Brush with Greatness!

a few things:

1. Thanks for all the 'welcomes' - much appreciated!
2. Yes, he's very down to earth. He had no one with him, both Friday night or Saturday morning, and was very warm. Zero arrogance whatsoever. We briefly spoke about his two year deal and he seemed very happy about it.
3. As far as 'freaking out' - I'd by lying if I said I wasn't trembling a little. It's fricking JAMES HARRISON!
4. Heres how it happened: Friday night I'm walking through the Bellagio and he passes by me going in the opposite direction by himself. I say to myself 'TRIG, you'll always regret it if you don't approach him'. So I make a u-turn and catch up to him. I'm kinda star struck and say "Mr. Harrison" he says "yea", I tell him I'm a huge Steeler fan and could I get a pic. Without hesitation, he says sure. Well, I've taken all of one selfie in my life and it was accidental. He actually presses the button on my phone to turn the camera around. Good Lord. I tell him thanks and we're both on our way. I show the selfie to the wife. I'm stoked!

Next morning about 7:30, Wifey heads downstairs and a few minutes later, she texts me a pic of her and James! He's headed to the gym for his morning workout. (90 mins on the elliptical) James even took a selfie of the wife and himself on his phone! Needless to say, I want more 'James time' so I have a seat at the Cafe Bellagio to where I can see him come out of the gym. Sure enough, he comes out and I approach him once more and get the pic at the beginning of this thread. I tried to chill, but once again, It's fricking JAMES HARRISON!

Attached are the two selfies. The one from Friday night and the Wifey one from Saturday morning.

 

so refreshing to know he's down to earth and appreciates us. Too many athletes forget it's the fans who truly put the $ in their pockets

 

LOL you might be kidding, but there is a lil truth to your statement.., , he already admitted of sitting where he could watch JH come out of weight room.

 

I'll be the first to admit, I was definitely 'that guy'. But hey, you only live once right?

 

I agree with giving space. I can think of only twice where when I've seen a celebrity/athlete that I've actually bothered them. The first time was leaving Donzi's very late. The Steelers lost a Sunday afternoon game in Denver earlier evidently DJ Johnson and Carnell Lake must've gone straight from the plane to Donzi's. We passed as they were coming and I was going. I spoke, DJ didn't want to be bothered but Carnell was cool. I was 1/2 drunk and probably about 22 and didn't know better.

The second time was entering the Arena for a Disney show and as I got thru the turnstile somehow Mike Logan and his family got between me and my family so I had to wait for them to clear once I got thru. I said "Hey Mike Logan, good luck next Sunday." He thanked me, shook my hand and continued on with his fam.

But my experiences with Harrison and Clark (and others) is always as we are leaving the game. If we stay too long we have to walk past the players lot to get to our car and we'll run into the players leaving. There's always a bunch of people waiting for autographs and such. Most guys will give a few, some guys will have the shuttle drop them right at their car (Ben), and some guys will stay and chat for a very extended time (JH and RC, and Heath too).

 

I think you're great Trig. Being able to admit you were man-giddy about meeting one of the greatest Steelers of all time (only shortness of career keeps him off the list of one of greatest of all time, his quality of play puts him on par with any Steeler) is admirable. It is very refreshing to know James was so cool, because the man fuels himself on anger. I think it says a lot to know he is appreciative and kind, even if his face literally has trouble forming a smile. Great job, giving us a good inside story complete with pics and all.

 

I see u called Ben out, so he never interacts with fans is that what your saying?? O r that you have nvr seen him do it.? lol

 

I agree with you Trig, that you only live once. I had an opportunity to talk with Jerome Kersey (Portland Trailblazers) on several occasions, but didn't want to "bother him". Later, he started going to our church and I saw him every Sunday (or most Sundays) and sometimes even set close to him. But only talked with him once (my wife talked to him several times though). Then he suddenly passed away last month at 52 years old. My biggest regret is that I never took the time to talk with him more...he really was a great guy and I am sure would have taken the time. My loss for sure.

 

Only fans who wear DTF stickers, thats it.

 

i Dont blame him, ,i wld interact with them to

 

Quick story many years ago, I use to have the same dog obedience class with Greg Lloyd. At Misty Pines in Wexford, Gregg at that time had a huge Rotweiler and I had a Golden Retriever. His dog was just too aggressive for this course and he had to go to a private class. Gregg was always sociable and courteous in my dealings with him, Also I have been at functions/ place's where I have met Dwight White, and LC Geenwood both guys were very courteous. I use to see LC up in Bloomfield @ the Pleasure Bar. God rest their souls.
I believe Dwight may have had a very promising career in politics if he wouldn't have
passed he had charisma.

