Player Access Survey: Autographs

[RockHawk]

So today Doug Baldwin tweeted that he will not sign autographs in the hotel, saying most of the people that "Stalk" players there are merch hounds.

Based upon the varied responses, I'd like to know the general feeling on if it's ok for a player to decide to only sign autographs in specific instances (training camp, only for kids, ect) or if you feel that because a player is a public figure, they should be happy to stop and sign an autograph for a fan no matter where it is (movie, hotel, restaurant, ect).

Thoughts?

 

[JSeahawks]

I've got no problem at all with them telling fans no.

I don't really understand the whole autograph thing anyway. I got Steve Largents autograph when I was a kid and just threw it away like a week later. Just a name on a piece of paper. I don't get it.

 

[Sac]

Yes. Any player has the right to refuse to sign autographs for any reason. Although, I would venture to say that if "fans" were more respectful of a professional athletes time and personal space, this wouldn't even be an issue. If it's a team event where autographs are expected, cool, ask for an autograph. If they're in the grocery store, out with their family, at their hotel, or out at lunch, leave them be.

 

[dontbelikethat]

From what I remember, Lynch rarely signs autographs outside of team events, etc. He just that type of dude.

 

[Anonymous]

I think Doug has a point. Especially, when the "hounds" are monopolizing ten minutes for them to sign a battery of items all at once and other folks are waiting. Hell no.

But, there is certainly no harm in a card-shop guy having an obvious game-worn jersey signed to quadruple its value. In fact, a player taking the time to sign items like that are doing a great service for themselves, as memorabilia dealers help to create value for that player by touting that player's merchandise. If that dealer is being a jerk and thinking he's entitled, then that player shouldn't have to sign anything.

 

[pmedic920]

If the player thinks his autograph is going to be sold for prophet, I don't blame him/her one bit for not signing. Bottom line it's the players choice. There are many situations that it's not appropriate to even ask. This sounds like Baldwin doesn't want to be bothered at the hotel. I'm ok with that, and think people should respect his wishes.

 

[SmokinHawk]

Perhaps I'm not as easy star struck as others, but if I see someone famous doing something in public, I leave them alone. If I do anything, I'll give a casual wave, thumbs up, what have you, but disturbing them for autographs in public is really quite rude, in my opinion. That would be like someone walking up to me at Arby's, with the request that I draw up a network diagram for them.

Just because someone is famous doesn't make it OK to disturb them when they are out and about.

 

[MontanaHawk05]

I think it's a very fair point that we pay their salaries, but that doesn't mean that they also want private lives. I'd just leave 'em alone.

 

[Sac]

I think it's a very fair point that we pay their salaries, but that doesn't mean that they also want private lives. I'd just leave 'em alone.

I don't think it's a fair point at all. The owners pay their salaries. We aren't employing them, the NFL is. We pay the owners if we buy tickets to the game or other team merchandise. If someone wants to give up their season tickets and stop buying stuff because a player won't sign an autograph for them then fine. There's a long line of people that WILL buy those tickets. It doesn't entitle a fan to squat.

 

[SouthSoundHawk]

I'd rather have a handshake.


Besides, I'm a grown ass man. I can buy an autograph off the internet or at a memorabilia shop with money...money I saved...as an adult.


Leave getting autographs from players to the kids.

 

[drdiags]

I think having a player or a high profile personality provide some personalized memorabilia is a privilege. None of them are obligated to stop their lives so that the fan can feel connected. I do understand why a fan would be disappointed or upset if he/she were turned down but I cannot feel any outrage for them.

I am sure that depending on what becomes of the player/star from a historical perspective could mean money for the heirs of the person who got the autograph but it is an offering of a person's time to do it.

 

[AROS]

I vote that they have every right to refuse to sign autographs but count me in the bunch that thinks any professional celebrity/sports star should know it comes with the territory and should feel obligated to do so most of the time.

 

[chris98251]

If a person is at a table eating his lunch and a dude comes up with a bunch of stuff under his arm and asks him if he would sign it I would say no also, Baldwin was on his time or maybe discussion something with someone, they make themselves available for signings plenty of times during the season.

I also agree with I would welcome a handshake over a piece of paper, call me old school but anyone can get a signiture or a fake one, shaking a persons hand and looking in their eyes and saying nice to meet you and have a great game is more meaningfull to me.

