On the subject of Taking Inventory... a thank you to the 300

Today, I reached the 300 friend mark on Facebook. My wife was kidding me as I seemed to be counting down to the mark, but as I reached it, it seemed to be a calling to me. She said, “you are just collecting friends.” I disagreed with her as I said I knew all of the people personally with only about 5 exceptions where we met through similar interests. I told her I had a story I could tell about each and every one.
This is the second time I have approached 300, but I was asked by my work to remove a number of associated friends – it’s a long story, but if it was not the case, this would be close to a 500 story list.
So in the tradition of 25 random facts and 44 things, here are 300 personal stories, a journey through a life of friends. There is a pattern to it and if you read through them, there is no doubt you can identify yourself. I truly am appreciative of each and every one of you… so enjoy the ride, and the stories. We start with friend number one, in some particular order.
- A great radio host and friend from back in the KJR days.
- Has worked with me at the University on Big Screen Presentations
- A fun improviser who I spent an afternoon with after our musical improv class and had a blast.
- The King of IDEA Karaoke!
- A good friend of the improv family, and by proxy, a friend of mine.
-A talented cameraman who I first met at Washington State University on such a snowy night we had to shoot inside all day.
- A traveler and an extended member of the family.
- Wrestler and commentator and someone who has successfully fished for many FB friends, however, I think I could genuinely call him a friend.
- My girlfriend my freshman year at SMU, but has turned out to be an even better trusted friend who genuinely cares about me. Has a life journey that could be a movie with some truly life changing experiences.
- A fun improviser from my UP class days that I call by one simple letter.
- Former morning man at my college radio station, and fun to work with.
- Former Sports Editor at the Daily Campus who actually let me write a column for the paper.
- Sports Information Guru at the University. Became FB friends when we did a project together and I never took him off.
- One of the true nice guys at CNN and actually became a boss of one of my protégées.
- Formerly a regular member of my TV crew – loves to do PA for High School events, which makes him a kindred spirit.
- Extremely intelligent professor at an Ivy League school who I met at one of my wife’s reunion parties.
- Very funny improviser who I shared two different classes with. Love her concerned look.
- Web Wizard at KING 5 that went big time. I think he’s had more new ideas for a television website than anyone I know.
- Voice of the Cal Bears who was very helpful in trying to help me get a stat program that worked with my scoreboard.
- Game show guru and former publisher of a Pro Wrestling newsletter. If I ever need a nostalgia kick, I can get one from him.
- Very funny video guru at Tulsa who can make me laugh heartily at his status updates.
- NASCAR Driver who drives on the Nationwide Circuit. Lucky enough to get to spend a weekend with his race team last year.
- The video guru at Comcast Arena and a guy who works with me to make the Rat City Rollergirls look so great. Really has gone through it all in this business and someone I enjoy working with.
- Helped Introduce me (along with her ex) to the woman who is now my wife, and for that I will be eternally grateful.
- One of the strongest women… strike that… people I have ever known… but more importantly, someone who I truly like and hope that our future dreams of an improv group can come true.
- Friend from elementary school, high school and recently got back in touch through FB.
- Veteran Anchor at KING 5 who I see around the station. He and I share a hometown and a love for NASCAR.
- Probably the most in love guy I know with his new bride. One of the funniest and kindest of the professional improvisers I know.
- Shares a name with another of my FB friends, making things quite confusing, but this one is a great writer for the Everett Herald covering the Huskies.
- Where to I start with “wonderbride?” Newswoman, improviser, future television host (gosh I hope) and a great person to be around.
- The best gymnastics commentator in the country and she works for me. How lucky am I?
- Former College leader at IDEA and recent winner of the big prize for college video. Understated in his humor but has really been a great friend in the biz.
- Shared CNN moments with him and saw him get a dream job only to have it turn into a nightmare. Glad he’s back on track!
- Spiritual and actual leader of the lacrosse team I was on in high school. His brother played as well.
- Guided me through the toughest challenge of my professional career and helped me stand up to a major network. Considering he’s had hip hop big wigs settle instead of fight him, I’d call him courageous as well.
- Morning radio personality who is mutual friends with me and my wife. You can see him in Penguin Windows television commercials.
- Former video coordinator at the U and now an assistant coach. One of the most positive people I know and I wish we could have worked together for a lot longer. Glad we keep in touch here.
- One of my closest friends from high school. Dated one of my best friends and ended up going to the homecoming dance with me after her breakup and when my girlfriend could not make the trip down. Genuinely have affection for her and am happy that life turned out great with two wonderful daughters.
- Station manager at KSMU who gave me my first break as a sportscaster.
