Encounters with Celebrities who were jerks (Athletes or not)

coach wrote:

The rudest person I ever met was Katie Couric a NY TV personality. I didnt talk to her but she was rude to everyone around her and as I jogged by her on the reservoir she was complaining to a friend about people bothering her. .

At the NYC Marathon (2007 or 08) I was watching on 5th Avenue with a friend. Up comes a woman and her friend. She strikes up a conversation about the race. My friend gives me a furtive glance and asks me under his breath, "Is that who I think it is?" I said, "Yeah it is." She was curious about the results, so I tell her I have a friend at the finishline. I called him (Keith Dowling) and said, "Hey Keith, I'm on 5th Avenue. I ran into my high school girlfriend. She is curious about the results. Could you help her out? Her name is Katie." .... then handed her my phone.

zxcvzxvc wrote:

Sarah Jessica Parker was having cake at a well-known cake shop near NYU. The entire place was silent and concentrating on her. She was acting like a normal person. I saw Bill Walton walking on the loop in Central Park. I saw Conan O'Brien with his family in the Whole Foods at Columbus Circle. He saw that I recognized him. I nodded and left him alone. I saw Umberto Eco smoking before a talk in Venice. Jacques Derrida asked me where the bathrooms were at a talk in Evanston. I responded with a non-verbal gesture.

Had a somewhat similar experience at a place at Sundance resort ( not during the film fest)... My wife and I are at a table and in walks Lionel Richie; I'm not into his music at all but my wife was a huge fan and her eyes just about popped out of her head. People were gamely attempting to be chill but you could tell about 2/3 of the place were barely restraining themselves from running up to him; funny as hell to watch people losing their composure in slow motion. This is 2016 so he was mid-60's but still looked fantastic. After about 15 minutes one woman kind of sheepishly approached him and that was all she wrote; like the floodgates were opened and then he was surrounded. Could not have been any nicer or more pleasant... One woman begged him to sing something so he gives up one line (playfully flirty and theatrical) "Hello.. is it me you're looking for?" and the women around him absolutely lose their sh*t. It was pretty funny and awesome actually. Shortly after that the (security, friend, both?) guy with him softly and diplomatically managed to shepard everyone away so Lionel could have a drink and a bite to eat. The whole time he was there though the air in the place was definitely different; whatever it is that makes some people stars, Mr. Richie had it by the boatload. Fun night.

That is awesome; quick thinking!!

Probably only of interest to fans of cycling, but my wife and I ran into Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen at a race in Steamboat Springs a few years ago.

Two of the nicest, friendliest, guys ever. I got the impression that's how they genuinely are...

One question. When did Lionel Richie ever look fantastic?

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zxcvzxvc wrote:

Sarah Jessica Parker was having cake at a well-known cake shop near NYU. The entire place was silent and concentrating on her. She was acting like a normal person. I saw Bill Walton walking on the loop in Central Park. I saw Conan O'Brien with his family in the Whole Foods at Columbus Circle. He saw that I recognized him. I nodded and left him alone. I saw Umberto Eco smoking before a talk in Venice. Jacques Derrida asked me where the bathrooms were at a talk in Evanston. I responded with a non-verbal gesture.

So so woke. Thank you for not disturbing these liberal Gods/ Godesses!

Curious, so not bugging people is what you call 'woke'? Not bugging people is called being polite. Woke is being aware of social injustices (and specifically, racial injustices, as the term grew from the shooting of Michael Brown), and fighting against them.

Lionel Richie seems like a super nice guy on the talent show he does.

Peyton Manthing wrote:

Haven't met him personally, but have heard multiple bad stories about Peyton Manning. Knew people that were teammates with him at Tennessee that weren't fans. He worked out for a summer at the college I went to and the physical therapist I was seeing at the time (who was usually nice and positive) said Peyton rubbed everyone working at the athletic facilities the wrong way. He's great at PR though - you'd never know it from his public personality, charity stuff, etc. Clearly you can buy people liking you. All "famous" runners I've met have been nice - no bad experiences, though others have their horror stories. 

Near the end of his career Peyton Manning was accused by a female physical therapist of sexual harassment on the massage table.

Only of interest to pro wrestling fans of a certain era. Coming back from Hilton Head about 5 or 6 years ago we stopped at a Marathon for gas. My kids needed to stretch their legs. My daughter was almost 1. A guy got out of his car, older but fit, walked up and said "your daughter has the prettiest red hair" and I said thanks. He then asked if we lived here (we were in W Va). I said no, just passing through heading home from vacation. He said shame, we are going to have a great show tonight. Handed me his card and I about flipped out. Bob Backlund. Didn't recognize him now as I don't watch wrestling much anymore but I just starting babbling like a school girl about the Superfly Snuka cage match. He was really nice, we took some funny pictures with me, him and my daughter, and he went on his way.

zxcvzxvc wrote:

Peyton Manthing wrote:

Haven't met him personally, but have heard multiple bad stories about Peyton Manning. Knew people that were teammates with him at Tennessee that weren't fans. He worked out for a summer at the college I went to and the physical therapist I was seeing at the time (who was usually nice and positive) said Peyton rubbed everyone working at the athletic facilities the wrong way. He's great at PR though - you'd never know it from his public personality, charity stuff, etc. Clearly you can buy people liking you. All "famous" runners I've met have been nice - no bad experiences, though others have their horror stories. 

Near the end of his career Peyton Manning was accused by a female physical therapist of sexual harassment on the massage table.

https://www.si.com/nfl/2016/02/13/peyton-manning-tennessee-sexual-assault-allegations-jamie-naughright

A good friend of mine met Peyton during the middle part of his career and also said he was a complete ass, totally different from his on camera persona.