It's a funny thing as you grow older and see celebrities in public places. AS a kid, it's really a big thing to see one of your superstars in person. I remember being at Stan's Drive In, in Bakersfield and at that time was bodybuilding full time. I saw a kid at the counter who looked familiar and I could tell that he worked out. Flashing back through my mental hard drive, it came to me that I had seen him in Iron Man magazine doing a very heavy bench press and they had a brief article on him. No one else knew who he was other than myself. I began to get hot behind the ears as I thought; this guy was in the magazines. I have to go talk to him. So, I did and his name was John. I said, 'didn't I see you in Iron Man Magazine a while back." He said, 'yes, that was me'. So, I introduced my self and told him that I'd been training, etc. and we had a nice conversation. He was heading back to his hometown Fresno and had just competed in a contest. Now, this may have been the only time in his life that a situation has ever happened cause, the average person doesn't read that magazine and he was never seen in it again. I think I made his day. Not long after that while I was training to become a pro wrestler, I spotted another wrestler by the name of Bruce Kirk, who really wasn't well known but had worked the circuit and just finished a show in our town. He was in the same place, Stan's Drive in. He had just left the arena and came for something to eat.

Again, I introduced myself and told him that I was training at the Olympic auditorium and was getting in the business. IN both situations, cause all this was a new experience for me, my ears got hot, my heart started beating harder and I was anxious to go up to them. Again, for him, it made his day, as I'm sure he wasn't approached very much.

Well, many years later, living here in Los Angeles and training the celebrities that I have and also working in films and commercials, it's an everyday occurrence to run into people who are famous. Now, it's not a big thing anymore, except for one time when I went to the NAMM show in Anaheim. That's a show for Musicians and major Rock Stars are there. It's huge. I accompanied Gene Simmons from KISS on two occasions and then the 3rd time took my 2 boys back to see it. As I said, I've seen most everyone and then I spotted a guitarist, James Burton, who was lead guitarist for Elvis and Rick Nelson. I grew up watching this guy and no one on the street would know him by site. I did and I got overwhelmed knowing he was right there. I guess the 'kid' in me was showing. But, it was exciting for me. Just recently I did a series of Ads for WEST Cigarettes in Germany and the Girl that posed with me was Yvette Nelson and is married to Matt Nelson who is the Son of Rick Nelson. Now I'm a friend with them and it's weird how things happen. Because of course, they are friends with James Burton. So, everything goes full circle.

Now, after years of wrestling and acting and being in the limelight, I get recognized on the street daily. I seldom can go anywhere that people don't approach me for an autograph or tell me that they've seen me on TV. Today my Son had reminded me of a situation that happened. We were involved in a Wrestling show south of here and the city had a big fiesta parade. They had me as the Grand Marshall and my Son drove the truck that pulled me, as they needed a driver.

After the parade and on the way home we decided to stop at a Krispy Kreme Donut store. Well, the minute I opened the door, the whole place became still. About 30 customers and 20 employees dropped everything and started coming towards me for autographs and photos. I'm not sure they even knew who I was for the moment, but never the less, we accommodated them, took photos, signed autographs and the put Polaroid's on the wall of us instantly. I bought two dozen donuts and went to pay and they said, 'no charge.'

It was one of the craziest moments that have ever happened to me. But now I know how those people felt as I was in the same place at one time. Somehow you still don't feel worthy of their admiration as you know you are just a person like them, but it makes them happy and I like putting a smile on someone's face.