually it was just regular, good seats, but once he got these tickets for a Nets game, back in the days of the Dr. J craze, and when we arrived, we discovered we had floor seats! Excitement for my brother & I turned to disappointment when this very tall couple sat down in the two seats in front of us, we could not see a thing! But it all ends well, after awhile the couple blocking our view realized we could not see and they kindly offered to swap seats. So now they are sitting with my parents and we are sitting in front, and my parents thank them and start a conversation. Turns out they were Dr. J's parents! Of course my brother & I got to meet Dr. J after the game and he autographed our programs, we were so excited! I have no idea if the subcontractor won his bid.

Nowadays, living in LA, I have many celebrity clients. Some of them are great, some not so great.

H
 

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I'm in the Pittsburgh Pirates 100th Anniversary Yearbook. That's me behind Willie's hand, my brother Jim front & center. 1979 World Series, game 4.

Picture2a.jpg
 

jackio

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My grandfather used to pick up extra money by ushering at Yankee Stadium. He worked Don Larsen's perfect game. Afterward, he scooped up several pairs of ticket stubs that people had thrown on the floor, thinking they might have some value someday. Through the years, he gave the stubs to people he met who professed to be loyal Yankee fans. Grandpa died in 1989. I believe, somewhere, there are 2 pairs of stubs left.
 

Talent312

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Jimmy Buffett threw up on my S-I-L's feet when we were in an elevator in Miami.

I watched Elizabeth McGovern film a scene on a movie set.
She was in a movie with Kevin Bacon ("She's Having a Baby").
So, I think that puts me within 6 degrees of Keven Bacon.
 
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LUVourMarriotts

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I was a catcher for most of my high school years. I caught for 2 major leaguers that played on my 'Legion' team. And, all through All-Stars growing up, high school and Legion, I played against Chris Carpenter, who lived in the next town over.

My great uncle has been working at Fenway for close to 60 years. He was originally on the grounds crew, and at one time, I'm pretty sure he was head groundskeeper. He drove Ted Williams onto the field during the 99 All-Star game at Fenway, in the golf cart. Because they were friends. There is a book about 'people of Fenway', and he has a section in there.
 

hvsteve1

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I started my career in local radio. One of my first big experiences was seeing the Beatles when they played Boston on Sept 12, 1964. To show how things have changed, I was working at a station in Connectcut that had a call-in show where people offered stuff for sale on the air...kind of a yard sale feature that was common on local stations in those days. I was in another studio when a woman called and said she had purchased two tickets for the Beatles at Boston Garden and couldn't use them. She had paid, I think, $20 each but would sell them for half price! (Try that kind of deal today). I was on the phone to her before she hung up with the announcer. My sister's 16th birthday was a few days before the concert and I gave her the tickets at dinner. I told her she could take her best friend. She was on the phone screaming for what seemed like forever. I dropped them at The Garden and went next door to the Hotel Madison. At the time, the hotel was on one end of North Station and The Garden was on the other. I flashed my press card and walked into the conference room (yeah, the cops let you do that back then). It was an interesting press conference. Here's a link to it. http://www.beatlesinterviews.org/db1964.0912.beatles.boston.html At the end I went up to the table with my little tape recorder and interviewed both John and George as they were sitting on that end. I then walked over to The Garden and nearly got my clothes ripped off by screaming fans who saw the tape recorder and surmised I had been in the company of the great ones. At the concert, I tried some recording but the screaming was so loud you couldn't even hear what the Beatles were singing. When I got home, one woman said her daughter asked if she could touch me so her daughter could touch her because I had spoken to the Beatles. Is there any other rock act that has caused that kind of nuttiness?

A few years later, my connections as a radio newsman got me a job as a publicist working for Paul Newman when he directed his first film, "Rachel,Rachel" on location in Connecticut, another celebrity who was surrounded by crazy fans, even though he was a "regular guy" and didn't like the spotlight. I met a number of other celebrities over the years and tell people I've seen The Beatles, Elvis, Cher, Better Midler and Sammy Davis,Jr. perform in person, so I don't think there's anyone else on my bucket list.
 

ampaholic

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On Sept 9, 1965 my dad and uncle took me to the last game before school started (and I wouldn't be able to go to a midweek game) at Chavez ravine.

