My Rant about pros signing autographs !!!! Im with them !

BowlMeOne · Jun 16, 2005

I am so absolutely disgusted with the fans. I know everyone's argument is that we pay the players salaries, and they should give back by signing autographs for all the fans. The fan's behavior is sickening. Everytime I go to a game, there is such a whorde of fans screaming the players names out. The bulk of them are very rude, and demanding. Its amazing. And the players get the bad wrap when they don't want to sign. Or even worse when they charge for it.

The argument becomes...you make millions of dollars a year, and your gonna charge for your autograph !!! Well let me ask you fans something?

Why do you want the autograph?

The bulk of people want a players autograph because they think it will be worth something someday, or even right now! So on one hand your talking about a player being greedy, yet the next day your on EBAY trying to get as much for that signed Pujols ball as you can!

Is it just to show off to people, like you actually met the guy? When in actuality you just screamed.....HEY VLAD...sign this for my kid !!...then didn't say thanks....just tried to pass him a jersey to sign as well.

I think autographs started as a way to prove that you actually met someone maybe? I memory of the moment? Not anymore. Its totally out of hand, and i wish there was no more autographs period. I'd rather shake a guys hand, and converse with him for 5 minutes about something meaningful or thank him for entertaining me in his/her sport than have him write his name on something. Its so hollow.

I got to meet and converse with Cubs first round pick Mark Pawelek today at Wrigley. Seems like a great kid. Fans didn't even know who he was but were screaming for him to come over and sign. Bitch next to me was very rude. She needed a slap. It just absolutely sickens me.

Please people teach your kids to charish the moment if they get to meet a professional athelete or any celebrity for that matter, not worry about what they can get out of it. Take time to actually create a memory of the situation..not some materialistic piece of crap.

Sorry...in bad mood..had to vent.

THOUGHTS ???

Illini · Jun 16, 2005

I hear ya. My feeling is a little little different. As fans, who gives a shit who these players are, if you don't know them? I've hung out with a few, and they are no different than anyone of us. They just make more money and play a sport that we all played, just not as well as they do. When I was a kid, I thought Michael Jordan was god. Now, I wouldn't even really acknowledge him if he walked by.

BowlMeOne · Jun 16, 2005

Your right on that...they are just another human being. They shouldn't be treated like royalty, however they should't be treated like a piece of crap either. I can't believe how many little kids I see abusing players, or just flat out being rude. I bring my nephews to alot of sporting events. We have our favorite teams/players, etc. But I have always taught them to respect all of them players. Just reaching the level they have reached is absolutely incredible. If my nephew yelled out "you suck" to some player they would get whacked..simple as that. Its fun to trash talk with the players at times...but some of the fans I have seen I would personally toss out of the park. I actually feel bad for the players. We get so involved with these sporting teams, as If we are part of them. It's time to sit back and realize, that these teams are playing against each other...and we are just watching! Enjoy the event, root for your favorites, and leave with a memory. But thats just me.

dmmd98 · Jun 16, 2005

If I was an pro I wouldn't sign for anyone under 16. I mean come on there are few thigns sadder than seeing a 30ish year old at a ball park getting an autograph. I can understand a card show because the deal is those guys are doing it for the money and the people who come to these shows understand this. Mind I know that some of these guys plant kids in ballparks just for that reason. Ok i'll stop talking now basically all I wanted to say is I agree with you.

Nah more talking I heard this story about Cal Ripken in spring training spent an hour signing for kids after the hour was done there was these parents screaming at him for not signing there kids ball saying that he sucks and what not and he goes to the parents tell your kid I don't suck I have to go now and do my job if you wanna wait around til after practice and have a better attitude then i'll be happy to sign anything you're kid wants.

go2guy · Jun 16, 2005

BasesWiz said:
I am so absolutely disgusted with the fans. I know everyone's argument is that we pay the players salaries, and they should give back by signing autographs for all the fans. The fan's behavior is sickening. Everytime I go to a game, there is such a whorde of fans screaming the players names out. The bulk of them are very rude, and demanding. Its amazing. And the players get the bad wrap when they don't want to sign. Or even worse when they charge for it.

The argument becomes...you make millions of dollars a year, and your gonna charge for your autograph !!! Well let me ask you fans something?

Why do you want the autograph?

The bulk of people want a players autograph because they think it will be worth something someday, or even right now! So on one hand your talking about a player being greedy, yet the next day your on EBAY trying to get as much for that signed Pujols ball as you can!

Is it just to show off to people, like you actually met the guy? When in actuality you just screamed.....HEY VLAD...sign this for my kid !!...then didn't say thanks....just tried to pass him a jersey to sign as well.

I think autographs started as a way to prove that you actually met someone maybe? I memory of the moment? Not anymore. Its totally out of hand, and i wish there was no more autographs period. I'd rather shake a guys hand, and converse with him for 5 minutes about something meaningful or thank him for entertaining me in his/her sport than have him write his name on something. Its so hollow.

I got to meet and converse with Cubs first round pick Mark Pawelek today at Wrigley. Seems like a great kid. Fans didn't even know who he was but were screaming for him to come over and sign. Bitch next to me was very rude. She needed a slap. It just absolutely sickens me.

Please people teach your kids to charish the moment if they get to meet a professional athelete or any celebrity for that matter, not worry about what they can get out of it. Take time to actually create a memory of the situation..not some materialistic piece of crap.

Sorry...in bad mood..had to vent.

THOUGHTS ???

Good post!

Whoson1st · Jun 16, 2005

I agree about the autographs. Only one word to describe it....GREED. And that one word is what makes the engine go round in the United States...Nicer term you hear is Capitalism.

Whoson1st · Jun 16, 2005

To add to the autograph madness. I have a baseball signed by Mickey Mantle and several other Yankee Players from the 1960's. I took it to a collector's to see what I could get for it a few years ago...the guy looked at it and told me it had to be authenticated and also he said since Mantle''s name was not the ONLY one it was worth less.

Now you can get a baseball authenticated by some company in New York for a fee!!!! It NEVER ends!

PatPatriot · Jun 16, 2005

I just got Adam Vinatieri's autograph about a month ago.I had him sign a poster of the final play of the final game at Foxboro stadium. It is a panoramic view of the snow bowl game vs, Oakland where Adam is kicking the winning field goal.

I paid a $150. donation to a cancer fund to get it.But I got it framed and matted and it looks great.I had him sign it in big letters with a red sharpee.
There are only a handful of players I'd want.