Meeting NBA Basketball Players
 

Has any of you met and got an auto from an NBA player? I imagine some here met jordan at his basketball camp?? I once met pippen in LAX and was a 'normal' guy... Iverson was on one of my flights to philly and he looked very moody...

Orlando Magic used to have training camp here in town-I met quite a few guys over the years. All were first class-one thing they had in common was complaining about how tired they were after practice, lol. Jameer, Dwight Howard, Shaq, Penny, Dennis Scott, T Mac, Mike Miller, Darko among others. Good times!

ive met a bunch, including my favorite player (thanks to a friend who was on a tournament team with him) most were either at my local lifetime fitness during the summers, or at my job in the athletic department at my alma mater. most interactions were brief, i never want to be "that guy" and im sure they don't care to talk to me either. in all of those interactions not once would i ask for an autograph. well exception the jason williams one, but i feel its different at a game.

One player in fact i played with several times a week in our daily staff pickup games, the more you're around these guys, you learn how they really are just normal people, you talk on a first name basis and realize they are good dudes but their mystique was that they were good at putting a ball in a hoop. They are really no different than the janitor i always talked to that cleans the gym (well maybe some better stories). but an autograph? i just wouldnt ask for it....now you find the vaccine for covid19? i want your auto/lab coat patch card!

I met Robert Horry, AC Green and Derek Fisher at a small private event at the Staples Center a few years ago.

Robert Horry is super cool, his girlfriend Candice, not sure if they're still together was super nice and welcoming as well. She hung out with me and my brother, while he was glad handing everyone during the event.

If I knew how to upload photos into this antiquated platform, I'd post a a pic or two

I've met a couple of Raptors around Toronto. They stick out like a sore thumb as even the shortest guy is usually the tallest guy in the room.

I once saw Wilson Chandler at a mall in his hometown, went up to say hello and wish him well, he then proceeded to claim that he did not play in the NBA and was not Wilson Chandler.

Same tattoos and everything. Bizarre.

[QUOTE=ovt;15854388]I once saw Wilson Chandler at a mall in his hometown, went up to say hello and wish him well, he then proceeded to claim that he did not play in the NBA and was not Wilson Chandler.

Same tattoos and everything. Bizarre.[/QUOTE]

oh man im going to have a sweet follow up to this. if i can ever find the items. i used to change lightbulbs as a summer job at depaul (highschool and early college) and we found chandlers dorm room like a week after he was drafted. will post pics if i find them. Benton harbor huh? im a st. joes/silver beach fan myself. buck burger? you betcha!

Used to work for a mall management company in Charlotte, NC and met tons of players who came to the mall trying to kill time before their games and who lived their locally.

Dwight Howard
Andre Iguodala
Julius Peppers
Danny Granger
Steve Smith
Jon Beason
Juwan Howard
Michael Strahan


Those are a few that come to mind

Never asked for an autograph or picture. Always felt weird about asking another grown man for an autograph.

[QUOTE=LeonfromNC;15854452]Used to work for a mall management company in Charlotte, NC and met tons of players who came to the mall trying to kill time before their games and who lived their locally.

Dwight Howard
Andre Iguodala
Julius Peppers
Danny Granger
Steve Smith
Jon Beason
Juwan Howard
Michael Strahan


Those are a few that come to mind

[B]Never asked for an autograph or picture. Always felt weird about asking another grown man for an autograph[/B].[/QUOTE]

this

exception jason williams...he never signed then and i wasnt missing my chance haha

I used to go to card shows growing up, so every once in a while there would be an NBA player there signing autographs. I was kinda cheap so I would only get an autograph when they were free, so I think the only two I got were Michael Cooper and Nick Van Exel.

I went to UCLA so I also met a lot of those guys, but before they were in the NBA. Talked to Westbrook a couple times during his freshman and sophomore year and actually got to hang out with Kevin Love when he was a high school senior and he was on campus to play pickup.

I gave Sam Perkins an H In horse at his basketball camp back in 1998, pulled from curry range ��

I met Richaun Holmes once in Philly and got a pic with him. He was real nice!


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During a military appreciation night event, The Celtics were playing the Sonics in Seattle. Bill Russell was sitting first row floor seats. I was about six seats away from him. When he walked past me, I told him I was a huge Celtics fan, and it was an honor to meet him. He shook my hand and thanked me for my service. Unfortunately I couldn't get an autograph or take a picture, but I will also cherish the memory of knowing I got to shake Bill Russell's hand.

Another cool thing about that night, I don't think the team knew he was going to be their. They came out for warm ups and shooting, when they saw Bill Russel sitting their they all ran over to hug him and talk with him. It was cool seeing the young Celtic players showing respect to the Celtic Legend. Sonic players came over to shake his hand and hug him as well!

