Any sports related "Claims to Fame?"

Davemri

I thought that this would be an interesting thread. I would hear other peoples stories. Here are mine.


1. I grew up about 15 miles from Milan, Indiana. For those of you that dont know, Milan is the small farming town that won the 1954 Indiana State High School Basketball Championship. This is the team and town that the movie "Hoosier's" was based upon. The team was led by Bobby Plump, who was the 1954 Indiana Mr. Baskeball. Since my hometown (Batesville) was in the same conference, I was at their gymnasium several times. I even played on their floor several times. Also, a member of this team (Glen Butte) was my driver's ed insturctor.

2. I went to school with and was great friends with former Brooklyn Dodger pitcher Carl Erskine's granddaughter. I even spent a couple nights with her. He lives in Anderson, which is only about 20 mins away from my current home.

3. My wife graduated from Marion High School in Marion, IN. This is the high school that produced Zach Randolph. BTW... My wife is no slouch at basketball either. She was a part of the 1993 Indiana State AAU champion team and got to compete in the nationals.

4. I went to X-ray school at Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis. The NFL combine is done in Indy and all the players physical are all done at Methodist. Back in 1997, I was assigned to do chest X-rays on all the players. I did an X-ray on Payton Manning and got his autograph before he was drafted.......I just don't know where the auto is.....

That is all I can think of at this time. Look forward to hearing your stories.


Dave

RipublicaninMass

. I even spent a couple nights with her.

ur naughty!

I went to HIGH school with

Dwight Evans son and daughter (same grade)
Mike Milbury's son (same grade)
Chris Ford's son (same grade)
Ken Hodge son and daughter (same grade)
Sib Hashian daughter (very cute BTW, bit younger)

all in the same school

samspop

I graduated High School with Arthur Blank's wife. She is 39, by the way...

vintagetoppsguy

I grew up in Alvin, TX - home of Nolan Ryan - and graduated a year ('89) before his oldest son. Used to see Nolan around town all the time until he moved a few years ago.

I also sold furniture to Andy Pettitte & Chuck Norris

JasP24

I played a high school football game against Emmitt Smith..Sort of..lol

I was a freshman and only played special teams...Emmitt was a senior and of course High School All-American, Player of the Year, etc, etc.

He played for Pensacola Escambia and we faced them in the regional state semi-finals. Needless to say we got destroyed, but I did get to watch Emmitt up close and personal running for 200+ against us. Never got in the game against him though. Would be cool to say Emmitt broke one of my tackles in high school..lol

Jason

Stingray

Went to High School with Pat LaFontane, he was a grade ahead of me.

My older brother went to High School and then on to Michigan State with Kirk Gibson.

clydecoolidge

One of my good friends parents' were friends with Eddie Matthews' family and was babysitted by them as a child.

I lived very close to Bob Uecker

That's about it for me.

Jdkings

Graduated high school with Damion Easley. I think he's now with the Mets.
I also graduated HS with Duane Cooper who spent some time with the Lakers.
Nothing exciting, but cool too see a classmate on TV in the bigs.
Others from my school have made it, but they were not in my calss.

I used to bowl very competitively as a teen/junior, and bowled against a current, and some former PBA, and WPBA members. Most notable current name is Robert Smith.
Does bowling count?

Darin

None here, my family and friends are remarkably uncordinated.

Leiascards

Closest for me is my wife went to school with Rod Smith.

I did answer my parent's phone once and this man asked me if James was there when I asked who was calling he said Karl Malone. My dad's company was doing some work on several of his trucks he owned at the time.

I was an am still pretty good friends with Melvin Buch. He is most noted for giving up Albert Belle's 50th in 1996. He did eventually go play in Japan and became a very popular player over there.

shagrotn77

I graduated 2 years behind Jeffrey Hammonds. He was the H.S. Baseball Player of the Year in NJ, started for the U.S. Olympic team, broke all sorts of records at Stanford, and never realized his potential in the pros. he had one big year with Colorado. That's pretty much it.

coachh

I coached Joe Johnson, the former Saints and Packers D End in high school.
Our team held Laurence Maroney under 100 yards his last game in high school.

