2nd annual "Famous People You've Met" thread

[d'kid]

How could I forget "Turn over the turnover" Murdock? Rex and I agreed that if we ever do that again, we'll be wearing trenchcoats, hats, and dark sunglasses while exchanging passwords known only to us.

I did screw up your last name, though. I have you in my cell phone as Dave Murdock.

okay, most of the guys on the PBA tour, late nineties, early 0's... ask Murdock how That might have happened...

ah Rosie, Deacon, and Merlin... 3 of the foursome...

Jim Fergosi, Bobby Knopp, Paul Schall, Bob Rogers, Joe Adcock... man I can't spell... most of the Angels from 67-72...

and a Mater or two...

d'kid

 

[The Counterfeiter]

Ray Kroc. Baseball team owner and the guy who expanded on Dick and Mac McDonald's little hamburger idea.
Not enough space to tell all the stories, but Ray putting me in the copilot's seat of his Gulfstream for a takeoff from Anchorage was memorable! -

 

[BaldyLochs]

Ray putting me in the copilot's seat of his Gulfstream for a takeoff from Anchorage was memorable!

Now that there is downright cool. The only thing I can try to counter that one with is, riding along on maintenance ground engine run-ups on a Challenger 300, and I have a couple of King Air 350 right seat-rides under my belt, and some in-flight cockpit entries on a B737, B717 and DC9 from back in my airline days.

 

[murdock]

How could I forget "Turn over the turnover" Murdock? Rex and I agreed that if we ever do that again, we'll be wearing trenchcoats, hats, and dark sunglasses while exchanging passwords known only to us.

I did screw up your last name, though. I have you in my cell phone as Dave Murdock.

Hey, those turnovers are pretty good! It was just over a year ago that my parents were coming home from New Hampshire and they stopped and bought a turnover to bring to me. Of course, the exchange was done in the privacy of my own home.

Murdock is as close as anybody needs to get to address me. I know who they are talking to.

Murdock.

 

[Nitrohaulic]

Ray Kroc. Baseball team owner and the guy who expanded on Dick and Mac McDonald's little hamburger idea.
Not enough space to tell all the stories, but Ray putting me in the copilot's seat of his Gulfstream for a takeoff from Anchorage was memorable! -

The book "Behind the Golden Arches" is still one of my favorites. Tells the McDonald's story. Ray would have been near the top of my list of people to meet.

What a guy. Buys the rights and opens his Chicago office. His first franchisees were a married couple. Every time they bought what Ray told them they needed, there was something else, I guess because Ray was learning, too! They finally get ready to open. Ray tells the him he needs opening money for the register and the guy goes ballistic on him!

Now the other side of the story. Ray got a banker to buy the property and lease it to the couple. Their rent depended on gross sales in a month. The BANKER volunteered to cap it at $1,000, saying the place would never sell enough to go over that. Well, it did in the first month! The banker calls Ray, complaining that at that rate, the couple was going to be rich and he was only going to get peanuts. Ray said "Well, you didn't believe. Now you do."

 

[The Counterfeiter]

The book "Behind the Golden Arches" is still one of my favorites. Tells the McDonald's story. Ray would have been near the top of my list of people to meet.

Ron - One of my favorite experiences with Ray was selling fresh fruit at McDonald's in Alaska. We were having breakfast at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage and Ray noticed that he had been charged $8.50 for half a grapefruit - he went ballistic! He decided we would sell fresh fruit at "reasonable" prices at our huge store just down E Street from the hotel. Of course, you didn't argue with Ray, but I thought it would just go away -
A few weeks later, a beautiful custom made refrigerated cart showed up and shipments of exotic fruit (addressed to me) started arriving. This was 1978 - no one had any idea what to do with a guava or papaya, including which part you were supposed to eat! Dealing with Ray was never dull -

 

[Nitrohaulic]

The book "Behind the Golden Arches" is still one of my favorites. Tells the McDonald's story. Ray would have been near the top of my list of people to meet.