I had been to Chavez Ravine (Dodger Stadium) many times in the past and would go many times again - and this game against the Cubs was the dullest and most well known of them all.

It was Sandy Koufax's Perfect game, the Dodgers won 1-0. This game was selected in a poll as the greatest game ever pitched.

All I remembered at the time was going home disappointed at how boring it was, only 2 lousy base runners the whole game. :rofl:
 

kwilson

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WOW!!!

I didn't see that game, but I saw Koufax pitch many times at Dodger Stadium. Any one of those times would be my most treasured sports memory. He was the best at his craft of any sports figure in history. (O.K., spare me the retorts!) His fastball was a blur. His curveball seemed to leave the stadium and fall back across the plate. Truly awesome. He is still with us but after his physically forced retirement he became an intensely private person.

On Sept 9, 1965 my dad and uncle took me to the last game before school started (and I wouldn't be able to go to a midweek game) at Chavez ravine.

I had been to Chavez Ravine (Dodger Stadium) many times in the past and would go many times again - and this game against the Cubs was the dullest and most well known of them all.

It was Sandy Koufax's Perfect game, the Dodgers won 1-0. This game was selected in a poll as the greatest game ever pitched.

All I remembered at the time was going home disappointed at how boring it was, only 2 lousy base runners the whole game. :rofl:
 

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When I got home, one woman said her daughter asked if she could touch me so her daughter could touch her because I had spoken to the Beatles. Is there any other rock act that has caused that kind of nuttiness?

OMG! I posted on the internet with a guy who talked to The Beatles! OMG! OMG!


Hehe. One degree of separation, baby. One degree.
 

Glynda

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My experience

I worked in the production office for a movie that was disbanded after a couple of months and was never made. Picked up Elizabeth Ashley from the airport a couple of hours away and drove her to the town of the movie. Stopped at K-Mart to get her some hot rollers and again at Hardee's drive through for dinner. It was a "one horse town," a Sunday and everything else was closed! She was quite the prima donna demanding much attention and special treatment. I suspect she was also out of it on something.

Also drove Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio to her doctor's appointment in order to get her insurance approved. It was about an hour's drive. She was very friendly, had amazing hair and a beautiful voice. Lance Guest was to be her co-star.

Dennis Hopper also was around and about the office but was quiet, dressed in character, and not open to others for conversation.

It was a fun experience anyway.

Spent some time in Martinsville, VA, with a few NASCAR racers and announcer Ned Jarrett. What a gentleman!

And last year as I was a docent for the Charleston Historic Foundation's annual tour of homes, a back door to the house where I was assigned opened and a scruffy looking guy walked behind me and into the kitchen for a beer, walked out, turned around, smiled and waved and I recognized him as Bill Murray. Later he came in and told me he liked my shirt and chit chatted a bit. I've seen him around and about Charleston several times.
 

rickandcindy23

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Rick's brother is Ronnie Montrose, which may not be a name familiar to most of you, but he had his own two bands, and his first band called Montrose had Sammy Hagar as the singer. We met Sammy in 1973, when their band played here in Denver. He is a good screamer, but I don't like that kind of music much.

Ronnie has quite a few albums. His most famous tune is Bad Motor Scooter. He makes that guitar sound like a motocycle. It was originally written as instrumental only, then Sammy wrote words to it. The two made a great team, but Sammy and Ronnie both had huge egos. They occasionally get together and do a concert, so no bridges burned with them.

Ronnie is touring currently and was interviewed on Fox recently. He played with Van Morrison a short time, Boz Scaggs a bit, and with Edgar Winter back in the early 70's. His guitar on Frankenstein and They Only Come Out at Night. He left Edgar Winter on good terms, then he started Montrose.

Edgar Winter invited Rick backstage at Epcot's American Pavilion during Food and Wine a few years ago. Rick mentioned to the stage hands that Ronnie is his brother. It was a nice to meet him in person.