- Member of my softball team and Husky fanatic. Really great guy who understands more about me than most people.
- Former executive assistant at a cable network and the only person I know that has a Mariners jersey with the name Ball Girl on the back (she was one!)
- One of the heads of Jet City Improv. I think he is a long lost brother of Brian Benben of Dream On and Private Practice fame. Great dojo teacher and master ninja as well.
- Worked with him at FSN, and he helped me try to buy a house. I didn’t which worked out well for me as it turns out. Shared CNN memories together. He has a great newsletter he sends out to his real estate customers… and if you need to buy or sell, this is the guy!
- Significant other to my favorite improv teacher. Shares a name with one of my close friends from the wrestling days, although their personalities could not be further apart.
- Formerly on my softball team, and now living in Gig Harbor. Victim of my greatest memory of being a softball manager when I gave her a Matt Foley, Motivational Speaker routine that brought her to tears laughing and made the other team think I was nuts.
- One of the gang at Seabrook Island with Mike, Albert and Mary Stuart. Remember him being the mastermind of interrupting one of my dates on a deserted road.
- Great mom to my kids best friends and is a great friend herself. Going through one of life’s toughest transitions right now and if anyone can make it through her faith, it would be her.
- Superhero and the only guy I have ever seen admit he likes wearing the costume. Hopefully will be a great host for our improv group and a nice guy to boot.
- This guy singlehandedly help me get a job when most of the other CNN guys thought I was just a goofball. Spent many a late night in the Airport Channel studios doing resume tapes and running prompter for each other. Now a morning news anchor in Spokane.
- Fraternity brother at Lambda Chi in my pledge class.
- Director of promotions and marketing at my television station. Has been great to work with.
- Greatest Midwest accent in the world. She moved away and now has moved back on her “Great Adventure,” and I am sure happy she’s back. Hope she will be part of the improv group as she is fun to work with don’tchaknow.
- Knew her as a totally different person in my high school days. Now a free spirit living in Las Vegas under a totally different name.
- My best friend in 6th grade who has yet to respond to any messages or wall posts. I almost wonder if he is mad at me about something. He was one of the inspirations for my love for blogging.
- Former special event coordinator at the U who moved back east with her family to raise her daughter in a less frenzied environment than Seattle. Role model for what I dream of doing someday.
- Good friend from high school and best friend of one of my close friends. Could always make me smile.
- I love this woman, and she is not my wife. She is my longest tenured friend, my little sister and one of the greatest people I know. Will forever be in my heart and always have a piece of me with her, even though we are separated by an entire country. She has helped me through bad times and cheered me through the good. I will always love her very much.
- An intern at my company who did a great job on his projects.
- Mommy to be and great musical improv teacher. Funny lady.
- I met this guy when he was a snot nosed punk. No really he was. Now I consider him one of the most hard working and dedicated people I know and am lucky to have him on my crew.
- Ad wizard who I met when she was working in the football office at the U. Wonderful to work with and I hope we can work together on something in the future.
- IDEA Counterpart in Minnesota who apparently loves Facebook applications.
- Education Director at my improv place, and a wonderfully kind person. First time I tried to talk to her, I was told she couldn’t talk to me. Turns out that was literal. Now she’s back talking and doing great work.
- Blogger who I met in improv class. Has one of the great spirits I know. Discovered we had a mutual friend from the most interesting of circumstances who thinks the world of her as well.
- One of my wife’s best friends and a great mom. She sang at our wedding and made my dad fall in love all over again with her song.
- Husband and former pastor. Helped do a memorial service for my Dad here in Seattle that allowed my family to grieve. I will always be thankful to him for that.
- Quiet storm of my 201b and 301 improv class. Accompanied me to Hula Hula for post class Karaoke because he understood that it was good for chemistry. Will always deny the camera angle for our last scene in 201 video.
- Friend of a friend who shared a fun day with me in West Seattle
- Sportscaster and great story teller at KING 5. Was an intern for me at Channel 11 and I always had a hunch he would make it… and now he has. Funny FB status and wall posts too!
- New college leader for IDEA from Purdue. Great communicator through FB and helped me launch the FB IDEA group. Very talented designer. Wish I had his eye for the artistic.
- Former salesman at KJR and friend from back in the radio days.
- “The French Guy” from improv class, and very interesting person to know. Wish he would have performed with us longer, but seemed to want to move away from it.
- Stat guy from the Mariners and very helpful at ASU when I was working on an FSN project. Happy he’s up here.
- President of IDEA and person who redefined the word “gone” for me. I hope he can find some good work after the good works he’s done for many of us.
