I was reading some of the recent news of the NFL and I saw that Jared Lorenzen was released from the NY Giants.  This probably doesn’t mean much to any of you, but I’ve actually followed Jared’s career pretty close since he left the University of Kentucky.  My friend Fadi and I took a trip up to Kentucky when we were in college to spend the weekend with another friend, Seth.  While we were there, we watched UK play South Carolina.  I don’t know why, but since that game, I kept up with Lorenzen in the news.  Today’s news got me to thinking about some other brushes of fame that I have had.  Here are the ones that I can think of:

Tim Wansley

I’ve detailed before about how fortunate I was to play football.  Most of that was due the small size of my school and not the large amount of my talent.  My senior year we played the perennial powerhouse Buford High School.  I don’t remember the exact score, but they trounced us soundly.  On the field was this man among boys.

My recollection of Tim Wansley was one (of many) play where he lined up against me.  He was the receiver and I was the cornerback.  Now, I’m not as stupid as I seem.  I knew that Tim was fast and I knew that the ball would be coming to him on that play.  So, as soon as the ball was snapped, I turned and ran as fast as I could.  Within a split-second, Tim was waiting on me in the end zone with the football.  The sad thing is, I don’t think he even had to try on that play.

Tim went on to play for the University of Georgia and then helped the Tampa Bay Buccaneers win a Superbowl.  I’d like to think that letting him score that touchdown on me helped to boost his confidence and get him to that next level.  Tim is now listed as “inactive” with the Cleveland Browns.  That’s a coincidence…I’m listed as “inactive” in a lot of places.

Corey Smith

I actually went to high school with Corey.  He was a year ahead of me in my sister’s class.  I didn’t know him all that well, but I did have an art class with him.  But even better than that, my next-door neighbor shot him in the eye with a BB gun…how exciting is that?!

At any rate, I didn’t have a clue of anything about Corey until my high school’s 10 year reunion this past fall.  One of the guys told me “Dude, he’s huge.  Look him up on the internet.”  A few weeks later, I remembered our conversation, looked him up, and wouldn’t you know it, the boy is pickin’ guitar and having a good time doing it.  He developed a following among the UGA and college crowd and has grown from there.

While Corey will probably never admit it, I probably had a hand in his success.  By looking across the art room, he probably thought, “I hope I never turn out like that nerd.”  It was this inspiration that gave him reason to strive to accomplish his dreams.

So, those are my brushes with fame.  (Tim and Corey, there’s no need to thank me for my part in your success.  I would have done the same for anyone else.) What about you?  Where have you rubbed elbows with those who are living their 15 minutes?  And please, no stories about mistaking musicians for waiters and ordering them to get you a drink.  That story has been used a thousand times…