Minor celebrities, major holidays

Well, this is probably my last pre-Thanksgiving post, unless I write drunk on Wednesday, though 9 out of 10 bloggers say it's dangerous to drink and rant.

I will update on Thanksgiving morning, or afternoon, for your holiday pleasure, to give the recap of the always fun reunion with rubes from home...

Back my regularly scheduled point...

Chicago is truly the Second City, or actually the third, when it comes to celebrity sightings. Our New York and LA friends see famous people on a daily basis, while a David Schwimmer sighting at Rockit is enough to cream a girl's pants here. John Cusack can be spotted from time to time, with Joan chatting on her U.S. Cellular phone not far behind.

A girl who worked at my Subway saw David from Real World New Orleans and R Kelly in the same day. "Lucky for me I bring my camera to work," she told me.

Meathead Brad from Real World San Diego works out at my gym and myself and/or co-workers have spotted him at lunch downtown twice - at Chipotle and a deli, so I guess stars are just like us, especially when their income derives from eating gross food and hanging from things.

Jen Schefft, the erstwhile Bachelor winner and newest Bachelorette, lives somewhat close by and a guy I know claims to have dated her.

That muscular "woman" who was on two really bad reality shows, Love Cruise and Heartbreak Island or Romance Hotel or something, used to train people at the Multiplex and once made us do shots with her at Hogs and Honeys.

A cab I was in once almost hit Horatio Sanz on Wells, a few blocks from where I saw Jeff Garlin filming some indie movie outside of the original Second City.

We saw Ice Cube downtown during the filming of Barbershop II. And yes, he was wearing a Raiders jersey. I kind of thought that was just for videos and concerts.

Michael Jordan and various other athletes are fairly easy to spot. I saw Moises Alou at Stanley's last Sunday, chatting with the beer tub girls and local yokels.

Quite honestly, none of these sightings excite me. Today, however, I had the ultimate brief celebrity glance. William Gates, from Hoop Dreams. Now this means nothing to most people, but I love Hoop Dreams. I watched it just two nights on cable. My all-time favorite sports movie.

Gates is a real reality star. He didn't get cast because he looked like an Abercrombie model and could drink like Bressler at an open bar. You'll never hear him say things like, "Man I hope I get cast in Battle of the Sexes." (Randy from San Diego was heard issuing this non-sequitor at a Boston gym). Gates' story was real and ugly and beautiful all at the same time, and we got to share in it, the highs and the lows.

Hoop Dreams is about three hours long, but almost impossible to turn off. I knew he lived somewhat close, and still worked in Cabrini as an outreach pastor. He's far from financially successful, he has like 5 or 6 kids with his high school girlfriend whom he married in college, but lives a good, clean life. His friend in the movie Arthur Agee is doing OK too, judging by the reports this year that came on the heels of the movie's 10th anniversary. Neither have accomplished their lofty dreams, but they're much more famous because of the movie, and their impact on society is far greater as well.

I was thinking about him after I saw him walk by. In the movie, not being from Chicago and having no clue of its geography when I saw it, I never would've guess how close Cabrini was to the wealthier parts of the city. I never would've thought, for instance, my friends would be buying apartments nearby, gentrifying the neighborhood.

If you haven't seen it, and I don't know how many people who read this haven't, rent it today, and be thankful (there's the plug) for what you have.

OK, I flew through this one. Time to do some last-minute work before I take off for the Ville...Safe travels to everyone.