Experiences meeting pro athletes

[FloPoErich]

I got to meet alot of the Blues prospects at their recent camp. I got to interview David Backes, Erik Johson, T.J Oshie, Lars Eller, etc for my blog Note Speak even and they were all great! Erik Johnson and TJ really are a class act!

[kewp80]

I did an interview with a Columbus Destroyer Defensive Specialist Cecil Dogette. He was a really nice guy, had a great answer for all my questions. He retired just after last season though. Also the management of the Destroyers were really nice about setting up the interview as well.

Other than that I was in the bleachers of the old Busch (my last game there) and the Cards were taking the field, and as Jim Edmonds is running to center I yelled: "Jimmy!" and pointed at him, and he pointed back at me. Not really a meeting, but cool none-the-less. Me and all the people around me were heckling the other team's outfielders as well, can't remember who they were playing though.

[Huskyfan82]

Never met a lot of athletes, but I've met a lot of announcers. I worked at a spring training stadium here and once in awhile got to be in the pressbox and work security. I met Dave Niehaus, Rick Rizzs, Dave Sims, Jerry Coleman, Matt Vasgersian. All were INCREDIBLY nice. But the nicest one ever had to be Jon Miller from ESPN and the Giants. The Giants were playing the Padres and he came to announce, by far the nicest guy I've probably ever met. He asked me where a concession stand was and if any served chinese. I said that one downstairs did and he asked "Can we bring you anything back?" and since I was a little bit thirsty, I said "I could use a Diet Pepsi if you don't mind." Sure enough, he came back with a bottle of it. I couldn't believe how nice of a guy he was, and we talked a little bit when he wasn't announcing. I also met a few former players that were scouts, like Randy Milligan, the former Oriole. He couldn't believe anyone remembered him as a player, haha.

David

[nwtrailtrekker]

John Halama is an and he's not even good.

[rmackman]

I met Tracy McGrady at a Gators basketball game. I used to know Mike Miller when he went to UF. After he was drafted to the Orlando Magic he came in town for UF vs. Michigan State in 2001. Miller introduced me "Tracy this is my boy Ryan." T-Mac looked at me as I extended my arm to shake his hand, then looked down, picked up his phone, and started dialing someone. I sat there with my hand out like a chump. Mike just looked at me like "I dunno man." I think it's one thing to ignore a random fan, but if your own teammate introduces you and you ignore that person...that's pretty rude.

As far as other experiences:

Mike Miller - nice

Reggie Jackson - complete jerk & told an 8 year old to :censored: off!

Wilt Chamberlain - I got to play one on one with him when I was a kid. I guess he likes kids. Was really cool!

Dan Marino - people say hes not nice but he was cool with me & signed a ball I had

Chris Chambers - really nice guy

Kevin Weekes - nicest athlete I've ever met

Todd Bertuzzi - nice but surprizingly shy

Robin Yount - down to earth guy

Kareem Abdul Jabbar - was a prick to my grandpa!

Tony Saunders - really nice guy

Paul Laus - my brother and I were at a car dealership and Paul was buying a car for his wife. I told my brother look it's Paul Laus of the Panthers. My brother goes that's not Laus...he's too fat! Paul heard him and came over and said no it's definately me I'm just out of shape right now. Then he laughed and talked hockey with us for 6 or 7 minutes. My brother was pretty embarassed, but Laus was nice.

Sam Madison - nice guy with a twisted sense of humor. he played a practical joke on me

Jason Taylor - nice guy

Scott Olsen - nice guy talked for 20 minutes

Jeff Conine - the nicest baseball player ever by far

Bobby Orr - jerk

[leedsunited]

Never met a lot of athletes, but I've met a lot of announcers. I worked at a spring training stadium here and once in awhile got to be in the pressbox and work security. I met Dave Niehaus, Rick Rizzs, Dave Sims, Jerry Coleman, Matt Vasgersian. All were INCREDIBLY nice. But the nicest one ever had to be Jon Miller from ESPN and the Giants. The Giants were playing the Padres and he came to announce, by far the nicest guy I've probably ever met. He asked me where a concession stand was and if any served chinese. I said that one downstairs did and he asked "Can we bring you anything back?" and since I was a little bit thirsty, I said "I could use a Diet Pepsi if you don't mind." Sure enough, he came back with a bottle of it. I couldn't believe how nice of a guy he was, and we talked a little bit when he wasn't announcing. I also met a few former players that were scouts, like Randy Milligan, the former Oriole. He couldn't believe anyone remembered him as a player, haha.

