I was just curious about players, coaches, or announcers that anyone has met and where. My list includes Lothar Matthaus, Clint Mathis, Emerson, Tab Ramos, Greg Berhalter, Brian McBride, Tony Meola, Joe Max-Moore, Frankie Hejduk, Shep Messing, Steve Ralston, Bruce Arena, Cobi Jones, Tommy Smyth, Tim Howard, Scott Garlick, and some more Metrostar players, some which are still playing and others I don't know where. I met most of these people either at the stadium or at ESPN Zone. Brian Kelly was the first player I met. One unbelievable thing was that I actually met Tiki Barber at a Metrostars game.
By "met" do you mean someone you've had at least a short conversation with or someone you've shook hands and/or got an autograph from?
Shook hands with or got an autograph from: Paolo Maldini (hotel in Milan!) Carlos Valderrama Bruce Arena Joe-Max Moore Cobi Jones John O'Brien Alexi Lalas Tony Meola David Regis Mike Burns Tab Ramos Mike Petke Ariel Graziani Winston Griffiths Steve Jolley Scott Garlick Steve Ralston Richie Kotschau Jair Mamadou Diallo Jack Edwards Ty Keogh Tommy Smyth Women: Tony DiCicco (former coach) Hamm Milbrett Whalen McManaman And pretty much anyone else who has ever managed or played for the Revs. Also many CT Wolves and UConn players.
I didn't want to meet them but saying hello to Tommy Smyth was nice. I forgot Eric Wynalda. Shook hands with him at US-Scotland years ago in New Britain.
I think they now have bodyguards. Most people who meet them want to strangle the motor mouthed, uninformed pair of ignorant prima dona's.
You got that right but I resisted the temptation. Had it just been us three in the room things could have turned out different though...
You have a stronger will than I. Tommy seems to be the type of guy you could have a beer with and get some great stories from...!
A game of soccer. It was a friendly years ago, I believe 1995. US won 2-1 with a Wynalda penalty and a Cobi left footed shot from outside the box to win it late on. Some good banter between Sammy's Army and Scottish fans as well.
Went to Stanford to see US vs CR in the run up to WC98. We ran into Balboa and a bunch of Nats that I did not know. He would not give us an autograph, us being my 3 boys and wife, who asked him. He was pissed that he did not see the light of day in the game. Funny that now he doesn't see the light of day in a game either. He was quite rude.
Soccer....Hmmm...Interesting.. I played there many, many moons ago when I lived in NZ. The local team played barefoot but believe me is wasn't a disadvantage, they had leather feet. DUH! I almost put my soft 'lilly white foot' in my mouth there. I should have known there'd be a 'New Britain" in the US of A. I was down in PNG...!!!!
Fun place, fun people. I've lived in 4 countries and played football in a dozen more. Now the poor old knees are telling me about it. Haven't played in Bhutan... but I did get a fun makeup game on a dirt field in Katmandu. I think it was an old leather basketball we used..
That is very funny. At Giants Stadium now, he is extremely friendly, sometimes signing many autographs on his way to the bench. In addition, he did the same thing at the MetroMember party, signing tons of auographs for anyone that asked.
USScouse, did you play professionally/semi-professionally or just a travelling man? Yeah, I was suprised by that too. I've never had the chance to talk to him but whenever I see him doing an interview or in person at games he's always signing autographs and seems very friendly. Maybe you caught him on a bad night.
Semi-pro....and I felt that there was more to life than seeing it from one place. Had a trial for Everton once upon a time...... But that's a "whole 'nuther story" Hey! I'll trade you a game in Cost Rica for your handshake with one of footballs greats...Maldini...!!!
No deal! That sure is the life. Travelling the world and playing soccer. What other countries did you live in and what brought you there? I'd love to live abroad (preferably Italy) and am very young so it's certainly not too late. Just not sure of all the pros and cons of it all. USScouse, having a trial at Everton, that's hilarious.
Don't use the "Pros and con" excuse. Call the Italian Embassy and ask about work permits. Check your PM box.
I met Lee Dixon in the Golden Grill kebab shop in North London at about 3am the day we won the league against Everton in 1998. He was loaded and so was I!
Met loads, but the most memorable one was the journeyman footballer Kenny Irons, then of Tranmere, now of Huddersfield. It was in a chippy in West Kirby on the Wirral and he came up to me at the front of the queue, shoved a £20 note in my face and slurred "You can have this if you piss off and let me get in first." Why thank you Kenny. I'd be delighted to receive £20 for waiting an extra 2 minutes for my chips. You go right ahead. You soft twat. Met him again about a month later in the players bar at Prenton Park and he disclaimed all knowledge of the event. Understandably enough.
I got banned from the Sunderland training ground for going in and asking Kevin Phillips why he wasnt playing for a good team like Newcastle United. Peter Reid was pissed off and got some big bloke to escorte me from the Premises and i was told never to come back.
Shook hands with or got autograph from: Eric Cantona (in a hotel in Portugal) Lorenzo Staelens Franky Vanderelst Emile Mpenza Marc Wilmots Gilles De Bilde Timmy Simons Adrian Ilie
Some funny stories! I've remembered another person I left out. Goofy announcer Rob Stone, how could I forget? I sat next to him at Southern CT State University vs. MetroScum friendly in New Haven. *USS, having problems sending PMs but I'll try again. Thanks a lot.