………….eat your hearts out George Clooney spotters, because I got to meet STEVE MIZERANY!

It was years ago when his roller-skating appliance commercials were on TV all of the time, he was real nice and easy to talk to.

Folks, stay on topic. Many are not even answering the question.

I met and spoke with Eric Clapton back on 10/13/2007 at Villa Farotto’s in Chesterfield. He did not want any publicity or making a big deal about him being there. Many people did not know that was him, except myself. He was looking at purchasing some property in the area and was not here for a concert.

He gave me his autograph and spoke with the UK accent.

I think Shawn Hornbeck deserves to be Person of the Year. He has shown more courage after he was rescued by telling his story on 48 Hours Mystery. When he said, “My name is Shawn Hornbeck, and I am a SURVIVOR”, I cried and cried. He has been through more than you or I could ever imagine, and has chosen to face it “head on” and try to heal. He is a true hero in my books.

I’m not real big into “celebrities” but I was awfully excited to meet Bob Barker in Springfield, MO this past February. He was in town to donate to his alma matter, Drury University. I got to talk to him for about 5 minutes, it was pretty cool. I asked him what he thought of Drew Carey, and he kinda threw him under the bus and just said “that’s for the fans to decide” lol i thought it was pretty funny.

I have two brushes with celebrity.

I sat a few feet from Jim McMahon when I was a kid at a Blackhawks hockey game in Chicago. This was only a few years after the Bears had won the Super Bowl in ‘85. Jim McMahon in Chicago back then was like Mark McGwire here (before Mark ruined his rep with the whole steroid thing). Me and my friend asked him for his autograph during intermission, he said “No Thanks”. Seemed rude at the time, but I can’t blame him for not wanting to sit there for hours signing things when he was just trying to enjoy a hockey game.

Then of course, there was the biggest run-in ever. Remember the movie “Adventures in Babysitting” with Elizabeth Shue? She played a babysitter who babysat for two kids, a highschool aged dude (Keith Coogan) and his little sister (Maia Brewton). And the dude had a friend (Anthony Rapp) who tagged along through the whole movie. Anthony Rapp was one or two years ahead of me in my high school (I graduated in 1991 from Joliet West High, for you St. Louisans who need to know where I went to highschool), and we played Street Fighter against each other sometimes in the arcade at the mall. This was right around the time the movie came out. I never asked him for his autograph, but I smacked him around a few times with Chun Li. Of course, who could expect him to be great at Street Fighter. He probably spent most of his time honing his Thespian skills, and filming the movie. Anywho… he’s in IMDB, and looks to have had a fairly successful career. Kudos to you, Anthony.

A funny story that I enjoy telling happened about six years ago.

I live near the Dierbergs Marketplace at Baxter/Clarkson where we shop for groceries. One day I was buying something from the deli and while waiting, I noticed a man with long gray hair and an earring. He looked somewhat familiar and resembled Howard Kaylan who used to be the lead singer for the 1960’s pop group, ‘The Turtles.’ I’m a big fan of that period of music, even though I was about five years old when they were popular.

I asked him if he indeed WAS the lead singer and he said ‘yes.’ I asked him what he was doing at a Chesterfield, Missouri supermarket (!) and he said he had married Michelle Dibble of Y98 fame several years prior. He said that ‘people in LA are so plastic; I love it here - nobody bothers you!’ (I laughed; I guess I was the exception?)

I told him I have a CD of ‘The Turtles Greatest Hits’ and he told me he appreciated that - that he receives 17 cents for each sale. He also receives royalties for each time that ‘Happy Together’ makes its way onto a commercial or movie.

We had a great conversation for about ten minutes. In those circumstances, you always think of things later that you wish you had said. After I left the store, I thought of telling him, ‘you know, Howard - I can guarantee that you’re the ONLY person in this supermarket who got to play on ‘The Ed Sullivan Show!’

I’ve told this story many times since and people get a chuckle out of it…

I have been in very close proximity to several “celebrities,” both local and national, and haven’t even thought to say or do anything out of the ordinary.

Worst “celebrity” encounter ever…..Pedro Guerrero back when he played with the Cardinals. Hey Pedro you were/are a blagojevich.

I’ve actually brushed by or met a few local celebs, mostly those in the news and entertainment business. The other day I said hi to Charles Jaco as he was coming out of the Four Seasons hotel. Others include Vicki Newton, Bill McClellen, Randy Jackson, McGraw Milhaven.

I got to meet Senator Kit Bond last year at a military function here in the city. Still have the picture on my desk. Also had a meet and greet with Governor Blunt.

My wife has met numerous politicians from Congress. Back in 2005 she was working at Guantanamo Bay Cuba in a position that allowed her to meet all incoming members of Congress who came to the island for tours of the facilities.

It’s nice to say you’ve met or seen celebs but we don’t let it become an obsession or a quest to meet more. We all put our pants on the same way.

Second Tom, I would never consider killing anyone just because they were a bore. Your safe with me buddy. dah!!!

I was using the men’s room in a South County tavern one evening when John Goodman walked up the next urinal. That has to count for something, right? LOL