David

Jon Miller is a class act all the way. A shame ESPN has to team him up with one of the more insufferable broadcast jerks on the Sunday Night MLB telecasts.

[I Am A Flaming Douche Bag]

Wendel Clark is a cool guy. I met him at a signing session he had. He signed my Clark jersey and a bunch of other Leafs stuff. We talked for a bit and hes really down to earth and a cool guy.

[TBGKon]

- Earlier this season, while working a ticket window at a Clearwater Threshers-Sarasota Reds Single A baseball game, Ken Griffey Sr. came up to get a scout ticket. Nice guy, although not much was said.

- Also got Fergie Jenkins autograph at a Legends of Baseball game during spring training in Clearwater, nice guy as well, chatted with many fans.

- In the 2005 season, Jim Thome was on a rehab stint with the Threshers (this was when he was in Philly). That night happened to be a doubleheader (due to a rainout the night before). Between games, I was the only guy in the seats as he walked by and got his autograph. Asked me if was enjoying the game.

[nmsuaggie]

My best story is when I got to meet former UTEP coach and basketball hall of famer Don Haskins. He was doing a signing after Glory Road came out on DVD last winter here in El Paso. The best part of meeting him was the fact I was wearing my New Mexico State attire expecting him to be a jerk about it since it is the rival school. Instead he had a good giggle and told me that his sons both went to New Mexico State and he really respects that school. He's truly a class act and if anybody hasn't read the book Glory Road, go check it out.

[Huskyfan82]

Oh yeah, another story was one day Bob Brenly had to get a pass and I was working the pass gate. He was EXTREMELY polite and didn't mind that I had to make a few calls and stuff. Even called me by name and said "Do your job, I don't mind." The people you meet at baseball stadiums, haha.

David

[HowBoutThemFins]

I've met a few guys. Alonzo Mourning was great, as was Zach Thomas. Carson Palmer was a pretty nice guy also. Dontrelle Willis is always friendly. Never really had a negative run-in with a guy although I've been with friends when they've been rejected when asking for autograph's by Hanley Ramirez (apparently was in a rush to get somewhere on Fan Appreciation Day) and Dwyane Wade (also out and about in the community, seemed to be in a hurry.)

[B-Rich]

-- Met Doc Rivers at a sports bar he was (I think) part owner of, back in Atlanta in the late 80s. He was nice and pretty funny; we tried to tell him that my friend was Danny Ferry's brother (he looked just like him). Doc's response was a grin and, "... Right....". No pulling the wool over that man's eyes.

-- Met quite a few NFL players at a NFL Experience before the 1997 Super Bowl. It was a special thing sponsored by Coca-Cola; all of them were nice and cordial, I guess because they were getting paid to appear and sign. Bert Jones, Archie Manning, Anthony Munoz, Marty Schottenheimer, Jerome Bettis, Jack Youngblood and few others. Kordell Stewart to me really stood out-- he was really great with the kids at a passing drill event where he was stationed.

-- In college, I played intramural softball against Ricky Blanton (LSU 1986 Final Four, short-time NBA player for the Bulls and Suns). Got him out on a pop fly, in fact. Real nice guy-- we talked with him for a while after the game.

That's about it.

[Sport]

Ok, so I know this is WAY old but I had an experience that I just simply had to share. And unfortunately it's far from a good experience.