- My first improv teacher at UP and an inspiration to keep going. Sorry she moved to Philly, but happy she chases the dream.
- Friend from BYU from IDEA… really sought my help on some projects and I was honored to do so.
- Quarterback of my high school football team and big man on campus. Went back to the school to teach in later life, which I always thought was cool.
- “Look at you my special friend.” Caesar from Teatro Zinzanni and I look forward to meeting him after his Evening with Groucho show later this month.
- The man behind Dawgman and unknowingly started the longest, most inane thread in the history of the message board just by saying that he talked to me.
- Former Sports Anchor at CNN Headline News and still at it, although he does real estate on the side. Nice guy.
- One of the Backstreet Boys from Virginia Tech from IDEA Chicago. Actually dedicated his karaoke song to me, although I still don’t know why.
- Long time producer who helped me find my first office. Talented curler and that is not something you can say about many Americans.
- Intern at UW who worked with me for gymnastics. Must have the largest shirt
collection from all the team he roots for and worked for.
- Worked for the company I used to share an office with. Nice young lady who was always looking for a break and found one traveling the country. One of my first Twitter followers too.
- Former web wizard for CBS who worked with me at SMU.
- Friend at Seabrook Island as a teenager. Now a spiritual music singer with a happy family life.
- Actress and Improviser. Happy I did not attend her Halloween party as she probably would think I liked her outfit just a little too much.
- Amazing director at Jet City. Hope to take a class or be directed by her someday as she was the director of one of the most incredible improv shows I have ever or ever will see.
- Works with me on the crew at football and as a counterpart with the Seahawks.
- Worked with me on the old Pinnacle Wrestling shows. Has a much different look about her now, and I think she’s got a good future in the business.
- Only person who went to high school and college with me. Living a wonderful life with her family now. Only wished we would have been better friends in college. Kinda lonely those days were.
- Technical director and production business owner who works with me from time to time.
- An amazingly talented young man who I have been honored to work with. Has made my company’s productions look incredible and I hope we will continue to work together in the future.
- Promotions director at KJR and future Mrs. Softy. Great to work with on the renegade coaches show.
- Video wizard at the University of Houston and fellow member of IDEA
- King of Promos at the Mariners and very helpful when I did Mariners Weekly for FSN.
- How about a scratch? One of the people I worked with at NewsSource at CNN. Hasn’t seemed to change a bit and a very nice guy.
- Met him as the Media Man at the WIAA and now he’s at the Seahawks. Always has great ideas and am thankful for his help in letting us use Qwest Field for our High School media days for the Blitz.
- Former co-worker with my wife, now the boss at one of the top station groups in Seattle. Very helpful to me personally as someone in the executive offices who can help me understand business.
- Only of my wife’s Hum-Chums (It’s the Humanities department folks) and very entertaining raconteur.
- A person who my wife should get together with more… calming influence on her. Also the mom of a little girl my son has a crush on.
- Possibly the smartest kid in my school. Scored a perfect score on his SAT’s then went to Harvard.
- Queen of the Airwaves on KUBE 93. A budding television star when I worked with her at FSN before she moved to Phoenix. Called her my secret weapon. Wish we could have worked together more.
- PR Director at FSN. Always knew how to filter through the BS of Fox and was a great person to talk to when the world was going crazy there.
- Friend of Adjil who I met at a powerlifting meet on a sunny day in West Seattle. Great day.
- Gamma Phi Beta at SMU who I remember well from college. Turns out she lives in Seattle now! Hope we can get together and catch up in person sometime soon.
- Used to come over to my house to watch WWE Pay Per Views. Saw Hulk Hogan turn heel and were still marking out! All grown up now… amazingly.
- Talented improviser who I got to know at the first Improv Karaoke night. Very nice!
- She’s my Dawg from Georgia. Played on my softball team and worked with me at the U. Calls me Skipper! And she’s a Dawg and would never be called a dog.
- He came to work for me as an intern type looking to get into the television business and is about to start working full time for a cable network. Very happy for him and it has been great watching him grow in the business and his recent status of fatherhood. Great first baseman too!
- One half of the Bopsy twins although she doesn’t know the nickname. Funny young lady who probably wondered why the Old Man found her so funny.
- When I first took a class with this woman, I was intimidated as hell and mentioned it on FB once. She never realized I felt that way, and now we are improv friends. She is an original in a good way.
- Freshman member of my HS basketball team and better than me as a Senior. Big time basketball fan here in Seattle and quite the political mover.
- Honcho of UP and a very good improv teacher as well.
