Thursday Thirteen #20: "Famous" People I've Met

I took this TT idea from Nicholas, who used this idea last week for his Thursday Thirteen. You may have noticed that I put "famous" in quotes. That's because many of these people aren't household names, but it's the best I can do:P

Thirteen "Famous" People Michelle B has met 1. Tiger Woods when we were freshmen at Stanford. We had freshman writing class together for 2 quarters. He was known then, but nowhere near as famous as he is today. We walked home from class together sometimes and would say hi when we ran into each other on campus. He's a nice guy! And yes, that is a picture of us; taken our freshman year (after a track meet). 2. Robert Weir who is a 3-time Olympian and even held a world record at one time (in the 35-pound weight throw). He also played pro football in Canada. Robert was my throws coach in college and I'm lucky to say he is still a friend :-) Some of my fondest (and wackiest) memories of my time at Stanford involve Robert. 3. Ste McNally from BBMak (a band who is no longer together). I've actually met all 3 members of the band, but I've only really spent time chatting with Ste. 4. Maroon 5 (the original members) at a private show back when they first released Songs About Jane in 2001. They mingled with the small group of us before the show (we were all eating pizza). I'm a bit shy around people I don't know though, and well, I wasn't really sure what to say! I definitely enjoyed the music! 5. Fred Savage in a tipsy moment in college at Stanford (he was tipsy, I wasn't:P) Just in passing though. I can't even remember where I was going, but it was late one weekend night. He said hi and stumbled by on the sidewalk. 6. Jimmie Walker who is most known for his role as JJ in Good Times. I met him at LAX a few years ago while we were waiting for the same flight to Salt Lake City. We chatted on and off for quite a while. He was debating whether or not to volunteer to give up his seat when they announced the flight was oversold and we discussed the pros and cons. We both ended up on that original flight. He's a very nice, down-to-earth man! 7. Steve Garvey (who played for the San Diego Padres) at the Hard Rock Cafe in La Jolla at one of my birthday parties growing up. My friends made a big deal of it. They went over and got him to sign my birthday card. I was so embarrassed that I spilled my water in my lap! 8. Dan O'Brien. Yes, I know you're asking yourself "Who?" He's an olympic decathlete and the first person whose autograph I (myself-- not my friends) ever asked for (at a track meet in college). It was so embarrassing! I had a hat that he had signed that day up until a few years ago. I let my mom to sell it at a garage sale. 9. Mark Madsen (basketball player who has played for the Lakers and currently plays for the Minnesota Timberwolves) while at Stanford my senior year. We had a class together and chatted casually from time to time. 10. Alex Smith (QB for the 49ers) when he was in elementary school and I was a junior in high school. We both grew up in Bonita, California. I went back to my old elementary school as part of a chemistry outreach day and he was running around on the playground when I was making oversize soap bubbles with the kindergarten kids! He definitely won't remember LOL. I had a couple classes with his older brother, Josh, in 8th grade. I had a major crush on Josh back in my junior high (and I suppose even high school) days. 11. Christ Draft who currently plays for the St Louis Rams. We were set up on a date for a "screw-your-roommate" type date while at Stanford. "Screw-your-roommate" was Stanford speak for set your roommate up on a blind date and pray s/he doesn't kill you afterwards LOL. The whole dating (really non-dating) phenomenon is legendary at Stanford. Anyway, Chris was a good sport about the "screw-your-roommate" date and is an all around nice guy. 12. Condoleezza Rice when she was the Provost at Stanford and I was an undergrad there. 13. Summer Pierson who may not exactly be famous yet, but she's got a significant following in certain circles :-) Along with being my best friend, she's the Scottish Highland Games Women's World Champion (for both 2007 and 2008), and a 2008 Olympic hopeful in the discus! She's been to the past 2 Olympic Trials and represented the US in the Pan American Games in Brazil last summer. For a shot of her in mid-spin throwing the discus, click here.

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