Asking for autographs during players down time

[Harps]

Hey all.
I'm lucky enough to be watching my mighty Dolphins this weekend at Wembley Stadium.
I'm considering getting a replica helmet to try and get some autographs. If I do, my best bet to get a few will be at the hotel they're staying at. Is this acceptable? Do the players mind fans coming up to them and asking when they're going out for a walk or exploring the city?
This sort of thing is well out of my comfort zone, and I'd hate to annoy them!! I've never gone up to someone and asked for their autograph!

[Mister2Bits]

Originally Posted by Harps

Hey all.
I'm lucky enough to be watching my mighty Dolphins this weekend at Wembley Stadium.
I'm considering getting a replica helmet to try and get some autographs. If I do, my best bet to get a few will be at the hotel they're staying at. Is this acceptable? Do the players mind fans coming up to them and asking when they're going out for a walk or exploring the city?
This sort of thing is well out of my comfort zone, and I'd hate to annoy them!! I've never gone up to someone and asked for their autograph!

I think this is definitely acceptable. Especially since you're located in the UK.

Honestly, as long as they aren't eating or in a conversation with someone, I think it's perfectly acceptable. Athletes who get annoyed at signing autographs really bug me.

[rcgdodge]

Its possible that they might do public signings while there are there.......check the internet to see if there are any public appearances.

Following players around to get autographs isn't sometime I love to do either.

[Harps]

Thanks for the replies.

I've been doing what I can do get to see some of the players - I wrote to the team asking if there would be any appearences but I've had no reply.
There is a fan rally where Tannehill, Landry & Suh are expected to speak, but you can't get near them. Some of the legends who are over will probably do the same. There's also a fan forum at a hotel with the Marks Brothers & OJ McDuffie are speaking which is ticket only and limited to 100, but I didn't win any tickets in the ballot. Other than that, I've heard the team is keeping it low-key. The Jags did a signing on the afternoon on the Saturday last year but I haven't heard the same of the Fins.

[usafshelland]

They are a public figure... they should be over the fact of they are going to have fans asking them to sign stuff. Now if you are doing it for the intention of turning around and trying to make a profit, then double check your own personal motives.

[Harps]

Belive me, this isn't to flip. It'll get pride of place in my main collection display:

[IMG][/IMG]

Ordered the helmet this afternoon, to get delivered before I leave tomorrow!

[dolphinsdude]

I think it's great you are getting to see your favorite team play in the UK.

Curious to the story on how you became a fan of the Dolphins?

[Meloman315]

I'd see if theres a way to try and get them as they arrive at the stadium. unless they are bussed directly in.

[DalliLlama11]

I'd try to find something online. My guess is that they would be willing to sign more in the UK for fans than in the States for people that may never get the chance to see them again. They get games every weekend here essentially, being able to build a fanbase overseas and in the home state would be a bonus for them. Plus, with trying to expand the brand more internationally, it would look good for the NFL as a whole.

Are you going to the game then as well?

[Harps]

Originally Posted by dolphinsdude

I think it's great you are getting to see your favorite team play in the UK.

Curious to the story on how you became a fan of the Dolphins?

Two years in a row - something I didn't think would ever happen!

Its not the greatest of stories to be honest. When I was about 5 years old (mid-80's), I was stood outside a sports shop in the town I used to live. My Mum was chatting to a friend and I was looking at some stickers in the window. They had one for each team, and they were cartoonified versions of the teams logos. I think my Mum spent that long chatting she felt pity on me and let me buy a sticker and I chose the cartoonified Dolphin.
Mid-80's there was a reasonable amount of NFL on the TV, and I watched the highlights show. The only link I had to any of those teams was the sticker, so I kind of adopted them.
The NFL looked a million miles away from our Football in the 80's, which was bloody miserable.
General interest in the NFL over here waned later on, I used to buy a weekly magazine called First Down to keep up to date with the news and very occasionally I got to watch a full game at a friends house who had cable. The highlights were still shown, but at times you'd be lucky to see 30 seconds of your own team. I think thats why I'm loaded up with Sky Sports & Game Pass so I don't miss any games.
I did get to Orlando in the early 90's, and although there was no chance to see a game I did get to pick up so Dolphins merchandise and a couple of packs of cards! I've not found another one of those stickers tho.

