Ever meet a player and be disappointed/surprised?

[Zen Arcade]

I honestly haven't had any really bad experiences, there have been players that skipped through without signing but that's no big deal.

Ken Wregget sticks out​ as the nicest player I've met. He talked to everyone and answered all of my dumb little kid questions.

I had one really strange experience, though. We were waiting outside of the then Civic Arena after a game and one of the first players out was Greg Hawgood. He signed for everyone, but he was giggling the whole time. It was like one of those giggles where it seemed like he was going to break out in maniacal laughter, but it never happened.

Maybe someone told a funny joke as they were leaving the locker room, but it was almost a little unsettling.

 

[kmad]

Matt Cooke is super nice. I thought he'd be a jackass.

 

[TorstenFrings]

I've said this before on these boards. Unless a player is making a personal appearance where signing autographs is part of the gig then I think fans should leave that player alone. Probably the worst part of a player's job is dealing with fans.

I agree, but the original story was from a signing and I think the deal is, that you leave them alone when they are out at a restaurant with their family and in return they actually try a little at official fan events.

 

[Section88]

Was at the fan fest for the draft a couple weeks ago, my friends met jamal mayers and got a picture with him. Said he was super nice but in a hurry.
Also saw a guy in a very nice suit walk up to a little girl and her parents, ask the girl who her favorite player was and then boom whips out a championship ring and asks her if she wants a picture with it. Super nice guy, said he was part of stan bowmans staff

 

[Bougieman]

Alex Burrows is just one of the sweetest, kindest hockey players ever to play in Vancouver. Loves meeting fans. Sort of ironic that he's gotten a rep as being a jerk on the ice, because he's so pleasant and kind to everyone he meets. I was there when he showed up at the New Town bakery in this video, but didn't make it on screen. Was there picking up some chicken buns, and all the waitresses were freaking out, and then I realized Alex, Willie, and a camera crew were in the house! haha I was too nervous to go and say "hi", but you can see from the video how jazzed everyone was.

 

[Ippenator]

Laine is a Finn though. This is how our culture is.

This is really just a myth that has in reality become old news a long time ago already. You can see from Laine's interviews btw that he is not in general awkward. But of course he is very young still, so probably he can be a bit careful or even confused in some situations

 

[ps241]

Alex Burrows is just one of the sweetest, kindest hockey players ever to play in Vancouver. Loves meeting fans. Sort of ironic that he's gotten a rep as being a jerk on the ice, because he's so pleasant and kind to everyone he meets. I was there when he showed up at the New Town bakery in this video, but didn't make it on screen. Was there picking up some chicken buns, and all the waitresses were freaking out, and then I realized Alex, Willie, and a camera crew were in the house! haha I was too nervous to go and say "hi", but you can see from the video how jazzed everyone was.

Ok that is just classic and that food looks really good. Nice to see that side of Burrows since he plays the heel role pretty effectively on the ice and I have not always had pleasant thoughts about him.

 

[frankocb]

Prior to Game 3 in Philly for the 1974 Cup Finals (yeah I'm THAT old - I was 15 and a sophomore at the time ), a few of us got wind that the Bruins were staying in a place called the Cherry Hill Inn, right up the road from our high school.

So once the final bell rings, we walk the mile and a half or whatever it was to the hotel. This was about 2:30-3 pm. They wouldn't let us congregate in the lobby so grabbed some hotel paper and some pens, and we waited outside the front entrance.

About 5 pm, out they came...Orr, Esposito, Hodge, Cashman, Awrey, Vadnais, the entire lot of 'em. Being a major Bobby Orr fan before i was a Flyers fan, I was starstruck when seeing Orr. And they couldn't have been nicer. I have autographs from each and every team member...still have them in a box somewhere, tucked inside a book for safe-keeping. Not only did they sign their names but some of them even engaged in small talk. Being 15-year old Flyers fans, we of course wished them luck but I remember one of us saying "You're gonna lose!". They took this in stride.

Soon it was time for them to board the bus to the Spectrum in Philly for the game. So, of course it being 1974 and the era without cell phones, there was no way to let mom know where I was...so it was on to the 2 mile walk home for the inevitable scolding ...but it was well worth it!

 

[Reddawg]

Met Brian Gionta after he won the Cup with New Jersey in 2003. He wanted to share the win with the whole community in Rochester (his hometown) so there was an event at a local bar and a group of us went. He was very cool, very humble and easy to talk to, I was very impressed with him and it was a great experience. Thanked him for sharing the Cup with us and he seemed to appreciate the recognition.

There was a photographer there doing prints and I still have the framed picture hung up in my house.

 

[rynryn]

Presence wise Owen Nolan is the most intimidating player i've been around. everyone knows he had a reputation as a tough SOB but...yeah. That guy made me want to tiptoe around him and walk on the other side of the hall.

 

[Riddum]

Every player I have ever seen was shorter than I thought. It made me wonder if they were measured with skates on.

 

[Riddum]

I saw Crosby at Earl's and asked him kindly for a picture, but instead gave me such an angry stare and told me to 'p*ss off.'

LOL if true. Maybe he was having a bad day. But I hope you weren't annoying enough to ask him for a pic during a meal.

