Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

[jbsportstuff]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

Best Experience : Adam Rosales - He loves the game and loves the fans. I just wish that he were a better ballplayer so that he could stick with the Reds and not be sent back to the minors.

Worst Experience - No question..... Oscar Robertson...the guy was just nasty and asked that no one take pictures with him or of him. He told someone that he owned every picture that was taken of him since he "owned" his likeness. Whatever..... I'm from Indiana...and it was just a sad moment in Hoosier basketball history for him to act like that.

[tcfor3]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

Two stories. One bad. One good.
WORST - Ken Griffey Jr.

I am a professional photographer and have covered pro sports for nearly 20 years. About 1997, I was at a Mariners and Indians game in Cleveland and Ken Griffey Jr. was obviously on my shot list. He didn't take BP on the field and only came out for the game about three minutes before the start. I was stationed on the warning track area at the west end of the visitor's dugout near homeplate at Jacob's Field. Griffey emerges from the tunnel and upon seeing that there are photographers waiting to take his photo, he walks to the bat rack near us without looking up. He went to the other end of the dugout to get a some water. When he turned around and looked up, I snapped 3-4 images of him from about 50 feet away and was turning to get some shots of the Indians' starting pitcher. Griffey proceeds to walk the length of the dugout cussing me, and me only, out the whole way for taking his picture. A photographer who was standing near me got some great shots of Griffey in full rage. I looked at Joey Cora who was on the steps of the dugout near me and he rolled his eyes and said "What an @@@hole."
Griffey went 0-4 that night and the Indians won.

BEST - Don Mattingly
When Mattingly was in his first year in the minors with the Oneonta Yankees, my brother and I, we were sophomores in high school, went to a playoff game between the Yankees and Geneva Cubs for the NY-Penn League Championship at Geneva's ballpark which was 15 miles from our house. My brother had an official American League ball that he wanted to have the Yankees sign. Mickey Vernon was a scout with the Yankees and he was there to evaulate the team's players. He signed the ball on the sweetspot but left room for the manager, Art Mazmanian, to sign. A player emerged from the Yankees dugout and we asked for his autograph. It was Don Mattingly. He signed and talked with us for a few minutes. We explained that we wanted to get the ball signed by as many players and coaches as possible, but several pitchers were already in the bullpen and we weren't allowed near there to ask them. Also batting practice was over and most of the players were in the clubhouse. Mattingly said "I"ll be right back" he took the ball to the bullpen and had each player sign it. When he returned, he said "Wait here." He walked into the clubhouse and had each player and coach in the clubhouse sign the ball before returning it to us.
Mattingly hit a home run that night to win the game and my brother and I have been fan's of his ever since.
My brother still has that baseball and the newspaper clipping from the game.

[gingi79]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

I posted in a previous thread about why I hate the Mets and why I'm glad Dykstra is going to prison soon but I was reminded recently of another sports encounter worth repeating.

When I was in my teens and early 20's I went to every sports card and collectible show I could. Most of the time the little ones would have local sports heros or second string local guys. I remember meeting Bob Nystrom and seeing Joe McEwing signing for hours, for free with a smile on their faces just happy to talk sports. Even at the big shows, Dan Marino, Jerry Rice, Barry Sanders all took the time to smile and say thanks.

But I lost my love of collecting autographs when I became a Teen Travel Camp counselor in 2005. I had ONE Camper who was just an autograph hound. His whole mission in life was collecting signed papers, programs, balls, napkins whatever. He just loved collecting autographed stuff, the thrill of the hunt. Over the next 3 summers, we went to Shea for the Mets, Yankee Stadium, Jacobs Field, The Skydome, Oriole Park and several minor league stadiums as well. Without fail, I had poor experiences with athletes at every one of these venues. We were always wearing a jersey/hat/ camp shirt and it was one 12 year old child. Keep that in mind when you hear these.
The short list:

The batting instructor for the Blue Jays, Mickey Brantley, refused to sign his softball because (as he said to his cousins in earshot of my poor camper) "I ain't signing for that honkey brat"

The Yankees on game day wouldn't come anywhere near anyone. Thank you Brandon Steiner, another great fan friendly idea in convincing players not to sign for free when he can overpay them and charge fans $350 to $500 for scribbled single signed balls! I hear they sign in out of town parks rarely but FU Yankee fans who pay $2500 for one seat at home!

