I could care less about autographs. However, this autograph thing has gotten way out of hand. This is another problem of 20% bad apples spoiling it for the true autograph seekers. Autographs have become big business and the motive of any business is to make a profit. We have adults paying kids to get autographs. How can a athlete determine if you are a genuine autograph seeker or a pawn of some autograph seller? A couple of years ago, at the Cowboys training camp. Ten adults were crushing several 8-10 year olds against a fence to get an autograph of Nate Newton!!!! The reason, we have reluctant autograph signers are due to the idiotic few who interrupt these people while having dinner with their families and pestering them to no end. These are people who get paid to play a game. Will my life be incomplete if I don't have a autograph of some athlete who doesn't know me from Adam? Hell no. By the way, does anyone want my autograph? ------------------ Respect Hakeem's legacy. A championship in the hand is worth two in the bush!!
3rings, you are absolutely correct they don't know who is in it for the money--that is why it shouldn't be a big deal to sign a couple of autographs in a natural break after games or practices or the like. Why should they care one iota whether the kid is one of the 20% working for someone else or the rest of them who just want the autograph from a hero (I don't want to get into the debate to whether they should heros or not). The fact that the players have no trouble signing autographs when they are paid, but don't do other times, because who knows, the threat that maybe someone else might possibly make a buck is just pathetic. [This message has been edited by sir scarvajal (edited March 30, 2000).]
sir. yeah true. see me feeling is it depends on the situation. i mean i never interupt people to get them i only would ask if it were on arena grounds or at a signing etc. the only time i have asked otherwise was last year on the way home from the rose parade. it was a long flight etc and when i got off i realized doug drabek was on the plane. i really didn't want to ask or anything since he was with family but i went over by luggage to pick up my suitcase and he was standing there beside me so i just started a conversatin with him after i made sure i knew it was him. he was agreat guy and after we talked a few minutes i asked him to sign some luggage tag i had just for the fact that it was for souvenir book. i dind't meet anyone famous in la so i figured mise as well get his autograph. my thinking is its ok as long as you don't bother a player with family etc. i think its ok if your having a good conversation with a player and he offers to sign somethign etc thats fine ------------------ Shane "Save Our Rockets" "Life without basketball in Houston........without an arena that is what it will be"