Friend Encounters: Shawn Green and Larry Freda

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

While my east coast pal Larry is a huge New York sports fan and meets lots of NY sports figures, I always like to feature him with others. Today, I am straddling the line a bit with Shawn Green, who is more known for his time elsewhere.

Green had an excellent 15 year career, but he only played a little over one season in New York with the Mets. The rest of his career was spent with the Toronto Blue Jays (seven seasons), Los Angeles Dodgers (five seasons) and Arizona Diamondbacks (one and a half seasons). During his career, he amassed 2,003 hits with a .283 batting average. He was an All-Star twice and won a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger award. I believe that puts him in the Hall of the Very Good. Green was one of my favorites and a regular on my fantasy teams when I played.

Green meets the qualification as a former New York player, but I honestly forgot he played there when I started this feature. Leave it to Larry to teach me (or at least remind me) of some baseball history.

Larry is a great guy. He has battled some health issues, but he is a fighter with a lot of spirit. There are a lot more athletes Larry needs to meet in the future.

Shawn Green and Larry in Ridgewood, NJ-June 2011.

Friend Encounters: Billy Ray Cyrus and Larry Freda

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

Larry Freda has become a more frequent part of Friend Encounters as I realize just how many celebrities he has met. I haven't had the pleasure of meeting Larry in person yet, but I feel I know him already through all of his social posts.

Thanks to his Achy Breaky Heart, Billy Ray Cyrus became a big star many years ago. Little did anyone know as big as that song made him, his daughter Miley would later reach superstardom, too.

Billy actually had eight Top Ten singles on the Billboard Country Songs chart. His album Some Gave All spent 17 weeks in the number one position on the Billboard 200. That is the longest streak for a debut artist at number one.

Billy has remained active in music and also acting. Daughter Miley, kind of did that in reverse. She gained stardom as the title character on Disney TV's Hannah Montana, which led to her singing success.

I don't know if Larry has any musical talent, but I know he has met many talented musicians and other celebrities. While he is most often seen with athletes (usually New York legends), he also crosses over into other fields, too. The man is a legend himself and one who I hope to meet someday.

Billy Ray Cyrus and Larry Freda in Ridgewood, NJ-April 2013.

Friend Encounters: The Ultimate Warrior and Larry Freda

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

Larry Freda is an east coast convention friend, but I have never met him. Hopefully one day that will change. Until then, I feel I know him well through all of the great pictures he posts on social media. Wrestling and NY sports teams are two of his favorite areas of conventions, but he has met many folks outside of those genres.

Today though, I feature Larry with one of the biggest names in wrestling in the late 80s. Jim Hellwig gained megafame when he joined the WWE as the Ultimate Warrior. While his career had some bumps, UW remained a big name right to his untimely death in 2014. At least shortly before he passed, UW made some sort fo peace with the WWE and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.

Hellwig actually changed his name to Warrior to capitalize on his fame. It probably helped him in making appearances, as the WWE might have blocked him from using the Ultimate Warrior name, but couldn't stop him from using Warrior. Legalities and feuds are funny things at times.

Larry met UW at a Legends of the Ring event. This is a huge annual wrestling event in New Jersey. Larry has met many legendary wrestlers there and I am happy to share some of his pictures here over the years.

Larry Freda and the Ultimate Warrior in NJ-June 2012.

Friend Encounters: Valerie Bertinelli and Larry Freda

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

My buddy Larry is back and this time he is not with a New York legendary athlete. Valerie Berttinellis is definitely a legend though.

Does Valerie ever age? Theformer child actress is 50 in the picture below. She probably looks the same today, too. It's not good photography either. I met Valerie around the same time and she looks amazing in person. She is also one of the sweetest celebrities I have met and I am sure Larry would agree.

The former star of tv's One Day at a Time was married to Eddie Van Halen and has had quite a life. She has written two books, Losing It and Enough Already. Both books are open and honest looks into her life, the good and the bad. As far as autobiographies go, these are two really good ones.

On the subject of autobiographies, my bud Larry should write one. He has met enough celebrities to at least do a coffee-table picture book of his meetings. Some day, I hope to be in that club of his meetings. Until then, I will continue to showcase his many great celebrity encounters.

Larry Freda and Valerie Bertinelli in Ridgewood, NJ-October 2010.

Friend Encounters: Doc Gooden and Larry Freda

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

My east coast friend Larry Freda makes another appearance here. Many of the celebrities he has met are former athletes, particularly former New York athletes.

