Michigan’s Greatest Imposter: The Wild Life of Barry Bremen
There are some people who live a life that's so iconic, we're still talking about it a decade later.
I recently learned about a Michigan man known as the "Greatest Imposter" who managed to sneak into dozens of events he didn't even have a ticket to.
Who is Barry Bremen, and why is he known as the "Great Imposter"
The legend known as Barry Bremen according to Wikipedia, was a West Bloomfield, Michigan, insurance and novelty goods salesman, as well as a marketing executive.
However on February 4, 1979, Barry got the brilliant idea to put on a Kansas City Kings uniform, and using a silver tongue and a media pass, got onto the floor during pre-game warmups for the NBA All-Star Game at the Pontiac Silverdome.
He almost got away with doing this, until he was outed by a member of the Kansas City Kings who pointed out that Barry wasn't one of his teammates. But, the thrill Barry got from this prank only fueled the fire for many more pop ups throughout sports history.
He then showed back up in 1981 at the NBA All-Star Game, showing up in a Houston Rockets uniform. Then later that season, he dressed up as an official and managed to stand on the sidelines with the real officials during the national anthem prior to Game 5 of the NBA Finals at the Boston Garden.
But it wasn't just NBA games where Barry made his appearances. He also managed to sneak into several MBL games, including the Kanasas City Royals and New York Yankees.
But one of my favorites? On December 16, 1979, Barry posed as a Dallas Cowboys cheerleader at a Cowboys-Redskins game held at Texas Stadium in Irving, Texas. This was one of his biggest stunts with the biggest work in... not only did he have to lose weight, learn routines and purchase a uniform.
But his downfall from this one, was one of the more public ones. He was only able to get out one cheer of "Go Dallas" before they noticed he didn't fit in, and that's when Cowboy security had him handcuffed and escorted off the field.
Barry has seen his fair share of fame, but gave up his games after 9/11, when he was quoted saying he didn't do it anymore because of the use of tasers and more.
Barry Bremen passed away in 2011, but not before ESPN made a 30 for 30 about him, as well as an E60 Documentary just last year.
Barry, I salute your legacy for being one of the funniest and coolest people to come from the mitten state, and maybe one day Michigan will find another imposter as great as Barry Bremen.