David Wright signed every game EXCEPT when we went. Without fail. Ditto Jose Reyes, Beltran, Delgado, Wagner. Schoenweis signed, a couple and walked off. Once again, big fat zero for the camper. Now it's impossible to even get close without the correct tickets. Did I mention I hate the Mets?

We couldn't get close to the field at Oriole Park or Jacobs but admittedly, we didn't arrive all that early.

The minor league parks were ok but he still got snubbed a few times.

Understandably, I was tired of 3 straight summers of watching one of my favorite campers face look so heartbroken. I had enough and during my last summer, I decided I was going to have someone else try and take him down for autographs at Shea. I told him I thought I was bad luck and sent him with someone else.

Wouldn't you know it! He got two autographs! Of course the Mets told him to screw off but two of my favorite actors, John Travolta and Robin Williams were at the game with their kids. They both signed FOR EVERYONE. My biggest regret as a counselor of 6 summers, was not going down with him that last time.

I blame the Mets!

[coxfan]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

Someone mentioned Bill Stein, who set the AL record for consecutive pinch-hits. When he became a minor-league manager, he continued to be good about signing. I got his autograph on the same bat with Jack Fisher, the pitching coach. Fisher has the dubious distinction of throwing two of the most famous HR's ever: Ted Williams' last HR, and Roger Maris's 60th. Fisher seemed surprised to be asked, but signed graciously though wordlessly.

[MikeM]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

Not really an autograph story, but growing up in Oakland, one time when I was a kid (maybe 10?) my friend and I saw Al Davis on Lakeshore Ave. He was in front of us by maybe 15ft with a few guys and we tried to get his attention. We happily said things like "Mr. Davis!" and "Hey Al!" and he ignored us completely.

So when it looked like he was going to walk away completely, my friend said, "Al Davis you're my hero!!!"

After that, he stopped, waited for us to catch up a bit, pulled down his shades and said, "I know kid...I know."

Then he walked on his way.

True story.

[godwulf]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

Jeff Banister was the skipper for the Scottsdale Scorpions in this year's Arizona Fall League. On several occasions, before a game, I asked him to sign a card or two - he was a catcher, and then a manager, in the minors for a number of years - and he was always happy to do so, putting a really beautiful signature on each card. The last time I saw him, I said, "This is the last time I'll be bugging you", to which he responded, "You're not bugging me. Someday you won't even want these things", meaning the cards. I assured him that was not going to happen.

[gdgyankees]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

I was 8 yrs old and i was in the mets dugout before a spring training game, hanging out and talking to players, and i asked Mike Piazza for his autograph, he said, "sure, one sec. let me just get something." he walked away and never came back

[jobathenut]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

Oh i love this thread,thanks for starting this.As i want to tell this story.By far TERRY "the phony" bradshaw.Me and my girlfriend went to the steelers super bowl reunion show that hot corner sports (the best in steelers items) had in 1999 in pittsburgh.And i was excited as it was a steeler dreamland for me.With all those past steelers there and i had never met any of them.I could'nt afford to get autographs from all of them so i picked the ones i wanted the most.And unforgently bradshaw was one of them.As everyone else was great-swann (even though he complained that i was taking more than one picture of him signing) jack ham,rocky blier (who my girlfriend was flirting with but what was i going to do about it),coach noll,joe greene (was'nt there and i really wanted to meet him.But what a class act as he left my signed helmet for me as he came in the week before it).And then i got to meet my two heros-mike webster and jack lambert.And mr.webster almost made me cry seeing him like that,and as my girlfriend took my picture standing by him he said "wait i'll get up and take a picture" and i told him,"no,thats fine,you don't have to stand up for me".And lambert was the best and i was shaking the whole time just looking at him.Anyway,then came bradshaw,i sent my girlfriend up there as i wanted her to feel part of it so i had go up there for everyone but webster and lambert.And it was'nt bad enough that bradshaw would'nt take a picture with her as all the others did.This arrogent "bad word" would'nt even acknowledge her as he had his back turned to her talking to the people behind him.And then his handler tapped him on the shoulder and sandy said hi and he said nothing to her and before she could say to make it out to me (as she was going to,as we did with all the others that we got signed) ,he just turned around a little and reached back with his arm and signed the picture.Never stopped talking to his friends.Not even facing her and never once even looking at her.And as sandy said thanks to him he just then turn back around and continue talking.And i just lost it and said,Yeah don't even say hi or thanks, that's nice,"I can't believe that,that's nice to treat your fans with that respect"-"hey hollywood too big to be considerate to your fans".I mean if you don't want to talk to your fans then don't do a public signing.And of course security came over to me.And said what's the problem.I said his ego is,he thinks he is terry bradshaw or something.And even the security laughed at it.And we were not the only ones who he did that to as he did that the whole time we were standing in line and even after it he continued to be like that.And right at his time to end,he left the table with still alot of people in line.We were in another section of the convention center when i heard people talking and i asked what was going on and they told me there is a situation going by the tables.And i said let me guess,bradshaw's and the guys said yes.That i guess alot of people are pissed as he left without signing thier items.And it's fun y cause lambert i guess stayed a extra 2 hours making sure all in line got thier item signed.I guess that's what seperates class from well you know.Sorry so long of a story.