Kevin Durant and Richard Hamilton signed cards for me when they came to Hong Kong attend the NBA Madness event(2009, 2010), I remember KD signed for many people, so nice!

Just remembered meeting ML Carr and had no idea who he was at the time, he came to school and was like in 3rd grade but he was nice guy...

Met several NBA players in Philly, NYC and Chicago, plus hanging out at shows, but I never ask athletes for their autograph. I could have asked Jeter when I sat next to him at dinner but didn't ask him either, maybe I should have.

I have met and played with a few pros. Some were through a camp, some were events that Steiner or some companies put out, some were from having Knicks tickets. Overall, I haven't had anything but positive experiences with players' attitudes and willingness to interact.

Yeah, I have played pick-up and summer league with several future pros in Philly and Chapel Hill, but none of them were in the NBA at the time.

During the 2012-13 season I was an intern at the Golden State Warriors. Jerry West was a special advisor to the team that season, so it wasn't uncommon for him to be around. One game before heading out of the tunnel to his seats, Jerry stops to have a conversation right next to me. He's standing on my left. Out of the corner of my right eye I see a huge body walk up next to me. I turn my head and it's Bill Russell. I'm standing directly between Jerry West and Bill Russell. I'm only 5'7" but haven't felt shorter in my life.

We partied with Rasheed Wallace in Portland when he was playing for Detroit one night. It was midweek and we had just watched a Ben Harper concert, there was nobody out hardly. Me and my four friends hung out with him and three of his friends and drank and danced. We were in college and they were awesome. Super friendly and accessible. It was awesome.

Met Juwan Howard in 2011 if I remember the year correctly. It was at the Encore At Wynn in Vegas. Was sitting at the blackjack table with his gf or wife at the time. She was nice and very funny. Pretty hot too. I asked her if I could get an auto from Juwan. She was like "oh yeah! for sure! he's super chill". I remember Juwan was just sitting at the slots watching us play. Once we were done at the table, I finally got to meet him. Shook hands, got an auto, and took a picture. It was awesome! Dude was so tall!

I have several in person autos from Jazz players back in the days of Deron Williams, Carlos Boozer, and AK47. They used to have a bunch of pretty cool events where a select amount of season ticket holders could come to the arena and shoot hoops with the players, play ping pong, picture booth, autograph line, and the players would rotate stations. Pretty neat.

[QUOTE=LeonfromNC;15854452]Used to work for a mall management company in Charlotte, NC and met tons of players who came to the mall trying to kill time before their games and who lived their locally.

Dwight Howard
Andre Iguodala
Julius Peppers
Danny Granger
Steve Smith
Jon Beason
Juwan Howard
Michael Strahan


Those are a few that come to mind

[B]Never asked for an autograph or picture. Always felt weird about asking another grown man for an autograph[/B].[/QUOTE]


It's ok, you don't have to hide it. You should have gone up to them and said you collect pictures of them. :)

Off top through work (restaurants)

-Steve Kerr
-Bill Wennington
-Toni Kukoc
-Scottie Pippen
-Marcus Fizer
-Ben Gordon
-Joakim Noah
-John Paxon
-Dee Brown
-Drose

Went to school with Jack Cooley

Offered to smoke a joint with Ben Gordon and he seemed like he was gonna say yes till his 79th gf in 2 months I’ve seen him with told him they gotta go.

I’ve met more than I can count over the years here in Orlando. But a couple randoms stick out......
A few months ago I walked in to work at 7am (a breakfast/brunch place) and Larry Hughes and Quentin Richardson were the only 2 people in at the time getting breakfast together. Also, around a year ago I went in to my local rec center for some pickup basketball. After a few minutes a dude from the other team said “hey man, you wanna hop in??”....I turned to see he was asking Jason Williams (White Chocolate)!!! I grew up watching him and loved when we had him here in Orlando, so I was flustered, but I kept it cool and he was cool taking a few pictures after the game with some of us. And completely non-basketball related, but I ran in to Hulk Hogan at an eyeglass repair place in El Paso once :)

"Hulk Hogan at an eyeglass repair place in El Paso once" is visually stimulating and made me laugh...

Met Shaq and a few other Lakers when they were town back in the day for summer camp in Santa Barbara. Pretty chill

[QUOTE=RogerGodahell;15854811]It's ok, you don't have to hide it. You should have gone up to them and said you collect pictures of them. :)[/QUOTE]

Good point but none of those guys unfortunately I collect.

I guess getting in-game autos still counts as "meeting" a player.

