Kevin's Watch

Famous people I played kick-the-can with as a kid include a Miss USA, a Super Bowl winning quarterback, an ESPN sportscaster (if you are into sports you would know his name, and the QB's), a popular composer/musician who has had TV specials.

People I went to college with that got famous: one had a long-running NPR (National Public Radio) feature, one is a New Age guru based in Vegas, a few became well-known musicians and writers.

To me it's funny to compare the two groups of people. I definitely fit better with the college friends and I'm still in touch with a lot of them. I'm pretty sure neither the Miss USA or the QB would remember me.

Without dropping names, how about you?

Kinda makes you question what you've done with your life, n'est-ce pas?

I know I went to school with some sports figure, but I couldn't care less. Other than that, I think everyone else went on to be a loser like me.

I've heard that a college friend of mine occasionally comments on CNBC regarding market related matters, but I've never seen him do so. But I guess that really doesn't count. Other than that, no one comes to mind.

A guy I went to high school with had a short film up for an Oscar a few years back. (He didn't win.)

I went to a Big Ten school (back when it really was the Big Ten), so a bunch of our basketball players went on to the pros. But I didn't have any classes with any of them.

I was reading my J-school alumni magazine last night and ran across a quote from somebody I went to college with. That's a first for me. She's the student newspaper advisor for a high school near where she grew up. I need to look her up on Facebook, come to think of it.

I have a much better track record from my first career. I know a bunch of people at CBS Radio News and a couple of the on-air reporters at CNN. I also know someone who was an anchor at Headline News, but she left several years ago.

From high-school: racing car drivers, rock stars and writers.

I agree with Cag, it does make ya question things a bit; not that I wanted to be a racing car driver , but the last category makes me cringe at unfinished manuscripts undelivered to editors. Still, that's one good thing about aging, as my ego calms down, I find the internal pressure for fame and ambition has lessened. Which is good motivation-wise. Either I want to write or I don't. If and when I get back into it, I want the goal to have as much to do with the 'work' and as little (as humanly possible) to do with ego-driven desires for recognition.

Back on topic... like Ali, it's my career that's introduced me to most famous people: actors, journos and various on-air talent. It's also been a healthy way to demystify and reality'ize the whole fame thing.

I'm not sure if this is on topic or off topic. AFAIK I'm as "famous" as anyone who ever came from my town...meaning not famous at all. OTOH, lots of peeps from HS are more successful than me by common standards. I have met a fairly large number of famous [or at least semi-famous] peeps...most of that during my mid 20's to mid 30's, though, not peeps I had a history with.

I grew up in the "poorest" part of a wealthy town (still very, very nice) and within an hour of NYC. So lots of opportunities. Also lots of losers. Of my close friends, a lot of train wrecks. I'd definitely be one of them if I hadn't found Jesus in my mid 20's.

Aliantha mentioned "first career". My first career was as a new age hippie nudist vagabond. My first house was a '69 SuperBeetle.

I played FB in HS with a future NFL Defensive Player of the Year and future NFL hall of famer. Another guy at my HS that I had a passing acquaintance with was a multidivisional pro boxing champion who was once considered the best boxer pound for pound for close to a decade. My HS had 4 olympians when I was there, three of them won gold medals and the other won silver (with controversy). Other than that, not really anyone, though I've met a few rock stars through my sister as well as an iconic sitcom (and less than iconic movie) star.

Shaun das Schaf wrote:Still, that's one good thing about aging, as my ego calms down, I find the internal pressure for fame and ambition has lessened. Which is good motivation-wise. Either I want to write or I don't. If and when I get back into it, I want the goal to have as much to do with the 'work' and as little (as humanly possible) to do with ego-driven desires for recognition.

Shaun das Schaf wrote:Back on topic... like Ali, it's my career that's introduced me to most famous people: actors, journos and various on-air talent. It's also been a healthy way to demystify and reality'ize the whole fame thing.

Spot on.

Oh right! One girl I know from college went on "Beauty and the Geek."

I'm sure there are more that are/have been somehow "famous," but I can't think of them. And if not, give 'em a few more years.

Two HS classmates fit the bill:

One was an MLB pitcher (once pitched a no-hitter) and now coaches. Since he was a jock and I was a nerd, we really did not have much in common.

The other is a comedian, actor and game show host. We were both impressionists in HS; he of Columbo and other show biz characters, I of Richard Nixon and various political figures.

deer of the dawn wrote:I grew up in the "poorest" part of a wealthy town (still very, very nice) and within an hour of NYC.

Which direction? NY?


I don't know anybody that anybody ever heard of, afaik.

My HS friends include a guy who has starred in movies and been in numerous TV productions, including Ellen, The Mentalist and many others, and a woman who has artwork shown all over the world.

College friends include a grammy winner, as well as a well known composer. I also have several former students who have made it in Hollywood. One was in Sex and the City, as well as a voice-over actor for many commercials. One starred in a featured film at Sundance. I also am friends with two published authors -- one of children's books, the other of fiction.

And, of course, I have met several famous people in my line of work both while in school and as colleagues. I have done several commercials, including one which aired during a Super-Bowl. I have also done Master Classes with the famous including the voice of Maria in West Side Story and Eliza Doolittle in My Fair Lady. And I sang at Carnegie Hall with one of England's most famous composers (and church jobs with others, including the man who wrote the Anthem for Chuck and Di's wedding). And Rolly on AMEN. Even a premeir lute player and another who is known for playing the Forte-piano.

A singer from the Met let us marry on his balcony, while a member of the Salzburger Festspiel attended. Famous people are just people.

i want names...

Someone who was in the same school as me through all primary/secondary school became a footballer for a premiership team. Not very surprising: His mother was determined from a very young age that he would become a footballer and play for that team (the team she supported and brought him up supporting), so of course after school he went directly to their training academy.

again - drop names - let us marvel at your brush with fame...

Oh fine!

From CBS Radio News, I've worked with Peter Maer, Bob Fuss, Sam Litzinger, Steve Futterman, Lee Frank, and I'm sure there are others but I can't think of them right now. Oh yeah, their reporter who covers the southeastern US. Can't think of his name, damn. It'll come to me.

My former co-worker in West Virginia who later was at CNN Headline News for awhile is Toria Tolley. She's running a public relations shop now, I guess.

The guy who was up for an Oscar is named Dave McGowan. Hmm (she said, googling), looks like he runs a production company in Chicago that does nature documentaries. How cool is that...

The members of the 1976 IU basketball team, I'll let you look up for yourself.

I nailed a gal in high school that later had sex with some member of Motley Crue.

My closest brush with fame.

Harbinger wrote:I nailed a gal in high school that later had sex with some member of Motley Crue.

My closest brush with fame.

I think we all know that girl.

one night a few years ago we were flippingthrough the tv when i saw something that made me pause a guy on Big Brother was wearing a hat with the number 603 on it. New Hampshire's area code. as i watched the show - i swore i recognized the guy. Julie said i was crazy but i finally caught his name. Mike Boogie. googling him i discovered i did know him. it was Mike Cari from my neighborhood growing up.

Mike is about two years younger (my sisters age.) turns out he won teh Big Brother all-stars. and now is in trouble for maybe embezzling money.



www.tmz.com/person/mike-boogie-malin/