Ekpe Udoh gained some internet popularity during the Milwaukee Bucks’ latest road trip when he set out to meet former Golden Girl and comedic icon Betty White. He did, and had the pictures on Twitter to prove it.
It got me thinking – have I met any television or movie stars? And, if I did, why?
Honestly, I can’t remember ever wanting to meet a TV or movie star for any particular reason, and I really have a hard time thinking if I have. I guess you could say I "met" actor Joe Pantoliano, but considering we just happened to be walking into the men’s room at Sky Harbor International Airport in Phoenix at the same time doesn’t constitute a formal "meeting."
If anything, "Cyper" from "The Matrix" just seemed relieved by the fact I didn’t cause a scene by shouting "Take the red pill!" or something like that.
In my life, I can remember chance encounters with athletes in public settings, which as a kid was the coolest thing ever. I loved sports, so those were the guys I wanted to meet. Mitch Williams and Ken "The Snake" Stabler in airports? Yup. Greg Maddux at a truck stop Arby’s? Check. World Series MVP Jermaine Dye in a McDonald’s? Done. TV and movie stars? Not so much.
What about you? Any film or television star you ever wanted to meet? Have you accomplished that goal without being arrested? (And if you were arrested, please share that story, too!)
Jim Owczarski is an award-winning sports journalist and comes to Milwaukee by way of the Chicago Sun-Times Media Network.
A three-year Wisconsin resident who has considered Milwaukee a second home for the better part of seven years, he brings to the market experience covering nearly all major and college sports.
To this point in his career, he has been awarded six national Associated Press Sports Editors awards for investigative reporting, feature writing, breaking news and projects. He is also a four-time nominee for the prestigious Peter J. Lisagor Awards for Exemplary Journalism, presented by the Chicago Headline Club, and is a two-time winner for Best Sports Story. He has also won numerous other Illinois Press Association, Illinois Associated Press and Northern Illinois Newspaper Association awards.
Jim's career started in earnest as a North Central College (Naperville, Ill.) senior in 2002 when he received a Richter Fellowship to cover the Chicago White Sox in spring training. He was hired by the Naperville Sun in 2003 and moved on to the Aurora Beacon News in 2007 before joining OnMilwaukee.com.
In that time, he has covered the events, news and personalities that make up the PGA Tour, LPGA Tour, Major League Baseball, the National Football League, the National Hockey League, NCAA football, baseball and men's and women's basketball as well as boxing, mixed martial arts and various U.S. Olympic teams.
Golf aficionados who venture into Illinois have also read Jim in GOLF Chicago Magazine as well as the Chicago District Golfer and Illinois Golfer magazines.
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