- Big time stud of the football team back in high school. Great to catch up with him on FB
- One of my favorite people met through improv classes. One of the reasons I call my Spring 201 class my family. Inspired me to do my blog through her incredibly entertaining blog. Genuinely hope she finds the elusive life partner as she is a wonderful catch.
- If we didn’t live on opposite coasts, I think we would probably hang out. Funny woman who I met at IDEA and instantly took a liking to. Works for NASCAR which makes me envious. Karaoke night with her was most memorable part of Chicago trip.
- How do you put in short words the love of your life? My best friend. My honey. My Schmoopy. The person who makes me who I am, and I will forever be her loving hubby,
- Texan who is an improv fan and the only person I have met in Seattle that knows where Plano is.
- One of the most surprising FB friend requests ever. Liked her in college, but thought she didn’t like me much. Now living a much different life out in the sticks but seems very happy.
- Spectacularly nice former gymnast at the U. Have a picture of us that she gave to me as a way to say thank you for the work I did with her and the gymnastics team. I have actually had some people who visit my office if that is a picture of me and my wife! Very special part of working with the gym team.
- One of the great people from my sister school back in the prep days.
- The most talented singer and improviser I know. Can always make me laugh just by laughing. Beautiful in every sense of the word, although some people might not understand.
- Introduced to her by the star of Teatro Zinzanni, and a very funny lady. She has given me some good advice about starting an improv company, and I appreciate it.
- Former head of the Emmys and still an amazing woman for all her good works.
- One half of the ownership team of the best studio space in Seattle, and for some reason he works for me from time to time. I think he likes me a lot better than his partner does.
- If you ever go to Hula Hula and hear this lovely lady sing, consider yourself entertained. Recently found that she had a similar situation with FB as I did with my work, which makes us understand each other more than she knows.
- My one and only friend from New Zealand. I miss her immensely for her ability to understand my dreams and hopes professionally. She left the crazy business we were in to start a doggie day care. Good on ya!
- They call him Lucky. Great cameraman who has been through more in life than most people his age. Victim of a birthday prank on the big screen at the arena too.
- Former co-worker at CNN. Most known to me as the man who introduced me to the greatest blooper of all time. “He was 70 degrees.” Also had the best sign-on of any of the anchors for his unique name. Now performing at Altitude.
- Former shooter at FSN who I always gave a rough time for putting up FSN banners whenever he’d shoot a high school game.
- Cheerleader from my sister school. Thought she was very cute.
- Big honcho for one of the NBA’s best teams. Wish I would have kept in better touch with him as I miss Texas and would love to come back to work there someday!
- One of the Texas A&M Trio from IDEA Denver. Good guy.
- He is the Canadian Superstar and a funny guy to work with. Enjoyed giving him a rough time when we worked together at Pinnacle.
- Member of my softball team who I think does not get me most of the time, but puts up with me since I have the team.
- Former VP of the SMU student body, and a fraternity brother, Looks exactly like I thought he would in his profile picture.
- She likes to play guys on stage, either that or some character that is unlike who she truly is. Funny lady!
- Producer at my television station who gives me a rough time about my friendship with the former Husky football coach. Probably doesn’t understand me all that well which is what makes me an easy target for his jokes.
- Fraternity brother and former SMU cheerleader best known for being one of the ones that Greg Hood, the Aggie Officer of the Day, drew a sword on for going onto Kyle Field back in 1981.
- My music director at KSMU and the person who hired me at a bar called Confetti. I owe a lot to him for the fact that I still look back on the time we worked together as one of the best times of my life for the time I was able to spend around such great people.
- Great attorney in Los Angeles who is a good friend of my wife’s from high school. Very helpful when I had the only legal situation in my life as she helped me find the person who eventually helped me prevail.
- Improv classmate who missed the rush of performing on the stage. I wish she could have enjoyed that moment as I think she would have enjoyed it. Should be much more confident of herself than she is as she is good at what she does.
- Worked with me at the college radio station as Traffic Director, which has nothing to do with congestion on I-5. Both lived in Atlanta at the same time but never caught up.
- She was wanting to get onto television and I gave her the opportunity. Young person who has a lot of drive and will eventually go places when she finds the perfect direction.
- Wanted to be my friend from improv connections… and after all, improv is a great family.
- Of all the people I have as FB friends, I have known this person the longest. We went to second grade together after all. Now a successful doctor and new to FB. (get a picture will ya?)
- A member of the Montana Mafia, a group of television professionals from Montana. Works with us when she’s not working with Fox, but could work with us more if she wanted the experience of some higher status work.
- My niece who was the flower girl at my wedding 15 years ago! She has grown up into a woman now, which is hard to imagine as the first time I saw her was turning on and off the merry-go-round at her birthday party all those years ago, and making her laugh.