Originally Posted by Meloman315

I'd see if theres a way to try and get them as they arrive at the stadium. unless they are bussed directly in.

I think they'll be bussed in, I think they're staying in one of the close hotels.

Originally Posted by DalliLlama11

I'd try to find something online. My guess is that they would be willing to sign more in the UK for fans than in the States for people that may never get the chance to see them again. They get games every weekend here essentially, being able to build a fanbase overseas and in the home state would be a bonus for them. Plus, with trying to expand the brand more internationally, it would look good for the NFL as a whole.

Are you going to the game then as well?

Yep, going to everything I can thats related! Luckily my wife is very understanding. I did book into a nice hotel so hopefully its a treat for her!

I think the Dolphins are pretty well supported over here. Possibly because of a certain Mr Marino when the game was popular in the 80's, and Florida being such a major tourist destination. Hopefully there'll be plenty of Aqua at Wembley!

[Carl]

Two ex Dolphins, Nat Moore and Sam Madison arrived in my hometown, Hereford, yesterday with the cheerleaders! My sister was given a signed baseball cap and Nat Moore wrote me the attached signed message!

At previous London games some players would stop and sign after the game on way to the buses however noted recently the buses are parked under the stadium so limited chance.

At the Fan Zone there are ex players so might get lucky thre, Michael Irvin signed lots of autographs last year.

Don Shula and Dan Marino are there

Good luck shout hi should notice me in a Denver Broncos Champ Bailey away shirt!

Originally Posted by Harps

Hey all.
I'm lucky enough to be watching my mighty Dolphins this weekend at Wembley Stadium.
I'm considering getting a replica helmet to try and get some autographs. If I do, my best bet to get a few will be at the hotel they're staying at. Is this acceptable? Do the players mind fans coming up to them and asking when they're going out for a walk or exploring the city?
This sort of thing is well out of my comfort zone, and I'd hate to annoy them!! I've never gone up to someone and asked for their autograph!

[Harps]

Thats awesome! What a great score - the hat looks fantastic but what a cool note!

The best I did last year was meeting Kevin Cadle. Which was cool, but not quite in the same league

[Harps]

Originally Posted by Carl

Good luck shout hi should notice me in a Denver Broncos Champ Bailey away shirt!

Will keep a look out for you! Unless I go old school and wear my Junior Seau jersey I suspect I'd be like finding a needle in a haystack wearing either my Wake or Tannehill jersey!

[Harps]

Back home after an absolutely outstanding weekend. Despite the result (I'm trying not to think too deply about that).
I was lucky enough to meet a load of the Dolphins legends. They had a fan forum for 100 guests at a hotel, the special guests were OJ McDuffie, Mark Clayton & Wayne Chrebet. They also had a autograph booth, where some of the old players signed free of charge, and the Dolphins took over a pub and most of the same guys came in and had a few drinks with the fans.

Pics below of the helmet. I was lucky enough to meet:

OJ McDuffie, Mark Clayton, Mark Duper, Nat Moore, Sam Madison, Kim Bokamper, Shawn Wooden, Joe Rose and Jimmy Cefalo.

I found a few current players at the hotel. I wish I'd spent more time trying to see them, but to be honest the whole weekend was so rushed. I got Mike Pouncey, Jamar Taylor and Jay Ajayi on the helmet. I did see Brent Grimes who I'd have loved to get an autograph from, but he was heading to his room with his dinner.

I missed out on Marino twice. Would have been a fantastic addition to the signatures, considering how many of his best receivers signed it!
Griese was also due to sign at the autograph booth, but didn't show up.
But I'm a very very happy Dolphins fan. Despite the game. The terrible performance will sink in no doubt.

[IMG][/IMG]

[RW3FAN]

Congrats!
I remember Clayton & Super Duper! They played with the Killer B's right?
My fist taste of playoff football. Seattle won 27-20!

[rcgdodge]

The helmet looks great, congrats!

[MeteoriteGuy]

Thanks for sharing your story/collection. That is a cool Nat Moore auto.