Brushes with Greatness (or idiots)

[TaoMaas]

I was picking up some breakfast in a small restaurant in the First National Center yesterday morning, when I noticed a blonde guy close to me who kept glancing nervously in my direction. As I looked at him, I said, "I think that's Matt Damon!" Then I realized that the reason he was looking at me was because I was carrying a camera. I think he was trying to decide if I was a papparazzi who was stalking him. lol Even though we were only a few feet away from each other, I still wasn't sure it was him until a customer came up and said, "Hi, Matt! How have you been?" Apparently they'd met several years before, from what I gathered from their conversation.

[WilliamTell]

Sat next to Mack Brown in coach on the way from Reagan to dfw. He was polite, engaging, talked about his family, gave helpful advice about handling life and never made anyone who spoke to him in the two rows around him feel like he was above them and not a personal friend.

The worst and most embarrassing part of the flight was two OU fans who walked by repeatedly to say insults to him.

I love Oklahoma and I enjoy OU football (OSU grad) but the fans embarrassed my state that day.

[LovableGoober]

I was in the music business back in the late '70's and early '80's and met lots and lots of musicians. Probably the best ones I met were Robert Plant, Ozzy Osbourne and Gary U.S. Bonds. Those are the guys that made time to sit and talk to us one on one and didn't act like "rockstars". I got to spend some time talking to John Mellencamp but he mostly wanted to complain about opening for REO Speedwagon and not being allowed to do an encore. A lot of guys back then were very distant, especially after John Lennon's murder. I can certainly understand why they had to be.......

[jstaylor62]

I was actually very surprised when I met Mike Tyson many years ago how friendly he was. I asked him to sign an autograph and he had me sit down and we talked for a few minutes and then he gave me an autograph. Hard to understand, but seemed very genuine. Be prepared though, when you tell him you're a big fan, he will quiz you to see if you're lying. Luckily I was up on my Tyson trivia that day.

I was in Las Vegas in March of 1995 for a convention. I was walking through the Mall at Ceasar's Palace, when a crowd started to gather outside one of the stores. When I asked what was going on, somebody said that Mike Tyson and Don King were in the store shopping. Tyson had just been released from prison a few days earlier. So I asked "what's the big deal about a couple of ex-cons on a shopping spree?". Then I added, "shouldn't Tyson's condition of parole prevent him from associating with other known felons?" My comments did not go over well with those people of similar ethnicity to Tyson and King.

[barrettd]

barrettd, you must be an LC, because i remember reading that story.

Mark, I am an LC! Haven't been active for a while, but have been one since the old listserv days. Great group.

[capt_john_97]

I worked at Molly Murphy's in the 80's and got to meet lots of stars as they came through town. Of musicians the one that really stands out was Whitesnake as a guy who wasn't an adoring fan they treated me like crap. Joan Jett was awesome, Pat Benetar was great. Being a member of the military who has been overseas a few times I had the opportunity to meet Toby Keith. He pays out of pocket for him and the members of his band to go overseas twice a year and entertain the troops. After seeing him there and having a short conversation with him I saw him a few years alter at an OU football game. He walked right over to me and started talking to me. He remembered me! and wanted to see how I was doing.
As for other stars the list is long and distinguished. Local celebrities and big name. Like I said Molly Murphy's was all the rage and everybody who was anybody went there. I can only remember two that were really full of themselves and didnt seem to share my sense of humor. Burt Ward (TV's Robin of Batman and Robin) and Brian Bozworth.

[RealJimbo]

Been lucky to meet several celebrities over the years. 1977 met Mohammed Ali and his first wife at the Fountainbleu Hotel in Miami Beach. Next morning saw him again and ate breakfast with him and a friend, got his autograph. Truly nice guy. Met Carey Grant who visited TG&Y HQ in OKC while he was doing PR for Faberge. Class act. Met Henry Mancini at a conference in Washington DC in about 1984. Talked to Reba McIntyre on the phone in 1986. Visited with Gov. Henry Bellmon at Will Rogers Airport in 1986 while he was running for re-election. Stood in line behind former governor George Nigh at Office Depot, told him I had always been behind him...he laughed. Interviewed Wes Studi a few years ago for a local magazine (telephone interview). He was very gracious, patient and helpful. Have met Mark Harmon several times now as he visits Boulevard Bowl in Edmond every year for his benefit for children's healthcare causes. Very nice guy, approachable, patient. All of these have been very nice, professional and fun to meet. Others, Mariette Hartley, Barry Switzer, among others, seem to be very IMPORTANT and not very interested in lowly average people.

