Outside of being in the audience at a show/concert/event, what famous folks have you seen in Las Vegas? Please code your encounter:
"S" - Saw from a distance
"T" - Talked
"P" - Photo With
"A" - Autograph
"O" - Other
I did recognize basketball legend, "Dr. J." - Julius Erving playing slots at the MGM (before it became Bally's). He was hard to miss since his head stuck out above the machine even though he was sitting down. (S)
I also saw James Doohan ("Scotty" from Star Trek) at the Hilton playing slots on the opening night of the Star Trek Experience. I don't think this really counts as random since he was there for the grand opening. I have to admit that I probably would not have recognized him if I wasn't keyed to look for Star Trek cast members. (S)
I've also be at a wedding with Bob Hoskins (and a cast member of The Bill). Nice guy, big ears, can't dance very well.
That's about as celebrity as I can think off worth mentioning. I'd never approach a celeb just cos they are a celeb... even if I liked what they did. I don't want to know they have feet of clay. I used to see someone worth mentioning about once a month when I worked in Central London.
EDIT : I missed the point, didn't I?
The most memorable time was sitting in the small bar in Caesars that overlooks the main pit. It was relatively empty when we sat down for a drink when Daryl Strawberry, Reggie Jackson and many other ball players grabbed all the remaining tables in the bar. We sat beside them for about 1/2 hour and listened to the banter before leaving. It was the week after the world series and they talked to many other players that wandered past the bar. I am not much of a baseball fan and can't remember any of the other names. We talked to the bar tender the next day and he named most of them.
Quote: kenarman... It was relatively empty when we sat down for a drink when Daryl Strawberry, Reggie Jackson and many other ball players grabbed all the remaining tables in the bar.
I bet Darryl Strawberry ordered a Coke, didn't he?
Quote: zippyboyI bet Darryl Strawberry ordered a Coke, didn't he?
Nicely done.
;-)
My FAVORITE rock & roll song of all time is "96 Tears". I was 12 in '66. When I first heard that greasy farfisa riff I was completely and totally hooked; I would hold the transistor radio up to my ear way past midnight just to hear it once more before falling asleep. (Remember those radios, with the 9 volt battery? Mine was red.) To this day, that song just hits me right in the pleasure center of my brain.
Fast forward 20 years, it's 1986. Me & my girlfriend Sue are going to The Decade, the heart of rock and roll in Pittsburgh, to see Joe "King" Carrasco & The Crowns. And on keyboards for The Crowns is Rudy Martinez... aka "?" of ? and the Mysterians, AND THE WRITER OF "96 TEARS".
And of course, they killed, and they end their set with "96 Tears", and everyone goes wild. The Decade is a small club, holds a couple hundred. So after the show is over, I go up to Rudy, and introduce myself to him, and tell him how I've dug his music for the last 20 years, and he's a really nice guy and he sits at the table with me and Sue and we buy him a couple drinks and talk music.
I got to buy a drink for the guy who wrote my favorite song of all time, and thank him personally. For me, it doesn't get any better than that.
--
In 1978, a few months before the first casino would open in Atlantic City, Governor Byrne was speaking at the college in Northern New Jersey where I was attending. Through a bizarre circumstance, after his speech, I managed to get into an elevator with him and his aides and security. Everyone was quiet, looking at me. I knew they were thinking, "How'd this kid get in this elevator?" Breaking the silence, I asked him if there would be any restrictions on NJ residents or casino employees from gambling. He looked at me like it was the stupidest question he ever heard, but answered, "No."
Either things changed or he simply didn't know. I now know that there are restrictions preventing employees from gambling, but only within their own casino. At any rate, that's the closest I've come to a casino related brush with greatness, until recently when I met the Wiz.
I also remember as a kid going on a trip to Reno with my brother. We saw a show with Dom Deloise and Charro, and Charro came to our table, put her hands on my shoulders, and gave me her trademark "Coochie Coochie." It's all been downhill from there!
I saw Dan Marino play at the Orange Bowl, along with Clayton, Duper and whoever else played with Miami and the Seahwaks back then. Does that count? I dind't think so...
Quote: TheNightflyI was shooting craps at Ceasars back the late 90's when i looked up and realized I was surrounded by a half dozen or so VERY large black men... one of whom was Dennis Rodman. I met with George Bush (Sr) in 1996 when he was sailing on a cruise ship I worked on. I also worked with a number of one time and has been comedians on ships and the one who sticks out the most in my mind is Jimmy "J.J." Walker. He's no stick figure any more. He disappointed the crowd to no end when he refused to do his trademark, "Dy-no-MITE!".
Haha, have you watched the Wizard's "How to Win at Blackjack" video? You have to watch the entire thing.
Quote: KaydayI also remember as a kid going on a trip to Reno with my brother. We saw a show with Dom Deloise and Charro, and Charro came to our table, put her hands on my shoulders, and gave me her trademark "Coochie Coochie." It's all been downhill from there!
That's awesome. One of the first Vegas shows I ever saw was Charo with Jim Nabors (a.k.a. Gomer Pyle). It was great because he was actually a great singer, and she was, and still is, an amazing flamenco guitarist.