 

[LEAFANFORLIFE23]

I met Eric Lindros on a boat on a lake. We had a conversation about birds pooping on his island.



It wasnt disappointing, but rather strange

Was he a Leaf then?

 

[Cousin Eddie]

I've met probably 40-50 current players. Most are real good guys. There are some who are incredibly nice and some who aren't.

Notable extremes.

Overly nice:
Gazdic
Upshall
ROR
Neal
Quincey
Pardy

Not so nice:
Ryan Malone
Heatley
Purcell
Tyler Johnson

 

[Old Gregg]

LOL if true. Maybe he was having a bad day. But I hope you weren't annoying enough to ask him for a pic during a meal.

He was actually asking while Crosby was taking a leak

 

[mondo3]

I met one of the Hansons at a signing event and he was in a really bad mood which was disappointing. Hopefully it was just an off day.

 

[THall4]

ALOT of Oiler fan that have run into Taylor Hall on the streets in Edmonton or what not don't have a lot of good things to say. Common analogy was that he's quite arrogant.

Ive run into Jarome Iginla a few times in West Edmonton Mall. Awesome guy.

Another guy you can run into mainly at the Sobey's on 109th is Oscar Klefbom. Hes always happy and smiling..and I would be too if I was dating a girl like his...

 

[DavidWilliamsCB]

I met the then Islanders Head Coach Ted Nolan on the street in Halifax back in like 2005 when the Islanders and Bruins were having a pre-season game in Halifax. He was so nice to talk to and took the time to speak with my buddy and I for a few mins even though he was heading to the game which was starting in an hour. He may not be the biggest name out there, but it was really cool how nice he was to take that time with us. Gotta appreciate the players and coaches that dont change who they are or dont act superior when they get to the big show.

 

[Hawksfan2828]

Every player I have ever seen was shorter than I thought. It made me wonder if they were measured with skates on.

Agreed...

 

[Hawksfan2828]

You have to remember when you're a player you represent the team so you have to take time out of your day when you're spotted to talk to a fan... If you were a player would you really want to hurt your brand or your own name?

I'm sure some players have a better temperament than others about it tho.

 

[a tribe cq]

Sat courtside with Sheldon Souray at a Nets game when he was on the Devils.

It legit was my father and I, then Sheldon Souray to my left and Sexual Chocoalate Mark Henry to his left.

Was one of the more hilarious experiences with professional atheletes.

Grant Hill fell on Mark Henry and spilled his Skittles/M&M's (forget which) and Mark Henry told Grant Hill he was going to fight him jokingly.

Souray was super super nice and having a blast, which made my memory of him even better.


Side one,

Ran into Todd White during his short lived Rangers run. He was walking with Marc Staal, and everyone was crowding around Staal. White sort of stood awkwardly on the side and I don't think anyone recognized him because he was so tiny and sort of non-atheletic looking. I walked up to him and said 'Hey your Todd White, whats up bud?'. He looked at me and awkwardly and said 'hey.' in a super meek manner and we stood there next to each other for two minutes not saying a word. PS. He had frosted tips and this was in like 2013 or so.

 

[I am toxic]

Presence wise Owen Nolan is the most intimidating player i've been around. everyone knows he had a reputation as a tough SOB but...yeah. That guy made me want to tiptoe around him and walk on the other side of the hall.

Tiger Williams was like that for me - I was only a teenager at the time, working out at Gold's in North Van (the old location, on 16th Street) when he was working out there.

He was the only one who I ever felt intimidated by - some of the BC Lions linebackers worked out there, and some pro lifters, and I felt totally comfortable spotting them and talking to them, but Tiger . . .

 

[Jetsfan87]

Joe Thornton and Brent Burns held a door for me last year. Was doing some work for the World Cup of Hockey and carrying tools, trying to go in while the whole team was leaving after a practise. Bergeron and a few others just walked out and Thornton laughed and chirped them for not being nice and holding the door. Seems like a good guy.

Met Pronger at another event (hes an ass) asked for a picture of my friend (huge Flyers fan and was wearing a pronger flyers jersey at the time) and to his credit he posed for the pick but his demeanor and talking to other ppl its always the same.

 

[Jive Pawnbroker]

When I worked at the 2007 draft in Columbus, I was assigned to be a draft guide for the player drafted in the 12th spot, who turned out to be Ryan McDonagh. I had never heard of him prior to the draft, but he made a great first impression with me. He actually reached out to shake my hand and introduce himself to me as he exited the stands - he was the only player that I noticed to even acknowledge their assigned volunteer to that point (which was very nice of him to do but wasn't expected on my part).

During a conversation we had waiting for pictures to be taken, he told me what a positive influence his Uncle Steve was to him and how he had learned a lot from him on preparing to be a professional athlete. I learned later that his Uncle Steve was Steve Walsh, the former QB with Miami and the Bears.

I was very happy to have met him and to see him succeed as much as he has to this point in his career.

 

[Straight Fire]

This thread is kind of blech. I'd rather meet up with a hockey player than any other sport. I met Gretzky, Coffey, Kurri in their prime - all were nice, signed autographs (and I actually rode up an elevator with Wayne and Paul). Met a couple of Flames and they were nice too.