[Bigrayok]

I heard Susan Cowsill perform at the Blue Door on Monday Night. She was the youngest member of the Cowsills with her five brothers and her mom. Her family was kind of a predecessor to the Osmonds and Jakson Five. They had about four hit songs in the 60's including The Park, the Rain, and Other Things (Also Known as the Flower Girl Song) and the recorded version of the theme song from Hair.

The Cowsills were the model for the Partridge Family television show. They were actually supposed to be in the show but backed out after Shirley Jones was hired to play the mother. They appeared on Ed Sullivan twice and other shows in the 60's. Susan was in some other groups such as the Dwight Twilley Band and The Continental Drifters.

Susan is 52 years old now and has lived a very interesting musical life. She has lived in New Orleans since 1993 and lost her house to the flooding after Hurricane Katrina. She is a singer/songwriter now that plays accoustic guitar and performs with her husband, Russ Broussard as a solo act and with her surviving brothers in the Cowsills. ( Two of her brothers, Billy and Barry along with her mother have passed away). I am writing this to let the board readers know that Susan Cowsill and her husband Russ Broussard are a couple of really cool people.

Susan is a good songwriter and a fun live performer. There were only about 15 people at the show but she performed as if she was in a packed house. She told funny stories, has a nice voice, and played some great songs. She and her husband hung out and talked to the few fans there like they were close friends. I think she is going to be at the Blue Door again in a few months. I plan on being there.

Bigray in Ok

[ljbab728]

She has lived in New Orleans since 1993 and lost her house to the flooding after Hurricane Katrina. She is a singer/songwriter now that plays accoustic guitar and performs with her husband, Russ Broussard as a solo act and with her surviving brothers in the Cowsills. ( Two of her brothers, Billy and Barry along with her mother have passed away). I am writing this to let the board readers know that Susan Cowsill and her husband Russ Broussard are a couple of really cool people.Bigray in Ok

She may have mentioned it during her performance, but her brother Barry died during Hurricane Katrina.

[SOONER8693]

I urinated in the urinal directly next to Dr. J(Julius Irving) at a card and sports memoribilia show in Houston several years back. And no, I didn't look.

[MartzMimic]

In the mid 80s, my ROTC unit at East Central had a couple fundraising concerts, George Strait and then the Judds. George was nice, but is pretty shy and spent most of his time on his bus. Terrified of crowds. The Judds were wonderful. Naomi and Winona were friendly, but I most remember a few of us visiting for an hour or so with Ashley, who must have been 16-17 at the time.

[bucktalk]

Attended the retirement party for JC Watts and Dick Army in Washington DC several years ago. Vice President Dick Chaney was the keynote speaker -luckily he did not bring his shot gun with him as I was about 20 from the podium!!

[MartzMimic]

Attended the retirement party for JC Watts and Dick Army in Washington DC several years ago. Vice President Dick Chaney was the keynote speaker -luckily he did not bring his shot gun with him as I was about 20 from the podium!!

I can't complain about Dick Cheney. In 1990, the artillery battery I was commanding went to Honduras for annual training. When it came time to return to Oklahoma, the Air Force didn't have capacity to get us all back, so several of us were stranded. My first sergeant's wife eventually wound up on the phone with then Sect. of Defense Dick Cheney. The next day, a transport taking military dependants back to the States was off-loaded to fly us home. As the bewildered dependents were coming off the plane, one of the ground crew at Soto Cano said he'd never seen anything like that happen before.

If you think this heat is bad, try Honduras in the summer with near 100 percent humidity most of the time. Ol' Dick did right by me.

[Edgar]

Peed next to Abby Hoffman at the OU Union. Affable guy, didn't wash his hands. Recently sat at a table next to Sonny Galloway and his son who were enjoying some fersh cuts fries at the Garage in Norman. Friendly guy- complemented his daughters breasts, not. Must have been a double whammy she wore Cowboys gear in the photo shoot.