I was walking through the MGM when one of the boxers from the title fight brushed past me. I think it was Hector Camacho, but I can't recall for sure. He had a posse of 15 people protecting him.
Quote: EvenBobI've seen Mike Ditka several times at the Four Winds casino, which isn't far from Chicago. People usually leave him alone, but every craps table he plays at immediately fills up so the people can go home and say they played craps with the big guy.
I like to play craps at an empty table, and my tables always fill up too. I had no idea so many people had heard of me before!
Quote: RaleighCrapsI like to play craps at an empty table, and my tables always fill up too. I had no idea so many people had heard of me before!
Hehe.. it's the mirrored sunglasses and rock solid hair gel.
I did play mini-Bac with James Stephens III. He has been on television and maybe in movies, too. He was performing at Coushatta and seemed to enjoy a little gaming after his shows. I saw him the night before we went to the show, chatted with him while playing a bit, and he ended up paying my commission when the dealer had me pay off the wrong spot when I left the table. The dealer was screaming at my wife that I left without paying; she had no clue what was going on (she was just looking for me to get more slot money), and James took care of it for me. I went back, paid him, and thanked him.
Maybe we'll see someone who is someone in Vegas next week!!!
We ran into many PGA pros as they were staying in the same hotel last year with us when they had a tournament. At Vegas, we think we've seen celebrities but we cannot confirm. We haven't played a table game with one.
Back in elementary school on a class trip to a recreational area outside of town, we ran into a pro sucker team doing some physical training. I got Hugo Sanchez's autograph (which probably means nothing even to fans of that alleged sport) for my little brother. He never believed it was legitimate and threw it out shortly thereafter.
That same year on another class trip we all got to meet the president of Israel on an official visit. Israel's president is a figure head, though, much like the VP in the US or the extant monarchy in Europe. I don't even remember his name.
Quote: AyecarumbaHehe.. it's the mirrored sunglasses and rock solid hair gel.Quote: RaleighCrapsI like to play craps at an empty table, and my tables always fill up too. I had no idea so many people had heard of me before!
Uhh..... no. You must be thinking of a very different RaleighCraps. It's a funny image of him though.
Just like talking to a cool uncle. He could say the nastiest things, and he did, but it still sounded so cool, you were glad to hear it.
Chris (Jesus) Ferguson walking through the Golden Nugget Downtown Vegas just smiling at everyone and saying "Hi" back in 2004.
He was kind enough, but I got the vibe that he was a little nervous. Also, he was playing $100 x 5 VP.
To the former two posters...out of all the Pro Poker players, Jesus and Juanda are the two people I think would be the most down-to-earth.
Mark
I would never bother someone for a picture or autograph unless they were doing publicity, like when we did a Meet and Greet at the Rio pool with the guys from Toad the Wet Sprocket. They were also cool.
So her brushes with celebrities often included being in a small boat for 4 hours. She found Bruce Willis and Demi Moore to be very charming. She wanted to drown Richard Dreyfuss. He refused to show his card to prove he was certified SCUBA diver because obviously he had starred in Jaws.
Quote: pacomartinShe wanted to drown Richard Dreyfuss. He refused to show his card to prove he was certified SCUBA diver because obviously he had starred in Jaws.
I thought the star of that movie was named Bruce :P
An exception was one of my favorite bands Reel Big Fish, I approached them and hung out with them a few times. Just regular dudes, a lot more laid back than I thought they'd be. At another concert I turned around to locate the source of the reefer I smelled and Senn Dog and B-Real from Cypress Hill were standing right next to me. It was kind of weird cause we were way in the back by ourselves, but anyways we got to hang out with them for a while. Shooks hands too, which, if your counting, means I was one degree of separation from Carmen Electra's vagina ;) Whatever, I was 17 then. It was a big deal hehe.
I saw Sean Connery in NYC in a Dingus Day parade. I yelled out "S-Words for $600 Trebeck!" He didn't reply.
I was invited to play in a Haudenosaunee Hockey Tournament and while watching other games waiting for ours to start, I stepped back onto someone's foot. Turned around and it was former Buffalo Sabres tough guy, Rob Ray. He was cool about it and it began a good hour of conversation. The dude aint that big but he's got hands like sledgehammers. The conversation ended awkwardly once he found out I was a Leafs fan and my favorite player ever is Tie Domi.
And lastly, I've just returned from Vegas 2 days ago where I competed in the Fastest Card Counter in the World contest. There were quite a few people there, and I at one point found myself talking to this one random Asian dude. Just kinda chatting about counting and Blackjack and random nonsense, you know, typical stuff. He tells me he's the honorary time keeper for the contest, and I jokingly offer him $20 to rig the clock for me. The Director of my site says "I see you've met Mike, make sure you get a picture." I'm like, "Mike? He somebody special?" Turns out he was Mike Aponte, one of the members of the MIT Blackjack team the movie '21' was based on. Ha! It was weird though; MIT super brain who did something wild enough to make a movie of, and again, he was just an everyday guy. Real down to earth. I didn't bother him for a pic, either.