Friendly Encounters: Brian Orakpo and Mark Bodek

Friendly Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

Once again, here is my friend Mark Bodek with another Washington DC-based celebrity.  As I have previously written, I have not had the pleasure of meeting Mark yet, but he has met a ton of celebrities.  Maybe I am not famous enough.
Mark is a good guy and a big sports fan.  He's the kind of guy you'd like to have with you at a sports event and the sports bar after it.  Of course, maybe he'd invite some of his celebrity friends, too.
Today, he is pictured with former Washington Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo.  Mark met Orakpo during his time in DC.  After 6 seaqsons there, he has played the last 2 with the Tennessee Titans.
I joke about Mark, but I hope to meet him one day (with or without other celebrities).  A game between his Nationals and my Chicago Cubs would seem the perfect setting.  Unfortunately, I do not have a pln to go to DC this year.  Maybe Mark will venture out here for some reason and we can meet.  Either way, I'll keep following his exploits as he cheers for his teams and he meets more celebrities.

Mark Bodek and Brian Orakpo in Dulles, VA-May 2013.

Friendly Encounters: Alfred Morris and Mark Bodek

This is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

That Mark Bodek is really started to get on my nerves.  It's not enough that he hangs with so many wrestling legends.  He also hangs with other sports greats.

Actually, the DC area-based Mark is a great guy.  He's an avid fan of the Redskins and Nationals.  That's all great.  It's when he meets these stars that he raises my ire, but only because I'd love to be there.

A few years back, Mark met former running back Alfred Hayes.  That would be during his rookie season with the Redskins.  Hayes put together four excellent seasons there and finished with one season of limited action with the Dallas Cowboys.

Someday, I'd like to meet Mark.  I have never been to a game at Nationals Park.  That would be a great place to catch a game and meet the legend himself.

Mark Bodek and Alfred Morris in Reston, VA-December 2012.

Friendly Encounters: Kirk Cousins and Mark Bodek

This is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

We recently saw Mark Bodek with Washington Redkins legend Gary Calrk.  Today, we feature my DC area friend with current Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Mark saw Clark help his Redskins win two Super Bowls (one more than I have ever seen in Chicago).  In meetng Kirk Cousins, Mark might have met another player who will help his Redskins get to another Super Bowl.

I am envious.  I am envious of Mark meeting so many interesting people.  I am envious of him having Cousins as a quarterback and of the Redskins organization.

The Redskins have been to five Super Bowls in my lifetime and they have won three.  The Bears have won one and have been to two.  That isn't a huge difference (although it is fairly significant), but it is really more about how good overall they have been.

Anyone, I'll saving my Bears complaints for another day.  I am glad Mark gets to meet so many great ones.

Mark Bodek and Kirk Cousins in Chantilly, VA-November 2015.

Friendly Encounters: Gary Clark and Mark Bodek

This is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

Mark Bodek is a DC area friend I met through wrestling personality Terri Runnels.  Mark has worked with her and other wrestling stars over the years.

He is a big sports fan, especially of the DC teams.  He was especially happy meeting Washington Redskins legend Gary Clark.  He described it as "Such a thrill for me since I grew up watching him win Super Bowl 22 and Super Bowl 26 with the Skins "

That's cool.  I know that feeling of meeting your favorites.  That is extra cool when that person brought a sports championship to your area.  I feel that way about my 1985 Chicago Bears.

He has met a bunch of others, including wrestlers, athletes and entertainers.  Mark can often be seen at Washington Nationals games.  One day, maybe I'll catch a game with him.  Until then, I will keep enjoying his pictures with various stars.

Gary Clark and Mark Bodek in Ashburn, VA-September 2016.

Friendly Encounters: Teddy and Mark Bodek

Friendly Encounters is a weekly series featuring my friends who have met celebrities.