We are very lucky here in Portland. Dame truly IS a franchise player, he spends 5-10 minutes walking down the autograph line and signing anything (within reason) handed down to him. I believe this happens every single game. :)! My son feels like he has "met" Lillard twice already.

CJ does the same thing, and a few other players (some have been traded since) follow Dame's cue.

I also met Magic Johnson and Kareem in person at a meet and greet at a restaurant in the late 90s. Guess which one was really nice and friendly and which one was not so nice? It is who you imagine. No surprises.

I have ONE picture from that event. The sad part is, I am the only one looking in one direction and everyone else is looking the other way. It looks like I was photoshopped in. :doh:

[QUOTE=Jpayne7787;15854833]Off top through work (restaurants)

-Steve Kerr
-Bill Wennington
-Toni Kukoc
-Scottie Pippen
-Marcus Fizer
-Ben Gordon
-Joakim Noah
-John Paxon
-Dee Brown
-Drose

Went to school with Jack Cooley

Offered to smoke a joint with Ben Gordon and he seemed like he was gonna say yes till his 79th gf in 2 months I’ve seen him with told him they gotta go.[/QUOTE]

I've gotta ask....did Pippen leave a tip?

[QUOTE=hawkfandan;15855207]I've gotta ask....did Pippen leave a tip?[/QUOTE]

Pip's tip is as big as ours put together.

[QUOTE=pokemaniac;15855230]Pip's tip is as big as ours put together.[/QUOTE]

I knew something like that was going to be posted

[QUOTE=Soxfanguy;15855253]I knew something like that was going to be posted[/QUOTE]

hey they aren't wrong apparently. if i served him and he stiffed me id say "hey its not my fault you signed that stupid contract that reinsdorf even told you not to"

[QUOTE=Soxfanguy;15855253]I knew something like that was going to be posted[/QUOTE]

What do you mean? I would venture to guess that if he and I both left tips, they would not add up to that which Pippen might leave.

[QUOTE=pokemaniac;15855297]What do you mean? I would venture to guess that if he and I both left tips, they would not add up to that which Pippen might leave.[/QUOTE]

oh

I thought you were referring to a different story

nevermind

[QUOTE=Soxfanguy;15855308]oh

I thought you were referring to a different story

nevermind[/QUOTE]

8====D

No problem. (that's a smiley face with a long nose)

Tyreke Evans at the club in Sacramento his rookie year. Gotta pic with him and talked a little bit. Was pretty cool about it all

Samuel Dalembert at a park in Sacramento just chilling on a bench with his 5'1 super fine girlfriend

Richard Jefferson in Downtown San Diego drunk off his ass yelling at people...lol

[QUOTE=Vinny407;15854882] And completely non-basketball related, but I ran in to Hulk Hogan at an eyeglass repair place in El Paso once :)[/QUOTE]

Are you serious? I'm from El Paso. Where was it?

My favorite player of all time is Steve Kerr. I met him at a Maggianos restaurant near Chicago during the 2nd Bulls championship run. I had to be about 14-15 at the time. Nicest guy ever, signed a photo, 2 or 3 of my cards, and my black bulls jersey. I was the only kid in school with a damn Steve Kerr jersey walkin around before he signed it. After that I put it away. I was shocked at how tall he is.

edit: worth noting it was a scheduled signing. I didn't burst onto the dudes table with stuff to sign.

[QUOTE=armyml;15856087]My favorite player of all time is Steve Kerr. I met him at a Maggianos restaurant near Chicago during the 2nd Bulls championship run. I had to be about 14-15 at the time. Nicest guy ever, signed a photo, 2 or 3 of my cards, and my black bulls jersey. I was the only kid in school with a damn Steve Kerr jersey walkin around before he signed it. After that I put it away. I was shocked at how tall he is.

edit: worth noting it was a scheduled signing. I didn't burst onto the dudes table with stuff to sign.[/QUOTE]

He is extremely nice! I met him when he was a blazer at United center, genuinely seemed to like interacting with fans. i also had a kerr jersey, bought it off a black dude in my class junior year of highschool haha that part made it more special.

My BFF is Domantas. We met in an elevator and it was perfect.

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Outside of at actual games and team events, I did meet Jeremy Evans at the airport once which was pretty cool. Did a couple little basketball camps/clinics with some other Jazz players when I was younger. Good times. Wish I appreciated it more back then lol.

Sold Dr J a pizza at Pizza Hut. Giant hand. Had very young female with him who stood in the corner.

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Met Zeke at Dennys as a child (he signed the back of a blank check booklet).