 

In the (sorta) regret column: I was a Great America last summer which is across the parking lot from the new 49ers stadium. Standing in line to get Funnel Cakes I saw a pretty athletic looking guy wearing a "Steeler for Life" shirt. Caught a glimpse of him and I'm pretty sure it was Manny Sanders (broncos were playing the niners the next day). I decided against saying anything but I regret not thanking him for his contribution and commenting that I thought it was cool he was wearing that shirt after the press BS about his comments about Ben vs Payton flamebait shield

Ah well... they do say it's better to regret something you did than something you didn't do! c'est la vie!

 

Oh while we're at it....I had drinks with Thigpen when he was with the team. And when I say, "Had drinks with" I mean we were standing shoulder to shoulder, hanging out, drinking and chatting. As we were, females would come up, usually in pairs, and they would stick out their chests inviting Yancy to get a feel, which he would, and then they would turn around sticking out their booty and he would do the same, and the girls loved it. No wonder these guys feel like every female is there for their taking, because they often are. I could see how one could get a little reckless after enough exposure to this kind of stuff. Can you imagine what Ben has been offered? No wonder he went off the rails a little, or a lot.

Other dudes I had some drinks and discussion with include Darren Perry (seemed relatively small), Bryan Hinkle - both very down to earth. Some non-Steelers included then-Browns WR, Derrick Alexander, who was listed as 6-2 but seemed huge in person - like "he could beat up the entire bar" huge. Also Wayne Chrebet, who looked so small and young at the time, that he got carded going into the bar. He looked more like a college wrestler than NFL player. He thought the whole non-NY experience was bizarre. He said to me, as we were hanging on the edge of the dance floor, in a heavy NY accent, "This is weird, it's just weird." I asked what he meant, and he said, "Everything" and then pointed to unattended purses on a table and said, "You'd never see that in New York."

 

I had dinner with Chuck Noll years ago. We talked about everything but football. I wanted to give him a break. We were both private pilots, so that was a good topic.

 

Nah Blount I bet he did get him another coke though ha-ha

 

I lived in the same neighborhood as Bryan Hinkle for about 5 years. Those guys back then obviously didn't make a lot of dough because it is a very modest, very middle class income neighborhood where the houses average about 125-145K. To the best of knowledge he still lives there. Never talked to him, but would see him when we'd walk our dogs all the time.

 

I have a somewhat cool Steelers moment that I will never forget.
First and foremost, I HATE to bother anybody. I would be the absolute worst Paparazzi.
Back in the early 90's I was out with my girlfriend in Cincinnati the night before the Steelers played the Bengals and went to a Bar/Restaurant where there were at least a dozen Steelers players down by old Riverfront Stadium. We sat down and I started just naming all the players off to my girlfriend and she says go up and talk to them. I said no, they don't want to be bothered and it's just not my nature to do that. About 20 minutes later Darren Perry invited us to his table where we sat and talked about everything and anything other than the topic of football. He had a 9 o'clock curfew and had to leave but we had probably a solid hr together and then I wished him good luck tomorrow. He had an INT in the game while the girlfriend and I were up in the stands highfiving each other cause we were able to spend time with him the night before.

 

Wait, Darren Perry invited you and your girlfriend to his table? No dude randomly invites another dude to his table for drinks. It sounds to me like Darren was eyeing up your girl and was trying to weasel his way in.

 

I didn't spend more than 5 minutes with him, but he seemed like a down to earth guy, was drinking beers. I thought he was underrated as a player. He wasn't a star, but he seemed pretty solid.

 

Knowing what I know now she probably would have slept with him. LOL

 

We walked by Lynn Swann outside of the stadium before the AFC championship. It was between Bettis Grill and Heinz Field. I just say "Hey Lynn," he said "hello how are you," and we went on our way. There was a drunk guy hanging out of a car going by screaming "lynneeyyyyyy..." haha

 

Vince Gill said when he was a kid his mom and dad loved to watch Porter and Dolly and would watch them every week. So when he finally made it big in Nashville he was gonna play the Grand Ole Opry with Porter and he thought the news couldn't wait so he called his dad late at night to tell him about it. So his dad picks up the phone and he tells him he is gonna get to play with Porter and his dad simply says "so". Then Vince said "but dad you and mom used to watch Porter and Dolly every time they were on" and he said "son let me tell you something. your moma was watching Porter.... I was watching Dolly." and just hung up the phone. LOL! The point is this. Sorry 86 but I think Bobby is probably right. LOL!!!

 

That sounds like something from a mafia movie or Of Mice and Men or something. LOL!!! The visual of that is just ridiculous.

 

It was pretty damn random because it all happened in a span of about 8 seconds...lol