Ron - One of my favorite experiences with Ray was selling fresh fruit at McDonald's in Alaska. We were having breakfast at the Captain Cook Hotel in Anchorage and Ray noticed that he had been charged $8.50 for half a grapefruit - he went ballistic! He decided we would sell fresh fruit at "reasonable" prices at our huge store just down E Street from the hotel. Of course, you didn't argue with Ray, but I thought it would just go away -
A few weeks later, a beautiful custom made refrigerated cart showed up and shipments of exotic fruit (addressed to me) started arriving. This was 1978 - no one had any idea what to do with a guava or papaya, including which part you were supposed to eat! Dealing with Ray was never dull -

I wonder if they were charging that because it was a fancy place or because they thought they could do it to Ray Kroc due to what he was worth. What would that be in today's dollars? Probably over $20 for half a grapefruit. I'd at least want the other half!

Apologies for chatting on the thread. It's what I do.

 

[merc49]

Early 1987, my PeeWee Hockey team and I spent an hour on the ice at the Saginaw Civic Center with the great Gordie Howe. Gordie talked to the kids, skated with them, signed autographs and posed for many photos with all of us.

Later that spring, we got to meet former Red Wing bad guy "Terrible" Ted Lindsay, as he presented our medals when we won the Little Caesars Outstate Pee Wee "B" Championship. Alas, those photos remain in boxes, and have never been scanned. Someday...

 

[Jim]

Just remembered a couple more. Don and Fred Imus at a book signing. Before Don said those things about the girls.

Also met Aimee Mann of Til' Tuesday, she was a B1tch. It was in college and the band was playing at my school. The hall fit maybe 1000 people and there big hit was about 2 to 3 years earlier. In the contract we had to get them Chinese Food before the show. I helped to deliver it backstage with one other person. We asked where they would like it and she just points to a table and we started unpacking the food. I was about to ask if there was anything else they needed. There were the 2 of us as well as the schools program director. Aimee says in a very disturbed voice "Do these extra people REALLY have to be here?" I shot her a nasty look and shook my head looking right at her and said, "Well we were just about to ask if you needed anything else, but apparently YOU are all set." We then all walked out without saying another word leaving the food half unpacked.

 

[merc49]

How could i forget Paul LeMat and Cindy Williams, from American Graffiti?
I know Paul raced in the movie, and I met them at the 05 US Nats, but c'mon!

I should add here that the anguished look on Cindy's face was caused by the leaky paint pen that I had her use to sign the dash. You can see the big run!
It sure wasn't her fault, but she yelled, "Oh no! Get a rag!"
I looked to see what was wrong and saw the run. My camera was around my neck so I grabbed that shot. I told her I'd clean it off. Tee hee! It's still on there! Don't tell Cindy!

 

[clwill]

Early 1987, my PeeWee Hockey team and I spent an hour on the ice at the Saginaw Civic Center with the great Gordie Howe. Gordie talked to the kids, skated with them, signed autographs and posed for many photos with all of us.

Wow, Bob, I had a similar experience with Gordie, but it was over 15 years earlier... My Bantam team went to the Ohio state finals and Gordie was there. We skated our warmup with him, I was in goal and he put at least three past me Later he gave us the runner-up trophy...

 

[merc49]

Wow, Bob, I had a similar experience with Gordie, but it was over 15 years earlier... My Bantam team went to the Ohio state finals and Gordie was there. We skated our warmup with him, I was in goal and he put at least three past me Later he gave us the runner-up trophy...

Great story Chris. Are you still involved in hockey? 87 was my final year of serious involvement in the sport. In the fall of that year I bought my Merc and devoted 100% of my spare time to it. Oh well, great memories from both activities. I'd not trade them for anything.

 

[clwill]

Great story Chris. Are you still involved in hockey? 87 was my final year of serious involvement in the sport. In the fall of that year I bought my Merc and devoted 100% of my spare time to it. Oh well, great memories from both activities. I'd not trade them for anything.

That period of my life lead to a long involvement in hockey for my family. My father and some fellow fathers (sitting in the stands for our 6am practices) decided to rescue the local AAA team (the Toledo Blades) from bankruptcy. They got together, got a franchise in the IHL, and kept hockey in Toledo for a number of years.

That team, the Toledo Goaldiggers (a terrible name chosen in a contest) won the league their first year and went on to a great run under the leadership of the great Ted Garvin. One of our early team captains was Mike Eruzione, the hero of the "miracle" US Olympics team. I went to almost every game, hung around in the locker room, and had a great time. The other dads soon dropped out, but my dad continued to own the team for probably 8 years. A huge signed team photo has graced my office/home for decades.