Immediately knew what MJ saw in him. Ketchup on hashbrowns? [I] Who does that.[/I]

I have met Henry Ellinson a couple times, he went to school close by. Also have met Anfernee Hardaway, Stephon Marbury, Terry Porter, Glen Rice, Greg Anthony and Crunch the Twolves Mascot 👍!!

Shaq in Houston at a grocery store. Back then when he was with the Magic, cool guy. You would think he would be like his mean bad to the bone act like in the basketball court, but he would look at you and acknowledge you. Never forget.....

I've played with a ton of NBA guys at the college I work at. John Collins and Austin Rivers came through almost every day this past summer. The only one I ever had someone take a pic of was when I played with Jason Williams though

[IMG]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49865000902_80918eb16f_m.jpg[/IMG]

I also met Ryan Anderson while playing golf haha

[IMG]https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/49864693026_11e43e8282_m.jpg[/IMG]

I forgot about meeting Sir Charles at a strip club. Before that Kobe and Bynum, same one.

have a look
[URL="https://s823.photobucket.com/user/WYTMKE/library/Facebook?sort=3&page=1"]https://s823.photobucket.com/user/WYTMKE/library/Facebook?sort=3&page=1[/URL]

[QUOTE=bloodwings19;15856345]Shaq in Houston at a grocery store. Back then when he was with the Magic, cool guy. You would think he would be like his mean bad to the bone act like in the basketball court, but he would look at you and acknowledge you. Never forget.....[/QUOTE]

Met him at Stubbs BBQ in Austin. I was of the first people to recognize him we were both headed downstairs to use the restrooms. I was like “woah, yer shaq” he said “hey buddy” and gave me a fist bump... but then it got all weird because I realized I was following him into the bathroom and I was thinking I should wait but then I was like I didn’t plan this, I’m not stalking Shaq to the bathroom at a Chance the Rapper concert...

Later a lot more people recognized him and a bunch of morons would walk in front of him with their phones out recording him behind them... oy! I can only imagine what would have they would have done if they met him in the bathroom

I was at the 4 Seasons in San Francisco for some meetings.

As I was waiting for the person who I was meeting, I saw some tall guys with Timberwolves gear on. Got to meet KAT, and Taj Gibson both were super nice and got pics with them. Jimmy Butler did look at my camera for a photo, but was pretty much a dick.

New Years Eve 1991. I’m 15. My mom broke her ankle in a Toys r us parking lot in a Chicago burb while visiting family. Flew back home to Michigan that day. O’Hare has a special area to go through for celebrities and injured people.

Walking through this area to go to our flight and I see Phil Jackson and Scottie Pippen walk right past us. They just had a game in Indiana. My uncle who was with us said To me do you think Michael will walk by? Next to you know he walks by us carrying some luggage. I’m so star struck I do t say anything.

MJ gets about 20 yards past us and my uncle yells hey mike how bout an autograph. He turns around and sees me and my mom in a wheelchair. Says sure, puts his bag down and comes over to us.

I happen to be wearing a Jordan tshirt that has a cartoon drawing of him. He signs it, rubs my head and says happy new year kid. Got the shirt framed and still have it today.

[QUOTE=Alexandria12;15857199]New Years Eve 1991. I’m 15. My mom broke her ankle in a Toys r us parking lot in a Chicago burb while visiting family. Flew back home to Michigan that day. O’Hare has a special area to go through for celebrities and injured people.

Walking through this area to go to our flight and I see Phil Jackson and Scottie Pippen walk right past us. They just had a game in Indiana. My uncle who was with us said To me do you think Michael will walk by? Next to you know he walks by us carrying some luggage. I’m so star struck I do t say anything.

MJ gets about 20 yards past us and my uncle yells hey mike how bout an autograph. He turns around and sees me and my mom in a wheelchair. Says sure, puts his bag down and comes over to us.

I happen to be wearing a Jordan tshirt that has a cartoon drawing of him. He signs it, rubs my head and says happy new year kid. Got the shirt framed and still have it today.[/QUOTE]Amazing! /thread

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[QUOTE=theLUCKYshow;15857327]Amazing! /thread

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk[/QUOTE]Agreed. I love seeing stuff like this. There is always an air of mystery with Jordan signing autos. Didnt he stop signing personal autos at some point? Whether it be cuz he couldn't be bothered or because of his Upper Deck contract? Either way here in Chicago rumors always flew about it.

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Met Sir Charles at Sixers camp in the Poconos when I was 12. Had him sign my hat. Still have it.

Unfortunately, had another then Sixer sign right next to it. Anyone wanna guess who it was?

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Some of the best players I met were Satch Sanders, Jo Jo White and Tim Duncan.

The worst person I met is Kevin Garnett, I use to love KG until I saw him make a 5 year old boy cry by not even acknowledging him at a Celtics game. Awful person that people defend by saying "he's intense".

