My Brush With Greatness Pt II

Famous People Who Asked Me For My Autograph

Last month I was asked, "Have you ever met anyone famous?" When I was in radio I was asked that question all the time and I was always able to come up with a bunch of names in a short period of time. Last month, it was really hard to come up with a name.

One reason I keep this blog is to keep a digital record of my life. The following list represents about 60 moments in my life when I encountered someone of prominence. So, now the next time someone asks me that question I've got cheat sheet.

• Alice Cooper - Musician, snakes, golf



• Arnold Schwarzenegger - Body builder, actor, Governor of California (R)
• Barney Frank - Out of the closet US Congressman (D-MA)



• Bill Bradley - Former basketball player and US Senator
• Bill Graham - Rock promoter, actor, deceased
• Billy Dee Williams - Actor, Colt 45 Malt Liquor pitch man, Lando Calrissian
• Bobcat Goldwait - Comedian, actor, game-show host
• Brian Wilson - Beach Boys, solo performer, took too much acid
• Bruce Willis - Actor
• Bryan Ferry - Roxy Music, solo performer
• Buster Poindexter/David Johansen - New York Dolls, solo performer, actor
• Carl Lewis - Olympic gold medallist
• Chase Utley - Phillies All-Star second baseman
• Dave Edmunds - Solo performer, Rockpile
• David Crosby - Byrds, CSN, solo performer, big-time ex-drug addict
• Dee Snyder - Twisted Sister



• Dick Sargent - Darren Stephens (1969-1972) on "Bewitched", deceased
• Emo Phillips - Comedian, actor
• Eric Clapton - aka God
• Eunice Kennedy - JFK's sister, started the Special Olympics



• Frank Zappa - Mothers of Invention, solo performer, deceased
• Garth Hudson - Keyboard player for The Band
• Difford & Tilbrook - Popular writing duo from Squeeze



• Graham Nash - Hollies, Crosby, Stills, Nash, solo performer
• Gregg Allman - Allman Brothers, solo performer
• Jersey Joe Walcott - Former heavyweight champ, deceased
• Jimmy Page - Yardbirds, Led Zeppelin, solo performer, session musician
• Jimmy Rollins - Phillies shortstop
• Joan Jett - Runaways, solo performer
• Joey Krammer - Aerosmith drummer
• John Entwistle - Who bassist, solo performer, deceased
• John Mellencamp - Solo performer
• John Sebastion - Lovin Spoonful, sang theme to "Welcome Back Kotter"
• Julie Nixon Eisenhower - Nixon's daughter married to Ike's grandson, David
• Maria Shriver - NBC reporter, daughter of a Kennedy, wife of Arnold
• McLean Stevenson - MASH's Col. Blake, deceased
• Michael Bolton - Solo performer
• Mickey Mouse - Do I really have to say
• Mick Fleetwood - Fleetwood Mac drummer
• Mike Schmidt - Philadelphia Phillies Hall of Fame third basemen
• Mr. T. - The A Team, a lot of gold chains, Mohawk
• Nancy Walker - Actress, the quicker-picker-up lady, deceased
• Nick Reynolds - Washington, DC Disc Jockey; Music Director, deceased
• Paul Carrack - Ace, Squeeze, wrote and sang "How Long," & "Tempted"
• Paul McCartney - Beatles, Wings, solo performer, deceased?
• Penn & Teller - Magicians, rip-off artists
• Peter Frampton - Humble Pie, solo performer
• Randy Newman - Musician, Academy Award winner
• Richard Gere - Actor
• Richie Ashburn - Philadelphia Phillies Hall of Fame centerfield, deceased
• Richie Havens - Folk singer
• Robbie Robertson - The Band's principal songwriter, guitarist
• Robin Roberts - Philadelphia Phillies Hall of Fame pitcher
• Ronnie Wood - Jeff Beck Group, Faces, Rolling Stones, solo performer, artist
• Sgt. Shriver - JFK's brother-in-law, started the Peace Corps
• Soupy Sales - TV & Radio comedian, actor
• Southside Johnny - Musician
• Steve Buscemi - Actor
• Steve Carlton - Philadelphia Phillies Hall of Fame pitcher
• Steve Howe - Yes, Asia, solo performer



• Wilt Chamberlain - Basketball player, seducer of women, deceased

Looking for a Great Italian Meatball Recipe?

If you're looking for a great Italian meatball recipe then wrap your lips these balls.

I've known Tom Hartman since first grade. That means we've been friends for a long time. Since childhood, Tom has always come across as a "worldly" type of fellow. He's always been very knowledgeable in politics, sports, the arts, history, and music. Especially music. He and I have listened, enjoyed, and argued about music for thirty years.

Tom also knows a lot about food. He lives in Philadelphia and enjoys eating out often. Name the food and Tom tasted it somewhere in Philadelphia or New York or around the world (Tom travels a lot. When it comes to food -- Tom has tried it all including Indian, Chinese, Mexican, Thai, French, and Italian. Now, given his background, experience, and his fondness for food I value his opinion and his recommendations about such matters.

I told you about Tom so you'll understand my disbelief when he told me that my meatballs were the best he's ever eaten. My meatballs? Tom has eaten thousands of meatballs in hundreds of restaurants in and around Philadelphia, New York, and other places, yet my meatballs are his favorite, "...the best I've ever tasted." Wow, what a compliment. Thank you Tom.

So given my new found respect for my meatballs I want to share my recipe:

The Best Italian Meatball Recipe

Prep Time: 20 minutes
Bake Time: 24 minutes

Ingredients
1 pound combined beef, veal, pork (must be fresh)
3 large eggs
1-cup grated Romano Locatelli Cheese
1-cup bread crumb
1-clove garlic - minced
1-teaspoon salt
1-teaspoon parsley

Preparation
(All mixing is done be hand) In a large bowl mix eggs, garlic, salt and parsley.  Then add beef/veal/pork. Mix.  Then, add 1/2 cup of bread crumb and 1/2 of cheese. Mix.  Add second 1/2 cup of bread crumb and cheese.  Mix  Now, it's time to roll up the balls. Average size is roughly 2 inches in diameter. I usually get around 18 to 20 meatballs per pound. IMPORTANT! Do not cook meatballs in your pasta sauce! Meatballs cooked in sauce lose their flavor.*  Rather than fry, which is perfectly acceptable, I cook them in an oven. Heat oven to 390. Place meatballs on a rack - then on a cookie tray. Bake for 12 minutes on one side then 12 minutes for the other.

I freeze the meatballs in bags and take out what I need per dinner. I just drop the meatballs into the sauce as if heats up.

*Years ago, I came to the conclusion that cooking meatballs in sauce sucks the flavor out of them resulting in a bland tasting meatball. However, cook them independent from the sauce and you'll taste something so good you'll fall out of your chair. If you want a flavored sauce add seasoned ground beef, chicken, pork, or beef tips.

Buon Appetito!

Looking for a great Italian sauce recipe?

It's a boy, Mrs. Altobelli, it's a boy.

My wife and I are expecting a baby in December. Today we found out the sex. It's a boy! My daughter and son will now have a baby brother. We're all very excited. However, I feel a little cheated knowing the sex. It's sort of like looking in your parent's closet at your soon-to-be wrapped Christmas presents. You know what I mean? Be that as it may, the doctor confirmed that the baby is healthy and everything is where its supposed to be.

I leave you with a flash back to my radio days.