What to Say to the Famous

Gary North has an interesting column discussing what he should have said to Meryl Streep, the time he found himself in line with her.

I have had a few celebrity encounters.

When Shaquille O'Neal was still with the Los Angeles Lakers and word was just getting out that he was feuding with Kobe Bryant, he showed up at a table I was at, I said to him, "How come you don't throw the ball to Kobe more often?' In a stage whisper, he replied, "F*##k Kobe".

Before I realized it was her, she just seemed like a woman in a hurry, I let Senator Barbara Boxer move in front of me at LAX airport. Later when I passed by her, she waved and said thank you. I said to her, "Let's work on keeping taxes down". She replied, "Your taxes."

In Las Vegas, I was recruited by two tourist girls to take a picture of them with Michael Jackson (It was a Sunday morning, the only time I imagine Jackson could have been out in public without getting mobbed.) After I took the picture, I was about to leave when Jackson asked me in a very polite manner where was I from and what I did.

I had a long conversation once with Annabella Lwin of Bow Wow Wow, without having a clue as to who she was or what Bow Wow Wow was, until somebody filled me in much later.

In bars, I have talked to lots of sports guys, Mike Ditka, Michael Jordan, Kevin Kennedy, Tommy LaSorda, Mike Fratello...and girlfriends of sports guys:)

In NYC and LA, you can often see celebs on the street. I generally just nod. I've seen many. Rodney Dangerfield, Michael Douglas, Madonna, Pamela Anderson (Checking me out!), Mike Wallace, Morley Safer and Dennis Franz.