[vincesanity82]

I thought it would be a good idea to see if anybody knows any professional athletes. For example I used to go to school with Dan Uggla who plays for the Florida Marlins, he was a year ahead of me and we took drafting together. I also played football with him 1 yr. Anybody else care to share theirs?

[MVB]

I have a friend who knows Sammy Sosa's family. Does that count?

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by MVB

I have a friend who knows Sammy Sosa's family. Does that count?

yea it can be indirectly too I guess..

[Gotham Dark Knight]

My dad played baseball with Fidel Castro...kinda, sorta counts right?

[vincesanity82]

Originally Posted by Gotham Dark Knight

My dad played baseball with Fidel Castro...kinda, sorta counts right?

that works as well..you or family members and sometimes even a friend will work..

[Gotham Dark Knight]

Oh, I use to play softball with Greg Kite former Celtic...

[vincesanity82]

Sterling Marlin was a regular at the Lowes where I used to work back in the day, got a couple of signatures on some cards, talked to him a few times..

[simple simon]

i know Ricky Craven ...... or i did before he moved out of Maine

[vincesanity82]

I also knew sterlings son steadman, he was a punk as I remember, never let anyone ride his cool go-carts..

[stepay]

Right before I graduated from college and then shortly afterwards (1988-1989), I was a sports reporter for the Columbus Dispatch in Columbus, Ohio. I got the most unglamourous duties you can imagine, but I did get to interview (or sometimes be in a room full of reporters when they were being interviewed) many different athletes. I don't KNOW any of them personally, but anyway, here goes.

The Cincinnati Reds and the Cleveland Indians used to play their last spring training game at Cooper Stadium (home of the Columbus Clippers AAA baseball team). I was there as a Dispatch reporter the one season that Pete Rose was under fire. Talked that day to Paul O'Neil, Chris Sabo, Kent Tekulve, and heard Pete talk.

I was a college distance runner (cross country and track and field) so I got to talk to some track people -- Interviewed Butch Reynolds (former Ohio State Buckeye and World Record holder in the 400 meters). Also interviewed Mark Plaatjes, winner of the Columbus Marathon in 1988 and a one-time world champion in the marathon.

I interviewed jockey Bill Shoemaker, and I'm not a tall guy, but man was he short!

I went to college with a guy who was Tina Yost's cousin. Tina Yost played Jennifer on the TV show Family Ties.

I'm also a part-time musician (piano [keyboard] and guitar, but keyboard is my best instrument), and I've been lucky enough to play on stage with bluesman John Lee Hooker and guitarist Brad Gillis from Night Ranger.

Here's a link to my band's music (we do mostly cover songs) - Putfile - Studio and Live full-length songs from MLC Project

I'm playing keyboards on all the songs. Live Version of White Room, Riders On The Storm and Lonely At The Bottom are my suggestions if you're so inclined to listen. Our guitarist is quite good. If you like guitar, listen to the wah wah solo on White Room. Outstanding. I can't play guitar like that.

Enough from me.

[ThePundit]

I know Mike and John Tice. My best friend was married to their sister (Now divorced, though). In the late 80's early 90's, whenever they came to east coast to play the Jets, NE,....I used to stay in the hotel with the Saints (john), or Seahawks (mike).

Classic stories:

John took me and my friend into his hotel room and his roomate was Bobby Hebert. Hebert was just sitting on his bed in his underwear reading his playbook. And he says "hey guys." Like this is a totally normal thing for us.

And Dave Krieg was Mike's roomate. So me, my buddy, Dave Krieg and Mike Tice all had a beer together.

After one game, when the Saints were getting on the bus, John introduced me to Dave Wilson, Morten Andersen......

I also know Jim Rowinski...He played for Purdue and had seperate stints with Sixers, Pistons and I forget who in the late 80's...the last guy on the bench. I played on the same softball team with him...

Never heard of Rowinski? From Wilkepedia:

James (Jim) Rowinski (born January 4, 1961, in Long Island, New York) is a retired American professional basketball player whose NBA career lasted 23 games over two seasons with 3 different teams. He played collegiately at Purdue University.

He played from March 1989[1] to April 1990[2] with the Detroit Pistons, Philadelphia 76ers, and Miami Heat.

[simple simon]

Pundit are you the guy Mike Tice sold his Super Bowl tickets to ?

[Nuke]

My sister was Mariano Rivera's childrens pre-k teacher. I met him a few times and he seemed like a decent fellow. One time when he came to pick up his kids he was mobbed by autograph seekers and began to get really annoyed (I was too shy to ever ask him to sign anything). I guess I can't blame him if that constantly happens which it must.