Bo Bounds had a decent friday topic...
- Thread starter dawgstudent
- Start date
Sitting in Smith-Wills, watching the Jackson Mets with my little league teammates. My coach looks over, does a double take, and, with a wide-eyed look of shock announces, "That's Willie Mays sitting right over there!" Coach proceeds to gather all of us up, instructs us to find something ... anything ... to write on and then marches all of us over to the poor guy for autographs. I remember that none of us kids had any idea who he was. I remember he didn't say a word. He just signed napkins, scraps of cardboard cupholders, pieces of pages torn out of a game program, and a couple of hats. I came home with a Willie Mays signature on a ripped out program page. I showed it to my Dad and he lit up telling me how impressive Mays was and that I was lucky to have gotten his autograph. I remained unimpressed. Couldn't tell you where that scrap of paper is now. Jackson Mets. I'm dating myself. Was it Dave Kingman that we watched launch missiles into the pines behind left when the bigs came in for the exhibition? Memory fades.
Rockey Felker - spring of 1987 - MHSAA Track and Field Championships. Was watching my brother compete. I was in the 2nd grade.
That's honestly the only time I ever went up to someone and got an autograph.
That's honestly the only time I ever went up to someone and got an autograph.
I had an Uncle that knew somebody that knew somebody that got us in the player's parking lot under Riverfront Stadium during the days of the Big Red Machine. We got to stand outside the door as the players came out to get their autographs. Of course the MVP award winners like Rose, Morgan and Bench had their own secret getaway door. I did get some good autographs: Perez, Concepcion, Griffey, Foster, Geronimo... Anyway, Joe Morgan comes driving up in his Lincoln Continental and and rolls down the window to ask Griffey where he is going for dinner. I stick my pen and paper through the window and Morgan rolls up the window so fast my wrist is caught in the window. I was scared to death that he was going to start driving away. I slap his window with my free hand. It startles Morgan and he looks at me like he wants to fight. I guess he saw the look of terror on my face and my hand, pen and paper still in his car. He smiles at me and cracks his window just enough for me to get my hand back out. Then he drives away without giving me an autograph.
MLB Spring Training - When I was around 9ish years old back in 1995ish, my family took a vacation to Florida to watch spring training. We cruised up and down FL catching games and getting autographs. While we were watching the Rangers play (my dad's friend is buddies with Will Clark) Mickey Tettleton cracked his bat and handed it to me over the dugout. Thank God my younger brother had just gone to the bathroom, so there was no doubt it was mine!
The only bad part of that trip was that my mom forgot to put film in her camera when she was taking pictures of me with Frank Thomas, who was my favorite player outside of pretty much everyone on the Braves' roster.
The only bad part of that trip was that my mom forgot to put film in her camera when she was taking pictures of me with Frank Thomas, who was my favorite player outside of pretty much everyone on the Braves' roster.
My best autograph stories are generally about writers and performers.
Neil Gaiman was probably the most memorable - as it was more of an event-- Bela Fleck played (the signing was part of Gaiman's Graveyard Book and Fleck performed on the audiobook). Street Corner Symphony also performed at the War Memorial in Nashville. So many people were there that rows were selected randomly. Fortunately, my row and section was called early.
I also have a baseball autographed by Ken Burns.
Neil Gaiman was probably the most memorable - as it was more of an event-- Bela Fleck played (the signing was part of Gaiman's Graveyard Book and Fleck performed on the audiobook). Street Corner Symphony also performed at the War Memorial in Nashville. So many people were there that rows were selected randomly. Fortunately, my row and section was called early.
I also have a baseball autographed by Ken Burns.
Have a Steve McNair signed Titans football. Bought it a silent auctions. I was dropping bids about a fast as I was dropping free drinks. He had just died and I was planning to sell it for some serious money. I successfully snagged it for somewhere around $400. Next morning (late morning) when I was finally able to get out of bed, I went straight to eBay. The most expensive bid I found on one identical was around $125. Also there was no COA. Needless to say I still have it.
I either drink or bid at these types of functions now.
I either drink or bid at these types of functions now.