Steviedoobie

My buddy Big Bird is a big deal on PBS.

baseballfanatic

<< <i>I graduated 2 years behind Jeffrey Hammonds. He was the H.S. Baseball Player of the Year in NJ, started for the U.S. Olympic team, broke all sorts of records at Stanford, and never realized his potential in the pros. he had one big year with Colorado. That's pretty much it. >>




Did you go to school in Plainfield?

MantleMarisFordBerra

Hey I also used to tag Carl Erskine's granddaughter!! Small world! Anyone else?

psafan

I graduated high school with Darryl Strawberry. We used to do lines of coke in the parking lot between classes.

xbaggypants

My cousin is Bryan Barker

BobaFett72

"Hey I also used to tag Carl Erskine's granddaughter!! Small world! Anyone else?"

LOL. She's like the town bicycle, everyones had a ride!

kmnorton

My mom babysat for Byron "Whizzer" White's kids when she was in college.

We had 3 guys from my high school graduating class go pro (albeit, 2 for a cup of coffee in the NFL/NBA).

Wow, I'm 43 and that's it?

jrinck

I met Vida Blue at a hotel bar a few years ago (up near San Francisco--Millbrae area). Real nice guy. We talked for a while about his days with the A's and Giants (even his "peace sign" '71 Topps card), and I respectfully didn't bring up any of his "troubles" that he had in the 80's. He paid the bar tab at the end and he even gave me his phone number and stuff. I never called him, though, even though he now owes me $20 on a football bet.

mbothner

My parent's lived next store to Tony Fernandez in Boca Raton, FL. About 10 years ago, my son and I went with Tony and his boys to the local park and played baseball together. My son even had a sleep-over with his boys.

goraiders

i went to h.s. with vince carter.
he was dunking in 8th. grade!!

stown

I was in the same class with Jose Cruz Jr and Jeff Davanon at Bellaire.

EchoCanyon

I went to college (Univeristy of Delaware) with Rich Gannon (he was a year behind me).

He sat behind me in one class.

He was also Greek (Sig Ep), so I saw him at a few fraternity parties (I was Phi Tau).

AND: My Mom went to high school with Sandy Koufax in Brooklyn.

jrinck

From the "Who in the Hell?" files...

In the late 80's, former Astro and Phillie Kiko Garcia opened up a batting cage near my house in Pleasanton, CA. I went there a couple of times and would see him occasionally working on the machines.

MooseDog

Claims to fame or brushes...oh well here goes:

- In HS I struck out Rickey Henderson (he was a Sr at Oakland Tech, I was a soph at Oakland High).

- Played HS and summer ball with Lloyd Moseby (Toronto Blue Jays 1980s), Rickey was on the summer team for 2 weeks.

- Coached Brian Johnson, Steve Hosey and Terrell Lowry, all made it to MLB.

- Moved into townhouse in Foster City, CA. Previous tenant was Goose Gossage when he was with the Giants.

I did NOT date Carl Erskine's grand-daughter.

BamBam

well do not know if this counts, Buuuut, I Coached Ryan Boatright in 3rd and 4rth grade Y-Ball (Basketball)...if that name escapes memory he was the kid that was offered a full ride to USC after his 8th grade Year. Have to add , That I taught him everything he knows...wink, wink...yes, he is as good as USC thinks he is, you had to see him to believe it.

animist

I went to high school and played football with Mike Vrabel in Akron, Ohio. He was a year ahead of me and was starting tight end and defensive end as a Senior, while I was starting offensive tackle as a junior. The way our offense was run, I always lined up next to him (strong side tackle) and used to tell him who to block on many running plays. Mike was our only two way starter that year and had a lot to keep track of, including his passing routes so I don't blame him. He is actually really smart. We just had a very complicated offense for a high school team.

