Dino Radja - summer of '89 at the merch store in the Garden. I had not yet gone to a game in the Gardens, so this was the best alternative at this point in my life. Shopping for Cs gear, I noticed Lanny Van Eman (Jimmy Rogers 2nd assistant at the time), went up and started talking to him, and asked if we were signing Radja or not (the Globe had said "not" that day), he said, "Yup, ask him yourself." And in walked Dino, I shook his hand which swallowed my 15 year old hand. I asked him a few questions, but he didn't speak a lick of English. As you know, turns out he didn't play for us for until 3 years later.
Ken Caminiti - nearly beat my a$$ in a bar-room in New Orleans when he was on injured assignment with the Zephyrs (Astro's AAA team at the time). Perhaps one of the craziest experiences I've ever had. If anyone's interested I'll tell the whole story. What a maniac.
Dennis Rodman - shooed me off when I asked for an autograph in a Dallas hotel lobby when I was there for a fraternity convention. Hey, it was a personal shoo.
Bill Bradley - shook his hand in the Newark airport well before he ran for prez.
JoJo White - sat a few seats from at a Hornets/Cs game in New Orleans. I approached him for an autograph, and he was so gracious - he offered me a seat and we chatted for a few minutes. No one else in the section recognized him (all Hornets fans).
Tommy Heinsohn - also graciously signed an autograph and chatted for a few moments during that same game.
John Popper - sat with him in a late night s***hole in New Orleans (Snake n Jakes) and discussed paper towels versus air blowers in public restrooms. He drank White Russians like water and ate some non-descript pharmies like Flintsones vitamins. Cool guy though. Got me and my friends into the show he was playing (back stage) the next night with Dave Matthews. I actually think Blues Traveler was a more famous band than DMB at the time.
John Goodman - he actually lives in N.O., and I met him several times and broke bread (Lobsters specifically) with the guy. Drinks Bud, and it looks like an airplane coctail bottle in his hands.
James Gandolfini - sat at the bar in a restaurant where I tended bar in N.O. Surprisingly enough, he drank Corona. Go figure.