[QUOTE=Alexandria12;15857199]New Years Eve 1991. I’m 15. My mom broke her ankle in a Toys r us parking lot in a Chicago burb while visiting family. Flew back home to Michigan that day. O’Hare has a special area to go through for celebrities and injured people.

Walking through this area to go to our flight and I see Phil Jackson and Scottie Pippen walk right past us. They just had a game in Indiana. My uncle who was with us said To me do you think Michael will walk by? Next to you know he walks by us carrying some luggage. I’m so star struck I do t say anything.

MJ gets about 20 yards past us and my uncle yells hey mike how bout an autograph. He turns around and sees me and my mom in a wheelchair. Says sure, puts his bag down and comes over to us.

I happen to be wearing a Jordan tshirt that has a cartoon drawing of him. He signs it, rubs my head and says happy new year kid. Got the shirt framed and still have it today.[/QUOTE]

:eek: That is amazing!

[QUOTE=Alexandria12;15857199]New Years Eve 1991. I’m 15. My mom broke her ankle in a Toys r us parking lot in a Chicago burb while visiting family. Flew back home to Michigan that day. O’Hare has a special area to go through for celebrities and injured people.

Walking through this area to go to our flight and I see Phil Jackson and Scottie Pippen walk right past us. They just had a game in Indiana. My uncle who was with us said To me do you think Michael will walk by? Next to you know he walks by us carrying some luggage. I’m so star struck I do t say anything.

MJ gets about 20 yards past us and my uncle yells hey mike how bout an autograph. He turns around and sees me and my mom in a wheelchair. Says sure, puts his bag down and comes over to us.

I happen to be wearing a Jordan tshirt that has a cartoon drawing of him. He signs it, rubs my head and says happy new year kid. Got the shirt framed and still have it today.[/QUOTE]

Love to see a pic of this shirt!!!! Amazing story!

About 5 years ago I was playing pick up at an LA Fitness and in walked Ty Lawson. My jaw hit the floor. Not only cause it’s an NBA player but I actually PC him as well. We won and he came on next. He didn’t miss a shot. I got to guard him a couple times on switches and stole the ball. Made my day. He was super nice and loved just playing with everyone


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I'd met Shaq back in '96 when I worked at Blockbuster Music in Phoenix. He showed up after we had closed and knocked on the door wanting to buy some CDs. We opened up for him and visited as he shopped for awhile. Didn't ask for autographs but one manager did get her picture with him. Was very nice. Slow, but nice. :) left with his like 3' tall gf and got into his tiny clown rental car. haha (We all know Shaq loves his tiny cars)

Ran (literally) into Kobe and his daughter getting off the Peter Pan ride at Disneyland. He was waiting in the exit area to get on our ship next. Didn’t bother him since I saw he was spending quality time with his daughter. When I got out a mob of people swarmed in catch him- they must’ve got word he was in there.

Several years ago I was at the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, FL walking around and who do I see walking towards me? Dennis Rodman! He was nice enough to stop and shake my hand. I know why he was such a good rebounder because my hand literally got lost in the handshake. A bunch of people walking with him but I could just tell they were trying to get whatever they could from him. I didn't want to ask him for an autograph because A) he seemed to be in a rush despite stopping and acknowledging me and B) what would he have signed and with what?

- Same casino but around 2008 or 2009 I spotted Earl Barron playing NL Texas Hold 'Em. He signed a piece of paper for me and was shocked I recognized him.

- In our high school days, my friend would find out where teams would be staying in the city when they came to play the Knicks and/or NEW JERSEY Nets (dating this now..). We'd wait outside the hotel hoping to spot a player or coach and nicely ask him for an autograph. If they said no, we wouldn't become rude. Sometimes we'd also meet celebrities. We got superstars like Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki, to Lamond Murray to Boris Diaw when he was a rookie on the Hawks. Can't tell you how many times we've done this but here are random memories.

- The SEATTLE Supersonics were staying at the infamous Plaza Hotel. My friend and I took the train into the city but God knows what happened on the tracks and caused us to be running late. We got off a stop early to save time and ran down Fifth Ave. towards The Plaza. Now this hotel is a very big hotel with two separate entrances. We come running and who do we see coming out an entrance all by himself? Ray Allen. He signs for us both and gets into a taxi. What timing. Now we walk around the corner, to the other entrance, where the team bus is idling other people are waiting to ask for autographs. One of the other players told us that Ray Allen preferred to take a taxi to Madison Square Garden. He signed our cards the exact same way he's signed for card companies.

