bigK14094 Posted July 14, 2015 Posted July 14, 2015 I kept waiting for a punch line....but I'm starting to think this was a serious post...This really happened!? Yes, he had a bunch of tennis buddies, I was tight with a guy who played (tennis) with them occasionally. Likely all the high living caused his premature death at age 94.
eball Posted July 14, 2015 Posted July 14, 2015 See, if I saw Jim Kelly or Thurman or Bruce while I was out the last thing I'd do is walk up to them and do the "I'm a BIG fan" nonsense. I'd probably say "let me buy you a beer" or something like that. And then there would be an awkward silence because we're not in a bar, so I'd have to excuse myself to run to the convenience store and pick up a six-pack, then hurry back and hope they haven't left yet. But I damn sure wouldn't ask for an autograph.
tedstrong Posted July 14, 2015 Posted July 14, 2015 Starting with the 60's Bills...My Dad was the Real Estate guy of record for the Bills, so he knew most of them. He always said Cookie was a hoot! Ed Rutkowski used to read bedtime stories to my brother and I, taking time out from cocktail parties. Met Al Bemiller a few years ago, a real nice guy. He really appreciated the Bills Yearbooks ('63-66) DVD I copied for him. Jack Kemp showed my brother and I around the Capitol Bldg. in DC in 1974. He was really nice to us. Met JD Hill at an autograph session at a Super Duper in 1973, nice enough. He had a pink Cadillac. Met Ralph and Bill Polian at a Monday Quarterback Club event at the Aud in '92, I shook Ralph's hand and thanked him for keeping the Bills in Buffalo. They were both really nice and gracious. Thurman and Bruce were at the event, but I was too chickensh%#t to approach them. Pat Lafontaine signed/dedicated a book he wrote to me as a fellow Brain Injury survivor. Any 49er fans out there (I grew up there, mostly). HoFer Bob Sinclair owned a liquor store in my neighborhood, so I met him a bunch- really nice. TE from the 60's Monty Stickles was a booze rep I met a bunch of times. Freddy Soloman was nice and signed an autograph. Ran into Bubba Paris at a BBQ restaurant in San Bruno- really nice and I thanked him for the Super Bowls. This is our year...Go Bills!
K D Posted July 14, 2015 Posted July 14, 2015 See, if I saw Jim Kelly or Thurman or Bruce while I was out the last thing I'd do is walk up to them and do the "I'm a BIG fan" nonsense. I'd probably say "let me buy you a beer" or something like that. And then there would be an awkward silence because we're not in a bar, so I'd have to excuse myself to run to the convenience store and pick up a six-pack, then hurry back and hope they haven't left yet. But I damn sure wouldn't ask for an autograph. true story. I never understood why some scribbly lines on a piece of paper mean anything to anyone. who cares? no they don't want to give you an autograph or take a picture with you or listen to you yap about how you are their biggest fan. and they aren't zoo animals so stop staring at them. be cool, buy them a beer, offer them your wife, keep it moving
DC Tom Posted July 14, 2015 Posted July 14, 2015 true story. I never understood why some scribbly lines on a piece of paper mean anything to anyone. who cares? no they don't want to give you an autograph or take a picture with you or listen to you yap about how you are their biggest fan. and they aren't zoo animals so stop staring at them. be cool, buy them a beer, offer them your wife, keep it moving On the other hand, you occasionally get the famous person who cops the attitude "Don't you know who I am? Aren't you going to ask for my autograph?" Uh...no. 'Cause I don't give a ****. I once met a well-known comic who shall remain nameless. Just to be different, I asked him if he wanted my autograph. He was...unamused (probably thought I was mocking him, when I was mocking the concept of autographs.)
Kelly the Dog Posted July 14, 2015 Posted July 14, 2015 On the other hand, you occasionally get the famous person who cops the attitude "Don't you know who I am? Aren't you going to ask for my autograph?" Uh...no. 'Cause I don't give a ****. I once met a well-known comic who shall remain nameless. Just to be different, I asked him if he wanted my autograph. He was...unamused (probably thought I was mocking him, when I was mocking the concept of autographs.) Well known comics are famously unfunny when in public. There are exceptions of course, but it's a commonly held belief around here.
Gugny Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 kitty. You'll never lead a nuclear superpower. Like Dog?
Prickly Pete Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 Most of the posts are stories of fans wanting something from these people. I don't want to engage with anyone (famous or not) in an unnatural way, it puts them on guard. The only times I have interacted with famous people, it has always been in regards to mundane situations like opening a door, excusing myself to reach for the sugar...that kind of stuff. Unless they are playing "do you know who I am?", just leave them alone.
Not at the table Karlos Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 Surprised by this.Met John a couple times and he was a very nice guy. it was late the first time I met him and he just got finished calling a lousy preseason game the second time so that may have had something to do with it. The first few times I met the CEO of my former job I thought he was a jerk until I actually had a chance to sit down and work with him. It came up during a convo and he apologized. He said he has a lot on his mind and was thinking over some things and didn't realize how he comes across to others.
