BUM-KNEE Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 43 minutes ago, TheNuuFaaolaExperience said: Never met a hall of famer but I did play one on one basketball vs Tom Wopat. Like..... Luke Duke? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 4 hours ago, Jetsfan80 said: In case anyone was wondering: Biggest jerks on the list: Reggie Jackson, Tom Seaver, Derek Jeter. Nicest guys on the list: Pee Wee, Rizzutto, Ford, Berra, Thome, Maddux. Nearly all the old-school Yankees were super nice. Most intimidating: Bob Gibson, followed by Randy Johnson. Most talkative/loudest: Feller, then Slaughter. Most awe-inspiring: Ali, followed by Jim Brown. Not surprising: Jeter being a douche. You hear that a lot. Most surprising: Greg Maddux being nice. He has that douchey face 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 Ronnie Lott watched me do the vertical leap test at the NFL Experience thing at one of the Super Bowls I went to. I hit 34” wearing a suit and dude was amazed. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HessStation Posted January 13, 2020 Share Posted January 13, 2020 Not a HOF but taught Phil Simms how to bogie board 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lizard King Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 4 hours ago, Jetsfan80 said: In case anyone was wondering: Biggest jerks on the list: Reggie Jackson, Tom Seaver, Derek Jeter. Nicest guys on the list: Pee Wee, Rizzutto, Ford, Berra, Thome, Maddux. Nearly all the old-school Yankees were super nice. Most intimidating: Bob Gibson, followed by Randy Johnson. Most talkative/loudest: Feller, then Slaughter. Most awe-inspiring: Ali, followed by Jim Brown. I was working at a country club as a lifeguard and Phil and I crossed paths at the end of my shift and he was mid 80s and asked if I could bring a bag to clubhouse for him. Tipped me $5 and died a few months later. Very few words but could immediately tell he was a Nice man. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jets723 Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 3 minutes ago, Lizard King said: I was working at a country club as a lifeguard and Phil and I crossed paths at the end of my shift and he was mid 80s and asked if I could bring a bag to clubhouse for him. Tipped me $5 and died a few months later. Very few words but could immediately tell he was a Nice man. Good Story. That’s sounds great. It’s always the best when they are nice and act like you are worth their time Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Gooch Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 Pedro Martinez in Florida at enterprise rent a car in tampa 1998!!!! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JetsYanks13 Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 Hulk HoganSent from my iPhone using JetNation.com mobile app 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DJF71 Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 Living in Dallas, we've had a few here. I've met Mike Modano in Hockey and Joe Klecko (not in the HOF, but should be). Klecko is the only signature I've ever gotten. I coach youth soccer and have coached Tony Dorsett's daughter. Emmitt Smith's daughter. Charles Haley's daughter. So I have met a few. I also met Mark Sanchez, Dustin Keller and Nick Mangold the night before Mark's first game in Houston. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Il Mostro Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 Casey Stengel, Tom Seaver, Sparky Anderson (sat next to him on a flight and had great conversation about leadership), Jim Brown (we went to the same car wash for many years, always willing to chat while waiting for our cars), Magic Johnson. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsfan80 Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 4 hours ago, T0mShane said: Not surprising: Jeter being a douche. You hear that a lot. Most surprising: Greg Maddux being nice. He has that douchey face He doesn't look like a pro athlete, that's for sure. He was quiet but nice. Harmon Killebrew doesn't look like a former 500+ HR hitter either. He looks like a bank teller in person. Also a super nice guy. It's a good thing normal people are taught not to judge people on their face, at least not initially. Yours is very punchable. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
joewilly12 Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 4 hours ago, T0mShane said: Ronnie Lott watched me do the vertical leap test at the NFL Experience thing at one of the Super Bowls I went to. I hit 34” wearing a suit and dude was amazed. Those suits are loose and flexible, not surprised. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T0mShane Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 4 minutes ago, Jetsfan80 said: normal people Fewer of these every day 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsfan80 Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 8 minutes ago, T0mShane said: Fewer of these every day True. Far fewer Full Metal Jacket fans than there used to be. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Harris Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 2 minutes ago, Jetsfan80 said: True. Far fewer Full Metal Jacket fans than there used to be. I’m very curious how you met all these greats? Can you share? Work/family/sports connections? