Chance encounters with prominent sports figures?

I was waiting for my bags at the Phoenix airport next to Wes Unseld about ten years ago. I also ran into Riggo at BWI in '08 and got a picture with him. Through the in-laws of one of my brothers, I got into the A-list section of the Ky Derby last year and met Aaron Rogers, Arnold Palmer, and, last but not least, Kevin Willis. Also in '08, all of my brothers, and a few of our friends, decided to spend a weekend in Cooperstown. That was the year Goose got inducted. We were all at one of the two (or maybe three) "downtown" bars that Saturday night, and Goose walked in (he was in town for a walk-through for his ceremony). He hung out with us for awhile. Also, way back in '91-'92, I was living in San Antonio, which was the year Tark coached the team. He was walking down the River Walk when I saw him, and I shook his hand. Within a few minutes, he started getting recognized and essentially became Elvis (there was a whole lotta excitement about his hire down there when it happened, before he was run out of town at the end of the year). Also saw Derrick Coleman in an airport last year--wanted to tell him how sad I am for how miserable his life has become.

Had a few beers with Russ Grim about 20 yrs back. I also went out one night with Harry Caray for a few too many drinks after a Cubs game.

Very impressive, on both counts.

Other than encounters with Redskins at training camp practices where they were signing autographs I don't have any stories to tell. I met Charles Mann's sister at the car dealership I worked at as a salesman about 7 months ago. She was in there buying a car from another salesman and she saw the Skins jacket I wore to work, so she struck up a conversation with me while her salesmen was busy. I then promptly got yelled at by my manager for breaking the first rule of selling cars, which is never talk to another salesmen's customer, even though all we talked about was the Redskins lol.

Other than encounters with Redskins at training camp practices where they were signing autographs I don't have any stories to tell. I met Charles Mann's sister at the car dealership I worked at as a salesman about 7 months ago. She was in there buying a car from another salesman and she saw the Skins jacket I wore to work, so she struck up a conversation with me while her salesmen was busy. I then promptly got yelled at by my manager for breaking the first rule of selling cars, which is never talk to another salesmen's customer, even though all we talked about was the Redskins lol.

You were building rapport with her which is her salemen's job not yours.

I know I've told the story here before so I won't completely rehash it, but I bought Champ Bailey a Big Bite at the 7-11 in Hillandale after a Skins preseason game around 8 or 9 years ago.

I've run across Charles Barkley in Philly no less than 5 different times. He loves outdoor dining. Fat ass mofo, but nice as can be if you say hello on the street. Go figure.

I met Mark Rypien at my middle school the year he won the Super Bowl. He was a nice guy. Not necessarily in the prominent sports figure, but I saw Dick Vitale at a book signing in College Park. I've heard people say that he's not a nice guy, but he was cool with me. Also spoke to Michael Wilbon at an event in College Park as well, which was pretty awesome.

You were building rapport with her which is her salemen's job not yours.

Yeah, I know. I already received that lesson from my ex-boss. I honestly still don't care about it though, because I wasn't the one who struck up the conversation. I know I'm in the wrong on this one, but idc. There's a reason I don't sell cars anymore ;).

I've run across Charles Barkley in Philly no less than 5 different times. He loves outdoor dining. Fat ass mofo, but nice as can be if you say hello on the street. Go figure.

One of my friends sat next to him on a recent flight.

Yeah, I know. I already received that lesson from my ex-boss. I honestly still don't care about it though, because I wasn't the one who struck up the conversation. I know I'm in the wrong on this one, but idc. There's a reason I don't sell cars anymore ;).


I hear you, to you/me you were just being nice to career sale's folks you were eating into their profits. Unless you think like them; sales is not for you or me.