Athletes You Will Tell Your Grandkids You Saw

[grogg]

Adding to my list, my oversights

Joe Montana
Anthony Munoz
Mike Piazza
Dan Fouts
Kellan Winslow, the hall-of famer, not the son
Parnelli Jones
Len Dawson
Lance Alworth
Frank Robinson
Johnny Rutherford
Dick Gaines
Milka Duno

Also:

Archie Griffin, although as a pro he ended up being at best average
Joe Nuxhall at the end of a decent career as a player, his fame would get a new lease on life a few years later behind the mike

[fasteddy]

I saw Willie Mays, Orlando Cepeda, Harmon Killebrew, Rocco Colavito, Carl Yastremski, Herb Score and George Brett in the minor leages.

That's cool. I have attended two minor league games my whole life, and wonder if I saw anyone before they made it. (It's not Rocco, it's Rocky. )

[Ajax]

These are in person - people I have done business with, just met or who are friends.

Racing related:
- Paul Newman
- Hitting golf balls into the gulf of Mexico with Nigel Mansell

Other
- Alberto Tomba (Sat with him from Chicago to Salt Lake City - many cocktails)
- The Don (Lindsay Vonn) - She's absolutely a riot to party with!
- Glen Plake (both my kids have skied with him.
- Gretchen Bleiler (We're involved with multiple benefits with GB)
- Kjersti Buaas
- Rachael Burks (family friend)
- Hope Solo
- Elise Addis (Elise and Mary have been over for dinner a few times in the past and kicked the ball around with my kids)
- Mary McDonnell
- Brian Plotkin (Coached one of my kids)
- Mike Bradley
- Nino DaSilva (Coached both my kids at one point)
- Jean Pierre Tokoto (Coached my older son at one point)
- Walter Payton (Worked out at a place called the Charlie Club in Schaumburg - prior to all the chain places. I'd see him there often - recalled his high pitch voice was awfully strange at the time.

[Frank Capua]

Back when there was still a Holiday Inn across from the Museum entrance at IMS I was driving east down 16th street and I saw Chris Evert and Rossie Casals walking towards main street in front of the Clay factory I turned around and headed back in time to see them walk into the Rexall drug store. So I parked on Main Street and walked into the drug store where I saw Chris standing at the magazine rack. I walked up to her, excused myself and told her I didn't want to bug her but I just wanted to tell her I was a fan and had been inspired by her in my own playing. She said cool and then I walked back to my car and headed back down 16th Street.

I still cherish my stalker card I earned that day.

When I told my coach about it he asked me why I didn't get an autograph I told him I was trying to be cool and conveying what she meant to me was more important to me than some autograph I'd probably lose anyways. I had Tinker Juarez autograph my Cannondale Team Replica Mountain Bike which I then clear coated. It's the only autograph I've ever gotten that I haven't misplaced... Yet.

[NDGator]

When I told my coach about it he asked me why I didn't get an autograph

I have found that a personal experience far outweighs an autograph any day of the week. Nothing will take away my hour with LT or sharing a nopeek urinal moment with Arie in the infield at PIR right before the race.

Now if my granddad had of willed me an autograph of Amelia Earhart, I would proudly accept it, knowing there is a story of how that "player" probably got it up at Purdue prior to wooing granny...

[jandj]

The two that stand out are AJ and Johnny U.