Was walking up to the River City Brewing Company Alumni party at the first Gator Bowl and Jack was outside smoking in front of the entrance. Jack and Jim was doing some radio show from there the night of the party.
obviously knowing who Jack was. I walked up to him and asked him how much it was to get in. He didn’t miss a beat and said “you can give me whatever you think it should be”. Got a picture with him that is framed with all my other stuff.
obviously knowing who Jack was. I walked up to him and asked him how much it was to get in. He didn’t miss a beat and said “you can give me whatever you think it should be”. Got a picture with him that is framed with all my other stuff.
You know, I think you're right about Kong. I believe I was at the exhibition too
or at least AN exhibition.
I have a baseball from the Jackson Mets with Marshall Brant, Stan Hough, Ed Cipot, Ned Yost and other J-Mets heroes from an early era, but 20 years later I found it and realized it had signatures like Mookie, Dykstra, Strawberry, Kevin Mitchell, and Roger McDowell... I think I got the Jackson signatures at an actual game, then brought the ball back when they had a Mets reunion or something later on. I need to find that ball.
or at least AN exhibition.
I have a baseball from the Jackson Mets with Marshall Brant, Stan Hough, Ed Cipot, Ned Yost and other J-Mets heroes from an early era, but 20 years later I found it and realized it had signatures like Mookie, Dykstra, Strawberry, Kevin Mitchell, and Roger McDowell... I think I got the Jackson signatures at an actual game, then brought the ball back when they had a Mets reunion or something later on. I need to find that ball.
The 1991 (92?) alumni baseball game where they honored Clark, Palmeiro, Thigpen, and Brantley.
I was a huge Clark fan, and I wanted to get his autograph. I had brought cards for everyone, just in case. As we walked up to the stadium, you could tell someone was signing with about 10 kids around him in the area between DNF and the Hump. It's Raffy. I rush right up to get his autograph on a rookie card and then hand him a ball to sign. He looks up, as if if to say, "I already gave you one." and signs it anyway. I was about 12 and looked much younger, so I didn't know what to think of it.
We get in the stadium, and Clark is on the field signing autographs at the fence. The rail was about 5 kids deep. There was no chance. Clark was just moving around, signing something here and there. Within 5 minutes, he stopped and started warming up. He was my biggest childhood hero, but I never forgot how Raffy was out in the open signing for everyone and Will wasn't.
I was a huge Clark fan, and I wanted to get his autograph. I had brought cards for everyone, just in case. As we walked up to the stadium, you could tell someone was signing with about 10 kids around him in the area between DNF and the Hump. It's Raffy. I rush right up to get his autograph on a rookie card and then hand him a ball to sign. He looks up, as if if to say, "I already gave you one." and signs it anyway. I was about 12 and looked much younger, so I didn't know what to think of it.
We get in the stadium, and Clark is on the field signing autographs at the fence. The rail was about 5 kids deep. There was no chance. Clark was just moving around, signing something here and there. Within 5 minutes, he stopped and started warming up. He was my biggest childhood hero, but I never forgot how Raffy was out in the open signing for everyone and Will wasn't.
I have a history of accidentally insulting celebrities when I meet them. I just tend to say the wrong thing, but usually with good intentions.
In the Summer of 1989, I had a summer internship at Texaco's corporate offices in Houston. Texaco introduced "Techron" fuel additive that Summer, with the slogan "5 Tanks is all We ask", and their spokesman for this campaign was Lyle Alzado. I don't know why a former NFL player was the spokesman, but no one asked me. One Friday we had an event to kick off the new campaign and all of the employees were invited to come to this big room to get a swag bag and meet Alzado. My office mates were all heading downstairs, but I needed to finish up a project and told them I would just meet them down there.
There was a huge line when I finally got down there. I found my friends, but I felt guilty about cutting the line so I told the people behind me that I wasn't going to get any of the Swag, I was just there to be with my friends. So the line gets around to Alzado, and he is autographing photos of himself. You tell him your name, and he signs. We get up to Alzado, and the line just stalls out. We're all standing in front of him for an uncomfortably long time. He signs photos for all my friends, then he grabs a photo and looks at me. "Oh, not for me," I said, "I can't have your autograph. It just wouldn't be right."
He looked at me really confused and said, "What, are you a Steelers fan, or something?"
