Famous person/people you have met

Pat Benetar (buddy got me backstage passes because of his dad)
George Bush Senior: (political rally in La Crosse)
Ms. Bembenek ("Bambi", of Milwaukee fame) at my co-worker's wedding.........
Senator Heb Kohl
Larry Kudlow (before CNBC fame)
 
When my son Gabe was about 17 we went to visit my alma mater in Charlottesville, Va. I had worked at a well-heeled country club as a student so we went back for a visit. They fed us in a private dining area and we were having a great time.

All of a sudden, the doors were closed and a minute later in walks the biggest, meanest, most imposing guy I've seen in a long time - 6"6, maybe 250 lbs and wearing a dark suit. He checks out the room, gives us a withering glare and leaves. 2 minutes later, sandwiched between two groups of humungous guys, in walks Michael Jordan. Table for 6, right across from us. I saw him first, and Gabe didn't. He turns around to see what's going on, and MJ gives him a great wink and a smile.

He was playing a golf tournament not long after his dad was murdered in North Carolina and, according to our waitress, was seeking lots of privacy. They weren't supposed to have seated us in that room (someone screwed up) but I guess they let it go since we looked pretty harmless and were finishing up.
 
Ben Stein. Ann Coulter. During law school, our conservative student group (with large gobs of vast right wing conspiracy $$'s) hired these two as guest speakers. Our arrangement also included a lunch for 10-15 of us students and the guest speaker. So I was one of the chosen few who got to sit there and BS with Ben and Ann (on different days).

My impressions:
Ben - funny guy, very intelligent, interesting to talk to. Seems like a fun guy to hang out w/.

Ann - loudmouth, likes to hear herself talk, broken record (surprise, surprise!). I found myself unable to make conversation with Ann.


Also briefly met Clarence Thomas (US Supreme Ct Justice).
 
Before John Lennon and George Harrison died, the former beatles came over to my house. We jammed a few sessions and put some tracks down. They all agreed that I was the most talented person there. We were then going to start a new band with me as the lead singer and song writer. However I didn't want all that fame and fortune so I just let it slide.

Bill Gates called me up for advice on how to build a "home" computer. I told him how to do it and suggested that just maybe they could get some work from IBM.

Bill Clinton used to drop by back in the day, we would go get hamburgers and he would seek advice on political matters. He would complain on and on about Hilary.

By the way have you seen this video...
 
I was with Bill Gates and Warren Buffett last night. We were at a pizza place in Georgetown. I had already eaten. They kept arguing about what kind of pizza to get. Eventually they each got a personal pizza instead of splitting a single, larger pizza. When the bill came, they were both arguing over which one of them would have the honor of paying the bill (maybe $15 total). I said, "Dinner's on me, guys!" and paid for their dinners. Figured it would be pretty cool to buy dinner for the two richest guys at my dinner table that night.

I'll add that this all happened in a dream I had last night.
 
Bubba, an airline mechanic, was bragging to his boss one day. "You know, I know everyone there is to know. Just name Someone, Anyone and I know them."
Tired of his boasting, his boss called his bluff, "Okay, Bubba, how about Tom Cruise"?
"Sure, yes, Tom and I are old friends and I can prove it."
So, Bubba and his boss fly out to Hollywood and knock on Tom Cruise's door and sure enough, Tom Cruise, shouts, "Bubba ! Great to see You! You and your friend come right in and join me for lunch!"
Although impressed, Bubba's boss is still skeptical. After they leave Cruise's house, he tells Bubba that he thinks Bubba's knowing Cruise was just lucky.
"No, no, just name anyone else," Bubba says.
"President Bush," his Boss quickly retorts.
Yep", Bubba says, "I know him, let's fly out to Washington."
So, off they go. At the White House, Bush spots Bubba on the tour and motions him and his boss over, saying, "Bubba, what a surprise. I was just on my way to a meeting, but you and your friend come on in and let's have a cup of coffee first and catch up."
Well, the boss is very shaken by now, but still not totally convinced.
After they leave the White House grounds, he expresses his doubts to Bubba, who again implores him to name anyone else.
The new Pope," his boss replies.
"Sure!" says Bubba. "I've known the Pope a long time."
So, off they fly to Rome.
Bubba and his boss are assembled with the masses in Vatican Square when Bubba says, this will never work. I can't catch the Pope's eye among all these people. Tell you what, I know all the guards, so let me just go upstairs and I'll come out on the balcony with the Pope."
He disappears into the crowd headed toward St. Peter's.
Sure enough, half an hour later, Bubba emerges with the Pope on the balcony. But by the time Bubba returns, he finds that his Boss has had a heart attack and is surrounded by paramedics.
Working his way to his boss' side, Bubba asks him, "What happened"?
His boss looks up and says, "I was doing fine until you and The Pope came out on the balcony and the Japanese tourist next to me asked, "Who's that on the balcony with Bubba"?
 
justin said:
My impressions:
Ben - funny guy, very intelligent, interesting to talk to. Seems like a fun guy to hang out w/.
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I haven't met the guy, but that is my impression of him also. Last Xmas, I was looking for retirement books for my sister and BIL and after going through a pile of them, I ended getting Ben's book because it was sound advice and very funny.
 
