I work as the entertainment editor for a daily newspaper, so I've met a lot of celebrities over the years through work. And as a donor/season ticket holder/big fan of University of Texas athletics, I've met a lot of famous athletes over the years. Some of the more memorable:
While in college, I got to go backstage and meet Pat Benatar in Odessa because a friend of mine, who was from New York, knew the drummer of her opening act. This same friend also knew one of the members of Joan Jett's band, the Blackhearts, and we got to go to their hotel room after they played at an outdoor festival in Lubbock. Both Pat and Joan were very nice.
While working at the newspaper, I was backstage at a local venue for a Garth Brooks concert. His opening act was Carlene Carter. As Garth (a really nice guy) was coming on stage for his first song, I was standing in the wings watching. I sensed someone come up behind me, and felt something pressing into the back of my arm. Then a hand brushed my ass. I turned to look, and it was Carlene Carter trying to get a better look at Garth Brooks. Her left breast had been pressing into the back of my right arm. She just smiled at me, said "Sorry" and wiggled her way in front of me. Fortunately, she was pretty short, and I could still see over her.
Meg Ryan and Dennis Quaid were in town to shoot a couple of scenes from the movie "Flesh and Bone." They were filming at the bus station across the street from the newspaper where I work. In fact, the woman who opens the newspaper also owns the property where the bus station is located. Because of that, the newspaper staff got good access to the movie set while they were in town. Anyway, when I came to work and parked, Meg Ryan was standing on the corner just across the street from where I parked. I got out of my car and started to walk toward her, because she is my favorite actress and damn sexy, too. I stopped on the corner across from her. We made eye contact. I said, "Hello." She gave me a goofy smile back and said, "Hello." It was just like that scene out of "Sleepless in Seattle" (which hadn't come out yet) in which she nearly gets run over by an 18-wheeler. Anyway, I then walked across the street and introduced myself. She was very nice, and very charming and funny, too. She was just waiting on the corner for them to finishing setting up for a shot. We talked for about 5 minutes when Dennis Quaid showed up, probably concerned about some strange man talking to his then wife, and Meg introduced us, and we all continued to talk for about another 5 minutes before a production assistant came to tell them they were ready for the next shot. So then I got to go and watch them shoot the scene inside the bus station.
Athletes I've met over the years include Roger Clemens, Spike Owens, Keith Moreland, Nolan Ryan, John Elway, Steve Buechele, Jim Abbott, Jose Cruz Jr., John Wetteland, Lance Berkman, Barry Larkin, Ricky Williams, Earl Campbell, Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irving, Leon Lett, Erik Williams, Bob Lilly, Mike Ditka, Randy White, Mean Joe Green.
