Shook hands with Al Franken after a speaking gig when I was at grad school (before he was publicized all extreme lib douchy). He had finished speaking, and he was being rushed out of the auditorium by a handler, and I had just so happened to be going the exact opposite route. I stuck out my hand and said, "Thanks for coming" as I walked by. I think he felt trapped, so he stuck out his hand and said, "Sure," as we shook. Then he whisked on by. He was definitely trying to get out of there.
Saw Dick Van Dyke in a restaraunt at an airport when we were kids. He was alone and in a white fake beard and moustache. My mom was digging for paper for us to ask for an autograph, he noticed us, and he picked up and took off. I didn't blame him. I don't think he was trying to be a jerk so much as keep a low profile.
Saw Dr. Ruth speak at A&M when I was in college. She was interesting and all (this was when she had a tv show and was everywhere at the time). We went to get a picture with her at the MSC afterward, and right when we were next in line (~45 min wait), her handler says "Okay, that's it. She's got to leave. Sorry." We looked at Dr. Ruth with a stunned "Are you serious?!" look, and she waved us over, saying in that extreme German accent "Ees okay, ees okay. Come, come!" and waved us over. I had just enough time to kneel beside her, put arm around her, smile and my friend snapped a picture. I still have it today. She was hobbit sized, no kidding.
When I was a freshman in college, we had just moved to SA. I had never lived in a city with an NBA team before, so My mom and I had resolved to be the biggest hometown fans we could be. At the time, I was wearing a Lakers shirt on the Riverwalk (I loved Magic, Michael Cooper, James Worthy, and that crew before we had moved). I was talking to a friend behind me and not looking where I was going (stupid), when I bumped into someone straight on and pretty hard. I turned around and said "Oh, sorry bout that!" I remember looking up at a very tall man in a black baseball hat and black sunglasses. He smiled and said "No problem." After I walked past, I recognized the guy beside the Giant as Frank Brickowski (Spurs fans, remember him?). I looked back again and realized that I had collided with none other than David Robinson. Of course, I was wearing a Laker shirt at the time. Hooray for me! I felt the urge to run back and explain. Oh well.
Oh, and running around the streets of SA after their 1st championship in 99, I ran by a short black guy looking remarkable composed. I recognized him, ran up in the middle of all the hullaballoo and said "Nice job calling the game, man." It was Mike Tirico. He was very nice, smiled, and said "Thanks!" very enthusiastically. It made us best friends for life, I'm sure.
Oh and once, I got to meet Metallica. From Row DD section 357 in the Toyota Center. They were very far away. But I'm sure they rememeber me.