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Jetsfan80 Posted January 14, 2020 Popular Post Share Posted January 14, 2020 12 minutes ago, David Harris said: I’m very curious how you met all these greats? Can you share? Work/family/sports connections? Of course. I'll try to keep it short, lol. My Dad went to a Mets fantasy camp in '85. He co-owned a travel agency with my Mom. Thru that experience he made some connections and ended up helping out with the B.A.T. (Baseball Assistance Team) Dinner and Baseball Writer's Dinner for years. He worked his way up with the Baseball Writer's event to where he was the right-hand man for Phil Pepe. Through all of that, we had the good fortune to meet tons of athletes through these 2 events plus many others. We went to Cooperstown about every year and my Dad always received credentials to the Otesaga Hotel where all the players stayed. A few years back, Phil Pepe passed, so my Dad took over as the event manager for the dinner. Crazy that a non-writer, some travel agent from Jersey who now lives in Raleigh, was entrusted with running the dinner that for so long was operated entirely by the writers. A writer in Florida once heard a story about my Dad and decided to write about it. The link to the article no longer works but I have a copy of it saved in a word doc: Quote A Savior for the Stars By Joe Capozzi Palm Beach Post Staff Writer Sunday, May 27, 2007 In January, 90 minutes before the New York Baseball Writers Dinner, Hanley Ramirez was in full panic mode. No, the Marlins' shortstop wasn't getting anxious about the very real possibility of being named the NL Rookie of the Year. The problem was a potential wardrobe malfunction — Ramirez's tux hadn't arrived at his Hilton Hotel room and he wasn't about to attend baseball's version of Oscar Night without the proper attire. "I said if they don't have a suit for me, I'm not going to go,'' Ramirez recently recalled. "Everybody else had suits. I'm not going to wear (just) a shirt.'' One phone call later, it was Ken Swarthout to the rescue. Again. "Kenny,'' as he is known in baseball circles, is a 61-year-old devoted husband and father with a love for the game. He runs Leisure Travel, a New Jersey-based agency that does much more than book Atlantic City junkets and Mediterranean cruises. For the past 22 years, his agency has arranged flights, lodging and security for some of baseball's most high-profile events — from Mets fantasy camps and Rawlings Gold Glove ceremonies to Hall of Fame induction weekend. When it comes to pleasing baseball legends past and present, there's no task too small for Kenny. He once helped Johnny Podres replace shoes that were too small. He arranged to replace a too-tight Nicole Miller jacket for Joe DiMaggio. He even persuaded a sportswriter to loan his pants to Warren Spahn when the pair ordered for the pitcher was too short. And on Jan. 28, he loaned his own shiny black tux to St. Louis star David Eckstein, who wasn't the only shortstop whose duds weren't delivered that night. "David's was closer in size to me, but it was still two sizes too big,'' Swarthout said with a laugh. "I ended up in sneakers, a button-down blue shirt and some slacks. It was fine.'' As for Ramirez, the tux place is usually reliable, Swarthout told Ramirez's agent, Andy Mota, but no worries. A quick call from Kenny to one of his connections and Ramirez was in a cab speeding to a Men's Wearhouse in Midtown. Ramirez picked out a black suit and made it back to the Hilton in time to accept his trophy with a moving speech, including a tearful thank you to former Marlins manager Joe Girardi. To top off the night, he got to keep the emergency duds. "It was like that old ad on the wall at Ebbets Field: 'Hit the sign, win a suit,''' Swarthout said. "Well, Hanley got to keep the suit.'' Ramirez won't soon forget Kenny. "That guy was nice. He was great.'' It was just another clutch performance for Kenny. He has found golf clubs just before tee time for Duke Snider. He wrote a last-minute presentation speech for Hank Aaron, using one of his son's Carlos Delgado baseball cards so Hammerin' Hank had accurate stats when presenting his namesake award to Delgado. One time, he had Mark Grace's Gold Glove Award shipped to the home of the Cubs' first baseman after Grace forgot it in his hotel room. "I went up to his room and I didn't realize the baseballs on the trophy were loose. Two baseballs go rolling under the bed. Here I am at 1 a.m. trying to put the trophy back together,'' Swarthout said. Swarthout said he doesn't ask for anything in return from the many baseball stars he's helped, but there was one time when he couldn't resist. He plays in a men's senior baseball league that was started by Steve Sigler, whose daughter, Jamie-Lynn, plays Tony Soprano's daughter, Meadow, in The Sopranos. One night, during a hitting slump, Swarthout found himself alongside Yankees stars Derek Jeter and Alex Rodriguez. "It was probably 1 a.m.," Swarthout said. "We were waiting there for their car to come and I said, 'I'm having the toughest time hitting the inside fastball.' They were nice enough to give me some tips.'' One of Swarthout's all-time favorite moments came when he was escorting Roger Clemens to a function. "The elevator stops at one floor. The doors open and there's a father and his two sons. They're wearing Red Sox jerseys. They just stand there with their mouths open. ''The doors closed and Roger turns to me (sarcastically), 'Do you think they recognized me?' I told him, 'No, I think it was me.' Roger had a good laugh.'' 