Ryan Armour was in my graduating class in high school. He is on the PGA tour. While in high school he lost the national high school championship to Tiger on the final hole.

I played football with Brock Kreitzburg in high school. He made the 2006 US Olympic bobslead team.

I skiied regularly at a tiny Northern Ohio ski resort with a few guys who made the US Freestyle team in the late 1990s.

I caddied for Ernest Byner and Ozzie Newson back in the mid 1990s.

that is all I can think of...

on edit:

Played football against Joe Jurevicius in high school.

Ran track against Robert Smith (actually, our team just faced his team, as I was a shot-puter and did not actually "run" against him).

Probably played baseball against some people who made pros, just would never know it. I was on a very competitive traveling team in the early 1990s (high school years) and we played some of the best teams in the Country in national tournaments.

Labron James went to my high school's arch rival... although it was many years after I left. But that would mean that he played several games in my high school gym.

CDsNuts

I once saw Nipsy Russell at the airport. True story. Hand to god.


p.s.- Dave, if you're going to be a colts fan, you should probably spell Peyton Manning's name correctly. Proof once again that the Colts leaving Baltimore was a total travesty.

GeneralJim

For all you golfers , I went to the same high school (Exeter ) as Lpga hall of famer Betsy King !! also got to watch qb Kerry Collins play football when he played for the Wilson bulldogs .

Tabe

As a high school baseball coach, I coached Junior Herndon, who briefly pitched for the San Diego Padres in 2001.

Tabe

wildjimmy

<< <i>My parent's lived next store to Tony Fernandez in Boca Raton, FL. About 10 years ago, my son and I went with Tony and his boys to the local park and played baseball together. My son even had a sleep-over with his boys. >>



man i want to live "next store" just kidding

pandrews

<< <i>I once saw Nipsy Russell at the airport. True story. Hand to god.
>>



i once took a piss between Keenan McCardell and Clyde Simmons at the jacksonville airport.

perkdog

I went to High School with former NHL player Bob Corkum

ElectricPrune

<< <i>. I even spent a couple nights with her.

ur naughty!

I went to HIGH school with

Dwight Evans son and daughter (same grade)
Mike Milbury's son (same grade)
Chris Ford's son (same grade)
Ken Hodge son and daughter (same grade)
******Sib Hashian daughter (very cute BTW, bit younger)*******

all in the same school >>



You win hands down!!! I doubt anyone knows who he is here though.

jrinck

<< <i>For all you golfers , I went to the same high school (Exeter ) as Lpga hall of famer Betsy King !! also got to watch qb Kerry Collins play football when he played for the Wilson bulldogs . >>



I went to Governor Mifflin from '86 to '88--around the time you were at Exeter, it seems.

rajah424

I saw Johnnie Cochran at the Buffalo airport. The people i was with didn't believe it was him so i paged him on the white courtesy phone pretending to be O. J. He had one of his "people" respond for him. My life was so much more enriched because of this experience.

AlmostPerfect

<< <i>I graduated 2 years behind Jeffrey Hammonds. He was the H.S. Baseball Player of the Year in NJ, started for the U.S. Olympic team, broke all sorts of records at Stanford, and never realized his potential in the pros. he had one big year with Colorado. That's pretty much it. >>


i GRADUATED ONE YEAR BEHIND HIM, what is your name?

WinPitcher

I went to school with Craig Harnett (NYMA class of 70) who is now the CEO for the NHL.

Captain Harnett was a pretty cool guy.


Steve

Reese3333

I interned for Marshall Faulk and Torry Holt's foundation in college. Another intern and I made the trip from Indy to St. Louis to get some stuff for Torry to sign for an auction. He gave us a tour of his house and introduced us to his wife and kids. He signed a bunch of extra stuff for us and is a really nice guy.

Reese

css23

I was owner of a pawn shop for 25 years. When I closed shop I tossed several Babe Ruth rookies in a dumpster by accident.

