- Fans recount memorable meetings with icons like Muhammad Ali, LeBron James, Joe Frazier, and Charles Woodson.
- HARO gathered heartfelt, funny, and inspiring moments from interactions across sports.
- Stories range from playful ringside banter to gestures that left lasting life lessons.
The late Muhammad Ali - Mandatory Credit: Barry Jarvinan /Allsport
Pro athletes are idolized by millions across the globe, inspiring people of all ages. Their feats, whether on the court, diamond, gridiron, ice, or pitch, have electrified fans for decades, creating moments that live on far beyond the final whistle. But for some lucky fans, the magic extends beyond the stadium. A brief handshake, a shared laugh, or even a simple gesture can turn into a lifelong memory.
To uncover these special moments, we turned to HARO and asked people to share their most unforgettable encounters with professional athletes. The responses ranged from heartwarming to hilarious, each offering a glimpse into the personalities of sports’ biggest names when the cameras aren’t rolling.
Fans recalled meeting legends from multiple eras and disciplines - from ex-NFL star LeSean McCoy and NBA icon LeBron James to boxing greats Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier, Hall of Fame defensive back Charles Woodson, and beloved Finnish NHL captain Saku Koivu. One of the stories even came from our own Marco D’Amico, who credits Koivu for sparking his passion for hockey, while HARO CEO Brett Farmiloe shared an unforgettable LeBron James encounter with RG.
Here are some of the most memorable stories from fans who met their heroes.
Muhammad Ali
Ali is one of the best boxers of all time. He was known for his charisma, confidence, and personality, in and out of the ring.
Ilene Slatko, CEO of DSS Consulting in Washington DC, reminisced on a comical moment in front of Ali way back in 1976 while she was in college:
“Midway through college, in ‘76, I travelled on the road for a year with Up With People, an organization well known at the time for its wholesome message and a hundred young people on stage singing and dancing,” Slatko said. “One of our first stops in August 1976 was in Showlow, AZ, where Muhammad Ali's training camp was located. I was one of the dancers, and the night Ali came to see us, he was in the front row, directly in front of me, while I shimmied and danced. I am now 68 years old, and that awkward memory still makes me smile.”
Jonathan Grimm, the founder of Fernbridge Advisors, shared a heartwarming story from 20 years ago when he was a manager at Starbucks in the Marriott Hotel in Louisville, when Ali came into the coffee shop, leaving everyone in awe.
“The most awe-inspiring was the first time Muhammad Ali stayed. This became a frequent thing but the first time was unforgettable. The Starbucks was right next to the valet and many people entered the side door to the lobby right by us. There was a stir in the hotel as there often was when someone important was arriving,” Grimm said.
“Ali’s black Maybach pulled into the valet. He got out and came right in to Starbucks and ordered. We all were pretty awe-struck as Ali is a different class of athlete and almost mythical. It wasn’t so much that we got to meet him and interact; it was what he said and did that made it so memorable. One of the guys took his order, and after he paid, he leaned over the counter a bit and got closer. He was shaky and slowed by Parkinson’s, but he had his wit.
He leaned over, balled up his fist, and raised it to prepare to punch. Then he said, ‘You better make it right or else.’ Then the largest of grins showed on his face.”
LeBron James
The King is arguably the GOAT, and his longevity is second to none. James came into the league in 2003 and is still putting up productive numbers in 2025.
The CEO of HARO, Brett Farmiloe, revealed his encounter with LeBron from 2006 when he was traveling across the country in an RV with his friends, interviewing different people for a start-up website. Farmiloe stopped in Beaverton, Oregon at the Nike Headquarters and had the chance to see James, who taught him a lifelong gesture that he’s used until this day.
“We stopped by the Nike campus in Beaverton, Oregon to interview Michael Jordan's shoe designer, D'Wayne Edwards, as well as Tobie Hatfield, and subsequently took a tour of the Nike campus. Our tour took us to the "Lebron" building, which at the time, Lebron James was only 3 years into the NBA and was well loved by everyone,” Farmiloe said.
“We walked out of the "King James" doors with his lionhead logo, and up walks Lebron. He's literally surrounded by a circle of 9 people, with him right in the middle. The three of us were pretty starstruck, and Lebron looked right at us, a foot taller than the circle around him, and gave us a simple head nod. We head nodded back, went and bought his shoes from the Nike employee store (no sales tax, and 40% retail), and I've been head nodding strangers on the street ever since.
The story has a postscript. Years later, I met the person who used to train NBA rookies when they were being onboarded to the league. It turns out, the person trained Lebron in orientation (as well as Carmelo and Dwyane Wade), and one of the tactics in orientation was that when a player was in public and had an encounter with a fan that was inevitable (like my case), to just give a head nod.