- I can't tell you how many times we've seen a drunk Reggie Jackson stumbling out of the Ritz Carlton hotel (one entrance) and with a drink in hand, mind you. We never acknowledged him, lol.

- We were at the Ritz Carlton for the 76ers. Out comes Aaron McKie, who signs for us. There were some younger kids (elementary school) selling candy for their school and McKie gives them a $100 each and didn't take any candy.

- Ritz Carlton for the Lakers when they had Malone and Payton. Payton didn't want to sign for us because he said we were going to sell it on eBay. We told him we never sold any of our cards. It's just for us because we're big basketball fans. Also, how could we prove it's real anyway? Payton signs for us. To this day, I still have every card I got signed in person and so does my friend. We just love basketball. I was never lucky to get Kobe but my friend was. I don't think Malone signed.

- Some players wouldn't even acknowledge my friend and I, even if we were the only people there. Like Tony Battie and Ekpe Udoh.

- Then you have some players who are real cool and would sign a board of cards (9 cards) for both of us like Andrei Kirilenko and Jason Terry and Stephen Jackson. Some guys would even ask to see our cards and look through each board. Like I remember Jake Voskuhl and some of his Suns teammates did that. Some players would even ask for cards and we would happily oblige. Some even said the card companies never gave them their cards.

- Coaches who were the nicest were Doc Rivers and Maurice Cheeks. They would sign for everybody and take pictures. The Mickey Mantle restaurant was like 10 feet down from the Ritz Carlton and one time we saw Don Nelson sitting at a outside, smoking a cigar. Looking like he had not a care in the world and he happily signed for us.

- Random celebrities we met were Raven Symone, Jessica Alba, Kato Kaelin lol, Al Sharpton, Kelsey Grammer, Dan Marino, John Madden.

So much fun and so many memories. Met so many players from all eras.

[QUOTE=Skybase;15857571]I'd met Shaq back in '96 when I worked at Blockbuster Music in Phoenix. He showed up after we had closed and knocked on the door wanting to buy some CDs. We opened up for him and visited as he shopped for awhile. Didn't ask for autographs but one manager did get her picture with him. Was very nice. Slow, but nice. :) left with his like 3' tall gf and got into his tiny clown rental car. haha (We all know Shaq loves his tiny cars)[/QUOTE]

Wow. A blockbuster music?!:eek: Was he buying his own CDs? Can't stop the reign

[QUOTE=doubledribble;15857410]Met Sir Charles at Sixers camp in the Poconos when I was 12. Had him sign my hat. Still have it.

Unfortunately, had another then Sixer sign right next to it. Anyone wanna guess who it was?

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It's Jayson Williams, yes?

I've met a few NBA players...

- I had a backstage pass to LeBron's Miami debut vs the Celtics and was able to speak to the players in the dressing room including Dwyane Wade and Mike Miller (LeBron had his headphones on so I just stood next to him as that was the next best thing). Shaq was making his debut for the Celtics - I saw him, KG, Ray Allen, etc.

- I shook hands with Tim Duncan at an All-Star event in 2011.

- I said hello to Manu Ginobili at the 2012 Olympics.

- I've had my photo taken with Robert Horry at a 2011 NBA All-Star party.

- I high-fived Brook Lopez at a game in 2018.

[QUOTE=ZappaFan;15857731]Several years ago I was at the Hard Rock Casino in Hollywood, FL walking around and who do I see walking towards me? Dennis Rodman! He was nice enough to stop and shake my hand. I know why he was such a good rebounder because my hand literally got lost in the handshake. A bunch of people walking with him but I could just tell they were trying to get whatever they could from him. I didn't want to ask him for an autograph because A) he seemed to be in a rush despite stopping and acknowledging me and B) what would he have signed and with what?

- Same casino but around 2008 or 2009 I spotted Earl Barron playing NL Texas Hold 'Em. He signed a piece of paper for me and was shocked I recognized him.

- In our high school days, my friend would find out where teams would be staying in the city when they came to play the Knicks and/or NEW JERSEY Nets (dating this now..). We'd wait outside the hotel hoping to spot a player or coach and nicely ask him for an autograph. If they said no, we wouldn't become rude. Sometimes we'd also meet celebrities. We got superstars like Tim Duncan and Dirk Nowitzki, to Lamond Murray to Boris Diaw when he was a rookie on the Hawks. Can't tell you how many times we've done this but here are random memories.

- The SEATTLE Supersonics were staying at the infamous Plaza Hotel. My friend and I took the train into the city but God knows what happened on the tracks and caused us to be running late. We got off a stop early to save time and ran down Fifth Ave. towards The Plaza. Now this hotel is a very big hotel with two separate entrances. We come running and who do we see coming out an entrance all by himself? Ray Allen. He signs for us both and gets into a taxi. What timing. Now we walk around the corner, to the other entrance, where the team bus is idling other people are waiting to ask for autographs. One of the other players told us that Ray Allen preferred to take a taxi to Madison Square Garden. He signed our cards the exact same way he's signed for card companies.