I did take the swag bag, though. There was a coupon for a free fill up.
In the Summer of 1989, I had a summer internship at Texaco's corporate offices in Houston. Texaco introduced "Techron" fuel additive that Summer, with the slogan "5 Tanks is all We ask", and their spokesman for this campaign was Lyle Alzado. I don't know why a former NFL player was the spokesman, but no one asked me. One Friday we had an event to kick off the new campaign and all of the employees were invited to come to this big room to get a swag bag and meet Alzado. My office mates were all heading downstairs, but I needed to finish up a project and told them I would just meet them down there.
There was a huge line when I finally got down there. I found my friends, but I felt guilty about cutting the line so I told the people behind me that I wasn't going to get any of the Swag, I was just there to be with my friends. So the line gets around to Alzado, and he is autographing photos of himself. You tell him your name, and he signs. We get up to Alzado, and the line just stalls out. We're all standing in front of him for an uncomfortably long time. He signs photos for all my friends, then he grabs a photo and looks at me. "Oh, not for me," I said, "I can't have your autograph. It just wouldn't be right."
He looked at me really confused and said, "What, are you a Steelers fan, or something?"
I did take the swag bag, though. There was a coupon for a free fill up.
I'm not big on asking for autographs... about the only one I remember: I was raised an ole miss fan (grew up 20 minutes from oxford). I'd been to the Memphis zoo with my best friend, and I guess his parents stopped at Kroger or some grocery store in Oxford on the way home. We saw Joe Harvell there so I got Joe Harvell to sign my LA Dodgers cap (I was a Darryl Strawberry fan and he'd just signed with the Dodgers). I was probably 10 or 11 at the time so that was the coolest thing that'd ever happened to me.
Drinking beers at one of the pools on a summer afternoon in Starkville. Boobie Dixon and Pernell McPhee show up. Dixon signed the boobs of one of the girls with us, a beer box, and a rookie card of his.
I can count on two fingers the number of times I have ever asked for an autograph. This one does not sound like much but it meant a lot to me at the time. I had just moved 600 miles away to the east coast right out of school. First time living outside MS. All by myself. Knew very few people in the area outside of work at the time. This was in the pre-internet days so no MSU radio, no MSU media coverage, very few TV games. It was like living on the moon MSU sports wise. Jerry Clower came to town to do a benefit concert. Went down to the autograph table afterward and got him to sign something. Spoke with him briefly about the new baseball stadium that was being built. The one that was just torn down. I laugh about it now but it sure did mean a lot to a homesick MS country boy to talk a little State sports with someone from home. The only other one was Ron Polk signed my hat a few years later when State came to USC to play baseball after they joined the SEC. I remember he was in a hurry to get to the press box for the post game radio show. Still have the hat somewhere although it has lost most of its sentimental value if you know what I mean.
Met Billy Idol in the mid-80s.
Back in the mid-80s, when I was about 12 or so, Billy Idol played a show at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum. Somehow, I was the ninth (or whatever) caller for a radio station contest and ended up winning two tickets and backstage passes to his concert. Before the show started, my friend and I got ushered into a conference room in the depths of the coliseum with a couple of folks from the radio station and a few minutes later Idol waltzed in. He could not have been nicer. Chatted with us for a few minutes, took a picture with us and signed a record for each of us, too. I haven't seen the picture in a long time, unfortunately, but I still have my signed record.
Also got pics with both Boobie Dixon and Pernell McFee at Media Day when the 49ers played the Ravens in the Super Bowl in New Orleans.
Back in the mid-80s, when I was about 12 or so, Billy Idol played a show at the Mississippi Gulf Coast Coliseum. Somehow, I was the ninth (or whatever) caller for a radio station contest and ended up winning two tickets and backstage passes to his concert. Before the show started, my friend and I got ushered into a conference room in the depths of the coliseum with a couple of folks from the radio station and a few minutes later Idol waltzed in. He could not have been nicer. Chatted with us for a few minutes, took a picture with us and signed a record for each of us, too. I haven't seen the picture in a long time, unfortunately, but I still have my signed record.