Masterblaster said:
Before John Lennon and George Harrison died, the former beatles came over to my house. We jammed a few sessions and put some tracks down. They all agreed that I was the most talented person there. We were then going to start a new band with me as the lead singer and song writer. However I didn't want all that fame and fortune so I just let it slide.
Click to expand...

You made the right decision - I can tell you from experience - fame isn't all it is cracked up to be!
 
  • I shook hands with Bill Clinton (once the secret service agents were done screening me) after he finished the 9th hole at the ANCC in Arlington. I always smile when I recall him picking his ball out of the sand trap and throwing it on to the green. ;)
  • I once had dinner with Bill Gates. He consumed half a dozen cans of Fresca and [-]we talked[/-] I attempted to engage him in conversation about the future of technology and current events. He was not fooled into adopting me or giving me any money :(
  • I used to go to some pretty fun parties on the other coast O0, hosted by a congressman whose lifestyle later caught up with him after I had relocated to the left coast. He resigned from office one step ahead of being thrown out by his fellow legislators. It was interesting to see his associates disown him when everything came crashing down.
 
Let's see, here's a partial list (interaction is on the level of a handshake and a brief hello unless otherwise mentioned):

Diane Sawyer, ~30 minute one-on-one conversation. Very beautiful and gracious lady.
John Bardeen, 2 time Nobel Prize winner -- buried him in the sand with my second cousin, very very nice guy.
Francis Crick, DNA guy
Barry Goldwater, former US Senator
Jane Goodall, chimp lady, taught her about rodeos
Reinhold Messner (sp?), climbed Everest solo without supplemental oxygen
Chuck Yeager, first to break the sound barrier
J.R. Simplot, Idaho only billionaire, recently deceased
David Robinson, basketball player for Navy (?)
Founder/owner of a large cruise line whose name you would all recognize, dine with him regularly - name not dropped for the sake of his privacy, nice guy, drinks 2 buck chuck
:confused: Roberts, of Kohlberg Kravis Roberts on Wall Street fame
Harvey Firestone, CEO of Firestone Tire I think
Jeff Yeager, Ultimate Cheapskate, had dinner with him once

2Cor521
 
:eek: ....man....I must be the odd man out here on the east coast of Virginia......or maybe I need to go out and hunt for someone famous :duh:
 
a short list...
William Shatner, during the original Star Trek days. I was maybe 11 yrs old and in total awe of Captain Kirk and and didn't wash the hand he shook for a week.

Congressman Sherwood Boehlert (NY, retired)

Helen Hayes - saw her at a flea market in Nyack NY. I kept a very respectful distance but waved and said hello. She smiled back and waved.
 
bbbamI said:
About 4 years ago, I met Burton Gilliam (Blazing Saddles). He gave me a copy of the screen play for "The Green Mile" signed by Tom Hanks. This was for an auction for our volunteer center.
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I forgot to mention that Burton just lives a few miles from my house. Think I'll drop by someday. :rolleyes:

I forgot a couple of people. I met Trent and Tiny when I was 7 years old. I'm sure 99% of y'all have no idea who they are...they had a show on a Memphis tv station airing on Saturday mornings. That was when I lived in the sticks and we only had 3 stations to choose from. :p It thrilled my 7 year old heart. :D
 
Met a couple but only memorable occasion was lunch with Jimmy and Rosalyn Carter in Plains, GA.

He is seriously maligned for his performance as President, but was the most gracious, intelligent person I've ever met. We'd just done a dedication of a museum exhibit, and he and Mrs Carter hosted lunch at a historic building turned B&B across the street. This extraordinary person was justly proud of their handiwork on the building itself, and Plains GA was picture perfect. We attended a softball game in which the former President played the day before, and he was every bit as gracious and sportsmanlike on the field.

The memories of that day have lasted a long time.
 
Dad was in flight school with John Glenn.
Husband and his family toured the White House with Bush SENIOR.
A friend of mine was in secret service and guarded the SENIOR Bush while President.
President Kennedy waved to me from his motorcade in Key West a few months before he was killed.
Talked with Bob Dole several times.
Met Willie Nelson and Jimmie Dale Gillmore.
 
At a skeptic's gathering many years ago, conversed and dined with: Carl Sagan, Paul Kurtz, Penn & Teller, Murray Gell-Mann, Paul McCready.
 
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Khan said:
At a skeptic's gathering many years ago, conversed and dined with: Carl Sagan, Paul Kurtz, Penn & Teller, Murray Gell-Mann, Paul McCready.
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After looking at this thread I think I am ready for a skeptics gathering.

Ha
 
Khan said:
At a skeptic's gathering many years ago, conversed and dined with: Carl Sagan, Paul Kurtz, Penn & Teller, Murray Gell-Mann, Paul McCready.
Click to expand...

Wowza! I would like to have been there:)
 
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