I'm not even sure how I first came aceross Mark Bodek.  It might have been through wrestling personality Terri Runnels.  It might also have been through other celebrities or even sports.  Mark is a pretty big fan of the Washington, D.C. teams.  Any way, Mark is a good dude and has met a lot of interestiung people.
Mark actually has done more than meet celebrities.  He has worked with many, including the aforementioned she-devil Terri.  Clearly he is doing something right (accept for cheering for those Washington teams).
Just to stick it to Mark (because I am envious of the celebrities and lovely ladies he meets, I am highlighting his encounter with "Ted" at the Nationals game.  Heck, even that gets to me.  You all know how I love a mascot.
I might have to try to join forces with Mark sometime.  This is a warning to him.  If I am ever in the nation's capitol, I'll be looking to ride his coattails.  I'll even cheer for the Nats (especially if he connects me with Ted)!

Mark Bodek and Ted in Washington, D.C.-May 2015.

Friendly Encounters: Mark Bodek Meets Bryce Harper and Kurt Suzuki

This is a weekly series about friends who have met celebrities.

Mark Bodek lives in the Washington DC area.  He is a sports fan and naturally a fan of the Nationals and other teams of that area.
The Nationals arrived in Washington DC in 2005, after leaving Montreal as the Expos.  I wonder what it would be like to be without a sports team in one of the four major sports.  I also wonder how it would be to suddenly have a team.  Would it matter if the team was an expansion team or a relocated team?  Yes, these are the things that haunt me.  Fortunately, I don't think Mark has those issues.
Even if he did, I wouldn't feel sorry for him.  He knows Terri Runnels.  He works with Terri Runnels.  He represents Terri in booking appearances and other things, such as occasionally auctioning various pieces of her wrestling memorabilia.
Terri is one of my favorites.  I have interviewed her, she has done a JohngysBeat.com promo and she wore my shirt.  That's all pretty cool, but unlike Mark, I can't say I really know her.
Mark has me there.  He also has me slightly on sports teams right now.  The Wizards knocked the Bulls out of the NBA playoffs.  The Nats are doing much better than the Cubs, but the Bears were much better than the Redskins and the Hawks were better than the Capitals.  The edge goes to him for eliminating the Bulls.
So he gets sports teams and Terri?  How is that fair?
He isn't satisfied though.  He piled on by meeting several players at a Nationals event.  He even posed in the dugout with some (like like Bryce Harper and Kurt Suzuki).
What's with Mark?  Is he trying to raise my ire?
Actually, Mark is a good guy and has helped me on occasion connect with Terri.  I like both Mark and Terri.  Okay, I like Terri more, but I digress.  In either case, you can reach Mark on all matters related to Terri at TheTerriRunnels.com.  Tell him Johngy sent you.  Maybe he will invite me to dinner...with Terri!

Bryce Harper, Mark Bodek and Kurt Suzuki in Washington, DC-January 2014.

Friendly Encounters: Mark Bodek Meets Denard Span and Steven Souza

This is a regular feature about my friends who have met celebrities.

I first connected with Mark Bodek because of former WWE diva Terri Runnels.  Terri is a long-time favorite of JohngysBeat.com   Terri was one of the first celebrities to call me "Jay Leno," a fact that bothers the Honky Tonk Man to this day.

Mark works with Terri and is a sports fan.  It's an exciting time to be a fan of the Nationals.  Earlier this year, Mark got to meet several of the Nats, including Steven Souza and Denard Span.

The Nats are the third team t play in Washington DC.  They appear to be a success there.  Too bad Montreal had to lose a team though.

I have not seen Terri in several years (way too long).  She is a blast at conventions.  I am really hoping she makes an appearance in the Chicago area in the near future.  If any company is interested in bring in Terri, you should contact Mark.

If Mark and Terri make it to Chicago, I am extending an open invitation to join me at a Cubs game.  I know it is more of a gift for me than them, but at least they will see the most beautiful field in all of sports (notice I wrote "field" and not entire ballpark).

Steven Souza, Mark Bodek and Denard Span in Washington, DC-January 2014.