- Former improv classmate who reminds me all too much of my older sister.
- University of Washington student who came into Musical Improv class carrying full Marine Military Dress Uniform, and proceeded to knock our socks off with his talent in musical theatre. As Doug says, “what says Marine like musical theatre?”
- Former schoolmate at SSS who used to give me a rough time about being a Georgetown Hoyas fan. Amazingly, I am not a Hoya fan anymore.
- Co intern coordinator at CNN with me, and someone who inspires a lot of people these days. Happy to see he has found his calling.
- The most numbers oriented talk show in the history of sports radio. Married a sports anchor and moved to Utah where he is amazing the listeners there. Got a raw deal here in Seattle where he wasn’t the most understood host, but no one, I repeat, no one did the homework this guy did every day,
- Creator of Cure Improv and one of the true good guys. Came to work for me at a Gym event just to experience the event. Hope he will be a great part of the Oven group.
- Cougar and great cameraman who came to my defense on many occaisions when I was misunderstood at FSN.
- Intern I had a crush on at CNN, who moved into my apartment. Before you get any ideas, she moved in when I left for Seattle. Owns one of my Georgetown chairs and is married to one of the other producers from those days at CNN.
- This woman makes me look good as she gets replays on in lightning fast speed at the U. Very hard worker and nice too… great combination.
- Former news director at FSN and probably one of the most educated people I know. How he ended up in sports, I’ll never know. Hope he lands on his feet soon!
- Former Sports Information intern at SMU who has gone on to big things in the cyberworld after a career in TV. Understands the power of FB better than just about anyone.
- Member of the awesome 201 squad that killed before my 301 show. Very funny improviser who invited me to his birthday party the day I got some sad news. Couldn’t make the party, but always appreciated the invite.
- Amazing photographer who might be the best in the business. Happens to be a pretty good high school basketball referee as well. We shared many a media day together for High School preview cover sections.
- One of my new close friends. A kindred spirit if I ever had one. Like me, has a spouse who does not understand his love for getting up in front of a crowd and making them laugh. I think one day he and I will do a duo comedy show… mark these words.
- Softspoken photographer on my U crew. Always does good work, but also takes amazing vacations. Must be nice.
- Becoming like a little sister to me. Transplant from the south trying to figure out Seattle. Talked her into staying with one of her hobby loves and I think she is glad she did. Hope we can perform on the stage together someday.
- She was on my bus in “middle school” and I thought she didn’t like me. Turns out she was a nice person, and I am happy to have caught up with her on FB.
- Probably my closest friend at CNN and is now traveling the country at golf tournaments. Thankful for the friendship as the CNN tenure was not one of the easiest times in my life, but he seemed to make it easier.
- He said I used to be on his talk show back in Texas, and I seem to remember doing that. Might hold the record for most self confident status updates in the history of Facebook.
- Former PR person at the cable network. How someone hasn’t fallen in love with this woman is beyond me. Always a great sounding board in my darker days at the net.
- Did you ever have one of those people that you dated even though it seemed more like a rivalry? This person did just that… she was the one that everyone thought should be going out with me and I with her. I guess they just wanted to pair off the smart alecks.
- I met up with her through a mutual friend and tried to help her with career choices. She seems to have done pretty well.
- The leader of Jet City Improv and person who made me understand that it takes more than rehearsing to make a good improv group. You have to genuinely know and like each other as well.
- Host of the Musical Misery Hour on KSMU and a very funny fellow.
- Introduced me to my long time college girlfriend, and for that I will always thank her. \
- Friended me because we both had a liking for Groucho, and early in my FB career, that was good enough for me. Wife probably wonders about her icon though with the long legs in fishnets.
- (Missed the cut and paste!) Talented improviser who I wish I had known as an improviser when she lived here. Worked with my wife at the radio station and I kept hearing "she's so funny, you have to see her perform." Oh how I wish I did, because I probably would have started improv much earlier!
- Big guy with a huge talent for improv. Also best friend of another improv friend and one of the conductors of the Train of Thought. One of the best deep voices in the biz.
- Photog for me at FSN and now doing a lot of the work on highlights on my high school show on the local station.
- Substitute teacher for the 300 class at UP and very talented guy. Didn’t know how well he was thought of until a couple of years later.
- My most unique friend who helped me realize you don’t need sounds to communicate how much someone means to you. Happy to have reconnected after 15 years and glad to hear she’s doing well.
- I understood this guy at first, but getting to know him after he came to my party when others blew it off told me a lot about him. Happy to be a dad he is, and it’s nice to see.
