Your story of meeting a sports figure

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  • Scooter3
    MVP
    • Nov 2005
    • 2680

    #1

    Your story of meeting a sports figure

    Met Tom Gorden waiting in line at a restaurant in Florida he saw my Boston Red Sox baseball hat asked if I was a Sox fan I said yes he said he pitched for the Red Sox. We hit it off.
    He was a great guy. After we were seated he went out to his truck and came back to us and signed his autograph on his baseball card. Great memory.
    Would love to hear your stories guys.Screenshot_20200901-103449_Lite.jpeg

    Sent from my SM-G970U using Operation Sports mobile app
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  • Madden08PCgmr
    MVP
    • Feb 2017
    • 2441

    #2
    re: Your story of meeting a sports figure

    Shawn Kemp had a steakhouse in Seattle for a bit. Can't say I met him as much as he was just gladhanding his customers. Very nice guy. Gigantic. Could truly fill a doorway.

    Met Warren Moon after a Sonics game back in the day. Another really nice guy. Pretty sure he'd win a lot of drinking games. The man was putting them down.

    Quite a few John Schneider and Jay Buhner sightings around town. Schneider and his family frequent a great Mexican restaurant about 5 minutes from Seahawk team HQ. I've always wanted to talk to him, being a Packers fan, and him being from Sconsin.
    You want free speech?
    Let's see you acknowledge a man whose words make your blood boil, advocating at the top of his lungs that which you would spend a lifetime opposing at the top of yours.

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    • BurghFan
      #BurghProud
      • Jul 2009
      • 10048

      #3
      Re: Your story of meeting a sports figure

      Had to fix the title

      Gary Anderson (Former Steelers kicker) once spoke at my elementary school I think he was supposed to stay and sign autographs for kids aftewards, but bailed.

      Jose Guillen (Former MLB outfielder who started his career in Pittsburgh) once had an autograph signing session at Giant Eagle grocery store in my neighborhood and I got a baseball signed.

      Also met and got autographs from a couple NASCAR drivers. My mom got tickets to the 2004 Sharpie 500 at Bristol as a college graduation present for me through her boss at the time who was the attorney for Chip Ganassi and as part of the ticket package, we got to sit in the Ganassi Racing hospitality tent pre-race and I got Casey Mears' autograph. Another time the hauler for the #12 ford of Penske Racing (then driven by Sam Hornisch Jr.) stopped in Pittsburgh and Hornisch was signing autographs.

      My aunt and uncle lived next door to Kordell Stewart for a few years, though I never met him. My cousins who were little at the time did try to sell him a sno cone they made with their toy sno cone maker.
      Last edited by BurghFan; 09-01-2020, 11:40 AM.
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      • Majingir
        Moderator
        • Apr 2005
        • 47629

        #4
        Re: Your story of meeting a sports figure

        I've met some Leafs players over the years at their practices. For most part they seemed like cool guys. Got to meet some alumni at autograph signings and they loved sharing stories. Sadly 2 of my most memorable Leaf interactions are guys who have now passed away.

        Most of Raptors guys and staff I've met have been real chill too. Vince Carter is probably the only Raptor I've ever met that I had a bad experience with (in hindsight, it's almost telling too seeing what his "entourage" or agent was like too). I know the rumors were going around for a while, but I knew he was gone and checked out before that season happened, and had people in his ear too.

        Never got to personally speak with any Jays players though. Maybe one day?

        If you count it in this thread, I've met WWE people before too. Unfortunately in those autograph signings, they are real limited in time and obviously not much besides a conversation long enough to take a picture.

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        • LambertandHam
          All Star
          • Jul 2010
          • 8008

          #5
          Re: Your story of meeting a sports figure

          Fortunate enough to live close enough that I'd go to the Mets spring training facility as a kid. Have never really been a Mets fan, but hey it was baseball and autographs of MLB players are gold as a kid.


