In a word, Yes. Maybe not the NY Times as an institution, but he knows somebody somewhere. Picking the same guy out of the crowd at parades and sporting events is too much of a coincidence.
I know what you are saying about this guy being, apparently, obsessed with securing his fifteen minutes of fame, I can't imagine a secnario where what is described actually happened randomly. Let's say a reporter goes to the St. Patty's parade and picks Packer out for a quote. It could happen. It had to be somebody. But then, another reporter (or even the same one) goes to the Thanksgiving parades and randomly chooses the same guy? Later some other reporter chooses the same guy at a Yankees game? Then at a Mets game?
I'm open to persuasion if you can give me some them same guy can get chosen like that.