I just rode the subway with Neil Young

Was this (Reggie) at the trade show "The Super Show"?

 

That in itself is impressive in this day and age; somebody who's not strictly partisan

 

You're welcome.
And calling Rodney Culver famous? With all due respect to the man's memory, how many NFL fans remember him?

 

At the risk of outing myself, I will tell one of my favorite stories that involves Neil Young.

A few years ago, I am in Chicago for an event and I go out to dinner at a nice steakhouse with several friends. One is in his mid-30's, another around 50 and the third is pushing 60.

The meal is going great and midway through, "Bob" across from me (the 30ish guy) starts motioning at a guy sitting in a booth on the other side of a divider. I look over and wasn't quite certain what I was supposed to be looking for so Bob writes on the paper tablecloth "Neil Young" with a big ass arrow pointing to the guy on his side of the booth.

With more information, I glance over and realize that he is right.

The other two guys at the table now realize that something is up and Chuck (60ish) sees what is written on the table and starts being pushy, urging Bob to say hello. Bob, of course, wants to respect Neil's privacy and refuses.

Fast forward to the end of dinner and just as we are getting up to leave, Chuck says rather loudly, "Neil. Neil Young?" to which Mr. Young politely responded, "Yes."

No Chuck goes into it. "Mr. Young, my friend Bob here is a big fan of yours but he was afraid to say hello." Neil then said something politely back and Bob made a comment or two and then we left.

As we are walking out the door, Chuck turns to me and says, "Just_An_SID, you gotta help me out. Who the #%$& is Neil Young?

Needless to say, the walk back to the hotel involved singing several of Neil's greatest hits.

 

Yo

You need to come to Athens where you can drink beer with the B-52's during happy hour, hang out with the boys from Widespread Panic, or run into Michael Stipe walking around town.

Of course, none of them are Neil Young on a subway! And since you said subway as opposed to T, Metro, Bart, L, etc I an assuming NY? So which line were you on?

 

Ragu... get a car alarm that beeps. You get broken into because they do not hear you set your car alarm. They know you do not have one. That is why the break ins.

Famous run ins that were not writing related...

I parked cars at a country club in college for three years. Here are some of my better ones.

Barry Goldwater - Get your self a beer, son.

Stevie Nicks - Not that great in 1990

Jay Leno - Looks really weird in person

Sandra Day O'Connor - Never recognized the first time her until bag tag flipped over. I almost spilled the soda I was drinking.

Glenn Campbell - 100 dollar tipper when he was drinking

Anne Archer - drove a station wagon!!!

Jackie Stewart - nice man

Mario Andretti - freaking stiff, no tip

I worked at a summer camp as a basketball director for a time and I had to drive Clyde Frazier from the Wimbledon in Manhatten up to camp. Awesome. Just freaking awesome. We talked about everything but basketball for the three hour drives.

I was in a foursome once in front of Tom Weiskopf, and we played well enough that his group did not have to wait or play through.


I'll share a Clyde story or two if anyone wants to hear them. They are all good and do not make fun of him.

 

From my wayy younger days...

Terry Bradshaw gave me a jumpstart outside of RFK after a 'skins game once and Dinah Shore gave me aspirin from her bag when I was caddying in the Westchester Classic Pro-Am wayyy back when (got to meet Tom Carvel the same day, so Karma was good).

But hands down the best was meeting Leslie Nielsen at the Quad Cities Open. Not only was he funny as heck in person, but was a real nice guy.

Update: Ohhh, I forgot meeting the Sonic commercial couple in Kansas City this summer..that was weird

 

Me and my buddies saw Matthew McConaughey and Steve Zahn at the Sports Cafe in Piccadilly Circus in London a few years ago.

A few buxom blondes were all over Mr. McConaughey, but my friend and I walked over to Steve. My buddy says, "I just want you to know that Saving Silverman was the best movie ever." I just stood there nodding like a goof.

But Steve was quite pleasant and shook our hands.


I also ate dinner at a restaurant last month with Theo Epstein at the adjacent table. I texted my buddy, a Sox fan, and he texted back, "Punch him in the face for signing Lugo."

 

Oh, I forgot him.

He had a whoopie cushion at the club on day and some old ladies found it less than amusing.

The Smothers brother who did the yo-yo tricks gave us a quick show as well.

God, I loved that job.

 

I understand what you are saying, but the guy who robbed you saw you park the car and did not hear the chirp of you setting the alarm.

I know you don't want to spend money. I was just explaining why your car was picked out.

I have a 1998 Civic with 197,000 miles on it, and it was stolen (and recovered!!!) for the exact same reason. No chirp.

 

He had his handi-gas toy the day I met him...