But hockey fought with cars for my love, and cars won. I was always at Milan or Norwalk and getting a different car every year or two. Now I'm enjoying crewing for my daughter as she/we race in S/C up here in division 6.

 

[merc49]

That period of my life lead to a long involvement in hockey for my family. My father and some fellow fathers (sitting in the stands for our 6am practices) decided to rescue the local AAA team (the Toledo Blades) from bankruptcy. They got together, got a franchise in the IHL, and kept hockey in Toledo for a number of years.

That team, the Toledo Goaldiggers (a terrible name chosen in a contest) won the league their first year and went on to a great run under the leadership of the great Ted Garvin. One of our early team captains was Mike Eruzione, the hero of the "miracle" US Olympics team. I went to almost every game, hung around in the locker room, and had a great time. The other dads soon dropped out, but my dad continued to own the team for probably 8 years. A huge signed team photo has graced my office/home for decades.

But hockey fought with cars for my love, and cars won. I was always at Milan or Norwalk and getting a different car every year or two. Now I'm enjoying crewing for my daughter as she/we race in S/C up here in division 6.

I remember Garvin and remember when Eruzione was on the Toledo team. I also remember when Toledo had Archie Henderson and the great battles he had with our Dennis Derosiers. Rosie was a tough guy but Archie was just an animal! In a playoff game here Rosie was really throwing his weight around. Archie came off the bench and the whole arena went silent. Archie skated up to Rosie and said, "F--k around now!" Sticks were dropped, gloves flew off and it was on. Rosie lost that one. And I think Saginaw lost the series too. I wonder how close your memories are to mine? Things tend to get foggy after several years.

 

[BaldyLochs]

Hey guys that's cool stuff about hockey. Is the Saginaw Civic Center still there? My brother and I played in a tournament there - let's just say a long frickin time ago... early 70's. My family has been involved in various levels hockey for many generations. My Grandfather coached the Detroit Police Hockey Team for 25+ years. While my playing days are pretty much done, I am an NCAA Off Ice Official at the University of Denver. That's pretty much my whole life... drag racing and college hockey. Luckily the seasons' compliment each other pretty well.

 

[clwill]

That's pretty much my whole life... drag racing and college hockey. Luckily the seasons' compliment each other pretty well.

Fire and ice

 

[merc49]

Hey guys that's cool stuff about hockey. Is the Saginaw Civic Center still there? My brother and I played in a tournament there - let's just say a long frickin time ago... early 70's. My family has been involved in various levels hockey for many generations. My Grandfather coached the Detroit Police Hockey Team for 25+ years. While my playing days are pretty much done, I am an NCAA Off Ice Official at the University of Denver. That's pretty much my whole life... drag racing and college hockey. Luckily the seasons' compliment each other pretty well.

Chris, yep, the Civic Center is still there and better than ever. It's now known as The Dow Event Center. I was there with my grandson last night for a game of OHL hockey. The Saginaw Spirit hosted the Plymouth (Detroit) Whalers. Alas, the Whalers prevailed, 4-2. But, hockey still does well in Saginaw! Check out The Saginaw Spirit here. Cool logo eh?

 

[Andy]

many racers (topo many to count in both drag racing and circle track racing)

I'll list the political people first since I live off the Crapital Beltway:

PRESIDENT Barack Obama
Vice-President Joe Biden
Pat Buchanan
John Ashcroft
Craig Crawford, MSNBC
Joe Scarborough
Deborah Norville
G. Gordon Liddy
House Majority Leader Steny Hoyer
Amy Robach, MSNBC
Lindsay Czarniak, NBC SPORTS

Outside the beltway:

Vanessa Carlton
Jimmy Buffet
Sam Grow
REO Speedwagon
Chris Daughtry
Carbon Leaf

 

[yoda]

Before an exhibition bout in Miami- 72 I think:

My uncle and him used to spar together when he was Cassius Clay, and remain friends today..



Willie Mays, also about 1972 at my elementary school graduation. Friends with my mom (she got him to speak at the ceremony)..

 

[yoda]

From the Tour Program of Tina Turner's "What's Love" Tour in 1993... One of the nicest people I've met in this business- she knew what each of us in the crew did for her and the show, and was very "real"..