Also got pics with both Boobie Dixon and Pernell McFee at Media Day when the 49ers played the Ravens in the Super Bowl in New Orleans.
About a month ago, I had the chance to go to the Christmas party for the Big Bang Theory out in Burbank. Got to talk to Chuck Lorre, Johnny Galecki, and Kaley Cuoco (she is absolutely smoking hot in person). Took a picture with Kaley. Didn't get any autographs, but I forever have that picture and that is better to me than a signed piece of paper.
Not big on autographs but I've been lucky enough to spend some time with celebs from the sports and music world. I'll just give my impression of a few that may be different than you have heard.
Walter and Eddie Payton - super friendly and classy. I started a verbal jab session between them when I told Walter I was a lifelong Bears fan and Eddie started jabbing about the Vikings. I was lucky to meet him right before he passed. #1 on my memory list.
Bo Jackson and Pat Dye - spent a weekend duck hunting and avoided the onslaught of autographs. Bo was great. Gave us old football and baseball stories between hunts and acted like an old friend. Strongest human being I have ever met. He was standing on the flood dam and I was in the water with a big heavy camera. He reached down and lifted me up with one hand and deposited me on the dam.
Ted Nugent - one of the smartest and definitely most opinionated guys ever. Mouth and mind run a thousand miles a minute.
Tracy Byrd - one of the really nice country boys. Taller than you would think.
Will Clark - spent several days duck hunting with him. Nothing like an ******* that I had previously heard. Great sense of humor. Louisiana county boy through and through. I laughed like crazy when he emptied his gun on a group of nutria while cussing those water rats.
I'll save the rest for later.
Walter and Eddie Payton - super friendly and classy. I started a verbal jab session between them when I told Walter I was a lifelong Bears fan and Eddie started jabbing about the Vikings. I was lucky to meet him right before he passed. #1 on my memory list.
Bo Jackson and Pat Dye - spent a weekend duck hunting and avoided the onslaught of autographs. Bo was great. Gave us old football and baseball stories between hunts and acted like an old friend. Strongest human being I have ever met. He was standing on the flood dam and I was in the water with a big heavy camera. He reached down and lifted me up with one hand and deposited me on the dam.
Ted Nugent - one of the smartest and definitely most opinionated guys ever. Mouth and mind run a thousand miles a minute.
Tracy Byrd - one of the really nice country boys. Taller than you would think.
Will Clark - spent several days duck hunting with him. Nothing like an ******* that I had previously heard. Great sense of humor. Louisiana county boy through and through. I laughed like crazy when he emptied his gun on a group of nutria while cussing those water rats.
I'll save the rest for later.
When I was 10-ish, i got Jeff Bagwell to sign after a rehab game with the Jackson Generals. I will forever curse Richard Humphrey, a bullpen pitcher General who I assume never went past double A - he signed right above Bagwell's name like an idiot.
My oldest son (6 at the time) was shirtless because he was sweating down after the preseason meet the players in 2015. Saw Joe Morrow in the gas station by malfunction junction and got my son out to get his poster signed with no shoes or shirt. My wife was embarrassed but now we both find it funny. Have a picture somewhere I think. That's the year we sat in line for a couple hours so my son could meet Dak, but they cut it off and we never made it. A bunch of 50 year olds got to, but lots of admiring kids didn't. Oh well.
My oldest son (6 at the time) was shirtless because he was sweating down after the preseason meet the players in 2015. Saw Joe Morrow in the gas station by malfunction junction and got my son out to get his poster signed with no shoes or shirt. My wife was embarrassed but now we both find it funny. Have a picture somewhere I think. That's the year we sat in line for a couple hours so my son could meet Dak, but they cut it off and we never made it. A bunch of 50 year olds got to, but lots of admiring kids didn't. Oh well.
Will Clark was on rehab to AA Shreveport Captains. Couldn't have been nicer to my son.
Same son .. 'ran' to catchup to Lee Trevino headed to the clubhouse in a cart after finishing a tournament. Apparently, Lee was impressed with his effort, signed both of his golf shoes and handed 'em over to said son.
Same son .. 'ran' to catchup to Lee Trevino headed to the clubhouse in a cart after finishing a tournament. Apparently, Lee was impressed with his effort, signed both of his golf shoes and handed 'em over to said son.