          So I have my autograph book and me and my dad run into former Pirate Jermaine Allensworth who was with the Mets at the time. My dad, who was a big Pirate fan started trying to talk to him about the Pirates and etc. only to get a "Man, I really don't want to talk about the Pirates" and a look


          Other than that, he was nice as could be and signed my book.
          Last edited by LambertandHam; 09-01-2020, 02:47 PM.
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          • KSUowls
            All Star
            • Jul 2009
            • 5891

            #6
            Re: Your story of meeting a sports figure

            Dale Murphy opened up a restaurant here a couple years ago, right by my office. Some coworkers and I went over for lunch during their soft opening. He sat down at our table for a few minutes. He mostly talked about how he decided to get into the restaurant business, but it was a cool experience.

            My wife and I used to go there before a bunch of home games. It was hit or miss if he was there that day, but when he was there was basically a constant line to talk to him or take a picture with him. Great food too.

            Sent from my S10 using Operation Sports mobile app

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            • leafsfan67
              Pro
              • Mar 2020
              • 617

              #7
              Re: Your story of meeting a sports figure

              Met several celebrities when I worked at the Airport in Toronto.Met and had a picture take with Darryl Sitter and he signed his plane ticket and gave it to me even though I didn't ask,nice guy.Also had a 10 minute conversation with NBA legend Julius Erving about dunking. He said most of his best dunks were on the playground .I could go on and on about many people I met but I don't want to bore your. Oh Colby Rasmus signed my PS4 game.

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              • Caulfield
                Hall Of Fame
                • Apr 2011
                • 10986

                #8
                Re: Your story of meeting a sports figure

                Originally posted by KSUowls
                Dale Murphy opened up a restaurant here a couple years ago, right by my office. Some coworkers and I went over for lunch during their soft opening. He sat down at our table for a few minutes. He mostly talked about how he decided to get into the restaurant business, but it was a cool experience.

                My wife and I used to go there before a bunch of home games. It was hit or miss if he was there that day, but when he was there was basically a constant line to talk to him or take a picture with him. Great food too.


                Sent from my S10 using Operation Sports mobile app
                huge Murphy fan here. next time you see him tell him Gomer says hey!
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                • Archie56
                  MVP
                  • Feb 2009
                  • 1556

                  #9
                  Re: Your story of meeting a sports figure

                  Growing up, my favorite Detroit Tigers player was Darrell Evans. One summer, I was probably 8 or 9, my family was flying from Michigan to Florida on vacation. We were flying from Detroit to Baltimore, then to Florida. Well my dad saw Darrell board the plane and sit in first class, and after we took off, my dad went up there and asked him if he would meet with me and he said yes. Man I had never been so excited before. He was really nice, and let me sit next to him for about 15 minutes, talking baseball. I'll never forget it[emoji4]

                  Sent from my SM-G975U using Tapatalk

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                  • hitman23
                    Rookie
                    • May 2014
                    • 278

                    #10
                    Re: Your story of meeting a sports figure

                    Originally posted by Scooter3
                    Met Tom Gorden waiting in line at a restaurant in Florida he saw my Boston Red Sox baseball hat asked if I was a Sox fan I said yes he said he pitched for the Red Sox. We hit it off.
                    He was a great guy. After we were seated he went out to his truck and came back to us and signed his autograph on his baseball card. Great memory.
                    Would love to hear your stories guys.[ATTACH]182660[/ATTACH]

                    Sent from my SM-G970U using Operation Sports mobile app
                    I would have asked him why he threw up in the Yankee bullpen in Game 5 2004 ALCS before he was brought into a game at which the Yankees had a 4-2 lead. I know the answer but would like to have gotten his perspective on it.

                    Sent from my SM-G986U using Tapatalk

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                    • ImTellinTim
                      YNWA
                      • Sep 2006
                      • 33028

                      #11
                      Re: Your story of meeting a sports figure

                      Sometime in the mid 90s, my family was school clothes shopping in Green Bay and staying the weekend. My dad and I ran into Jerry Glanville, who was in town doing broadcasting work, in the lobby of our hotel. We struck up a conversation and mentioned where we were from. He instantly lit up and talked about the pizza place in town. It's well-known in the UP, and he played football at Northern Michigan, which is about 90 miles north of my hometown. They'd drive down just for the pizza, and he has an autographed picture on the wall in the place. Then we shot the **** for about a half hour. He was a really nice, funny dude.

