Share players you met

[volatty]

Saw this in a forum on another site. Thought it would be cool to start here. Show off your pictures or autos you received in person. Sorry if the person that started it on other forum is offended. I'm not trying to hijack. These are my favorite. Met Landry and Starr at FCA speeches and the Unitas and Graham autos were from when I was a kid and went to a Quarterback Club function (didn't have anything other than paper to get signed...too bad since they are no longer with us). These are very special to me. Also have a few pictures with Graham, Y.A. Tittle, Danny White and Doug Williams but haven't scanned.
http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h422/volatty/utf-8BSU1HMDEzMzkuanBn.jpg
http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h422/volatty/utf-8BSU1HMDEzNDAuanBn.jpg
http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h422/volatty/utf-8BSU1HMDEzNDEuanBn.jpg
http://i1109.photobucket.com/albums/h422/volatty/utf-8BSU1HMDEzNDIuanBn.jpg

[yankeesfan24]

very cool! i have met way to many to count. i guess the bigger guys were Jim Brown and Barry Sanders, but i have met plenty of HOF'ers and stars

[Matt54650]

I played soccer with the saints when there training camp was in la crosse Wisconsin which is like 10 minutes from my home town. We were looming for Ricky Williams and we stumbled upon a few of them playing soccer in a small indoor gym it was really neat especially because I was a little kid

[obenheimer]

I have met way to many players to count and name from all sports, unfortunately I don't have any pictures or cards. I'll name a few and sorry for naming players from sports other than football, but I have met some big names. Emmitt Smith, Tony Dorsett, Dale Earnhardt Sr., Adam Petty. I stood next to Frank Thomas in an elevator in KC one time. I was like 12 or so and he was so huge next to little ole me.

[dmogull]

My favorite IP autos came when I was 11 years old. I went to Atlanta, GA w/ my father to a sports convention trade show called "The Super Show" (my dad owned a sports clock manufacturing business and had a booth at the show). The first day of the show I went to the Yonex booth and Malavia Washington was there signing pictures and I got one (my first IP auto!). The morning of the second day of the show we were running late and by the time we woke up and went to eat breakfast in the lobby of the hotel, the place was barren (everyone was att the convention already), so we sat down and ate. A couple minutes into our meal we saw an extremely tall gentleman sit down to eat and soon figured out it was Kareem Abdul Jabbar! As soon as we figured this out I walked over to him and was extremely nervous, but asked him if he could give me an autograph. He didn't even look at me, and said "I'm eating." Case-closed, end of discussion, I had been shut out and felt mortified/embarasse :( I sat back down at my table with my father and 5 minutes later I felt a huge presence hovering over me....it was Kareem!!! He dropped me off a signed napkin, and gave me a handshake, and left!!! Good times...

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m600/dmogull/M_WASHINGTON_IPAUTO0001.jpg

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m600/dmogull/K_ABDUL-JABBAR_IPAUTO0001.jpg

[volatty]

Great stories so far. Let's keep it going. You don't have to list everyone you met, just your most memorable, meaningful or most famous.

[cj52racers]

My favorite was when I was about 11. I was eating at Wayne Gretzky's restaurant in Toronto and then Wayne came and sat down a few tables over. I was in awe (we drove up during my spring break to see the HOF). I probably stared for 5 or 10 minutes but didn't want to bother his family when they were eating. Finally his wife noticed that I was looking over at them quite a bit. She got up came over to me and brought me to their table so I could say high to Wayne and he signed the Gretzky Restaurant shirt I had just bought. He was an awesome guy and its cool that he (and his wife) would do that. I don't have pictures with me, but that is one of my favorites.

