I've done a bit of reading on Carlos Lehder, and must say that I'm glad I never met the guy. Sounds scary.


But we did see Bruce Springsteen at the airport in Nassau, while we were trying to convince Captain Paul that 14 cartloads of baggage can, indeed, fit into the 5-square-foot space allotted to luggage on the plane.


We were unsuccessful with Captain Paul, but we really did see The Boss. He was just walking around out at Million Air Jet Center. I don't know where he was going, but presumably to Atlantis. I've seen other famous people just walking around in Nassau as well. I was sitting outside the main airport several years ago, for example, when Sean Connery pulled up in front of me in his Range Rover.


And I got to shake the island-sized hand of my number-one-sports-hero-of-all-time: Julius Erving. "Dr J" was at Atlantis several years ago with the NBA's Player's Association. I happened to be walking through the casino one night and there he was, right in front of me. Now, I'm not one to normally be star-struck, but I was in the presence of the man who epitomized, for me, all that was great and noble and just downright aweinspiring about professional basketball. He has been my sports hero since . . . since . . . well, for a long time. Never mind how long.


And I met a bunch of stars at the Michael Jordan Celebrity Golf Tournament, where I held a position of the utmost importance. I was a crowd-husher. I know there's a formal name for the guys or gals who hold up their hands to the crowd as a player is putting or driving, to make sure they are quiet. I just can't think of it right now.


But believe me, there would have been a lot more noise out on that golf course if it weren't for my shushing up the crowds. Important, I tell ya, important.


Ah. I remember what they called me: I was a "marshall." (That wasn't the only thing they called me, but we won't get into that right now.)


Some musician friends here in Nassau remember the days when Mick Jagger and the Boys visited and got up on stage at Club Waterloo for an impromptu jam sesssion. One friend, David, even has a guitar given to him by Eric Clapton, back when he came to record at Compass Point Studios on the western end of the island. (David knows a lot of the rockers, including the drummer for the Moody Blues.)


I saw the story of Peter Frampton on VH1 recently. He even got into a car crash in Nassau many moons ago. Seems like he was trying to upstage some other celebrity who was vacationing here at the time. A car crash is an effective way to do that, but it's tricky business. Too many variables for me.


So, I'll keep my eyes open and let you know when I spot another famous person. As long as it's not Carlos.