- Wife of one of my softball teammates and Karaoke Diva. Great personality and very nice to be around, unless she’s just lost a softball game when she would smash a ball through your head if you’re not looking.
- An improv classmate at both UP and JCI and stand up comedian. Always seemed to get too nervous at improv, but still killed a lot.
- IDEA counterpart at Illinois.
- He created the only music video I was ever in for a final project in a class. I did a lip sync at Confetti to the song I Love Rock and Roll by Joe Piscopo as Frank Sinatra. We had a limo and everything. Never saw the final product. Oh well.
- Web wizard for high school sports. Left Seattle for Texas and left behind a huge headache from a business relationship with someone we both had our challenges with.
- Member of the Cure Improv troupe. Great characters and nice person.
- Photographer who I first worked with at FSN. Had to support him through his first child who came too early. Tough times, but we talked through it. Good prep for the fact that both my kids were born early and I learned some valuable lessons.
- Former writer for the Times and now the Pied Piper of women’s basketball. Valuable resource for me for my high school show as no one ever helped me more in identifying the best subjects for prep profiles.
- My nephew who lives in Bend. We miss seeing him a lot up here. Says a lot that he is my FB friend when his mom is not.
- Video operator on my crew, and one of the guys who has been most faithful in good work for the show.
- Former Sonics PR guy who was there when it all fell apart, but he landed on his feet.
- We traveled to Spain and France on a school trip. We were left behind on a bus trip and along with some of her classmates, practiced the Night Fever dance from Saturday Night Fever. We performed it at a disco that night. She and I became great pen pals and I have the letters saved to this day.
- My counterpart at Cal Berkeley.
- Former frat brother who is now one of Hollywood’s leading sound guys. He got to work on one of my favorite shows. Pretty cool.
- Number 299. Used to tease me for wearing Jordache Jeans in high school.
- My counterpart at Kansas, and someone who paid me a huge compliment at IDEA Chicago. I will forever be grateful to him for that as it made me realize I was doing the best I could.
- Former member of the Sky-Hi Club in Atlanta with me… okay two things. She missed the cutoff by a half an inch and it’s a club for tall people. Get out of the gutter. Happy to have known her and gone out with her a couple of times when I lived in Atlanta. Classy lady.
- Former salesman at wife’s radio station. Caught up with him a few weeks ago and he seems to be doing quite well at the new station. Tried to hire my wife back to her old job only to be declined. Thanks for trying though!
- One of two people to have two entries as a friend, as this is his/her alter ego.
- Improv’s big man, gentle giant and a big talent. Hope to have him cooking up great scenes soon.
- Standup comedian and member of the Spring 201 family, although he seems to be the estranged member of the family right now. Maybe improv wasn’t his calling, but we all think it could be.
- Okay, I had a crush on her in high school and she knew it. She became an NFL cheerleader and I was over her by then. Funny now as it is her daughter that has become the cheerleader. Not falling far from the tree.
- Afternoon drive DJ for KUBE… and someone I wanted to work with on television. Just didn’t happen, but he seems to be doing just fine.
- Shares a last name with one of my best friends and I know them both from Pro Wrestling, except the people he works with are a lot better looking than the people Steve and I worked with.
- The Ringer. One of the most talented improv people I have ever met and sure to be a star someday.
- Owner of a production company in LA. We always seem to be close to working together but the pieces never seem to fall into place.
- When we met, I thought I was meeting myself at a younger age. Incredible talent when it comes to making good television. Best moment was when he hit an old lady at Stanford. Long story.
- Another member of the 12th Man Productions.
- Softball teammate who we call SportsCenter as every play he makes is a highlight.
- Neighbor and Mom to some of my son’s best friends. Thought she had a remarkable resemblance to Julia Roberts when I first met her. Nice lady.
- Former producer at FSN who got a raw deal when his wife who was…
- An assignment producer at FSN who did great work was abused by an authority figure at the network. Happy to see she’s found happiness as a mom while that idiot ruins another network. We love telling stories about the old days and that interesting “goodbye” letter from the fuehrer.
- Creative talent behind the Betas. Would love to work with her someday.
- Classmate at SSS who has found a higher calling, in spite of the fact he is a dead ringer for former WCW Four Horseman, Arn Anderson.
- Bartender at Zeek’s when I would go there for dinner before improv class. Also works with the Roosevelt football team, which led to one of his players winning an academic segment on my show.
- A truly funny guy who I wish I understood better. The term does not play well with others seems to come to mind, but for talent, he’s hard to top.
- Founder of an independent wrestling company, and someone who put a lot of trust in me. His life is much different now, and seemingly much happier.