[obenheimer]

Hope it's okay if I comment again. I just remembered one of the best time periods of my life. It was the early 1990's and my dad used to organize charity basketball games with the Dallas Cowboys. I was the teams towel boy and got to travel with them to several of the games, including one all the way up in Bristol, TN. Now we didn't have a lot of the really big names, but Larry Brown, Kevin Smith, Nate Newton, and Alvin Harper were a few of the guys who played and I got to meet. I remember after the Bristol game, we all went out to eat and Nate Newton ordered him a steak, after eating pretty much the entire menu, and of course he was full, so he gave me the steak he couldn't eat. Being 14-15 at the time, it was like a dream come true. How many kids can say they got to hang out with World Champion athletes for more than a few minutes or hours? I even got to go over to Larry Brown's house a few times. My dad had the hook up. R.I.P. dad, I love you always.

[stjoesportscard]

One of the coolest things was I went to Atlanta to the MLB All-Star game after. I was with another friend/co-worker and I had purchased 2 tickets online thru some ticket company to the home-run derby and to the all-star game(different seats for each game). The home run-derby I was in right-field and seen Sosa put on a show. The next night at the All-Star game we had trouble finding our seats as they were in behind home plate but they were in a section not really listed that well in the stadium. After asking some hosts, they took us into a room that happened to somewhat be VIP. At the game, they honored many baseball greats. After we took our seats, we ended up sitting next to Andre Dawson, Ozzie Smith, Emanuelle "Webster" Lewis, Jeff Foxworthy, among many other famous people. It was the coolest thing, and it was so unexpected.

[ColtsCrush86]

[QUOTE=dmogull;1170867]My favorite IP autos came when I was 11 years old. I went to Atlanta, GA w/ my father to a sports convention trade show called "The Super Show" (my dad owned a sports clock manufacturing business and had a booth at the show). The first day of the show I went to the Yonex booth and Malavia Washington was there signing pictures and I got one (my first IP auto!). The morning of the second day of the show we were running late and by the time we woke up and went to eat breakfast in the lobby of the hotel, the place was barren (everyone was att the convention already), so we sat down and ate. A couple minutes into our meal we saw an extremely tall gentleman sit down to eat and soon figured out it was Kareem Abdul Jabbar! As soon as we figured this out I walked over to him and was extremely nervous, but asked him if he could give me an autograph. He didn't even look at me, and said "I'm eating." Case-closed, end of discussion, I had been shut out and felt mortified/embarasse :( I sat back down at my table with my father and 5 minutes later I felt a huge presence hovering over me....it was Kareem!!! He dropped me off a signed napkin, and gave me a handshake, and left!!! Good times...

So your one of those types

[ColtsCrush86]

My favorite was when I was about 11. I was eating at Wayne Gretzky's restaurant in Toronto and then Wayne came and sat down a few tables over. I was in awe (we drove up during my spring break to see the HOF). I probably stared for 5 or 10 minutes but didn't want to bother his family when they were eating. Finally his wife noticed that I was looking over at them quite a bit. She got up came over to me and brought me to their table so I could say high to Wayne and he signed the Gretzky Restaurant shirt I had just bought. He was an awesome guy and its cool that he (and his wife) would do that. I don't have pictures with me, but that is one of my favorites.

Did she invite you over for dinner to?:)!

[cking]

Crystal and me went to a show last November and met Cito Culver,an up and coming player for the Yankees. I know hes not super famous ( yet anyway ) but I know he is in some current baseball products. He was really nice. He had some of his family with him,his brother I assume. They looked very similar. I got pictures signed for me,my nephew and Sethmurphy ( hes a member on here ). I also got one personally inscribed for Seths newborn son Jackson so that was pretty cool. Not to mention the awesome Archie Manning auto Seth hooked me up with for my troubles. All in all a great day.

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[shadymccoy25]

not the most family friendly of places but i met jeremy maclin at a strip club outside of philadelphia, had a drink with him it was pretty cool

[dmogull]

My favorite IP autos came when I was 11 years old. I went to Atlanta, GA w/ my father to a sports convention trade show called "The Super Show" (my dad owned a sports clock manufacturing business and had a booth at the show). The first day of the show I went to the Yonex booth and Malavia Washington was there signing pictures and I got one (my first IP auto!). The morning of the second day of the show we were running late and by the time we woke up and went to eat breakfast in the lobby of the hotel, the place was barren (everyone was att the convention already), so we sat down and ate. A couple minutes into our meal we saw an extremely tall gentleman sit down to eat and soon figured out it was Kareem Abdul Jabbar! As soon as we figured this out I walked over to him and was extremely nervous, but asked him if he could give me an autograph. He didn't even look at me, and said "I'm eating." Case-closed, end of discussion, I had been shut out and felt mortified/embarasse :( I sat back down at my table with my father and 5 minutes later I felt a huge presence hovering over me....it was Kareem!!! He dropped me off a signed napkin, and gave me a handshake, and left!!! Good times...