Today, Larry is pictured with Dwight "Doc" Gooden, who was a star pitcher with the New York Mets and appeared headed for the Hall of Fame. Unfortunately, drug issues derailed his career. He did have a resurgence with the cross town Yankees, followed by a few years bouncing around with the Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros and the Tampa Rays, before finishing his career with the Yankees. Overall he was 192-112. It's just a shame for him and his career drugs cost him so much.

One of these days I hope to actually meet Larry. Until then, I will keep featuring some of his greatest celebrity encounters.

Doc Gooden and Larry Freda in Paramus, NJ-June 2010.

Friend Encounters: Kenny Rogers and Larry Freda

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

I have featured Larry Freda several times here. Although I have never met my east coast pal, I have been a follower and fan of his many celebrity meetings over the years.

Today's features finds Larry with the legendary musician Kenny Rogers. Larry met Rogers at Bookends, where he was doing a signing.

With a career spanning more than 60 years, Rogers built a Hall of Fame resume as part of the First Edition and as a solo act. Rogers also had a bit of an acting career. Unfortunately, Rogers passed away in March 2020.

Rogers earned another spot in pop culture history, thanks to a Seinfeld episode. Kramer and Newman became obsessed with Kenny Rogers Chicken in what was a hilarious episode.

Once again Larry has met a celebrity who I did not meet. I wonder how many celebs Larry has met total. It's got to be in the hundreds and we will see more here in the future.

Kenny Rogers and Larry Freda in Ridgewood, NJ-October 2012.

Friend Encounters: Count von Count and Larry Freda

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

Although I have not met Larry Freda, I have featured him with celebrities here countless times. Perhaps today's featured celeb with Larry could help me count the times.

Count von Count first appeared on tv's Sesame Street in the Season Premiere in 1972. In his first scene, he was counting blocks with Bert and Ernie.

Obviously, the Count's main purpose is to help children learn to count. The Count family includes a mother, brother, uncle and grandparents. He also has been seen with several lady friends (but who's counting). Remarkably, in the almost 40 years he has been on Sesame Street, only two men have voiced and performed as the Count.

Although never really evil, the Count has become much friendlier over the years. He only gets annoyed when his counting is interrupted.

Larry isn't evil either. He is a big sports fan, usually seen here with members of New York teams, but I won't hold that against him. I respect his loyalty to his teams. Someday I will meet Larry in person. You can count on that! Ah-ah-ah!

Larry has battled some health issues, but hopefully he continues to get better. Send your good vibes his way.

Larry Freda and The Count in Langhorne, PA-June 2011.

Friend Encounters: Carroll Spinney and Larry Freda

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

Today I am featuring my east coast pal Larry Freda. The man with Larry might not be recognizable, but I am pretty sure you will know him when I reveal his long-running television roles.

Caroll Spinney played Big Bird and Oscar the Grouch on Sesame Street from its debut in 1969 until October 2018, about a year before his passing. Spinney also played a couple other characters on the popular children's show.

Unlike many of Larry's celebrity encounters, I did meet Spinney. He just ozzed class and professionalism. He was polite, respectful and simply a pleasant guy. I guess that comes with the territory of being on a children's show for nearly 50 years.

Larry met Spinney at the Super Megashow. I have not been to that show, but if it is "super" and "mega" it has to be good. From the looks of the many pictures Larry has posted from various years at the show, it definitely lives up to its' name. Someday, I hope to attend that show, as well as to actually meet Larry after all these years seeing his celebrity encounters.

Caroll Spinney and Larry Freda in East Fairfield, NJ-July 2010.

Friend Encounters: Pepper Johnson and Larry Freda

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who met celebrities.

Thomas "Pepper" Johnson played 13 seasons in the NFL, the first seven with the New York Giants. He won two Super Bowls with the Giants. After retiring as a player, Johnson began coaching, first with the New England Patriots for 13 seasons, winning three more Super Bowls. 

Johnson's aunt gave him the "Pepper" nickname, when she saw he put black pepper on his corn flakes. Johnson's son Dionte went undrafted, but signed with the Arizona Cardinals. An injury ended his NFL dream though.

Johnson's first year in the NFL was 1986, after my Chicago Bears won the Super Bowl. Johnson was not on the earlier teams who the Bears crushed on their way to greatness. Unfortunately for the Bears, they started collapsing after the Super Bowl, just as Johnson was starting to blossom.