So I had always heard that Johnny Bench was an enormous a$$hole, but despite I was always a fan. Unfortunately he was a bit before my time, but seeing highlights of him with the Reds and hearing stories of how good he was always appealed to me. About six months ago I found a Johnny Bench Reds home pullover on sale at a sports store in the Reno mall, and with the Reds having had one of the greatest looks of all time and with Bench being one of my favorite players I had to pick it up. So this week is the week of the American Century Celebrity Golf Tournament that is held annually here in Lake Tahoe, and luckily enough for me Johnny Bench was playing in it this year. So I went there with the intent to meet Johnny Bench, and if I was lucky enough, have him sign my jersey. I'm a pretty big autograph collector and have a ton of signed memoribilia. I've never understood the point of buying signed merchandise though, and find selling it even more worthless. I find it's fun to get the autographs yourself and creates many interesting stories. And on top of that the Bench jersey would have definately been the gem of my collection. So anyway, I go to the tournament excited to meet Bench and hoping for the best with the jersey. I wasn't counting on getting it signed though. A lot of guys have contracts that prevent them from signing memorabilia such as jerseys, or they simply don't want to sign something that could potentially increase so much in value. While I don't quite see why they would care one way or the other (if they don't have a contract that would prevent it) if someone else's stuff is increased in value by them scribbling on it, I still respect their views on it. It would be nice to get Peyton Manning to sign my authentic Colts Super Bowl 41 jersey though So I wait around on the 17th tee basically all day yesterday, which is the final day of practice for the actual tournament which started today, waiting for just Bench to show up. I passed up on many autographs just so I could get Bench, including passing on following Ladanian Tomlinson to the 18th to get him to sign my jersey, which he was doing with no issue. So finally after about two hours of waiting around, Bench finally shows up. He tees off of 17 and walks down to his cart while the rest of his party tees off. Since he has some down time, and since theres ABSOLUTELY nobody around him, I walk over to say hi and see if I could have any luck. I tell him that I am a big fan and that I thought he was one of the best players i've ever seen, then I ask if there was any way he could sign my jersey. He takes my pen and tosses it in the sand trap. I was definately a little stunned, and then he says to me, I quote, "I dont sign stupid :censored: for a$$holes who are just gonna turn around and sell it on E Bay. FU*K OFF!!!!" Needless to say I was absolutely flabbergasted. I was, for one of the first times in my life, completely and utterly speachless. Number one, i've never been treated like that by anyone let alone someone who I looked up to. And number two, I had no plans to resell his autograph anyway, and even if I was, he's an old washed up former catcher with bad knees. The shirt was probably worth less autographed than it was not signed. And had he turned me down in a civilized manner that would have been the end of that. Had he said "Sorry, my contract won't let me" or "No, I dont sign items such as jerseys" or even just a simple "No" it would have been perfectly suitable, and I would still be a fan. I just simply don't get it. So many celebs are so worried that someone else is gonna try to make a quick buck off of them, that they forget the reason why their stuff is so valuable in the first place. It's because people admire them so much. They are amazing at what they do and how they do and millions of people would give a limb to have half the talent they have. Yet they just can't seem to get past the fact that there are still people out there that are truely fans, and who aren't trying to screw them over. Autograph values are one thing, and can be very important, but even more worthwhile is fan appreciation. Johnny Bench's autograph value may have stayed a 16th of a percent higher yesterday, but he just made a very big fan of his turn a complete and total 180.

My Dad has a similar Johnny Bench story as you. When my dad was a kid Johnny Bench was his favorite player, he had posters, baseball cards, lunchboxes, he loved him as a player. When we lived in Cincinnati in the late 80's my father was an employee of the Cincinnati Bengals and he put on a charity golf tournament with players from the Bengals and Reds and Johnny Bench was one of the participants. My dad figured that with him being the tournament director it wouldn't be too much to get a word with Johnny Bench or at least to shake his hand and introduce himself to his boyhood hero. He went over to the where Bench was sitting and introduced himself "My name is Pat McCarthy, tournament coordinator. I must say I'm a huge fan of yours". In my dad's words "he was a total jackass." I guess he asked my father for another beer and treated people in the clubhouse terribly including the other athletes.

Then a few years later my dad was working for a television production company who was producing the commercials for S&K suits. Bench was the spokesperson. My dad said he was a diva all day long and made the shoot miserable for everyone.