Rick and I met Crystal Gayle, Eartha Kitt, Amy Grant, and Lyle Lovett while chaperoning the high school marching band to the Summit of the Eight during Clinton's presidency. We were told to sit in the audience and watch the runthrough, and the stars came right down to where we sat and visited with us. We have pictures of us with Amy Grant. Kinda cool. I also shook Bill Clinton's hand after the band played. He shook a lot of hands, but I was happy mine was one. Some people didn't get close enough, but our son and daughter were upfront and shook his hand, too.

There were about 20 parents, and because it was a Presidential event, we were there only after being searched by agents, and sniffed by dogs. In other words, the list of people who could go into the venue was very small. The kids were told to put their instruments on the ground, and the dogs walked around each instrument. It was weird.

Our son was drum major that year and was not impressed with the experience at the time. He was more excited about being Drum Major. He is now 32, and he would probably tell a different story today. I should ask him sometime...
 

pjrose

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I've got lots of stories

This is really funny; earlier today or yesterday for some reason a thread like this popped into my head while I was in the car (NOT, I assure, you, on TUG) and I started thinking of mine. I have quite a few.

Sooo.......

In 1971 DH and I were in Florence, staring up at Michelangelo's David, which remains one of the most incredible things I've ever seen. You have to see the actual sculpture to get the full impression of its enormity. Anyway, DH recognized Robert Wagner, who was the star of "It Takes A Thief," a TV series about how he would steal the seemingly un-stealable. DH sidled over to Wagner and said, "I hope you're not planning to steal it!" I thought that was so clever of DH, but Wagner just said Hmmmph and walked away.

DH's father knows a lot of artists and various celebrities who are active in political causes, so one night we went to a party at Harry Bellafonte's apt in NYC (really!), Sydney Poitier accompanied us up in the elevator (!), and later in the evening a short somewhat rotund man came up to me and introduced himself to me (you need an Austrian accent here): "Hello, my name iz Preminger. Vat's yours?" I babbled something. We have souvenir napkins and matchbooks from Harry's and Julie's bar.

DH's cousin (close enough to be a brother) is an actor, and used to have a serious relationship with Bette Midler. We've seen him in some films and the occasional TV show.

DH's father worked with Salvador Dali and hosted Dali many times in NYC; we didn't meet him ourselves, but heard lots of stories that we probably shouldn't print. Through DH's Dad, we also have one degree of separation from Pucci, Chagall, Henry Moore, Picasso, Calder, and others, and we have shared several Thanksgiving dinners at DH's Dad's house with Will and Elena Barnet and other well known contemporary artists. Just last weekend we were at a dinner with Will Barnet (now 100!) and Elena.

DH's step-brother was the official photographer for the Rolling Stones' tour in the 70s. One degree. Also for lots of other rock stars.

And directly, ZZ Top. This is a funny story - DH and I were at a hotel in Ft. Lauderdale, and I walked outside and across the street to pick up pizza. Approaching me on the sidewalk was the scruffiest guy - long long grey beard, disreputable sportcoat, etc. Obviously some kind of bum. He didn't move away to make room for me on the sidewalk, but I wasn't about to get close, so I stepped off the curb and walked around him. Got back with pizza and told DH about the bum outside.....and he told me who was headlining at whatever hotel it was.

Oh yeah, one day as we were crossing the street in NYC, Danny DeVito was crossing the other way and walking toward us. We smiled, and he did too, and said "How ya doin'?"

We had a taxi driver who was one of the original Teenagers with Frankie Lymon & The Teenagers - Palisades Park and so forth. We had an enjoyable talk with him and he gave us some of his cards; the remaining "teenagers" were still trying to get gigs.

Another time there was Charleston Heston standing on the same NYC street corner that I was on. He didn't say anything, neither tablets nor guns appeared in his hands.

At an art show ages ago DH and I were strolling along looking at pictures, and all of a sudden several very obnoxious body-guard types started shooing and elbowing everyone, me included, out of the way - they were making way for Pavarotti. That attitude lowered my opinion of him quite a bit.

And my Karate instructor, who used to be a member of the Queen's Band (or some such name) in Britain was one of the trumpeters who would play the appropriate ceremonial bit when various members of royalty appeared - one day the Queen Mum walked by him and said "Well Done, Well Done!" Is that one degree of separation?

Right now I'm sitting in my peaceful rural house in the middle of nowhere, comfy in my PJs, with one of my kitties purring beside me, quite happy with my quiet relaxed lifestyle.
 