It is only fitting that I feature Larry Freda with Johnson. East coaster Larry is a huge NY sports fan. I am sure it was a thrill for him to meet Johnson. Larry has met many celebrities and athletes, but I think the NY ones are extra special to him.

Larry Freda and Pepper Johnson in Woodbridge, NJ-July 2013.

Friend Encounters: The Missing Link and Larry Freda

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

Although I have never met Larry Freda, I have known him for years. I am not even sure how I came acros him, but it most likely involved meeting a celebrity.

Larry has met a lot of celebrities and he shares a lot of pictures on social media. I love seeing the celebs he meets, because many of them are ones not seen very often. Such is the case with Larry and the Missing Link, a now deceased wrestler.

The Missing Link (aka Dewey Robertson) was a crazy, out of control wrestler in the 1960s-'80s. He won several titles in various companies and wrestled briefly in the WWF. He had a unique gimmick and played it well.

Robertson teamed with Meredith Renwick for Bang Your Head: The Real Story of the Missing Link, a great autobiography. In the book, Robertson is open about his substance abuse and his redemption. He had gotten his life together several years prior to his death.

Coming across Larry's picture with the Missing Link brought back a bunch of fun memories of this wild wrestler. That's my typical reaction to many of Larry's pictures. He meets wrestlers and athletes, many former New York players, from the stars to lesser-known, but still beloved figures. I never met the Missing Link, but I will live vicariously through Larry on this one and so many of his others.

Larry Freda and the Missing Link in Totowa, NJ-December 2003.

Friend Encounters: Don Muraco and Larry Freda

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

Larry Freda is another friend I have never met. Larry has met hundreds of others though. I always enjoy seeing Larry's social media posts showing the many interesting folks from wrestling and elsewhere.
Several years ago, Larry met The Rock, the original "Rock," aka Don Muraco. Long before Dwayne "The Rock" smelled what we were cooking, Don "The Rock" was carving out an excellent career in wrestling.
Muraco made his wrestling debut in 1970. He wrestled for the AWA and other territorial organizations, before joining the WWF in 1981. Muraco won the Intercontinental title twice, both times defeating Pedro Morales. During his time in the WWF, Muraco was first called "The Magnificent Muraco," but later became "The Rock" during a face run. 
He won the 1985 King of the Ring and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004. Muraco retired in 1995.
Larry met Muraco at the Legends of the Ring XIV. The LOR is a great place to meet legendary wrestlers. The next Legends of the Ring event is scheduled for October 3 at the APA Hotel in Woodbridge, NJ. The guest list is starting to grow and it includes Ricky Steamboat, Glenn "Kane" Jacobs and Layla.
For more info on this great fan fest, go to LegendsoftheRing.com. Also, check the Legends of the Ring Fanfest Facebook page for more frequent updates and news.

Larry Freda and Don Muraco in Monroe, NJ-June 2012.

Friend Encounters: Dudley Boyz and Larry Freda

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

It's been too long since I featured Larry Freda here. The man has met hundreds of celebrities and could easily have Larry's Beat.
Based on the East coast, Larry meets a lot of New York athletes, but I won't hold that against him. He has also met many wrestlers and other celebrities.
Several years ago, Larry met Bubba and D-Von Dudley of the Dudley Boyz tag team. Back then, they were in Impact wrestling, probably as Bully Ray and Devon. No matter their names, they are the most decorated tag team in wrestling history. Together for more than 20 years, the Dudley Boyz have won 20+ tag titles in the major companies. They are the only tag team to hold WWE's original Tag Team Championship, the Raw, ECW, WCW, NWA, TNA and IWGP Tag Team Championships.
Bubba and D-Von started in ECW as part of the Dudley family,  a team of comedic fan favorites that consisted of many illegitimate children of "Big Daddy" Dudley. Bubba and D-Von were billed as half-brothers.
A question needs to be explored. Would Larry have fit in with the Dudley family? Although I don't know what gimmick he would use, Larry definitely could have been a Dudley and I mean that in all the best ways.
A big man with a passion for wrestling, Larry could incorporate his east coast roots. He's certainly a character already and if given the stage, I think he would have developed that into something even bigger.
I need to feature Larry more here. He has so many great celebrity pictures. I am hoping to actually get a picture with Larry someday!

Bubba Ray and D-Von Dudley and Larry Freda in Monroe, NJ-June 2013.