So your one of those types

Relax, troll...I was 11 years old

Wow, can't even share a story on this board without some pompous jackass making an egocentric remark

[cope7279]

For me its an easy choice to pick one out of the 100s of inperson autos I have gotten. I love the Sooners and only live 2 hours from his hometown of Palestine, TX. I have gotten the chance to meet Adrian Peterson on 2 separate occasions. The first time I met him at Ridgmar Mall in Ft Worth @ Gameday Connexion when they brought him in for a paid signing. I had him sign a Sooners jersey & only had to pay $20 out of my own pocket since I had won $140 bucks in a contest up at work that week.
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm96/cope7279/Football/Oklahoma%20Sooners%20PC/AP1.jpghttp://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm96/cope7279/Football/Oklahoma%20Sooners%20PC/AP3.jpghttp://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm96/cope7279/Football/Oklahoma%20Sooners%20PC/AP4.jpg
http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm96/cope7279/Football/Oklahoma%20Sooners%20PC/IMG_5537.jpg

BUT THE SECOND TIME WAS AN EXPERIENCE I WILL NEVER FORGET !!!

Back in the summer of 2009 the City of Palestine had their 3rd Annual Adrian Peterson Day celebration. I had heard about it when they had the 2008 celebration & was not going to miss out on it that year. So my wife & I made the trip from Dallas to Palestine since we are huge OU & Adrian Peterson fans. There was never an autograph line & people just followed him from one spot to another. He would stop & talk to friends & family then sign for them which would bring a swarm of people. He kept saying no more autographs about 50 times but would not turn down a kid so it would just start back up again. So finally he was like I need some water & to eat lunch so he was up on the pavilion stage with his family where he could have some peace. So my wife and I found a nice shaded spot right were the steps were to the stage. We decided not to be the person chasing him around the park & was going to let him enjoy the day. Since we were by the steps his family kept walking past us. This one lady had on a Tshirt with her family portrait of all her kids & he was in it. So I said are you Adrian’s mom & she replied yes. She stood there talking to us for about 5 minutes asking where we were from and stuff. So we said we were from Dallas & were huge Peterson fans since we love OU so much. I made a comment about all the people chasing him around & said we wanted to leave him alone since he was out here to enjoy his day with family & friends. She thanked us again, gave my wife a hug, & said that she would take care of us. So we left him alone after that & later in the day she came back by & asked if we had gotten our stuff signed yet. So we gave her the football, OU mini, & Vikings mini that she took to him. Then was asking if that was everything I wanted signed. I still had my 8x10 in my bag & pulled it out saying this was the last thing I had so she turned around & handed it to Adrian’s aunt who took it to him for my 4th signature. So I got to meet his Mom, Aunt, Cousin, Brother, & his daughter who was running around playing. His Cousin commented about having to chase the kids around and I said if she is anything like her Dad she will be running around “All Day” just like him. After the event was over & we were walking back to the car I told my wife that I dont think my feet even hit the ground since I was having such an autograph rush at the moment.

http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm96/cope7279/Football/Oklahoma%20Sooners%20PC/DSC00861.jpghttp://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm96/cope7279/Football/Oklahoma%20Sooners%20PC/DSC00860.jpghttp://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm96/cope7279/Football/Oklahoma%20Sooners%20PC/DSC00871.jpg
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http://i294.photobucket.com/albums/mm96/cope7279/Football/Oklahoma%20Sooners%20PC/DSC00907.jpg