- I can't tell you how many times we've seen a drunk Reggie Jackson stumbling out of the Ritz Carlton hotel (one entrance) and with a drink in hand, mind you. We never acknowledged him, lol.

- We were at the Ritz Carlton for the 76ers. Out comes Aaron McKie, who signs for us. There were some younger kids (elementary school) selling candy for their school and McKie gives them a $100 each and didn't take any candy.

- Ritz Carlton for the Lakers when they had Malone and Payton. Payton didn't want to sign for us because he said we were going to sell it on eBay. We told him we never sold any of our cards. It's just for us because we're big basketball fans. Also, how could we prove it's real anyway? Payton signs for us. To this day, I still have every card I got signed in person and so does my friend. We just love basketball. I was never lucky to get Kobe but my friend was. I don't think Malone signed.

- Some players wouldn't even acknowledge my friend and I, even if we were the only people there. Like Tony Battie and Ekpe Udoh.

- Then you have some players who are real cool and would sign a board of cards (9 cards) for both of us like Andrei Kirilenko and Jason Terry and Stephen Jackson. Some guys would even ask to see our cards and look through each board. Like I remember Jake Voskuhl and some of his Suns teammates did that. Some players would even ask for cards and we would happily oblige. Some even said the card companies never gave them their cards.

- Coaches who were the nicest were Doc Rivers and Maurice Cheeks. They would sign for everybody and take pictures. The Mickey Mantle restaurant was like 10 feet down from the Ritz Carlton and one time we saw Don Nelson sitting at a outside, smoking a cigar. Looking like he had not a care in the world and he happily signed for us.

- Random celebrities we met were Raven Symone, Jessica Alba, Kato Kaelin lol, Al Sharpton, Kelsey Grammer, Dan Marino, John Madden.

So much fun and so many memories. Met so many players from all eras.[/QUOTE]
Awesome! Reading this makes me happy I am not famous especially now a days... How was Al Sharpton, did he end up suing you?

[QUOTE=Alexandria12;15857199]New Years Eve 1991. I’m 15. My mom broke her ankle in a Toys r us parking lot in a Chicago burb while visiting family. Flew back home to Michigan that day. O’Hare has a special area to go through for celebrities and injured people.

Walking through this area to go to our flight and I see Phil Jackson and Scottie Pippen walk right past us. They just had a game in Indiana. My uncle who was with us said To me do you think Michael will walk by? Next to you know he walks by us carrying some luggage. I’m so star struck I do t say anything.

MJ gets about 20 yards past us and my uncle yells hey mike how bout an autograph. He turns around and sees me and my mom in a wheelchair. Says sure, puts his bag down and comes over to us.

I happen to be wearing a Jordan tshirt that has a cartoon drawing of him. He signs it, rubs my head and says happy new year kid. Got the shirt framed and still have it today.[/QUOTE]
Really Cool! Pics? See there are reasons why your mom became a cripple!

I collected autographs pretty regularly from '96 to '02 and sporadically from there on. I had a friend who started back in '89 when the Wolves came to town and he has great stories about those guys but most of them signed. Even when I started, most players were pretty good for the most part. As you can imagine, that changed through the years but it was fun hanging out with most of the collectors regardless.

[QUOTE=kingofsnake;15857913]It's Jayson Williams, yes?[/QUOTE]Lesser known

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I met Dennis Rodman at Haulover Beach a few years back. He was laying in a tent with two women smoking a cigar.

I've met a few..Like all of them except Chris Kaman.

Bernard King is the only one I've ever asked for an autograph and that was for my father. The day after his jersey was retired at UT, I served him and his wife at a local restaurant. He was super nice and humble and I asked him as I handed him the check.

My favorite was Gilbert Arenas. A buddy of mine and I went to Memphis for a Clippers/Griz game. We arrived a day early and were walking around downtown and saw Gilbert with a lady friend. We went up and said hi, I told him I loved his game. He said "You're a Clippers fans? What are you doing here?" I told him for the game tomorrow and he responded "We play them tomorrow?"

[QUOTE=Lee42;15857521]Love to see a pic of this shirt!!!! Amazing story![/QUOTE]

[URL="https://imgur.com/ejI47sC"]https://imgur.com/ejI47sC[/URL]


Also will share Scottie story, although not as good a this one.

About a year later, after my family moved to Naperville, Scottie comes to town for a meet and greet a a local hospital. My parents buy me an official NBA ball so I can get his signature.