My personal list mostly comes from my caddying days. I did a charity golf scramble with lots of NFL players, a few BlueJackets, and Ohio State Stars. In one day I spent time with all these people.

The group I was with included

Jeff Christy: great guy, kept talking about cars. He was who I caddied for. Not a very good golfer.

Chris Carter: He was really funny, loud and kind of obnoxious. I got to witness Jeff Christy tell him that he wasn't going back to the Vikings and then watch Carter flip out. It was pretty amusing.

Joey Galloway: Really small guy in person, he was nice as well.

Randall Cunnigham: he was a cool dude, and signed my starting lineup figure I had of him at the end of the day.

I also spoke with some of the original bluejackets, Kevyn Adams, Tyler Wright, and Ron Tuggnutt. Hockey players are the nicest guys. Tugnutt was a little quiet but Adams and Tyler Wright were alot of fun. I think they liked me because I knew who they were. This was the summer before the Jackets first season so alot of people didn't recognize them and they appreciated a real hockey fan.

[Chief.]

<font color='#000080'>I've met Len Dawson and Deron Cherry. Len looked like he'd rather be elsewere, i couldn't blame him. Deron on the other hand was very nice, he auto'd a chiefs sign i had then he also had some cards he auto'd then gave me one. I know he's not the most famous Chief ever, but he's always been one of my favs.

I'm good friends with a Minor League goalie for the Tulsa Oilers..... I know it's not the Big 4 but it's still the pros. He's a good guy and i never think of him being a pro athlete when i hang out with him.</font>

Len Dawson and Deron Cherry!? He's one of my favorites. I did meet Neil Smith at a Brigade game, he autographed my jersey but didn't say much.

My dad met Jared Allen (he WAS sober) at Oak Park Mall in KC and he signed a jersey that I later got for Christmas.

[HappyBrownie13]

no major pro stars, but I have had some fun experiences. When I was younger, I met Scoonie Penn - my idol - outside of the Jim O'Brien (ha) Basketball Camp. He was extremely friendly and genuine one-on-one, and gave me advice and encouraging words and even signed crap for me. Great guy

Also, about 8 years back or so, I was on a flight from Orlando to Albany. In the lobby outside the plane there were a ton of huge guys, and my mom and I were thinking they must be athletes. When we borded the plane, it turned out they were...they were the Orlando Predators heading to Albany for the Arena Bowl. All the players were SO personable and friendly (with the exception of QB Browning Neagle, probably the biggest name of the bunch). They even started passing a magazine I had around the plane, each member autographing the cover. I think they just liked the recognition

[VitaminD]

Seeing mac & chief's last posts made me realize I have an athlete in common with each of them. My uncle helped build and wire Randall Cunningham's kitchen when he was playing for the Eagles. Very nice guy, although a little younger and more arrogant then he appears to be now. And Deron Cherry is grew up a few towns over from me; I met him and Kevin Ross (another South Jerseyan) during the off season one year - Kevin Ross's wife worked with my father years ago.

Now that Ron Francis was elected to the Hall of Fame, that brings my HoF total to 9 - Francis, Bob Clarke (on several occasions (neighbor of a friend of mine, knew his [attractive as hell] daughter growing up), Richie Ashburn, Mike Schmidt, Dean Smith, Julis Erving, Billy Cunningham. Dr. Jack Ramsay lived around the corner from us in Ocean City, but I never met the man. If Reggie Miller (very nice interaction with him, BTW... not at all what I expected) and Dick Vitale (extremely nice and generous with his time, and insanely more likable when he isn't doing his schlocky schtick) get into the Basketball HoF, I'll be at 11 and counting...

[maz]

1. I got NASCAR's Bobby Labonte's autograph when I was about 4.

2. At the MLB Home Run Derby last year I sat two rows up and a few seats down from Jim Leyland, manager for the Detrot tigers, and former manager for the Pittsburgh Pirates "Last Dynasty" {91 & 92 NL Pennant-losing seasons}