Jimbo on November 16, 2009 said:

Good post Joey. I am with you about the autograph thing. I have decided that autographs are for kids…but pics are for anyone. I’ll get a picture with anyone.

Oh also, I still don’t think that celebs and athletes should complain about autographs. I think that those same people asking for autographs would gladly sign their names 100+ times a day and switch places in a heartbeat.

Jimmy

Diana on November 16, 2009 said:

I haven’t really ever ran into famous people only a few. I ran into Ronnie Price at the RMR last year. He was very friendly. I got his autograph, saying it was for my son. I’ll give it to him when he is older.
I don’t think I would bother celebrities if they had kids with them thats kind of weird to me.
We waited after the Jazz scrimmage for autographs because my daughter so wanted to meet Memo. He didn’t stop but AK did and was really friendly, especially to the kids.

Joey Parker on November 16, 2009 said:

I think if you get an autograph at a Jazz event, like RMR, that is totally acceptable. I have no qualms about getting autographs at the player portals at the arena before the game, for example. (Although I haven’t done that for years.) (Actually, I should write a post sometime about how much of a whiny brat Andre Miller was about giving his autograph at a game one time…)

Sinister Gilroy on November 16, 2009 said:

I remember playing roulette at the Aladdin with a certain Jazz Bot that will go unnamed. I had been playing roulette with this attractive blonde woman for about an hour when Jazz Bot walked up and literally freaked out. “that’s Gwen Steffani! That’s Gwen Steffani!” he yelled. I was the one that had to talk him out of getting the autograph because I am even more shy when asking people for those types of things.

Joey Parker on November 16, 2009 said:

It also helped the decision making process that Gwen had a strong looking bodyguard with her… Large bodyguards are also deterrents to getting autographs.

Nancy Thompson Mahler on November 16, 2009 said:

Years ago when Karl Malone opened his store “The Mailman” on 21st street I was in Salt Lake City with my kids. We heard on the radio that it was his grand opening, my kids wanted to go. Hello! I wanted to go too. I was a single mother with 4 young children and little extra money. I did have my camera but didn’t think it was a good idea to ask for a picture if I wasn’t buying.

I took my camera just in cause he looked happy to be there. To our surprise he was the only one in the store and he was so nice. I said to him, I don’t have any money to buy but could I get a picture with him and my kids. He said “I take checks”, that’s all I needed to hear! So the kids all got a hat or t-shirt, I needed some new running shoes. Having him be the only person in the store he was the one finding my right size, I had so much fun I even asked if he would sign my leg. He spent over an hour with us, laughing, talking and signing our shoes, t- shirts and hats. We got to the cash register with my check in hand and started witting out the check, a bum check. Oh my what was I doing? Dave came into my mind, Dave my banker in Logan. I said to Karl “STOP” I need one more thing. He was surprised I really wanted to get one more thing, he said “what else do you need, I said “a hat for my banker because this is a bum check”. You’re serious aren’t you? Yes! If I get him a hat he might not bounce the check. He laughed and asked for his name, Dave I said. He signed banker Dave’s hat with an extra note “Dave please pay the check”!!

I handed him the hat and just let him read the note from The Mailman, he shook his head and laughed. He is the best banker in Utah and yes he paid the check.

I wonder if Karl remembers that day? We still talk about it and treasure our autographs from The Mailman.

Sheri on November 16, 2009 said:

I haven’t had the opportunity to get or ask a Jazz player for there autograph but I’m with ya Joey just a little shy myself and I’m thinking that when there are in a public place I know it’s not my place to ask them so I just don’t due it.

Reading the Jazz website seeing that the coat drive had been moved up by one month I had the coat just needed the ticket.

I handed Kyle the item that I wanted him to sign which was a picture that I got while visiting the Dodgeball barrage at the Zion Basketball Center.

I was nervous and forgot to thank him for it.

Thanks to Kyle for the autograph.

Steve on November 17, 2009 said:

Great post! I agree you have to know when to approach someone for an autograph. My advice would be listen for official signings where the Jazz players are promoting something. This summer we were able to see Ronnie Price at a Fanzz store and he personalized an autograph on a basketball for my two year old.
When I was 12 years old we went to a signing at Zion’s Bank in Delta, UT. Karl Malone signed my John Stockton jersey I had bought just a couple of days before at Gart’s Sports.