We show up to the event just as its starting, about 10 people there (funny because now im recalling how surprised i was because so few people, i don't think it was promoted well at all). My mom, dad and I walk up to the table where Scottie is sitting and we meet him and I ask him to sign my ball. It had to be his agent, but this guy says scottie isnt signing anything today, we do have his singed promotional pictures that you can take. You know those black and whites with the fake signature.

I'm disappointed to say the least. Although I meet him, I decline getting my picture with him (mom does). We leave and head to our car. Get to the parking lot and a guy with the hospital working the event comes up to my dad and asks if im okay.

Dad says Scottie is one of my favorite players and I really wanted his autograph. Guy takes the ball and says I will be right back. three minutes later he emerges with a signed ball.

Also met Horace at a strip mall event in Naperville that same year. Super nice guy. Let me see his championship ring and signed an 88 fleer rookie for me.

I met Mutombo, Steve Smith, and Christian Laettner when my team in high school played in Atlanta. All were nice but all I remember was how huge Mutumbo's hand was. This was around the time that his finger wag was iconic. He gave everyone five and was saying "No,no,no". It was a very cool experience.

I have also met and got autographs from Derrick Rose, Noah, Luol Deng, Carlos Boozer, and a Penny Hardaway at a Grizzlies games. It was cool to meet Penny because I really looked up to him as a kid. He stayed and talked after the game and was very nice.

these are some great stories, the jordan with the guys mom in the wheelchair is just awesome!

i've met a bunch, but the good stories are the candid experiences, the ones where i didn't just shake the guys hand, i guess you can say "i met d-wade" realistically i shook his hand and chatted for like 8 seconds...thats cool but whatever. the real ones are when they aren't "on"

like i'd mention there were 2 former pros i would see everyday at work at my alma mater. so its different, it becomes not a big deal at all, and you get to know them personally, the stories are good but theres no starstruck moment and i like that better.

And then come to think of it there was a 3rd i worked with. im a union electrician and on my first job as a first year apprentice a few years ago i am organizing some material by our lockup and there were a few other electrical contractors on our job doing different scopes of work. So these 2 other electrician dudes just start chatting me up asking how my apprenticeship is going and just talk about life and whatnot as we worked. anytime we'd wait for the freight elevator we'd just make small talk and i thought nothing of it, just nice guys. i did notice the one always wore a buffalo bills winter hat upon entering the jobsite but again people can wear whatever teams clothes who cares? So one day about a month later the one is talking to me, and i just happened to notice his forearm, he had a tattoo that had the NFL shield and said "alumni" i go whoa did you play football? and he brushes it off all nah nah, so later that day i asked him foreman. They go yeah google Nate Turner, sure enough. So i went and jokingly called him out on it. he's like well...yeah, sort of downplaying it. he was part of 2 of those "can't win it" bills teams and a year with the expansion Carolina panthers. said his injury made him retire and you need 5 years to get an NFL pension. funny thing is i bet he makes as much a year now as he did as an NFL guy then. and hes getting our electrical pension ;)

one final one that stuck out to me, just the sheer sincerity of the guy. i was shooting around at lifetime fitness one afternoon and i see these guys playing a half court game on the other side of the court, i didnt bother to jump in because well one guy was killing it, and well...i suck. but i see him wearing a d-league jersey, so i knew he was "somebody" he looked familiar so i had seen him in the locker room, and just said hey man you're pretty good where did you play? He says oh UCLA, i go when? who was there when you played? "Matt Barnes, Dijon Thompson" and just continues talking, said his name is T.J. and we talk a little more. Even as im walking to my locker hes still chatting me up, just genuinely friendly. I was answering some texts by my locker before i showered and hes already walking from the shower back to his locker, and he sees me and waves and says have a good one. So i look up T.J. UCLA later on, well turns out i knew his face from 05-06 chrome [url]https://www.ebay.com/itm/2005-06-Topps-Chrome-Refractors-Thunderbirds-Basketball-Card-253-T-J-Cummings-/362847575856?hash=item547b669f30%3Ag%3As6cAAOSw3Uxd8by-&nma=true&si=%252BHdsCbatdY9duAjhWWxKsdWyOMc%253D&orig_cvip=true&nordt=true&rt=nc&_trksid=p2047675.l2557[/url]
i also figured out his dad is Terry Cummings who was a legend of my alma mater. also Terry is a minister, so he must have taught good values and how to treat people to his son, class act.

i met shawn bradley once. he was with his wife. seems like a nice guy but i never bothered to ask for an autograph, he’s like a freaking tree lol and this was pre iphone so no pics either lol.