Not at the table Karlos Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 (edited) See, if I saw Jim Kelly or Thurman or Bruce while I was out the last thing I'd do is walk up to them and do the "I'm a BIG fan" nonsense. I'd probably say "let me buy you a beer" or something like that. And then there would be an awkward silence because we're not in a bar, so I'd have to excuse myself to run to the convenience store and pick up a six-pack, then hurry back and hope they haven't left yet. But I damn sure wouldn't ask for an autograph. not sure if this is true but my dad has told this story a few times about jim. It was late 80s and My dad and a few of his construction buddies are in a bar and Jim Kelly walks in and sits at the other end of the bar. My dad isn't a big football fan but he recognized jim. My dad orders another round for his buddies and says and whatever mr. Kelly is drinking. Jim looks over and says I don't need your fing money. He is a tough one to judge. I've been around him since 90 when my uncle won a trip to his camp and Jim called my grandmas house to invite my uncle back the next year. My uncle has visited his camp every year since. I have seen the good sides of him and the bad over the years. I think a lot of it was maturity and he has become a much more mature person over the years and then he was hit with cancer and it humbled him. I love the guy for everything he does for my uncle but the bad I have seen him do made me hesitant. Edited July 15, 2015 by kr632
eball Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 (edited) On the other hand, you occasionally get the famous person who cops the attitude "Don't you know who I am? Aren't you going to ask for my autograph?" Uh...no. 'Cause I don't give a ****. I once met a well-known comic who shall remain nameless. Just to be different, I asked him if he wanted my autograph. He was...unamused (probably thought I was mocking him, when I was mocking the concept of autographs.) Well known comics are famously unfunny when in public. There are exceptions of course, but it's a commonly held belief around here. I've always suspected that well known comics hate being out in public because the immediate expectation is that everything they do or say has to be funny. That's a lot of pressure. I don't feel sorry for them or anything, but I can understand the perspective. "You know, that guy wasn't funny at all." "Well, he was only ordering a cup of coffee." "Still..." Edited July 15, 2015 by eball
DC Tom Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 I've always suspected that well known comics hate being out in public because the immediate expectation is that everything they do or say has to be funny. That's a lot of pressure. I don't feel sorry for them or anything, but I can understand the perspective. "You know, that guy wasn't funny at all." "Well, he was only ordering a cup of coffee." "Still..." This actually wasn't "out in public." He was doing a show and had just finished, and I was working security at the back door. I'd actually just rescued him from a truly annoying fan who was explaining to him how to tell a joke and break in to stand-up ("Mr X, your car is ready.")
Marv's Neighbor Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 I met OJ, in '69, at BUF Airport. I liked him at the time BUT....
The Real Buffalo Joe Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 I've always suspected that well known comics hate being out in public because the immediate expectation is that everything they do or say has to be funny. That's a lot of pressure. I don't feel sorry for them or anything, but I can understand the perspective. "You know, that guy wasn't funny at all." "Well, he was only ordering a cup of coffee." "Still..." "Make people laugh? Geez, that's a lot of pressure. Why are comics always put on the spot like this? You wouldn't go up to Meryl Streep and say, 'Make me cry!' You wouldn't go up to French philosopher Jean-François Lyotard and say, 'Make me cognizant of the impact postmodernity has had on the human condition!' You just wouldn't. Besides, humor is too subjective. For instance, I would think it's hilarious if Ben Affleck were eviscerated by peacocks. But would Ben think it's funny? Most likely not. See what I mean? Plus, if you want to be really funny... well, you just can't do it in 250 words. Because humor needs to build. You need a little subtext. I mean, for crying out loud, Tolstoy's War And Peace doesn't even start to get funny until around page 712. And who do you people think you are, anyway? You think you can just snap your fingers, and I'm going to be funny... on demand? Look, I am not your monkey boy!" -"Weird Al" Yankovic
billsintaiwan Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 (edited) Two vicarious stories: my old man and his friend were at Batavia downs and ran into Jim haslett and Fred smerlas. Old man's friend gave haslett the winning horse on a trifecta bet and haslett, after picking this 250 lb friend up like he was a feather and dancing around, bought beers the rest of the night. Two: near empty bar on the south side and my uncle was making fun of jack Kemp's strangely high voice. Kemp was, I think, our representative at the time or maybe just prior to that. My uncle hears a guy at the end of the bar say "I don't think his voice is that high" in an exaggerated high voice. The guy was jack Kemp. Again, many hours of beers and positive experience. Note that no autographs were requested. Just living. Edited July 15, 2015 by billsintaiwan
Agent 91 Posted July 15, 2015 Posted July 15, 2015 Least surprising entry in this entire thread. Mike Shanahan is as well. Lets just say the man really loves Cranberry juice
gomper Posted July 16, 2015 Posted July 16, 2015 How about two Bills that you really didn't want to meet. 1986- Jimbo and Greg Bell shared a condo in East Amherst. They always left the garage door open. We (myself and a fellow degenerate friend) hit that place 4 or 5 times that Summer cleaning out the frig, scoring cases of beer and bottles of champagne and vodka each time. I'm sure we would have caught a beating if they caught us, but all that really happened was the cops telling us to quiet down when we were singing Elvis songs too loud on the playground. Ah.....youth.
bbb Posted July 16, 2015 Posted July 16, 2015 That was all Jimbo's then. Because I remember an interview with him in the paper - talking about what they were an odd couple that got along. He said I like my beer - and Greg doesn't drink.
TheFunPolice Posted July 16, 2015 Posted July 16, 2015 I wonder why so many players/execs lived in Amherst or Williamsville back in the day. Isn't everyone pretty much in OP/East Aurora/Hamburg these days?
GottaRun Posted July 17, 2015 Posted July 17, 2015 (edited) Two vicarious stories: my old man and his friend were at Batavia downs and ran into Jim haslett and Fred smerlas. Old man's friend gave haslett the winning horse on a trifecta bet and haslett, after picking this 250 lb friend up like he was a feather and dancing around, bought beers the rest of the night. Gabe Northern dropped by the Hammer lot a couple of years ago after a game. Spent a good deal of time picking people up like they were feathers, must be a football thing. Edited July 17, 2015 by driddles
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