I got this idea from one our our readers who asked me if I am a friend of John Sickels or not. Here are some people I grew up with, went to school with, have met, or been in the same company:
- I grew up with Willie Drewrey who was a star at West Virginia University and played in the NFL for the old Houston Oilers
- I went to high school with Anthony Young who played football at Temple and was a starter for the Indianapolis Colts until he suffered a career ending neck injury.
- I went to high school with Orlando Caceres who placed 4th in the 1984 Olympics in wresting
- I grew up with Irv Smith who starred at Notre Dame and played tight end for the New Orleans Saints
- I met NFL Hall of Famer Jim Brown playing golf in Princeton, New Jersey. I got his autograph and for the life of me have no idea where it is.
- I used to go to a bar/restaurant in Delran, NJ that former Philadelphia Flyer and Hall of Famer Bobby Clark frequented as well.
- I saw Magic Johnson and his posse jump out of a limo in Oakland,CA a few hours before the Raiders-Jets playoff game back in 2002.
- Minutes after seeing Magic Johnson, saw former Raider coach Tom Flores hanging out in the Hyatt Hotel lobby.
How about you? Let us know who you are friends with, have met, or seen outside of a stadium or arena.
I email Ray Guilfoyle occasionally
Robert L. Bishop - January 15, 2012
We're so close that I didn't even have to double-check the spelling of his name
…but not close enough for me to know how to pronounce it. I have a couple of different theories.
Robert L. Bishop - January 15, 2012
Gill-foyle
Is that how its pronounced?
The Chair of Knowledge - January 15, 2012
yes
Ray Guilfoyle - January 16, 2012
I am famous?
As I mentioned to Mike earlier today, I am blessed with great writers. thanks,
Ray Guilfoyle - January 16, 2012
This is how you find out if you're famous...
If you write name in on google and google knows who you are before you finish typing your name, then you’re famous. Therefore Ray, yes you are famous.
LOL
The Chair of Knowledge - January 16, 2012
When I was freshman in high school, Mark Cisco (the guy who got dunked on by Jeremy Lamb) was a senior.
Here’s a clip of it http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?v=WMFTEiej0mY
And Rick Porcello also went to my high school a year before I came to it as a freshman. But I guess that doesnt really count, since I never actually saw him.
I met Shaq at a book signing for his new book.
I met Brook Lopez, Ryan Anderson, and CDR when I went to a Nets basketball camp.
Thats all I can think of, off the top of my head.
The Chair of Knowledge - January 15, 2012
cool
who is CDR?
Oh, and I was on the same flight as Sal Palantonio last year going to the Pats-Jets playoff game in New England. He was wearing these huge back frame glasses…..we talked to him when we arrived in Boston….nice guy.
Ray Guilfoyle - January 16, 2012
Haha thats cool
CDR is Chris Douglas-Roberts. Nets drafted him in the second round in 2008. Nets rookie at the time.
The Chair of Knowledge - January 16, 2012
HMmmmm
Company bus trip to New York (from Boston)…. I went down to the hotel lobby, and accidentally stepped on some big guys foot standing behind me in line. Turned out it was Larry Bird….. sitting behind him was the Chief.
Logan got snowed in.
So Larry Bird…. Chief and all the Celtics took the bus back to Boston with us.I wasn’t on “the bus” that they took… but it was pretty cool.
Bob_24798 - January 15, 2012
good story
hated Bird when I was growing up….big Knicks fan back then….but remember how great he was in college and even greater in the NBA.
Ray Guilfoyle - January 16, 2012
Re Knicks
Even if he wasn’t a Celtic I would have been a HUGE Bird fan:
Here’s a story:
March 3rd 1985… Kevin McHale scored 56 points for a new Celtics record. Larry bird said "There aren’t too many times you have an opportunity to score that many points. Kevin will probably not score that many again. Today he was awesome; he deserved it."
Bird added, "He should have gone for 60." wink wink (I added the winks)
Nine days later Bird broke Mchale’s record :)
The guy was amazing.
Re: The Knicks…..I would be happy to see the Celtics and Knicks renew their rivalry…. that Boston New York thing is always good for generating heat in a cold winter.
Bob_24798 - January 16, 2012
I waited on Donald Sutherland twice
aemrich - January 15, 2012
cool
where? what did he eat?
Ray Guilfoyle - January 16, 2012
2010
Mike Huckabee was my seatmate in 1st class on my way to Tout Wars that year
Jason Collette - January 15, 2012
Who's Mike Huckabee?
The Chair of Knowledge - January 15, 2012
Politician
I guess I was in the same room with Chuck Norris once because I went to a Mike Huckabee speech during the 2008 primaries.
To answer the question more seriously, I once waited on The Great Khali. That guy can pack away some serious food.