That simple gesture is something I've taught my kids, taught my kids friends, and even my employees. A head nod acknowledges the uniqueness of a human being, and now more than ever, it's important to acknowledge that uniqueness. Thanks again Lebron!”
Saku Koivu
Koivu is one of the greatest hockey players to come out of Finland. He played 18 seasons in the league, and most of his time in the NHL came with the Montreal Canadiens. Koivu was the Habs’ captain for 10 seasons.
In 2001, Koivu was diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and was having treatment at Montreal General Hospital. D’Amico, RG Senior Editor, PR manager, and insider for the Canadiens, ran into Koivu that fall as his grandmother was undergoing tests after she was in remission for the same diagnosis.
“My grandmother had previous been diagnosed with non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma in the late 1990s, but in fall/winter of 2001, she was made to go back to the hospital for more tests to ensure she was still in remission,” D’Amico said.
“At the time Saku Koivu, captain of the Montreal Canadiens, was at the same hospital (Montreal General Hospital) in the room next to hers. I had an idea of who he was, but seeing Koivu there with a smile on his face, despite undergoing some pretty intense chemotherapy, helped motivate my grandmother to get better quickly and not give the cancer any opportunity to grow again.
He and his wife were kind enough to talk to us for a few minutes, but then asked to keep it under wraps and not attract attention. A few months later, Koivu found himself back on the Bell Centre ice, in full remission, like my grandmother at the time.”
LeSean McCoy
McCoy was a fixture in NFL backfields for 17 seasons. Now, he’s a regular on the 25/10 Podcast with DeSean Jackson.
Jose Rodriguez, the founder of Got Credit? In New Jersey, revealed a heartwarming interaction with McCoy from a few years ago when he was playing his last NFL season with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. Rodriguez had a connection through a business relationship that led to a meeting with McCoy, who was looking to improve his credit so he could invest in real estate.
“A few years back, I was connected through an old business relationship with NFL running back LeSean “Shady” McCoy when he was playing for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. At the time, he wanted to work on his credit to purchase real estate, and I was brought in to help him,” Rodriguez said.
“Now here’s the funny part — I’m a lifelong New York Giants fan, so walking into that first meeting, I was honestly a little nervous. You grow up watching a guy torch defenses on Sundays, and suddenly you’re sitting across from him talking about credit reports and home ownership.
But any nerves disappeared pretty quickly. Shady was down-to-earth, humble, and incredibly easy to talk to. What struck me most was that there was zero ego — he was genuinely interested in learning and improving his financial position, the same way many of my clients are.
The icing on the cake? After we wrapped up our meeting, he threw on my Got Credit? hat for a picture at the Super Bowl Parade. As a Giants fan, it was a surreal moment — but as a business owner, it was one of the coolest experiences I’ve ever had.”
Here’s a look at the photo.
Joe Frazier
Not many boxers ever beat Ali. But, Frazier was one of them, taking down the legend in 1971, handing Ali his first-ever defeat. Frazier had an illustrious career, winning a gold medal in 1964 at the Summer Olympics and becoming the undisputed heavyweight champion.
Slatko, who spoke about Ali earlier, also had the opportunity to meet “Smokin Joe” a few years prior to her encounter with Ali.
“Joe Frazier came to my high school as a speaker. I was the VP of the senior class and had the opportunity to meet him before introducing him to the audience. I remember his size and his hands. His size wasn't surprising, but the memory of the softness of his hands has stuck with me this whole time. This would have been at Winston Churchill HS, in either 1973 or 1974.”
Charles Woodson
Woodson is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He had a tremendous NFL career, making nine Pro Bowls and winning his lone Super Bowl title in 2011 with the Green Bay Packers.
Erika Andresen, the founder of EaaS Consulting, shared an awesome encounter with Woodson where she was lucky enough to sit beside the champ at a play on Broadway, actually having a conversation with the former defensive back.
“In February 2011 I went to see the play Lombardi on Broadway after work. I sat down in my seat next to a gentleman who was already sat,” Andresen said. “Before the show started, people kept coming up to him and saying congratulations and expressing their love of him. I asked, "Are you someone?" He smiled and said, "We're all someone." I laughed and said, "That's true but you know what I mean!" "I play for the Packers. I'm Charles Woodson." "Oh! Congratulations on the Super Bowl - I was rooting for you guys!" "A bunch of us came to see the show as part of our celebration."
“I thought he was so humble and nice: he led with the team, not himself. While I always was and remain a NY Giants fan, that night I added "go see a Packers game at Lambeau Field as a to-do list item. The play was really good, starring the always excellent Judith Light.”