2 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Harris Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 At 19 years old I waited tables at a Friday’s in random surburbia NJ; summer break from college; wearing the red-white clown shirt with suspenders, all geeked up. Derek Jeter came in with his parents for lunch, white mom, black dad. He was young but was already a megastar in his prime. It wasn’t a frenzy but the steady stream of intermittent autograph seeking made me feel bad for him. His parents seemed to enjoy it but he didn’t make eye contact but quietly signed everything. So I felt bad for him...and then I asked for an autograph, still bothers me that I did that. But the redeeming thing is I did have him make it out to my grandmother whose father pitched for the Yankees in the 1920 World Series, “Hackensack Harry Harper”; who was legit friends with The Babe (or at least carousing buddies). Babe came up to stay at the family farm in Sussex County a few times and we still play poker with the chips he played with. There used to be some memorabilia in the barn loft, some old leather mits with short fingers, uncomfortable wool game jerseys and literally baseballs rolling around signed by the entire teams with a big “Babe Ruth” in middle center between the seems. At some point over the years those baseballs disappeared and my country bumpkin cousin built a new house...?♂️ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
David Harris Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 Jetsfan80 - that is sick man!!! - thanks for sharing, great read! What a cool thing to be a part of. You’re Dad = badass ? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsfan80 Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 7 minutes ago, David Harris said: Jetsfan80 - that is sick man!!! - thanks for sharing, great read! What a cool thing to be a part of. You’re Dad = badass ? Dude he's my hero. He's like Forrest Gump but with an above average IQ. He just stumbles into a lot of awesome stuff. And my Mom is an absolute saint for putting up with all of that sh*t. She had to run the company while he and I were off living out childhood dreams, lol. 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hael Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 I met a lot of the 90s Bills when they were still playing and before they got too famous and got their autographs. My friends parent got us in before a practice and had some connection with the organization, I forget why. nicest. Thurman Thomas, Marv Levy and James Lofton. Took their time to talk with kids. not so nice. Bruce Smith and Jim Kelly who both gave us attitude and shoved us off. Kelly gave off the rock star I’m too cool vibe and Bruce just seemed like he wanted to kill everyone. Dude was scary. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jetsfan80 Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 23 minutes ago, Hael said: not so nice. Bruce Smith and Jim Kelly who both gave us attitude and shoved us off. Kelly gave off the rock star I’m too cool vibe and Bruce just seemed like he wanted to kill everyone. Dude was scary. Jim Kelly definitely seems like he was an arrogant kid in his 20s but turned into a nice, cordial guy as he got older. Could be wrong though. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgb Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 16 hours ago, nico002 said: I walked by Tom Brady in the park Lol 13 hours ago, Jetsfan80 said: The one surefire time you should never EVER bother them, other than a very brief hello, is when they're having a meal with their family. Gotta just leave them alone. Sometimes the celebrity life seems far more glamorous than it actually is. As Johnny Cash once said "Being famous means having to worry about everything.....except money." Not sure that's always a great tradeoff. When I was a kid and teachers would ask the class, “what do you want to be when you grow up?” There were always kids who wanted to be a “famous rock star” or “famous movie star.” Fame always had some allure but back then kids realized it needed to be attached to some form of achievement. You ask kids today what they want to be, many answer “famous.” When you ask “for what?” You just get this dumb look back. Fame has become a goal unto itself for some reason I will never understand. The best combination is to be rich and anonymous. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheNuuFaaolaExperience Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 11 hours ago, BUM-KNEE said: Like..... Luke Duke? The one and only. He even said "do you know who I am? I'm Luke Duke." In a joking, but proud manner. He won the game, but I wasn't about to show up Luke Duke in a friendly game of one on one. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Awesumtenor Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 Dr. J went to Hempstead HS with my mother’s youngest sister; when he was on the Virginia Squires they would hang out when he was in town...he was also a regular playing ball at Kennedy Park and it was major cool points for me and my brother when the other kids heard him say to us “tell your Aunt Pat I’ll call her later”... Howard Davis, Jr. moved to Hempstead after he won gold at the 1976 Olympics; I used to cut his grass Met Jim Brown at a lacrosse clinic@KP and Willis Reed at a basketball clinic @Hofstra. