Autograghs by the pros

[I rack balls]

They shouldn't charge for an autograph because they aren't real athletes. And before you try and flame me I am joking. But seriously pros who do that are just making a bad name for themselves and the game. If I ask for one the next time I see a pro and he wants to charge me, I am going to take out the money and when he tries to grab it I am going to swipe it away and say "Get the f**K atta heere!" and walk away hah.

Eric. A.

 

[uwate]

....If I ask for one the next time I see a pro and he wants to charge me, I am going to take out the money and when he tries to grab it I am going to swipe it away and say "Get the f**K atta heere!" and walk away hah.

Eric. A.

HAHAHA

even funnier because its true. Seriously, if the pro players saw a sign in the window that had someone trying to sell a ball they should have only been worried about it if there was actually a line of people trying to buy those balls.

Of course, get famous enough and people will try to sell your half eaten hot dog on ebay. Pool, sadly, is not yet to that kind of hysteria.

 

[cueball1950]

You are, no doubt, referring to John Galloway, PBT member and close friend of Steve Mizerak.

SJM...... That is indeed who it was. I had to go back thru a couple of old PBT books to find his name. He was a very nice man and the last time i saw John he was practicing at the old Q-masters on norview in Norfolk. (now burned down) He was waiting for another player. they were going to play a couple of sets for the $$$$$$. Any idea what ever happened to him??????....mike

 

[X Breaker]

I remember reading in a magazine saying how the stars in hollywood, no matter how "full of themselves" they may be, would always try their best to sign autograph and smile to their fans. They know that their fans are their biggest asset. Without the fans, they would not be popular and they would lose a lot of money. How much they can get from a movie or a show depends largely on how popular they are. And for Hollywood stars, we are talking millions.

Without any fan, an autograph would worth nothing. On the other hands, sponsorship, exhibition, and so on go to the pros with lots of fans.

If I was an outsider looking to sponsor a player, and I want to know which pro is the most popular, I will start checking who gets the biggest crowd asking for autographs at tournaments.

 

[brhawk]

I agree, I got Duel and pagulayan's auotgraph last year at the DDC, Corey stopped and carried on a conversation with me, Alex was very friendly also.

 

[Pushout]

I remember reading in a magazine saying how the stars in hollywood, no matter how "full of themselves" they may be, would always try their best to sign autograph and smile to their fans. They know that their fans are their biggest asset. Without the fans, they would not be popular and they would lose a lot of money. How much they can get from a movie or a show depends largely on how popular they are. And for Hollywood stars, we are talking millions.

Sadly, many, MANY, Hollywood celebrities no longer feel this way. Many are downright rude and insulting. It's not all their fault, either. Paul Newman used to sign often many years ago. After being approached at the urinal in a men's room, he stopped signing in public. Some, like Jhonny Depp, are very considerate and rarely refuse. Many stars have contracts similar to sports stars and may only sign through the media they are signed with. {YIKES, that sentence sucked!} The proliferation of autographs sold on the secondary market also has an effect. Someone asking for a personal momentoe and then selling it has disgusted many sports personalities and film stars.
I collected autographs for a number of years, and it's a great hobby. But, in today's "all about the money" world, it's tough. Autographs through the mail and "authentic, not in person" are a whole other topic.

 

[satman]

First off.......

Apparently when he was at the Valley Forge event selling his cues he was asking $25 for a sig

I must say I have at least 50 autographs and every single one was given with a smile, whether by the women at a WPBA tourney or the men at the DCC or the Open. I greatly appreciate this. Also they are not tucked away in a drawer. I only ask for autographs on something I can frame or otherwise display.


One thing though, sometimes it is unwise to ask a player for a sig right after a tough loss. Other than that they are usually pretty cool about it.

