My Latest Brush With Celebrity

Over the years I've met many people who would be classed as celebrities.

Back in my days as a radio annoucer most of my encouters would involve those in the music industry. I've mingled with such Canadian talent as Barenaked Ladies, Blue Rodeo both at concerts and I ran into Jim Cuddy at a liquor store in Toronto and chatted with him.

I had an opportunity to go to the Juno Awards several times but the best was at the O'Keefe Centre (now the Hummingbird Centre) as the radio folks and entertainers all hobnobed in one lobby area. Some of the stars I met there included Celine Dion, Anne Murray, Roch Voisine, Rush and so many others.

The sports world people I've met or been around include Tie Domi, Doug Flutie, Bobby Orr, Curtis Joseph and from Hockey Night in Canada, Dick Irvine, Ron McLean, Don Cherry and I golfed in a charity tournament with Chris Cuthbert who is now with TSN. There have been so many it's hard to remember them all but it was fun to meet them all.

My latest brush with celebrity came this past Sunday when I attended a hockey game in Bowmanville. The Trenton Sting were playing Brampton and after the first intermission, I ventured back to my place on the rail to watch the game. Upon my return I found a woman with her leg up on the bar stretching. I thought to myself; "who the hell is this crazy person and why is she in my spot?"

I moved up beside her and she turned to me after dropping her leg and asked if she was in my spot. I told her it was ok and then I clued in. It was actress Goldie Hawn. She was there to watch Wyatt Russell, the goaltender for Brampton and son of actor Kurt Russell. Not a minute went by and walking up to stand next to Goldie was Kurt.

They inquired as to what I was doing and what stats I was keeping. They were both very nice and quite the cheerleaders for their team. I didn't want to be one of those creepy guys that would cling to them and be a bother so I located some fans from our team and moved over to them just a few feet away.

So that was my latest brush with celebrity. I really should have kept a list over the years of the celebrities I've met or seen in person. I did meet Billy Ray Cyrus once but I don't know if I'd include him on my list. Boy do I hate that Achy Breaky Heart song.