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jet Nut Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 21 hours ago, joewilly12 said: Yes Joe Namath,Curtis Martin,Lawrence Taylor. Same and Mark Messier, Harry Carson & Chrissy Evert. Oh does Joe Klecko count? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jgb Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 Met Harry Carson once. Nothing interesting. He was hired to do meet and greets for a conference I was intending. I got a photo with him and an autographed HOF helmet. A better story is when I met Mark Grace when he was a broadcaster for the D'backs (this was before his second DUI arrest and firing). Obviously, not a HOFer but it was still cool to meet a guy whose baseball card I was super excited to pull from packs as a kid ('88 Donruss). We were both sleeping with the same girl at the time (found that out later), she worked for the Phillies and the D'Backs were in town. The three of us met in a bar in Philly after the game. Later in the evening, some other friends joined (I think I texted everyone I knew on my RAZR telling them to come quick and have drinks with Mark Grace). Anyway we were all drinking, having a blast, and he was super nice and funny. Eventually I worked up the courage to ask him about "slumpbusting." Some of you may remember that he was infamous as a player for being an advocate of this practice. Basically, whenever a Cubs player was on a slump, Mark would take the guys out for a night of debauchery that ended with the slumping player bedding the biggest gal he could find. This was how slumps were broken in the late 80s/early 90s Cubs in the pre-#metoo world. You can google and easily find interviews from those days of him discussing it. He confirmed the practice with a laugh and without a hint of shame. Very funny. Later that night, one of my (now former) friends and a complete animal, pulled the shirt down on one of the girls, exposing her briefly. Mark Grace looked around the table and said "I just saw that girl's Oreos." We died laughing. Not so funny in sober retrospect, but that has stuck with me. PS: That former friend has since been fired from two jobs for sexual harassment. No surprise there. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charlie Brown Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 Walt Frazier was my basketball Idol growing up and he became and was my client several years back. Now that was sweet... 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BettyBoop Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 I have met many but two guys who stand out are Jack Buck and Al McGuire. Al was hysterical and Jack was one of the most sincere and nicest people I ever met. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge4Tide Posted January 14, 2020 Author Share Posted January 14, 2020 1 hour ago, Jet Nut said: Same and Mark Messier, Harry Carson & Chrissy Evert. Oh does Joe Klecko count? Joe Klecko ALWAYS counts on JetNation! 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge4Tide Posted January 14, 2020 Author Share Posted January 14, 2020 12 hours ago, Il Mostro said: Casey Stengel, Tom Seaver, Sparky Anderson (sat next to him on a flight and had great conversation about leadership), Jim Brown (we went to the same car wash for many years, always willing to chat while waiting for our cars), Magic Johnson. Casey Stengel? Tell us more! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fantasy Island Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 23 hours ago, Sarge4Tide said: For real? What park? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bitonti Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 23 hours ago, CTM said: I met LT once when I was young, maybe middle school at a charity basketball event. He was in his car, hazy on whether he was coming or going but it was essentially right before or after the game and the only thing he said was "get the **** away from the car kids" and up his window went. As a Jets fan I didn't care but some of the kids with LT jerseys on seemed pretty upset lol oh yeah I saw LT once too at an offense defense football camp in SUNY SB he showed up late but the kids followed him around like he was the Pope or something they eventually gathered us all up and he gave a rousing speech about how kids shouldn't do crack he really was just playing himself in Any Given Sunday 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jackhuntr Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 Mike Modano, Guy Carbonneau, Brett Hull and other Dallas Stars in 1998 after a game in Atlanta they all showed up at a local bar. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jet Nut Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 1 hour ago, Sarge4Tide said: Joe Klecko ALWAYS counts on JetNation! As he should to all of us. Its a shame, between his court case and that hes not on national tv he doesn't stand a chance. Look at those who are on pregame shows, Cowher and Johnson going in over someone like Flores who should have gone in too. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jet Nut Posted January 14, 2020 Share Posted January 14, 2020 2 hours ago, Charlie Brown said: Walt Frazier was my basketball Idol growing up and he became and was my client several years back. Now that was sweet... Clyde was one I idolized back in the day. How is he in person? Besides the coolest guy in the room? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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