- Old high school friend that shared many moments dealing with Coach Casey’s rants.
- Owner of an internet company that I worked with. Too intelligent for me to keep up with.
- Former UW Assistant SID who was always a joy to work with especially back in the Runnin’ with the Pac days.
- Old high school friend who actually gave me his company’s Rolling Stones tickets and went overboard trying to get them to me. Thanks!
- Former morning show host at my wife’s radio station and one of the good guys.
- A guy from high school who could be the big man on campus, but decided to help me start a booster club. Never forgot that.
- Plays on my softball team and seems to live for it every summer. Great teammate.
- Producer at my tv station, hockey fanatic and fellow blogger. Always has a nice word to say.
- Number 300! My counterpart at Florida State University, and a very amazing editor.
- EVS operator extraordinaire and does improv too. How cool is that? Also is a new daddy, which is his favorite and most important role.
- My improv inspiration, and he probably thinks I stalk him. Possibly the most incredible physical improviser anywhere. He wrote the book on Directing Improv. Literally, he did!
- Longtime friend of my wife married to..
- Another great friend of my wife, who deals with a life changing disease every day, and I admire his tenacity to not let it effect his life.
- The shy improviser who just got married. Can do some amazing scenes when she allows herself to do it.
- I finally made it to you my friend! And you know who you are. How we became friends is still interesting to me, but you are genuinely one of the people I most like being around. You always make me laugh and have some nice words. I look forward to our future as friends and so does the Mrs.
- News Director at KSMU who went on to become one of the top radio news reporters in America.
- Teacher of my 301 class and future daddy. He likes biscuits!
- Stand up comedian and classmate in improv. Now works at 30 Rock doing 30 Rock. Very cool.
- Original marketing director at my TV station, and a very talented artist.
- Thought we would develop a TV show together, but it just never happened.
- One of my best friends from the IDEA group, and someone I wish lived closer to me so we could go to some ball games together. Being at Wrigley with him is one of my fondest memories.
- Not a person but a place of Love, Chaos and Dinner, and the place that inspires me to perform every time I go there.
- Friend from High School who I did not know extremely well, but remember fondly.
- Original editor at Prime Sports. We worked briefly together before he went off to do great things in the area of DVD games.
- Sales Manager and brains behind the show that almost got me in big trouble.
- Classmate at SMU and lover of the Gerry Todd Program.
- Entertainer who I have never met, but plugs his shows better than anyone I know on Facebook. Maybe one of 5 people on here I have not met.
- Another I have never met, but became mutual friends with the NASCAR driver friend of mine.
- EVS Operator and one of the few people who believed in me as an event producer from day one, and I will always be grateful for that.
- Regular dinner date before Improv class and one of my closest improv friends. About to become a bride and hopefully a big time cook in the Dutch Oven, a term which she brought into my life and not for the reason you think.
- Someone from my media contacts who I don’t know too well, but he seems to know me.
- My very first improv teacher and one of the great guys I know. Original Almost Live contributor and a genius when it comes to the art of improv.
- A good friend that I lost for a while when a mutual friend interceded. Happily, we are about to reconnect. Father of a Special Olympian who is an inspiration across the country.
- Former producer at CNN Sports and now teaches others how much fun we had and how tough it will be.
- I really thought this guy and I would become good friends after IDEA Chicago, but he seems to have his reasons not to call, even though we work in the same city. Maybe someday.
- He makes me look good and I try to return the favor. Great graphics artist and inspiration for many looks I use.
- Teenage friend who I only knew for a couple of weeks, but we have reconnected and try to be very supportive of each other. Happy she is back in my life, and I am happy for her new companion who gets lots of love.
- Not one person but three. They can make improv a total nightmare… in a good way.
- My chief photographer for my best show ever. Very talented and knows what he does well.
- Contributor to the creation of my television series now screenplay. Producer of a show that should have NEVER went off the air and one of the most in demand speakers on the Beatles in the country.
- Web guy for my show and my station, who will sometimes return an e-mail or phone call.
- My new friend who is part Rollergirl, part Marketing person, all nice and we have enjoyed working together. Says thank you a lot and I like that
- Chief meteorologist for a local station who I knew when she worked at my station. Only person I have ever known to have an audio equipment garter!
- My first broadcast partner now with the KC Royals. Is doing what I always hoped I would do, but we each found what we do well.
- Former TLC host and current radio celebrity. Helped me with a game show I once developed. Miss her on While you were out!
- Dockyard Derby Dame and one of Adjil’s best friends. Sorry about the ending of the Bachelor.