Robert L. Bishop - January 15, 2012
nice
I would love an invite to Tout Wars….and must be nice to travel first class Jason!!!
thanks for sharing.
Ray Guilfoyle - January 16, 2012
My uncle was a scout for the Ottawa Senators and a good friend’s uncle played in the NHL for like eighteen years, so I’ve met Daniel Alfredsson, Dany Heatley, Marian Hossa, Zdeno Chara, Rick Nash, lots of hockey guys. Played golf with Clay Guida.
T.C. Engel - January 15, 2012
Does Clay Guida swing a golf club like a caveman? he must....
….also, in 1982, at age 11 I got Bruce Sutter’s autograph just outside a men’s room in a bar near 3 rivers stadium. He had previously denied me with “i don’t sign at the bar, kid.” Once I saw him get up, I knew I had a way around thee rules!!
/lost that autograph within a week, doh!
BrothersGottaAndyHug - January 15, 2012
Nope, he swings a club like.. A normal below average golfer haha.
T.C. Engel - January 16, 2012 via mobile
good stuff T.C.
by the way, what does T.C. stand for?
Ray Guilfoyle - January 16, 2012
Taylor Cyrus, haha, there’s a reason I shorten it.
T.C. Engel - January 16, 2012 via mobile
Freshman year of college I used to drink beer with Jared Allen of the Vikings...
He was kind of a douche.
Also, for some reason the cast of Friday Night Lights (TV) decided to have a party at the little hole in the wall bar I worked at after their season premier screening. Everyone was pretty cool except the chick that played the coaches daughter. She was underage and kept trying to sneak drinks and then was a huge diva whenever she got busted. The ginger kid was kind of lame too.
getupkid82 - January 15, 2012
reminds me of my time in college
I went to the same college as Jack Armstrong….he pitched for Rider before transferring to Oklahoma….eventually drafted in the fist round of the 1987 draft and started the All Star game in 1990.
I was a freshman when Jeff Kunkel was a junior at Rider and he eventually was the 3rd overall pick in the 1983 draft.
Armstrong was a complete douche…..thought he was God on campus…..no personality at all.
Ray Guilfoyle - January 16, 2012
I met Claude Giroux the friday before new years a couple weeks ago. It was at a bar called Ladder 15 in Philly. His entire family was there because the Winter Classic was in town.
DannyO - January 15, 2012
good stuff man
thanks for sharing
Ray Guilfoyle - January 16, 2012
I had to kick L C Greenwood out of a parking spot when I was a valet at Mountaineer casino in WV.
I met Andrew McCutchen, Nyjer Morgan, and Jeff Karstens at a charity autograph signing. It was maybe 3 weeks after Cutch made his debut for Pittsburgh. Nyjer will always be one of my favorite people. He seemed happier to meet me than I was him.
I met Paul Bearer, manager of the Undertaker. He’s the uncle of a lifelong friend. I was disappointed he didn’t actually talk in the high-pitched voice or carry the urn around with him.
gorillakilla34 - January 16, 2012 via mobile
Nyjer Morgan may have a bad attitude, but he does always seem happy. He has tons of energy
The Chair of Knowledge - January 16, 2012
Dustin Byfuglien
I was golfing with some friends in Roseau, MN a couple of years ago and Dustin Byfuglien was fresh off of winning the Stanley Cup with the Blackhawks and golfer there too. He was nice and asked to pass through, which we happily allowed. I still don’t know to this day how he didn’t turn the golf ball into a white dust cloud with the way he hit it so hard. My only close experience with a sports celebrity in my life.
PostmanMatt - January 16, 2012 via Android app
couple years ago I took a 2nd job at a hotel right around the corner from Angels Stadium
I meet random ball players and celebrities all the time. Most recently Bobby Abreu. During the season most out of town ball players stay at a hotel down the street but whenever there is a nationally televised game the stations crew that carries the game stays there. I never approach anyone unless the situation presents itself but I’m in Valet and have parked numerous celebrities cars. Kenny Loggins, Joe Satriani, Joe Bonamossa to name a few but since I’m a huge baseball fan those guys are much more memorable. Joe Morgan, Orel Hershiser, John Miller, Dave O’Brien, Rick Sutcliffe, Eric Karros… When the Angels hosted the allstar game I met Frank Robinson and Gary Thorne.
My good buddies are the main bartenders at goat hill tavern in Newport beach which was a regular hangout for lots of angels players and random out of town ball players. After any random home game you could catch any one of jered weaver, john lackey, scot shields, mike napoli, jeff mathis… I’ve met joba chamberlain and cc sabathia in there. Last year when the red sox were in town I saw lackey sitting with Beckett, buccholz, weaver and mathis.
