Call it a strange coincidence. As I was thinking about subject matter for today’s blog, I started to think of the celebrities I have met while traveling. Then I clicked over to see what Alex wrote for her blog, and I saw she wrote about meeting Juan Martin del Potro.

Because of my hobbies, I have met a lot of celebrities. However, running into Jim Thome in the underbelly of the HHH Metrodome in Minneapolis (when the White Sox were in town) isn’t exactly happenstance. I have to eliminate all of those such encounters and concentrate strictly on random celeb sightings.

Earlier this year, at O’Hare Airport, I ran into talk show host Steve Wilkos. He was catching a very early flight and looked exhausted. I greeted him quietly, as not to announce his presence to the world. He thanked me appreciatively and seemed to go unnoticed the rest of the way to his terminal.

A few months ago, while in Novi, MI, for a convention, I saw former pitching great Denny McLain at a local restaurant. I didn’t want to bother him during his meal, so I just waved. I wrote about it on my blog and someone identifying himself as Denny McLain responded by joking that I should have bought him breakfast. I still don’t know if it was him or not.

Many years ago I was in line (for a Coke) behind Chris Zorich, then a member of the Chicago Bears. I wish I was wearing my shirt from his foundation that day, but I did talk to him for a moment anyway.

On a trip to Las Vegas, I saw actor-comedian Marc Price, best known for his role as “Skippy” on TV’s Family Ties. He was pretty cool, posing with me and signing a hat for me.

A few years ago I was staying at the Rittenhouse in Philadelphia and Jackson Browne was also there. My friend Jim ran into him in the elevator, but I missed him. I guess my luck was “running on empty” that day.

I probably have missed a few others, because I am pretty oblivious. It seems that my friends are always telling me about stars they see in Chicago. Somehow I miss them.  I guess I need to be traveling to meet any stars!

–John Wroblewski, distribution specialist