Share a time you met a famous athlete...

[ocjack]

Mid-80's, bought Freddie Solomon a drink when he was sitting at a near-by table in a San Francisco restaurant. As we were leaving, we passed his table, he stood up to thank us and we spoke for a few minutes. I patted his arm as we left, and it felt like I was hitting a brick wall. The man was solid muscle. And also, a down-to-earth guy. Also, passed too soon.

[drcy]

When I was young my dad would tell me that when he a young science student at the University of Minnesota he got to meet legendary Danish physics Nobel Prize winner Niels Bohr, which for a science student is the equivalent of meeting a movie star of the President. My dad said that the Danish Bohr's accent was so thick he had no clue what Bohr was saying.

When my dad later had Alzheimer's, I told him about the incident and he could no longer remember it. He said "Is that true?," and I said, "Sure, you used to tell me about it often." He thought for a second then said "That's a pretty good story."

Bobby Murcer's dollar bill from Seaside NJ

[Writehooks]

In 2016, Mike Tyson attended the IBF convention in Beijing. I write for an English-language daily in China and had interviewed Iron Mike several times before. When I arrived at his hotel, there was a phalanx of security guards trying to keep a couple of thousand screaming fans at bay, but Tyson's people had left word that I was coming so after showing my credentials I was escorted to his suite. Mike was tired from the long flight and really in no mood to talk much, but invited me to accompany him and his entourage on a short hike on the Great Wall the next morning. I thanked him, but said I couldn't make it because I'd scheduled a sparring session for a young female boxer that I was training. "She can spar anytime," he said. "Bring her along."
At 10 the next morning, me and my fighter -- a 105-lb southpaw with a 3-0 pro record --boarded the bus with Tyson and his 14-man posse for the 90-minute ride to the Great Wall. Mike couldn't have been nicer, taking the time to ask my fighter about her goals and encouraging her to keep training hard. Our "hike" on the Wall was cut short because of the thousands of fans who showed up hoping to catch a glimpse of "The baddest man on the planet", but once again the security detail did a great job and we were able to spend about half an hour at the site. When we returned to the hotel, Mike invited me, my fighter and her father up to his suite, where he posed for photos with them and autographed two pairs of gloves.
My fighter retired in 2019 with a record of 8-2-2 (4 KOs), but to this day she says meeting Iron Mike is the greatest thing that ever happened to her ...

[Snapolit1]

A few years ago I won a tour of Yankee Stadium for 4 with some unidentified "Yankee World Series Great". Had low expectations at to who it would be and it turned out to be Dwight Gooden. He was clearly out of shape and looked a little the worse for wear, but have to say he was a pleasure to be around. Posed for endless photos, took questions for like 45 minutes, and was just great with everyone, particularly the kids on the tour. I came out of it with some enhanced sympathy for his situation. He looked like he was still battling addiction and no doubt did it for the money, but he showed up and my take was that he was happy to be cherished for a day and treated like royalty. I asked him who the toughest batter he had to deal with in the majors and his answer was Chili Davis.

I've told this story on the main board but one Fathers Day I met Tom Seaver at Shea Stadium (prob last season at Shea) where he was signing balls on fathers day in the Mets clubhouse store behind home plate. Few people were online for a $99 autographed ball. Me and my son got to the front of the line and as he was signing it (never looked at us) I wished him a happy fathers day. He just looked up dismissively and glared at me and sarcastically said "thanks Dad..." and rolled the ball back to us across the table. Never acknowledged my son. The whole experience was a bit surreal. The only think I though of was that maybe he had just lost a child and was pissed off I mentioned fathers day. Not the case and I still can't figure out what that was all about. I realize he suffered from dementia later in life but I don't think that was what this was about.

Me and some coworkers met Keith Hernandez a Manhattan bar one night maybe a decade ago. He was very cool. He recommended a bottle of wine and we all had a glass. The whole time he kept calling over the bartender (young enough to be his son) basically commented on every hot female who came in and out of the bar. And even commented on a few who were there the night before. Was about what I'd expect from Keith.

[Casey2296]

Took a piss with Evel Knievel, no we didn't shake hands...
Don Larsen drank me under the table at a bar one night, yes we did shake hands...

[MooseDog]

1997 Kentucky Derby and Preakness winner Silver Charm at 25. Didn't make a scene, just fed him some carrots and a gave him scratch on the forehead. Very approachable and down to earth...