It was 2002, and I had taken my family to Orlando to see Penn State play Auburn in the Citrus Bowl (it's not like State had a bowl game to go to). We were at an autograph session and I had bought a white panel ball for autographs. Penn State had a 2,000 yard Heisman finalist running back, Larry Johnson, Jr. and he was #5. My son and I see #5 in a blue jersey, go up to him and get his autograph. But it was Auburn's #5, Brandon Jacobs, and my son was so disappointed that he had an unknown Auburn player on his ball. Eventually it turned out that Jacobs had a lot better pro career than LJ, including a Super Bowl win with the Giants.
This probably wont be popular but...
2007 at Auburn my wife and I were with our then 12 year old son outside Jordan-Hare three hours prior to kickoff. We were on the backside of the stadium where the visiting team bus enters and lets the team off. We had just missed the team getting off the bus but we ran smack into Jack Crtistil. There was no one around at all, and I ask if he would get a picture with my son. He refused and said he did't want to be late for the game. We were both shocked and just stood there a moment and then I cussed at him as he walked off...He didn't act like it bothered him at all...He must have been having a bad day because every other time I ran into him in West Point, Starkville, Tupelo he was always very, very nice. * I know many will argue that he really didn't want to be late, when I say we were alone I mean no one else was around to hold him up and it would have only taken maybe one minute for a quick picture. Yes, I was wrong for overreacting...
2007 at Auburn my wife and I were with our then 12 year old son outside Jordan-Hare three hours prior to kickoff. We were on the backside of the stadium where the visiting team bus enters and lets the team off. We had just missed the team getting off the bus but we ran smack into Jack Crtistil. There was no one around at all, and I ask if he would get a picture with my son. He refused and said he did't want to be late for the game. We were both shocked and just stood there a moment and then I cussed at him as he walked off...He didn't act like it bothered him at all...He must have been having a bad day because every other time I ran into him in West Point, Starkville, Tupelo he was always very, very nice. * I know many will argue that he really didn't want to be late, when I say we were alone I mean no one else was around to hold him up and it would have only taken maybe one minute for a quick picture. Yes, I was wrong for overreacting...
2 stories:
Jerry Rice was apparently signing autographs at the AT&T store in Ridgeland a few years back, Well I am a huge Jerry Rice fan and I was on a school bus headed up to West Point for a HS football game (Volunteer Coach at the time). My brother didn't know Jerry was there to pay a phone bill and saw Jerry, called me up and told me and found out I wasn't able to go, but went and bought a football and went back to get Jerry's Autograph for me. Still mad I haven't met my childhood hero yet.
Kris Bryant
His one year with TN Smokies, came down to play the M-Braves. I went down to the dugout to get his auto, well he had already gone back into the players locker room. I talked to Javier Baez. Baez went and got Kris to give me an auto. Should of got Baez to, but Im one of those that only gets one auto on a ball unless I can have the 1927 Yankees team autograph ball.
Jerry Rice was apparently signing autographs at the AT&T store in Ridgeland a few years back, Well I am a huge Jerry Rice fan and I was on a school bus headed up to West Point for a HS football game (Volunteer Coach at the time). My brother didn't know Jerry was there to pay a phone bill and saw Jerry, called me up and told me and found out I wasn't able to go, but went and bought a football and went back to get Jerry's Autograph for me. Still mad I haven't met my childhood hero yet.
Kris Bryant
His one year with TN Smokies, came down to play the M-Braves. I went down to the dugout to get his auto, well he had already gone back into the players locker room. I talked to Javier Baez. Baez went and got Kris to give me an auto. Should of got Baez to, but Im one of those that only gets one auto on a ball unless I can have the 1927 Yankees team autograph ball.
Bo's whereabouts might be a little difficult but I can pinpoint payne's location pretty specifically.
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No one real significant, but a cool story.
I got put on the 1994 baseball poster schedule. No real reason, they just took a picture of a kid watching the game from LFL and put it on there. Parent's friend saw it, called my mom, she called the university. They didn't believe her at first, asked her to tell them the one change on the picture from the original, she did and they set me up to throw out the first pitch of the opening SEC series. Did that, got to keep the ball and go through the dugout to get the team to sign the ball. Was awesome as a 7 year old.