- Courageous woman, and my wife’s roommate at the time when I first met her. Amazing woman to be so optimistic in spite of all that has happened to her.
- One of my wife’s best friends who has given me some important knowledge for dealing with my own family’s challenges.
- I am amazed his picture is on FB as I don’t think his picture is available anywhere else. One of the top DJ’s in the country and now a family man in spite of a very non family friendly program.
- The goddess of the fascia and a damn fine looking woman!
- Local radio newswoman who found me through my blog. Never met her but would like to someday.
- My physical improv teacher and a great inspiration. Hope to perform in front of her one day and make her proud!
- Taught me my original editing system, thank God, as I had no clue how to use a machine I paid 20 K for!
- The Greek God of Improv… and a great guy at that.
- Brother of my wife’s best friend and a great karaoke host.
- Gymnastics fan extraordinaire. Met her through the College Gym board when she complimented my internet broadcasts.
- The most talented person I ever worked with, only to be set of course by a tragic accident involving her beautiful daughter. I think she’s back on track now. Miss working with her and can only wonder what if when it comes to still working together.
- Aussie traffic goddess. Tall too… and twitters. Terrific!
- One of the nicest people I have met in improv. Doesn’t want to be thought of as a party girl, and doesn’t need to worry about it. Down right beautiful woman too.
- Husband of one of my FB friends and sports producer.
- Improv classmate and member of the family. Missing in action.
- I was in love with this woman when I lived in Washington, DC. However she was too hurt by a previous relationship with someone else and could not trust me. She eventually found happiness, and was the inspiration for my oft used line “in the battle of the sexes, I rarely root for my own side.” I can still hear her singing Taylor Dayne songs. She wondered on a recent comment how I keep up with all my FB friends… and maybe this note might help her understand.
- Chyron guru and hard working member of the crew.
- Captain of the crew, dad who has been through a long string of challenges with children and someone I could not really do my job without.
- One of the unique guys I know and dates a Bettie Page like dancer.
- Former CNN International anchor who now works with the team that changed my life, but is no longer here.
- Improv classmate who moved back east just when I started to understand her. Always played a pissed off woman, but she was far from it in real life.
- My improv teacher at UP. Enjoyed his class but he got upset at me when I made the analogy that I felt like a kid who did not like what his 4th grade basketball coach was doing.
- A good friend who I originally thought I should hate as he kind of took my job. However, he ended up being one of my longest lasting work friends and our phone conversations are always comedic.
- The most beautiful girl in my sister school, and now living the life I thought she would.
- We both went to SMU, and covered High School Sports then a college conference.
- A funny lady who seems painfully shy for her amazingly outgoing ability to take the stage.
- Director of some of my shows who wonders why he doesn’t do more for me. Probably because he’s too busy.
- Former Sonics game ops guy who is one of the few who made the trip and actually likes OKC.
- Without a doubt, one of the most importantly influential people in my life. As the first improv teacher who totally understood what I was all about, he opened my eyes to the possibilities of actually succeeding on the stage. I stand in awe of how talented he is and only hope I can repay him someday by performing on stage and making him proud of his trust in me.
¬¬- I first met this guy as an intern at the cable network and he has grown into one of the best cameramen in the country, traveling all over the place every week. The fact he has to balance that with being a family man is a challenge, but one he meets well.
- A talented wrestler, this Canadian is one of the most naturally charismatic people I have ever seen step into the ring. I think he will be on Monday Night Raw someday.
- A utility and cameraman on our crew, he once said he would do anything to work on my high school games. He doesn’t have to beg for work anymore… seems like I always see him on one crew or another… even mine.
- Didn’t exactly get along well with him when we worked together, but this sports turned news anchor has developed an entertaining niche at his new station, and has kept working in the business longer than just about every other anchor I worked with.
- A great basketball player from high school, this guys attitude always gave him an edge. Nice to see him again on FB.
- I first met this woman as an intern at the cable network. She moved into the position of reporter and my only criticism of her was that she did not fish for stories. I think that she had a different calling and I believe she found it as one of the most solid radio personalities and color commentators in the business. She could hold her own doing men’s or women’s games and I think she she should be doing both!
- The other of the Bopsy Twins from improv. She is a naturally funny young lady but needs to open herself to the possibilities. Met her for the first time at a Karaoke party where she got a version of the song she wasn’t expecting. It turned out to be pretty entertaining.
- The co-leader of the IDEA college group, and someone who seems to balance family and work very well.

So there you have it. 300. Every person, a different story. Every person, special in their own way. Thanks to you all for being my friend, real, Facebook or otherwise. I am blessed to know you.