[coreystack]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

Clete Boyer

As an initial disclaimer, I witnessed Mr. Boyer be cordial and polite with literally thousands of people over the course of a summer and wish him no ill will.

I worked in a card/memorabilia shop for a couple summers in Cooperstown (where I'm from). Clete Boyer was allowed to set up a table and sell 8x10's for $10 or $20 a pop in the back. Growing up in Cooperstown you get a little immune to old-timer stars and Clete didn't really register on my radar. But all summer myself and the other kids working really sucked up to him, because if he asked us to fetch him an ice tea or cigarettes from across the street we could turn it into a thirty minute break. And he was a Yankee after all.

At the end of the summer I went back and asked him to sign a photo for me. It wasn't that I really wanted a Clete Boyer 8x10, but I figured, he I spent a summer in a tiny shop with this guy and ran countless errands for him. I can find room in my collection for a photo. He asked me my name and charged me full price. In contrast, Joe Pepitone spent one afternoon in the shop, bought us lunch, and knew everyones name before he left (there were only 3 of us).

[Misha]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

I guess there's an advantage to being a female. I went to a free signing with Ronnie Lott in the late 80’s and noticed his SB ring. He took it off and let me hold it while he signed my ball.

In 1994, Montana and the Chiefs came to Tokyo for the American Bowl. The day before was a FanFest and I had a field pass. I had brought an official ball and marker to try to get Joe's auto, but the Japanese security was surrounding him and telling me no autos for anyone. I yelled out to Joe that I was from the Bay Area and could I please get his autograph. He turned around and motioned for me to come over. I proudly walked through the 4-5 rings of security guys who had told me it was impossible and Joe signed my ball. Loved it!

[godwulf]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

Last year I paid a small fortune on signing tickets for Gerardo Parra - I had so many items that the promoter gave me my own table to put them on, and sent Parra over to sign my stuff before he sat down to sign for everybody else. I had, I think, eight of his bats, from various points in his career, and I was looking forward to talking about them with him, along with three jerseys, numerous photos, etc. He walked up to the table talking on his cellphone and STAYED on his phone for the entire time that he was signing. He had one of his buddies snap a photo of one of my bats - the one with "El Yolo" instead of his name - and I couldn't even ask him why. THAT was pretty frustrating.

[TwinLakesPark]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

Bump, just because I love Howard's Kirk Gibson story.

I would also suggest reinstating Howard to the forum, considering there has been a wave of reinstatements recently!

[godwulf]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

Thanks for giving this thread a bump. I enjoyed reading Howard's Gibson helmet story again, and re-living my own encounter with the Big Unit.

[godwulf]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

I was just looking at the photos I posted with that story - the links still work! - and had a funny idea. I should take my print of the second one, the one where I'm looking at the bat like WTF?, and ask Randy to sign it - even if I had to pay a hundred+ bucks at a paid event. It would be worth it to see his reaction...and whether he'd turn the picture over and sign the back.

[TigersCubs84]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

That Randy Johnson story and pics are priceless! Plus the link still works. LOL! Logged on just to say thanks for those posts! Just classic stuff.