Joey Parker on November 17, 2009 said:

That’s a good story, Nancy. I remember when Karl had that store. I never got to go to it though. I also remember when Hot Rod Hundley had a restaurant- never got to go there either…

kory on November 17, 2009 said:

A few years ago I went back to the U.S Open golf tournament @ Shinnicock Hills in South Hampton New York. After getting seperated from my family while looking throught the concession tent, I decided to go watch the players as they came off the course to practice their putting. After about 45 minutes of watching i noticed that there were some vetran autograph getters talking with the players as they left the practice area on their way to the players village. I couldn’t believe it, these guys were onto something so I thought i would join them. I headed down just as Vijay Singh and Ernie Els were walking toward us. Although I am a golf professional myself, I was a nervous wreck! I held out my flag, and Vijay took it from my hand while in deep conversation with Ernie. A few moments later, Vijay looked in my direction and mumbled, “do you have a pen?” “Come on Vijay” I thought to myself “you have to have a pen” as he wadded it up and handed it back to me UNSIGNED! “Ernie, you got a pen?” I desperately yelled.

About 20 minutes later, I was standing in another area nearby where there was no foot traffic whatsoever. To my surprise, Sergio Garcia was walking in my direction with a big smile. He said “boy thats a tough course out there today”, “would you like me to sign your (UNSIGNED) flag?’ I was in awe. i told him what has recently happened with Vijay and Ernie. He grabbed the bill of his hat, hung and shook his head like I had totally blown it (which I had). He then told me that he too was without a sharpie, BUT to catch him tomorrow and he would hook me up. “Ok Serg, I will be the spectator with the white hat” I again thought to myself. Urg! I had just missed out on getting 3 of the worlds top 10 players at that time in the matter of minutes! The only thing that could have been worse is if Tiger would have strolled up with 1000 red sharpies just as my flag was blowing away in a tornado. Needless to say, I haven’t gone to a tour event since without every color sharpie in my pocket.

What do you think they do with their sharpies after scribbling their aotographs on a card full of birdies anyway….?

Does this post get me into the JAZZBOT fianls for next year? Put in a good word for me guys

Happy (autograph) Hunting!

Linda on November 17, 2009 said:

Great blog on a confusing subject. On one hand, when they chose to make that kind of money that is paid partly bt the fans, then autographs sort of “come with the job”. But then there is something called “common courtesy”. I think that if they are with their families, especially at a dinner table then they need to be left alone and not rushed by the masses when dinner is finished. I enjoy getting the autographs because it usually open up a chance for some dialog. Last night I had a chance to go to the Jazz autograph party which was something I had dreamed about for several years. They had tables set up along the lower concourse and along the upper concourse. Some were sitting alone and some were in twos. I was amazed at the different attitudes from the plsyers and coaches!! One of the nicest people signing were coach Sloan and Phil Johnson. AK47 was great to everyone especially the kids. Fes, Matthews, Boozer, and Brewer were great. They signed and visited and joked around. The others were nice but defnately made it seem like a job they had to complete. DWill,Korver, ans CJ weren’t there. It was well worth the deaming and planning to get there from Idaho. I think real common sense tells us when to ask for the autograph.

montgump on November 17, 2009 said:

I got Zaza Pachulia’s autograph at a Memphis Grizzlies game when he was with the Magic. I’m just hoping he can turn out to be a stud so it will be worth something.

Joey Parker on November 18, 2009 said:

That was a very cool/depressing story, Kory. Those golfers should have signed something with a golf pencil. Your story reminded me of two other autograph stories:

When I was about 14, I was waiting at the Delta Center portal for autographs and Jerry Sloan came out and started to sign stuff. I prepared my marker for him by taking off the cap. When he got to me, he said “You should keep the cap on that marker or it will dry out.”

Jerry Sloan: always coaching!

Also, I just remembered the ONE time I asked for an NBA player’s autograph out in public. When I was 17, I was working at Albertson’s in Ogden and Tom Chambers came in. He had obviously just been hunting or fishing or working outside because he was wearing rugged clothes and some dirty boots. He went down one of the aisles and I searched for something to get him to sign, and something for him to sign with. Since I was in a grocery store, I settled on a paper Brach’s candy sack and a pencil.

P.S.- My step-dad later got me another Tom Chambers autograph on the back of a business card from a gun store he works at.