The only time I have ever asked for an autograph right after a tough loss, was Charlie Bryant @ the 2005 DCC. I was sitting with my friend and his girlfriend watching Charlie play on the TV table and he lost a hill match. During the match we had started talking to a lady sitting there and it turned out to be either his fiance or wife. I said "we better wait til later since he just lost that match". She said "no, it's fine, he won't mind". Well, I waited til he came and talked with her a couple of minutes and she told him we wanted his signature on our posters. He just smiled and said he'd be happy to. We sat and talked with them for a few minutes and he got 3 new fans that will be rooting for him that day. A CLASS ACT.
I had 2 posters @ that tournament I was having signed. One for me and one for my sponsor's bar as a gift. Not one pro asked me for money but I always explained why I had 2. I heard there were a couple of guys asking for $5 or something, but I never asked them. I must have about 25 of the top players on there. Danny D., Buddy Hall, Efren, Jose, Charley Bryant, Rodney Morris,Alex, George Middleditch, Breedlove, Luat, Earl, Souquet, Hohmann and a few more.
I didn't ask Sigel and probably wouldn't no matter what the situation. I wouldn't pay anyone {movie stars included}for an autograph unless it was a business deal. If it's for personal use, they should sign them for free. If you ask them to sign 4-5 items or it looks like it's something you intend to sell, they should charge you for it. That's my opinion.

 

[jimmyg]

Many of them Pro's are under contract!!! by sponser's and such... some demand different things of the people they are sponsering........Cant really throw it in their face. I mean dont get me wrong..... It's very silly to have to pay for a autograph......but I mean some of these guys get heat for it..........Jsut think of it that way.... I really highly doubt they would outright for no reason charge you for a autograph........As for Mike Sigel.....I'll pay any good price for his autograph any day..... only cause he's my favorite Pro.....

Do you really think that a sponsor, say Sardo, would object to a player giving a complimentary signature to a fan? They probably would prefer that they would, it's called good PR.

There are also people that are willing to pay for Charles Manson's autograph!

Jim

 

[justnum]

I got a picture of a pro who willingly stood in for it. I wanted to be in the picture but just didnt work out that way.

Pictures aren't as much fun as when the pros joke around with me the fan. The pros I've seen are really funny and usually know how to avoid any awkward discussions.

Plus if I had more pictures/autographs they'd just be up in my practice room being the ghost. And I really don't like ghosts.

 

[MyraCurfs]

Just last week i managed to sent out personaly signed cards of 2 pro-players to Chris in England. If you ask for them in a normal way you just get them and they do not ask money for them. A card normaly costs about 1 euro and then post them it's an euro again. If you do this about 250 times a year well you get the picture don't ya. It's called good PR and if players want fans to be happy they should do such things.

 

[Icon of Sin]

Great post Larry.

I was at a local Baseball game a few nights back.

Cal Ripken was there signing autographs. He stood there for over 2 hours signing hats, paper, tickets, and having photos taken with people. He did not charge a single one.

Cal Ripken's autograph is something that will collect value. A pool players autograph is something that more then likely won't, it will just always be worth something to the person getting it. Pros should think about that before they try to charge someone next time.

With all that being said, I didn't get the autograph of any pros while at the expo last year but I got my picture taken with a bunch of them. Everyone I ran into was very polite and willing to take the little bit of time out to do it.

 

[ajrack]

Signings

Way back in the old days, 60's 70's, I used to take a roll of film of the players at a tourney, get to the local photo shop, get the prints and get autographs on the back. I was lucky to get , Lassiter, Crane, Miz, Ervolino, Jersey Red, Ronnie, and many more. They seemed to like the honor. I have also gotten, Jimmy Taylor, Don Maynard, Jack Ham, Bradshaw, Namath, and many more over the years. Never have I paid for any auto except Canseco, at a card show...just after he did his 40/40 year (only way I could get it for a friend). In the last few years I have been away from the current pool players so I hope many are courteous and accessable.

 

[Wally in Cincy]

The only time I have ever asked for an autograph right after a tough loss, was Charlie Bryant @ the 2005 DCC..

Charlie seems like a pretty good guy

I heard there were a couple of guys asking for $5 or something, but I never asked them. .

I bought some photos from Diana Hoppe at the 2005 DCC. The photos were $10 and the autogrpaphed photos were $15. She asked each customer if they got one of her photos autographed by a player to throw him a fiver. I thought that was reasonable.

 

[hemicudas]

Face value

I will sell an autograph of a top 10 player from 1977 for face value of the check.

 

[!Smorgass Bored]

It's A Bargain..... imo

I will sell you a cueball signed by ANY great poolplayer, living or dead. Please send me $20 and the proper spelling.
Doug

 

[UPlayLucky]

I would think a pro would only charge for an autograph if they are tired of signing autographs, thus shortening or ending a line of people waiting. If a pro asks you for cash for a signature, I suggest finding the prettiest girl in the room and send her over. She won't get charged a cent, guaranteed. If you want a signature of a female pro, send over the prettiest girl in the room. Not that there is anything wrong with that.