My Wifes Aunt was Mickey Mantles personal secretary and camp coordinator for Mickey Mantles week of dreams from the early 80's to 90ish. For a handsome fee you could attend camp and playball with Yankee greats past and present. It's unreal the signed items, cards, pictures, and personal stories from her family members.

Ive met a ton of pro athletes over the years. No crazy stories tho, lucky to snag a few autos and occasional handshake.

jrinck

<< <i>I interned for Marshall Faulk and Torry Holt's foundation in college. Another intern and I made the trip from Indy to St. Louis to get some stuff for Torry to sign for an auction. He gave us a tour of his house and introduced us to his wife and kids. He signed a bunch of extra stuff for us and is a really nice guy.

Reese >>



Toury Holt

vintagetoppsguy

My dad went to high school with Bill Belichick and sat in front of him in class. Bill used to lean over my dad's shoulder and cheat off his tests.





Oh come on! That was funny - I am just kidding!

Reese3333

>>



Toury Holt

>>

rpcoletrane

My grandmother's brother's son, who would be my mom's cousin (I guess that would make him my second cousin) plays for the Kansas City Royals. His name is Jimmy Gobble.

ArchStanton

My wife was a fluffer for John Holmes and Ron Jeremy.

ripkenintheminors

Before an affiliation contract change, I did a lot of media in west Tennessee with the West Tennessee Diamond Jaxx. At the time, they were the AA Affiliate of the Cubs. Although I've continued doing some occasional stuff with the system when they come to west Tennessee, I had a blast while the Cubs had a team there. The most notable interview I got to do was with Nomar Garciaparra on a rehab assignment. Not only did I get an interview with Nomar, I got to talk to Mia Hamm as well. I also got to call a game with the regular broadcaster as well one night and had a wonderful experience. A lot of what I learned from him helped me land an announcing job locally with the high school.

FWIW when my daughter was born Len Kasper announced it during a Cubs game on WGN. I have the game recorded and will never be able to make it up to Len for doing it.

msassin

In small town Shippensburg, PA....Swartz1 and I both work with Warren Spahn's brothers granddaughter.

HighChopper

My wife was a fluffer for John Holmes and Ron Jeremy.

Your wife, too?!

My wife also "worked" with TT Boy and Peter North in the early '80s.

Carew29

I played against Will Clark in high school baseball. He was just as good then. I played on one County All-Star team with him.

I repoed Patrick Valenzuela's(horse jockey) truck during his drug problem days. My last repo was Shug's Lamborghini from his record studio.
repoed a couple of vehicles from Chris Mims(football). I should have kept his NFL Football Contract that was in the glove box with "ebay" and all.

when i was 10, the guy that played Lurch on the Addams family moved to our street in 1971, in Covina,Calif. Very coool guy!!

Went to school with Vicki Heasley for many years who almost made it to the Olympics as an Ice Skater. She needed to finish 3rd to make the team and finished 4th. She has had a nice career from what i understand with the Ice Capades.

easydoesit

I have a couple. My teaching teammate once hosted Mickey Mantle in the early 80s for dinner at her house. He was in town sign autos at a show at the Italian American Club and yada yada yada, all three guys including him ended up at her house for dinner.

I also worked as a PA announcer for a single A Detroit Tigers farm team for a year. Met tons of major leaguers and got completely chewed out by Doug Flynn who was managing the opposing team. I was using a baby crying click effect while he argued a call on the field.

I also attended a Faith HIll, Tim McGraw concert one night here in Rochester NY, and who sits down next to me and my wife... Jim Kelly, Wade Phillips, Ted Cottrell, Chris Mohr, Steve Tasker, and several other bills.

I worked as secruity for Buffalo Bills camp in 1991 and 2003-2005. I usually worked in the corporate tent so lots of players new and old came in there to hobnob with the big money sponcers. I used to play basketball with several of the Bills players in 1991 after practice and on days off.

chris