Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

[steelerman_7]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

I have enjoyed reading the various stories on here so I figured I would share a couple of my own.

Best Experiences:

2008 Ryan Malone - Penguins: A group of buddies and I went to Game 4 of the Stanley Cup Finals against the Red Wings. I was lucky enough to snag a single ticket from Ticketmaster, while the rest of my friends watched the big screen outside of the stadium. The Pens were down 2-1 in the series so this was basically a must win game. They ended up losing a hard fought game 2-1, which put them in a 3-1 series hole. After the game, we hung around near the players parking lot drowning our sorrows with IC Light. A majority of the players went to their cars without signing or acknowledging anyone, which I couldn't blame them after a game like that. About three hours after the game ended we saw Ryan Malone came out to get into his car. He was the last player to leave the arena. There were only a couple of people left in the parking lot at this time so we went over to see if he would be willing to sign. He ended up talking with us for a good 15 minutes about the game/series. I didn't have anything to get signed so I got a picture with him. It was really a cool experience.

2013 Clint Hurdle - Pirates: I attended the 2013 Wild Card Playoff game against the Reds, which is still THE greatest sporting event I have ever been to in person. A huge win for the Buccos. I was with a friend of my Dad's (who is a huge autograph guy), and was really hoping to get a couple autos after the game. We waited around and made our way near the team bus where the players were boarding to head to the airport and then onto St. Louis for the NLDS. Pretty much every player did not even acknowledge the screaming crowd and just boarded the bus, but Clint came over and talked with us for awhile, signed autographs, and thanked us numerous times for providing the raucous environment. It was a great end to an unforgettable evening.

Worst Experience:

1994 Rod Woodson - Steelers: I attended my first ever Steelers game with my Dad, and his friend (again big autograph guy). It was a preseason game against the Green Bay Packers, I will always remember Greg Lloyd knocking Brett Favre out in the first quarter. After the game, my Dads friend was looking to get some autographs so we waited around with him near the players lot. Rod Woodson emerged, who at the time was my favorite player. I patiently waited as he signed for a couple people that were ahead of me. By this time I was near him he was just getting into his car. Keep in mind I was 8 years old at the time and this was a meaningless preseason game in which he only played a few series. I go to hand him the card I had and he looked at me and said, "If I sign yours, I am going to have to sign his and his and his. I am done" and slammed his car door. I honestly thought my Dad was going to pull him out of the car he was so mad. Haha
Needless to say I was never a fan of him since.

[TBM]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

I have to say my worst experience happened earlier this year. I took my two boys to the CWS in Omaha. Fist time any of has gone. I took them to get some autographs and play games in the fan zone area. We did not go to a game, maybe next year. Curt Schilling and Dave Winfield were both there to sign autos. Dave was also giving a hitting clinic. I was there for Curt. We were there in line at the gate an hour before it opened, then had to wait another half hour before he was to start signing. We were told he was gonna sign anything we had. That was great cause I had a ball and brought cards for my kids. They also had CWS 8x10 pictures stacked up on the table. When the wind picked up the top quarter of the stack would blow off the table and go all over the ground. They would then pick them up and stack them up to blow off again. About 10 minutes after the gate opened and we all got into line, they cut off the line. 10 minutes before he was to show up we were told that he would only sign the CWS pictures they had on the table, yea the ones that were being blown onto the ground. The time came for him to show up and start signing, and he was not there. He was late. He finally appeared about 15 minutes late, My first thought when I saw him was that he was drunk or hungover. He kept his head down, never looked up and signed those CWS 8x10s like a conveyor belt. My oldest got a picture of me getting the 8x10, its pathetic. Not the picture but that Curt had his head down signing and flinging the 8x10s onto the table. I probably could have gotten five of them, but I did not want to get killed by those other people in line. My kids and I got our 8x10 and went on to play the games. I kept an eye on the line and when I saw the last people go into the tent we went back over. They had run out of the 8x10s and a few people were lucky enough to get other things signed. I tried to get my ball signed but he walked off. He was done. It had been about 40 minutes since he was supposed to start signing. He only signed for about 20 minutes after being late. Signed all the 8x10s and left 20 minutes early. People were still there wanting to get autos on other items but he was done. I bet he still got paid for the whole hour. At least we got an auto.

On the other hand Dave Winfield not only gave a hitting clinic but also signed for everyone in line. We were among the last in line and it was about time for him to go. I think he was going to the broadcast booth for the game. He had spent time talking to everyone and taking pictures with them. That is great in my book, even if it was gonna cost me not getting his auto. As the time approached for him to go, they cut the line off in front of us and he started signing the 8x10s until everyone had one. He then left. Dave was a class act, everyone got a signed 8x10 even if they did not get to talk to him or get pictures. Those in line early did. I have no problem with that. Dave was great.

However, we got Schilled by Schilling. So sad how down hill he has gone.

[bgakladd]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

My worst experience was back in the early 1990's while at a card show in Toledo, Ohio and with several Cincinnati Reds signing autographs. Most noticeably were Tony Perez, Ken Griffey Sr., Gary Nolan and Johnny Bench. Tony Perez joked around with my kids and was fun to talk to. After about a half hour we worked our way to Johnny Bench. I gave him a baseball to sign and he signed it. I then asked if I could have a picture of him with His 1976 road gray game worn #5 Cincinnati Reds jersey I purchased thru an auction house several years before that I brought along. He reached for the jersey and quickly examined it and asked with a slight growl, "What do you mean my jersey" and "Where did you get this"? I told him thru an auction house and his face turn to a frown as he lifted it up and posed for the picture. I was kind of shocked by the way he reacted when he handed the jersey back wondering what made him upset. It wasn't for several months later when I found out what might have made him upset. I sent the jersey to 3 auction houses and every time they all sent it back with no explanation. I called one of them up asking why. They explained to me that Bench had a fire in his Cincinnati apartment and a lot of his items were pulled out for safety so they wouldn't be damaged. And as expected some were eventually stolen. And the person also said Bench's lawyer was also contacting anybody selling his equipment to contact him. I didn't know if what I had was something from that apartment or not but to this day I regret selling that jersey. It was only going for $1700 back in that day.

[warheel]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

A few years ago I noticed former 49er Dexter Carter in the waiting area for the same flight I was waiting to board. As luck would have it, I sat next to him.

When I sat down, I told him I was a fan of his, because I loved the way Pat Summerall used to say his name..he laughed, and I told him I knew a couple of his teammates while he was with the 49ers. He asked who, and when I told him, it sparked a conversation that lasted the entire flight, through the airport, all the way to the parking lot...that was a great flight! He was fun to talk with and had some great stories and didn't mind me asking all sorts of questions about his time at FSU and those great 49er teams.

[IronPigs92]

Re: Your Worst Experience Dealing With An Athlete

I don't have a bad one, but back in 2009 when Pedro Martinez was working his way up to the Phillies, he stopped and played for the ironpigs. He had a bullpen session, and after, he walked over to the rail and I was the first to get his signature. As he was signing my card, I figured I'd ask him for his headband. He looked up and said "Do you want my DNA?" And I was like uhh and he just laughed and gave it to me. Attached is an article with his picture from the bullpen session. You can see he has a grey headband on, that I now own

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/ironpigs/index.ssf/2009/07/pedro_martinez_sighting_and_a.html

[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.

[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.

[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.

[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

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.

[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!

[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).

[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.

[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

[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.