 

[SharkHawk]

You're a kid in Carolina... your Dad takes you to the team hotel to see the player you'll likely never see again. You don't have time to tell him your tale of woe, but he asks for an autograph. Warren Sapp tells the kid to "piss off" and has the family ejected from the restaurant.

Apparently I will wrap Doug Baldwin in that same camp since he made such a proclamation that he wants to be left alone. I'll leave you alone Doug. So will my kids. We don't have the chance to travel to all "team sanctioned signings". But I'll make sure they ask somebody who gives a crap about them for an autograph and doesn't monopolize your all important eating and talking ish time with your boys at a restaurant. You poor stalked soul. I hope TMZ cameras don't start following you around.

The refusal to do it is simple: NARCISSISM. Michael Jordan wouldn't sign an autograph unless paid tens of thousands to show up at an event, and even then was a dink about it. Doug Baldwin wants to be like Mike? Guess he better put up 25 TD's this year, or be gracious, sign the piece of paper, and finish his meal.

I'm no celebrity, but I've taught thousands of kids. I never go anywhere in public without being stopped and talked to death by some family. Literally every time. The store, a restaurant, whatever. Always, I will see somebody that has to tell me a big long story. They don't ask for a 3 second autograph. They take a half-hour of my time, and I always thank them and assure they pass on a hello to the rest of their family and am grateful that somebody cares enough about me to remember and knows that I care enough about them that they update me on what is going on.

 

[Throwdown]

I mean if the people are stalking you out here for an autograph? c'mon thats creepy and they should have a right to privacy, these guys are allowed to have a life outside of football too, its not game day, leave the man alone.

I have a feeling that Doug wasn't talking about kids, but grown adults trying to get an autograph, I have a feeling DB wouldn't put a kid out there on front street via twitter.

 

[SharkHawk]

"stalking out" maybe just means they are a huge fan and this is their one chance to see them. Doug is making big assumptions, so I am doing the same. Blowing people off just because you are on "your own time" is bull. He isn't on his own time anyway. He'd have a point if they were filming his house and bothering him at the end of his driveway. He's in a PUBLIC PLACE for crying out loud. Deal with it like an adult and be grateful that somebody even knows who the heck you are.

 

[Sac]

I'm no celebrity, but I've taught thousands of kids. I never go anywhere in public without being stopped and talked to death by some family. Literally every time. The store, a restaurant, whatever. Always, I will see somebody that has to tell me a big long story. They don't ask for a 3 second autograph. They take a half-hour of my time, and I always thank them and assure they pass on a hello to the rest of their family and am grateful that somebody cares enough about me to remember and knows that I care enough about them that they update me on what is going on.

This is apples and oragnes, bruh. Those people stop you and talk to you because at some level, you've had a personal relationship with them or their family members. You've had an impact on their lives and I'm sure some of your students have had an impact on yours.

Fans, collectors, and re-sellers that don't have any personal relationship with an athlete taking up 10 seconds or 10 minutes can really add up considering how many of them there are. And they don't even know them, they simply know of them.

 

[chris98251]

The Hotel is his home away from home, why it's kept secret as to discourage as much interuption of their time as possible.

 

[DavidSeven]

Funny. The same fans who expect the players to be well rested and prepared on game day seem to also demand that they sign a whole bunch of useless autographs on the eve of game day, too. There are some athletes (e.g. the Jordans, the Wilsons) who would literally be signing autographs 24 hours a day if they never said no to one. Doug specified that he thought this "fan" was only there to later sell the autograph. It's one thing to stop to sign a kid's hat, it's a another thing if a 40 year old shows up at your hotel with a bunch of 8x10s. GTFO.

 

[Hawkstorian]

Autographs are fun and a nice memory, but I think fans take them way too seriously.

Why would you pay money for an autographed item? To me, an autograph represents a memory of an encounter with a player. I have a jersey that Matt Hasselbeck signed personally. I remember that moment and I have a lot of appreciation for it. If I sold it to someone else, they're just buying extra ink.

Any time an athlete gives of himself, we should treat it like the gift it is. If we demand it and vilify those who don't comply with our expectations it isn't really a gift then, is it?