My list in no particular order:

1. Don Rickles (nearly forgotten, still-living legend)
2. Mike Wallace (I’ll bet he has ZILLIONS great stories)
3. The Cast of “Pawn Stars” (self explanatory)
4. Bernard Mcguirk (quick-witted Imus Producer)
5. Dennis Miller (yeah, I’m the ONE person on earth who enjoyed him on MNF)

Warren Buffet
Paul McCartney
Osama Bin Laden (I’d kill him when we were through drinking)
Greg Laurie (although he probably would pass on the beer)
Leon Russell

Those that I thought of Bonnie Raitt, Favre, Rodgers, Holmgren, Wolf, Dylan, Obama, etc, etc.

1. Marcus Aurelius
2. Ben Franklin
3. Douglas Adams (author of the Hitchhiker’s Guide “trilogy”)
4. Barack Obama (dont agree with the politics – but he is the sitting president; it would be supremely interesting to sit down with him)
5. Milton Friedman

George W. Bush – if you know me, this probably seems like a weird choice, but whether or not you agree with his politics, I bet he is tons of fun to have a beer with, and of course he’s going to have endless stories from growing up, college, owning the Rangers, and then of course he was the POTUS during a slightly tumultuous time.

Mark Cuban – billionaire, NBA owner, owner of 2929 Entertaiment (which produces film, tv, etc…and owns Landmark Theaters) all of that and one of his mottos is “No balls, no baby” look up the reasoning for it…love it.

JK Rowling – Harry Potter author – really got into the books and her story of rags to riches via creative inspiration/life desperation provides unique insight and I think she has a cool view on life.

My son – I look forward to sitting with him at different stages in 17 years, 24 year and 31 years from now and listening to his changing philosophies. Of course I hope to sit with him in between, but I think 21 (legal drinking age ,thank you), 28 and 35 can be defining ages in a man’s life (and I know nothing about past 35 yet) Here’s hoping I make it that long.

Nice post AWH…I like when you get the people thinking

Incidentally, what I love about this sort of question is imagining the awkwardness of the actual conversation among the diverse group most of us would pick.

tom waits – i met a guy on a trip to vienna once who knew tom and said he’s actually very quiet and reserved in ‘real life,’ and that the persona is just that. i still think it’d be worth it to find out for myself. go listen to ‘step right up,’ or ‘the piano has been drinking (not me),’ and tell me he wouldn’t be on your list.

donald driver – i’m all about positive people recently, and i suppose this is a packer website – but really, i admire the hell out of the guy.

ian mckellan – in my opinion the finest living actor – yes, he’s gandalf, but his more recent king lear was beyond incredible, and he’s an interesting dude.

glen hansard – very pleased to see this guy on the list, and a bit surprised. as a musician, and in general ‘once’ was inspiring to me, and much to hansard’s credit. my wife and i saw him with marketa irglova in new york a few months before they won the oscar for best song (amazing show), and he seems like one of those guys who remains full of positive energy and gratitude, regardless of his successes (that sounds backwards, but it’s not).

richard pryor and gene wilder, together – yes this is cheating, as it’s two people, and one of them is dead. i’m banking on the unknown – that these two actually got along in real life, but if they didn’t, they could just act out scenes from stir crazy and i’d be happy.