I've seen a few celebs and pro athletes. When i was living in western PA i saw Bill Cowher in Red lobster.....We were walking out and he was being brought to his table, made eye contact and both nodded. I used to see Jerome bettis in a bar my mother in law managed on a weekly basis, same thing eye contact and a nod. once a few people realized who he was he was outta there quick. Worst meeting was with Teddy Bruschi (used to play for the Patriots) Me my wife and son were in a grocery store (near foxboro) Teddy and his wife were in there, we were the only ones in the aisle, we walked by them we ALL made eye contact and I smiled and said "Hi, hows it going" Teddy just looked right through us like we were nothing. Nothin like being disrespected in front of your kid...but what do ya do/say?
About 20 years ago, while snowmobiling up north, we ran into some Green Bay Packer players in a bar. I was in the bathroom taking a leak and Frank Winters came in and pulled up to the urinal next to me. I said "hi, how ya doin" and he said "good, how are you doing" and I said "good". Really didn't want to shake his hand.
Unless they are at a celebrity autograph/meet and great, I'll just nod, say hey and move in about my business. I'm not famous and I know many times I have seen people out and they want to talk. 99% of the time when that happens I have somewhere or am looking for something I need or want. I can only imagine how many times they get hounded but, it also comes with the territory. It's going to happen, just not by me. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
We've met a lot of them over the years. As many have said just being human and saying hello goes a long way. My wife once had Howard Stern and Billy Joel's lady's in front of us at a Billy Joel concert. My wife being a huge animal rescue person tapped Beth on the shoulder and thanked her for what she contributes and they hugged it out, no pictures taken. We did run into Allesandra Ambrosio in Mexico in May and after spending three hours talking to her and her two friends she took a picture of me and my friend Mark who is a sports producer for NBC in Pittsburgh, but that was Mark's wife asking if she would do it. I think one of my best trips to Vegas involved a work show that we met Emilio Estevez and got to hang with him for a few nights, I have the memories but not a single picture.
I've seen more than a few over the years in various places, usually ignore them, as they do me... I have met a couple of people in the past d/t military or business conferences, etc, and they are usually normal people in my experience... Aaron Tippin, Anthony Zinni (former Commandant of the Marine Corps), Michael Palmer (author).... To name a few whom most of you might not know of...
Years ago, in the late 80's early 90's, I happened to live about 3 houses away from one of the Milwaukee Brewers. With their kids and mine being the same age and all, we got to be pretty good friends. At that time he even joined the Jaycee group in our town. I've gone to many parties at his house where half the team was there, some big name umpires and quite a few of the GB Packers would show up once in a while. They are just down home people, nothing really big. I did get to meet Reggie White and Gilbert "the Gravedigger" Brown a few times, Gilbert was a heck of a nice guy, Reggie was a little stand offish for the most part. Oh, by the way, Gilbert was a Big Boy !!!!
I'm of the thought process that despite their status they are merely just human beings like myself, I've never understood the whole wow factor people place on athletes, actors etc..... Actually look foolish to me when you see grown people act the way they do around them in public. So basically i wouldn't go up to them in public, not only for my above reason but they do deserve their privacy as well out and about with their families
I disagree on some points. Many celebrities do good things and don't always get face to face praise for it. My wife thanked Brett Michaels for all he does for kids with diabetes with his foundation and the guy said you don't know how much I appreciate that and gave her and her friend a hug. With Howard Stern's wife she was also thanks, given a hug and they traded email addresses. If any of you know Ginger Zee the weather chick, she is another my wife met and Ginger gave a few shout outs to dog rescue events on the news when she was still in Chicago whenever my wife would let her know, she also came to a couple to say hi.
Normally, it's an acknowledgement and move along. I worked on a EMS gator about 10 years ago at Dover International Speedway. I was posted at the start/finish watching Friday qualifying and felt someone lean on the gator. Look over my shoulder to see Richard Petty. We exchanged the typical hows it going and stay cool pleasantries.
It really would just depend who it was. Actors I could care less but athletes would be different. I'm a big tarheels and cinncy Bengals fan, so if I saw like a mj or a.j green I'd most likely be asking for at least a picture or a autograph lol. I know I wouldn't wanna bother them but I'd just say hey big fan if you don't have the time that's fine I bet you get annoyed a lot lol. But I'd at least try.
Leave them alone... Pat Dye sat next to our family a while back at a restaurant. I have met my share of celebrities. They are just people and most seem to appreciate not being stalked.
While staying at our family cabin in PA earlier this year I ate next to Erik Estrada in Applebees, we just let him be but we had to do a reenactment of the CHiPs opening theme once we got back to the cabin. The song was stuck in our head the rest of the weekend.