My favorite celebrity meeting was definitely Tom Hanks though. I work for FedEx and I worked on the set of the film Castaway. He is super cool and everything you would think he would be character and personality wise. Him and Orel Hershiser for sure. Orel is super cool and loves to talk baseball although I’ve talked more poker with him then anything. I’ve parked his car numerous times and usually ask him how his year is going in poker. I haven’t seen him since last april though.
Erick Danielsen - January 16, 2012 via mobile
tremendous
wow. I would love to meet Hershiser for sure, being that I am a Dodgers fan.
Not surprised you saw Lackey, Beckett and Buccholz in the hotel bar together….ha.
this story reminds me, that many years ago, I met up with a college buddy and his friends in Philly for a Mets-Phillies game back in the mid 80s. We hung out in the hotel bar and saw David Cone, Kevin McReynolds and others. I remember taking the elevator with Gregg Jeffries when he was just called up. He was in the elevator with some young hottie.
But, after the game, I recall Kevin McReynolds walking to the elevators with two girls he probably just met. And recall Cone hanging with several as well.
Ray Guilfoyle - January 16, 2012
very cool..
… Cone was always a great player to watch. Orel is a actually a very successful poker player and is considered professional now. He lives in Vegas and does it full time. He is not as tall as you would think he is.
Erick Danielsen - January 16, 2012 via mobile
im sure i dont have to tell you but he definitely bleeds dodger blue also...
… drives a dodger blue Mercedes Benz.
Erick Danielsen - January 16, 2012 via mobile
and for you ufc fans...
… tito ortiz was the wrestling coach at my high school. I’ve met quite a few time since he coached a friend if mine and we live in the same town. Actually, living in Huntington Beach you meet a lot of random celebrities. I met Bill Ward recently at the grocery store. He was the drummer for Black Sabbath. A guy I work with sees him at his weekly AA meetings.
Erick Danielsen - January 16, 2012 via mobile
ha!!
great story.
I was in Huntington Beach for a client conference a few years ago….good time. What hotel did you work at?
Ray Guilfoyle - January 16, 2012
The Hilton Suites...
… it is technically in the city of orange but right on the border of orange/anaheim. Newport Beaches Goat Hill Tavern is definitely the hot spot for ball players though. I have no idea why because it is a hole in the wall bar. But maybe they want something lowkey. I’ve met and seen more ball players there than at the hotel for sure.
Huntington you just have a lot of random celebrities living there. Mainly rock stars that grew up in the area. K.O.R.N. ,Avenged Sevenfold (they went to my highschool), Bill Ward like I’ve mentioned, Scott Weiland who also went to Huntington beach high.
Erick Danielsen - January 16, 2012 via mobile
i could really go on and on...
… living where I live, Ive randomly seen Kobe Bryant numerous times, Dennis Rodman, my dad was good friends with cameron diazs dad emilio who passed away a couple years ago. At his wake at his favorite bar we saw cameron, justin timberlake and john mayer. Jessie James and Sandra Bullock used to live right in front of this spot I regularly surf at. Its weird when I think about it. I’ve got nothing on my buddy I work with though. He works at the playboy mansion on the weekends. He meets more celebrities and athletes in a weekend than I’ve seen and met in all my years at the hotel and bars. Not to mention the bunnies, oh the stories he has….
Erick Danielsen - January 16, 2012 via mobile
Sports in general I love, but MMA comes before all others. Therefore, I hate you right now.
T.C. Engel - January 16, 2012 via mobile
Tank Abbot, Tiki, Kimo, anyone that trains with Tito...
… I see those guys jogging the boardwalk all the time. Back when I was a little runt I used buy candy from a liquor store in seal beach and Tank worked behind the counter before he got into knocking dudes out. There are MMA training facilities everywhere now and there is usually a pro that works in there.
Erick Danielsen - January 16, 2012 via mobile
Sweet.
I’ve never gotten the chance to meet any of the old school guys, I’d be interested in knowing if they have a way different mind set than the younger guys.
T.C. Engel - January 16, 2012
Living in Los Angeles... too many.
I used to have a class with Blake Hawksworth (RP for the Cardinals) in Community College before he decided to sign with St. Louis. That’s the only athlete that I can think of. A good friend of mine was a star at a mid-major college in basketball and now plays overseas professionally.
The other day I saw “E” from Entourage at a bar and he was being a total douchebag in front of everyone. It’s not a myth that a lot of famous people believe they are better than you. Though some are nice. Michael McDonald (Stewart from MadTV) was super nice.
Kenneth Arthur - January 16, 2012
i ate dinner with mariano rivera once
he showed me how he throws a cutter on an orange
i’ve also met kobe bryant a duke basketball game, right after he scored 88 points and asked him if he could try and go for 100 haha
TINO24 - January 16, 2012
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