Clone Wars

OK, I know it's been almost 3 weeks. So I'm not updating as much as I wanted to. Maybe this will make up for the delay.

So, while visiting Martha's Vineyard this weekend to celebrate 12 years of marriage to my lovely wife, Fadie, I'm picking up a few things at a Stop & Shop in Vineyard Haven. While at the register, a customer comes up behind me and says "Oh my gosh." I turned to look at her and she says, "Oh I'm sorry, I thought you were Denzel Washington."

I'll pause while you laugh.

No, this was not a smooth come-on. This was an elderly woman who . . . . hey, wait a second, maybe it was a . . . . I digress. No, she ACTUALLY thought I was DENZEL! It seems that Denzel is sporting a goatee in his new movie, The Taking of Pelham 123. I, too, wear this same facial hair, and have for almost 20 years.

Have you ever been mistaken for someone famous? I must imagine some of you have.

Here are the three famous people I've been confused with in my lifetime. Enjoy!


Sinbad
Of all of the celebrities I've been compared to, this is the biggest stretch. But, as far as light-skinned African Americans with goatees go, he and I are in the same category. Of course, Sinbad has red hair, and I do not (thank goodness).

Sinbad is one of the funniest stand-up comics I've ever seen. He made my top 10 list earlier this year. Click here if you missed it. I could only dream of being as funny as this guy.




Fred Hammond
The person I've been compared to the most in my life is Fred Hammond. He's got the physical attributes like Sinbad, except black hair like me, but he also is a prominent musician in the Gospel music world. When people see me in front of a choir or just speaking in a church, I get "Hey Fred!" I can honestly say this has happened hundreds of times, it's amazing. While when you look at us side by side, we are very different, even I was taken aback at the cover of his Pages of Life CD where I stopped and went "Wow. That really does look like me."




Heavy D



Since the 80's, this particular rapper was popular not because of his size (the brother could seriously dance!), but because he had one of the best voices in rap. When his first album came out and he was rapping "Mr. Big Stuff" and chanting "the overweight lover's in the house!", his name suddenly became my own. Yes I was heavy. Yes, my name starts with "D." It wasn't a stretch. BUT, the worst part was that this guy actually looked like me! Or I looked like him - whatever! Decide for yourself.

Funny story - I was in Washington, D.C. in the Union Square Mall Food Court and after I got my food, the woman behind the register said, "It's OK. It's free." I looked puzzled and said, "Are you sure?" She said, "Yeah, you're Heavy D, right?"

A good Christian would have politely told her the truth and paid for the food.

Of course, that's what a GOOD Christian would have done.

- Funkyman