Wednesday Weblog for November 13, 2024 | |
When you think you are too old to do something new, remember you will never be younger than you are right now. --James Clear | |
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Here we are again, only 58 days left in the year. Before we know it, we'll be working hard to make those new year's resolutions a reality.
I think time goes by faster the older you are because each year is a smaller percentage of your lifetime. Think about it: for a five-year-old, a year is 20% of their life, but for a 50-year-old, it is only 2% of their life. Just a thought.
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Close Encounters of the Famous Kind-Part 2 | |
Here are some additional close encounters of the Famous Kind. Not included are the dozens of less famous country music stars, and local country music entertainers who will be famous someday. Look for them in a future Weblog. | |
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Popeye's Founder
Al Copeland
In the early '80s, Al Copeland and I spent a day touring restaurants in the Northern California area because the company I was with was potentially interested in franchising a significant number of locations. At the end of the day, we went to Henry Africa's Bar near the ramp to the Golden Gate Bridge and got drunk together.
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Blockbuster Owner
Wayne Huizinga
Wayne also owned the Miami Dolphins for a time, and one his Blockbuster employees, Bob Kalafut, was a close friend of mine. Bob arranged for us to watch a Patriots game in Wayne's luxury box, and I shared a pizza with the tycoon. The Patriots won.
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US Senator & Ambassador
Scott Brown
Scott is also the father of musician Ayla Brown. I hired her for an event a decade ago, and he and his wife attended. Then, a few years later, I visited with him in his office in DC when he was a Senator, and then recently, we watched his band "Scott Brown and the Diplomats," play in Worcester. He is a conservative by nature, but a real wild man on stage.
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Bruins General Manager
Don Sweeney
Don and his wife were long time volunteers for the March of Dimes. They were very generous with their time. Don has enjoyed much success with the Bruins in a variety of roles including as an outstanding Defenseman in the 90's, playing over 1,000 games for the team.
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Fitness Guru
Richard Simmons
My son was less than a year old and we were asked to do a public service announcement at the UCLA Medical Center with Richard Simmons. A little-known fact: he was born with a club foot, like my son. He took off his shoe to show us the surgical scar and to give us hope. A real nice guy.
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Red Sox Clubhouse Manager
Tom McLaughlin
Tom started with the Red Sox as a bat boy in 1986, and now manages the Red Sox Clubhouse: at home, on the road, and in Fort Myers for Spring Training, so no one knows the ins and outs of Major League Baseball like he does. Our niece Lena and Tom are parents of 5-year-old, Noble, who already plays chess, hockey and baseball and is likely to be famous himself one day. Here is Tom cheering me on at my marathon in 1971 near Fenway Park.
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Country Music Star
Kenny Chesney
With 30 million albums sold worldwide, and 27 singles in the top 40 of the Billboard Hot 100, Kenny is almost a household name. When we met, he was just becoming famous, and we shared wine and cheese at a small radio station reception. My wife has this photo framed on the bookcase.
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Red Sox Player and Broadcaster
Jerry Remy
Jerry played for the Red Sox forty years ago before a long career as a broadcaster. When he played, he was a regular at the restaurant that I operated across the street from the park, and I think his favorite was the Filet-o-Fish. And he always had fries. Very quiet in those days.
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NFL Player and Broadcaster
Chris Collinsworth
Chris is a legend in Cincinnati as a former Bengals star and has been a mainstay in the broadcast booth on Sunday Night Football. I had the pleasure of meeting him for a drink in a floating restaurant on the Ohio River with a mutual friend. For several years I was also in a golf foursome that played in a charity tournament that he put on.
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NHL Hall of Famer & Former Bruin
Ray Bourque
Ray played for the Bruins for more than 20 years. He holds records for most career goals, assists, and points by a defenseman in the National Hockey League (NHL). He is also a long-time restaurant owner in Boston and generously donated dining experiences to our fundraising events.
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WBZ-TV News Anchor
Lisa Hughes
Lisa, on the far left in this photo, was one of the best emcees for any event I have done. She is also a runner and joined our Falmouth Road Race team one year. She finished well ahead of me. I was at mile 6, with 15 minutes to go and she waved as she walked back to her car.
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Cincinnati Legends
Johnny Bench & Boomer Esiason
My family was at a sports memorabilia auction dinner, one that required a coat and tie. Boomer Esiason, former Bengals Quarterback and longtime CBS NFL Pregame Show personality, was there and saw my son's baseball tie and called Hall of Fame Catcher Johnny Bench over and asked him to sign it. I forget the rest of the details about the night, but we still have the tie, pictured here.
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Red Sox Star
Kevin Youkilis
Kevin's girlfriend at the time was a volunteer for me and she volunteered him for stuff he didn't know about. Top fundraisers had the chance to meet him at the Hatch Shell before a walking event. Here he is with my son Joe and some of my extended family members.
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Pop Star
Brittney Spears
Many years ago, just as she was getting famous, she did a show at Kings Island Amusement Park near Cincinnati. A friend of my brother Brian had a connection with her road crew and arranged for us to have a meet and greet before the show. Pictured with my son Joe.
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Rock Music Star
Peter Frampton
Peter's wife was an artist in Cincinnati and volunteered for the non-profit where I was the Board Chair. Peter showed up for events and donated auction items as well. He was mullet free at the time.
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Surprise Photo at the End: | |
Joe's Positive Post of the Week | |
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Ed Doherty
774-479-8831
www.ambroselanden.com
ed-doherty@outlook.com
Forgive any typos please.
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