<p>One of the favorite hangouts in west central Florida/Tampa Bay for major league baseball players during spring training season is the little Tampa Bay Downs horse track. Pretty much any day during Florida spring training there are bunches of the MLB stars at the track yelling like everyone else for their horses to win.</p>
<p>How about thoroughbred horse trainers? D1 & I go to the Haskell every year and hang out by the finish line. Rachel Alexandra won in 2009 and we got her trainer Steve Asmussen to sign the program as he was heading out of the winner’s circle. All the big trainers attend and pass by - Bob Baffert, D Wayne Lukas, etc. </p>
<p>A few years ago, Ron Turcotte, Secretariat’s jockey, was a Monmouth Park was signing autographs (for a fee :(…) and we had him sign a book on Secretariat that we picked up at a garage sale.</p>
<p>My dad ran into Lou Piniella a few years ago in Tampa and got Piniella’s autograph on the back of one of my dad’s business cards. The funny part though is the next day my dad gave the autographed business card to a customer by accident. Easy come, easy go!</p>
<p>I’m a huge fan of The Cars in general and their keyboard player Greg Hawkes in particular. In 2008 he toured with Todd Rundgren’s “It Was 40 Years Ago Today” tribute to Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Bandand I got to go backstage as his guest. I also met Todd Rundgren, Prairie Prince, Christopher Cross and several other artists.</p>
<p>One of my friends parents were friends with Ruth Bader Ginsburg and her (now late) husband and just before she got the nomination to the US Supreme Court I met her at my friend’s wedding. I actually spoke to her and still remember vividly exactly what I said 'I think it’s mushrooms." (She had asked what was in the quiche). All my lawyer friends tease me that my claim to fame is “I think it’s mushrooms”).</p>
<p>Met Eric Clapton briefly at a hotel in Beverly Hills! I recognized him and said hello ! He greeted my seven year old son as the elevator doors closed! Figures, I would have done the same! Lol ( my son even at that age loves The Creem!) Seemed nice but nervous.
Also met Mike Piazza outside of the Marlins stadium ( I had heard he could be standoffish ) this day he was very nice to my older son signing his glove! A gentleman!
Happened to be staying at same hotel as Sting in Las Vegas. My young son was holding the door open for a guest and then for me as we were reentering the hotel from the pool. Some guy runs in front of me behind the first guest saying nothing to my son for holding the door open! Then I find the three of us ( my son, this guy and me) waiting for the express elevator which we board to the 44th floor! It was Sting! He was rude and to himself ( I’m sure multiple 9 year olds have posed great threats to him so saying thank you may be dangerous)! My son just asked me some unrelated questions in the elevator ( he doesn’t even know who Sting is) and this guy says nothing!!
The next day he’s in the gym locker room and my locker is right next to his! He just finished his workout and I was commencing mine. An attendant greeted both of us again he rudely says nothing and I am friendly even cracking a joke ( come on Sting… Lighten up)! So on two separate occasions he is just a rude guy!
Billy Joel twice … Almost 10 years apart to the day! Once he was in an Antique store in New Orleans during Mardi Gras ( alone walking he streets) very friendly and the next time he was with Howard Stern and their respective wives in a restaurant in South Beach called Casa Tua . Didn’t bother them but you can see they were both gentlemen and cordial.</p>
<p>My husband ran into Dennis Johnson (after his Celtics days were over) at a KFC in Woburn MA. He was the nicest man, thrilled to be recognized, offered him an autograph and even found a pen and piece of paper to write it on.
I grew up near where Charles Bronson had a home in VT, he was a very arrogant and rude man, all the locals pretended they did not recognize him whenever he came into the stores.</p>
<p>Clint Eastwood kissed me once. He’s a friend of my mother, came over to wish her a Happy Birthday. When he walked in, he kissed her on the cheek. I was so impressed I said he had to kiss me too and he did.</p>
<p>tptshorty - Your daughter got in a limo with Andy Dick? Yikes. I guess you can be thankful that he wasn’t driving.</p>
<p>Our very small town in GA is home to many successful PGA golfers and sometimes our social circles intersect. </p>
<p>My daughter works at a five star resort and sees many famous people. One day she came home and says “This older couple came in today and I noticed them because they were both in fantastic shape. Then I realized that it was Steffi Graff and Andre Agassi.” </p>
<p>Older couple?</p>
<p>Define “actor”? When I was in my early 20’s I was working in retail and Marilyn Chambers asked me out for a drink. I “foolishly” declined and I believe my father called me an “idiot” for the one and only time. </p>
<p>Speaking of drinks… Evil Kneivel once bought me a drink at a bar in Palo Alto, CA. It was a Heineken and he autographed my cocktail napkin.</p>
<p>Rubytuesday, DJ ( rip)was a Seattle Sonic first you know.
I saw him play many times.</p>
<p>Kelsey- Girl with glasses that played the piano in high school musical. Came to my school to talk to us about her independent movie</p>
<p>emeraldkity
I loved DJ, didn’t know he was a Supersonic-I can’t believe they are the OK Thunder now, 
I will never get used to that. I still think of the Colts as a Baltimore team too</p>
<p>Seattle drafted Johnson, in 1976, and in 1979, when Seattle won the NBA championship, (Lenny Wilkens coach) Dennis Johnson was MVP.</p>
<p>Those were the days.</p>
<p>When we lived in the valley: Rachel Bilson lived on one end of our street and went to the same school as one of my kids. Luke Perry owned a house on the other end of the street. Patrick Duffy lived around the block. Current street: Candice Bergin lived here.</p>
<p>Kareem and Shaq. Frank Sinatra (when I was a child). My daughter auditioned with Jon Hamm (pre Mad Men)…he was very nice. Went to high school with Lorraine Newman. Lucille Ball. Jimmy Stewart. Agnes Moorhead. Prince Charles (Charity event). The Beatles and then Paul McCartney at a charity event years later.</p>
<p>I met Paul Newman when I was in high school. He was stunning…even though he was and “old” man.</p>
<p>I’ve shaken hands with Billy Graham, Governor Pete Wilson (California), U.S. Dept. of Interior, James Watt; congressman Robert Matsui D-CA; congressman Dan Lundgren R-CA; Dr. Loyd Ogilvie, United States state/congressional minister; and Jesus Christ, governor of my heart!</p>
<p>My daughter had lunch at a local restaurant yesterday. Michael Caine and his wife were at the next table.</p>
<p>The mention of Dave Barry on another thread reminded me that I used to know him. I guess he’d qualify as a celebrity. </p>
<p>Dave was buddies with someone I was close to in college. He and my friend would joke around all the time in what seemed to me a silly, non-funny way. In later years, I was a bit flabbergasted to learn that Dave had become a celebrated humorist.</p>
<p>I admit that I do find his writing funny!</p>
<p>If writers are celebrities, I’ve met a few. Tim Egans (NYT), daughter was on same school sports team as younger D, and David Horsey (syndicated cartoonist with LA Times), daughter was in a preschool coop with older D.
I’ve also spoken with Myrlie Evers-Williams when she came to my CC a few years ago.
Very compassionate and intelligent woman. ( and should give tips on how to age well)</p>
<p>Most of my celebrity encounters surround Indianapolis Motor Speedway…I’ve met/chatted with Helio Castroneves, Dan Wheldon, Dario/Ashley Judd, Scott Dixon, Danica, etc. etc.</p>
<p>Once stood in line for a hot dog behind Patrick Dempsey when he co-owned my cousin’s IndyCar team!</p>
<p>Shook hands with Bill Clinton a couple years ago…firmest handshake I’ve ever felt</p>