This is kinda on topic and I just gotta tell it:
I was driving around Boston looking for Fenway Park on a summer trip. Got on to Beacon Ave. so I knew I was close but I love to gab so I just kept stopping the SUV and asking people where Fenway was. Three people in a row said, "Sorry, we're tourists too!" Next guy I stop to ask looks a little familiar...I think right away -"This guy plays for the Detroit Red Wings!" He tells me he doesn't know where Fenway is, either, as he is a tourist and he points at his plates -"Michigan!" That sealed it! I said, "Are you Brendan Shanahan? Can we shake your hand?"
He looks a bit shy but says he IS Shanahan and says no problem so my Dad and I double park on Beacon Ave. and yak with Brendan for 10 minutes or so. It was great! He is just a super nice guy. He was born and raised in Toronto so I kept asking why he didn't sign up with the Leafs instead of the Rangers and he told me they never called once.
He was really concerned about us finding Fenway and offered lots of suggestions. We shook hands and said our goodbyes and I never thought of the camera sitting right there between the front seats....or even an autograph! He drove off in a beautiful black Range Rover SUV.
It was the highlight of the trip for my Dad to meet a real Canadian hockey hero. He couldn't stop grinning and talking about it for weeks afterwards.
One thing that surprised me was Brendan didn't look really huge and muscular. He was a bit shorter than me (at 6'3") and maybe just a tad stockier. He looked almost slender without all the pads. But it's so nice to see a pro athlete without all the attitude and ego. Wish the Leafs woulda plunked up the $4 mil and got him!
Jim