Tried to get Jerry Rice's in Mugshots one night but all the bar napkins were wet so nothing to write on. Settled for a picture instead.
I got put on the 1994 baseball poster schedule. No real reason, they just took a picture of a kid watching the game from LFL and put it on there. Parent's friend saw it, called my mom, she called the university. They didn't believe her at first, asked her to tell them the one change on the picture from the original, she did and they set me up to throw out the first pitch of the opening SEC series. Did that, got to keep the ball and go through the dugout to get the team to sign the ball. Was awesome as a 7 year old.
Tried to get Jerry Rice's in Mugshots one night but all the bar napkins were wet so nothing to write on. Settled for a picture instead.
My parents took my brother to Williams Bros. in Philadelphia to get a new pair of boots. While there, Archie was signing autographs and signing boots boxes and stuff. He asked my brother what his favorite NFL team was and my brother replied 'the Dallas Cowboys!" Mom said Archie got a little pissy (but nothing to pissy)
I think he meant the whereabouts of the autographs, but I read it that way too at first.
At a Brave’s game at Fulton County playing the Giants and was able to get Will Clark to sign a baseball.
Bo Jackson
His first game as a professional baseball player with the Memphis Chicks. He lined up outside of left center and signed autographs for every kid in line. I hung around awhile and after everyone left he said "hey kid, I need some help carrying this bag". Carried his baseball game, which probably weighed as much as I did, to his car. Been a fan ever since and will always consider him the best athlete of my generation regardless of sport.
His first game as a professional baseball player with the Memphis Chicks. He lined up outside of left center and signed autographs for every kid in line. I hung around awhile and after everyone left he said "hey kid, I need some help carrying this bag". Carried his baseball game, which probably weighed as much as I did, to his car. Been a fan ever since and will always consider him the best athlete of my generation regardless of sport.
Mickey Rourke inside Platinum Plus before it closed for good and Bubba Smith in a Holiday Inn in Atlanta.
Growing up in Metro Atl, there were a lot of opportunities to get autographs - especially before it became big business.
Got Dominique Wilkins, Kevin Willis, and Vince Dooley at a Hawks game; Bruce Sutter when he came to work out with my HS baseball team; William Andrews at Falcons game; all the original members of Govt. Mule at a small venue concert; Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Duke Snider, Mickey Mantle, and Willie Mays all at card shows in the 80s.
Two of the best: The entire '81 Yankees team and staff at Spring Training - included Lou Pinella, Dave Winfield, Reggie Jackson, Willie Randolph, Dave Righetti, Goose Gossage, Yogi Berra, Ron Guidry. I was only 8, but man was it cool.
Next best was at the Olympics in '96. I had a friend hook me up with a paying temp job at the Road Cycling venue in Buckhead coordinating press and athlete shuttle buses. Got to meet Greg LeMond, Lance Armstrong, and Miguel Indurian and got pictures. Had a 20 minute conversation with Chris Fowler about MSU football coming up that fall and got his autograph. He was a real nice guy and was very complementary of Starkville - even then.
Got Dominique Wilkins, Kevin Willis, and Vince Dooley at a Hawks game; Bruce Sutter when he came to work out with my HS baseball team; William Andrews at Falcons game; all the original members of Govt. Mule at a small venue concert; Ted Williams, Stan Musial, Duke Snider, Mickey Mantle, and Willie Mays all at card shows in the 80s.
Two of the best: The entire '81 Yankees team and staff at Spring Training - included Lou Pinella, Dave Winfield, Reggie Jackson, Willie Randolph, Dave Righetti, Goose Gossage, Yogi Berra, Ron Guidry. I was only 8, but man was it cool.
Next best was at the Olympics in '96. I had a friend hook me up with a paying temp job at the Road Cycling venue in Buckhead coordinating press and athlete shuttle buses. Got to meet Greg LeMond, Lance Armstrong, and Miguel Indurian and got pictures. Had a 20 minute conversation with Chris Fowler about MSU football coming up that fall and got his autograph. He was a real nice guy and was very complementary of Starkville - even then.
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