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                      • NDAlum
                        ND
                        • Jun 2010
                        • 11453

                        #12
                        Re: Your story of meeting a sports figure

                        Met Hank Aaron.

                        He came to our college baseball facility to take a tour and meet with the team. Got to shake his hand and then we were informed he wouldn't sign baseballs for us because he apparently couldn't due to his agent or something like that.

                        He wasn't friendly at all and it really felt like he was being forced to make an appearance and see the facility. I think he just wanted to go to a football game.

                        Also met Roger Clemens who was really cool and Jamie Moyer was as well.

                        Oh and when we played against San Diego St. they had Tony Gwynn as head coach. He takes the cake for the nicest, most approachable athlete I've met. His energy and genuineness were awesome.
                        Last edited by NDAlum; 09-03-2020, 05:07 AM.
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                        • mkharsh33
                          Hall Of Fame
                          • Nov 2006
                          • 12780

                          #13
                          Re: Your story of meeting a sports figure

                          I have a small few. But one:

                          Went to the Steelers training camp in Latrobe, PA with my brother in 1999. He was a Redskins fan and me a Steelers diehard. After the sessions were over, we walked around to the other side of the 4 adjoining fields because we thought we saw a place to get something to eat. If you've ever been to Latrobe it's a unique setting for an NFL camp. As we walked this walking path, for some stupid reason I was in front of him and was walking backwards to talk to my brother. I was paying attention, but not totally. All of a sudden...BAM!!! I ran into someone...

                          I turned around and it was Bill Cowher. He was conducting an interview with ESPN's John Clayton. Kevin Gilbride, who was the offensive coordinator, was also part of this. Not live, but clearly being taped. Of course I feel like an idiot and I apologize profusely. I had all my Steelers stuff on, and coach simply looked at me and said, "You look like a tight end." I said it would be a dream come true, but clearly not a reality for me. But then it was kinda cool: he asked if I'd like to have a picture taken with him. On the Terrible Towel that hangs in my office, I have attached that picture. Really cool moment... I loved that guy.
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                          • Scooter3
                            MVP
                            • Nov 2005
                            • 2680

                            #14
                            Re: Your story of meeting a sports figure

                            Jackie Jensen was part owner of a restaurant in Oakland where my grandmother worked.
                            Jackie Jensen my grandmother and I had a Little chat.
                            I was 10 years old and played Little League.
                            My grandmother told Jackie that her grandson wants to be a Big Leaguer Jackie said he's too short. A joke. I didn't get the joke until I grew up. Ha ha.

                            The Brooklyn Dodgers won the world Series and went on a world tour in 1955.
                            They played the Hawaiian All Stars.
                            I went to the Dodgers dugout with a ball and asked a player if he would sign my ball he said come back after the game.
                            I started walking away when I heard Pee Wee Reese say give me that ball son I'll see that everyone signs your ball come back after the game to get it.
                            Reese was a great guy he handed me the ball it had Roy Campanella, Jr.Gillium, Duke Snider, Carl Erskine, Don Newcombe, Gil Hodges, Duke Snider. I still have that ball.
                            And great memory

                            Sent from my SM-G970U using Operation Sports mobile app
                            Last edited by Scooter3; 09-03-2020, 06:03 PM.
                            "a mean motor scooter and a bad go getter"

                            Mark Twain:
                            " Man is the only animal that blushes, or needs to."

                            U.S. Army Veteran

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                            • TheWarmWind
                              MVP
                              • Apr 2015
                              • 2620

                              #15
                              Re: Your story of meeting a sports figure

                              More than a few close encounters but no real meetings.

                              Closest connection I have is being best friends with Jason Spezza's brother-in-law.

                              I've met his wife. I've met two of his kids. I've been to his house. He's left beer for me (us, who attended his brother-in-law's bachelor party). I have a few hand me down clothes of his. I once got a fruit basket from him.

                              Never met the dude.

                              Sent from my Pixel 3 using Operation Sports mobile app

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