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SmithOp

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I was born in Northampton UK. I'd been to several parades for the Queen, and she visited my school. My family emigrated to US in 65, so you can imagine how the girls all wanted me to "talk like the Beatles", I'd seen them at a parade so I worked that into I had met them.

At the end of our street was a main road with shops, one was Botterils, a greengrocer. The Botterils had a daughter named Judy who was a couple years ahead of me in school. She went on to make a name for herself in US as Judy Carne, the Sock it to Me girl :)
 

laura1957

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I went to school/church with the young man who was killed in the accident in which Luther Vandross was injured years ago. Larry was in California managing his younger brother's music career, Jimmy had appeared on Star Search, been "discovered" by Luther and they were on their way from recording Jimmy's first album. I knew the entire family - I went to the prom with one of their brothers.

and I was in Lake Charles, La at a small nightclub to see James Dupree last year and he pointed us out and thanked us for coming all the way from Virginia to see him:) Most of you probably havent heard of him yet, but if you enjoy country music you probably will soon - he just recently signed a contract with Warner Bros (?) music and moved to Nashville:)
 

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I can walk a couple blocks through my neighborhood and talk to the only 2 time winner of the Bear Bryant Coach of the Year award. Nice guy.
 

Passepartout

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Any number of you 'just regular' people have met me. Some even on purpose. That oughtta be enough celebrity sighting for anyone. :)

Jim
 

DeniseM

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This is about my husband - who is not a famous athlete, but has an interesting story. My DH was raised in PA and came out to California to go to college. At that time, baseball teams had tryouts where you could just walk-in and try out for a professional baseball team. On a lark, he tried out as a pitcher for the San Francisco Giants and was signed on the spot. He played one year in the minor leagues and then quit and went back to college. Here is the interesting thing: before signing with the Giants, my DH never played high school or college baseball - he played in recreation leagues at that was it. Now as an adult, he wonders what would have happened if he stuck with it.
 

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I was in the Opening Ceremonies of the 1984 Summer Olympics as part of the All American College Marching band. 800 members in the band. 96 trombones in our section. It was really hard getting everyone to play together due to the sound delay from one side of the field to the other. We opened with "Fanfare for the Common Man" from the tunnels in the stadium, then we filled the field. We also debuted John Williams Olympic Fanfare. In all my years marching, I never knew a routine as well as I did that Olympics.

We had a dance routine that we practiced for days. They cut it on the last day since we weren't good enough for TV. Unbelievable experience. We spent 2 weeks at Pepperdine University getting ready with students from every state in the country.
 

KarenLK

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Is anyone here familiar with James Read, the actor?? His grandmother was married to my grandfather, and as young kids we spent some holiday dinners at "our" grandparents' house.
 

ampaholic

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OMG! I posted on the internet with a guy who talked to The Beatles! OMG! OMG!


Hehe. One degree of separation, baby. One degree.


Isn't that two degrees? Beatles to that guy = 1 degree. That guy to you = another degree. :rolleyes:


Any number of you 'just regular' people have met me. Some even on purpose. That oughtta be enough celebrity sighting for anyone. :)

Jim

(To paraphrase Mosca) OMG! I posted on the internet with a guy who talked to - about himself like he was - The Beatles! OMG! OMG!

:D :D
 

ampaholic

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I went to high school with Bob Chandler - later a noted wide receiver for the Trojans of USC (1970 Rose Bowl MVP) and later a star with the NFL Buffalo Bills and Oakland Raiders. We once had a geometry class together even though we had different circles of friends.

Sadly, Bob passed away at the young age of 45 from Lung Cancer - even though he never smoked. RIP
 

pjrose

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OMG! I posted on the internet with a guy who talked to The Beatles! OMG! OMG!


Hehe. One degree of separation, baby. One degree.

Isn't that two degrees? Beatles to that guy = 1 degree. That guy to you = another degree. :rolleyes:

. . .

Nope, just one Ampie - you're counting "that guy" - i.e. hvsteve1 - twice.

Beatles - hvsteve1 - Mosca --> 1 degree of separation.


Steve - please tell us that you still have that tape - You didn't lose it or toss it out.....
 
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