Tom Talks: Adults shouldn't ask for autographs

[Dpantherman]

by Tom Sorensen (Charlotte Obeserver)

I heard that Mike Ditka, the ESPN commentator and former player and coach, got in an argument with a fan Thursday morning about Ditka's alleged reluctance to sign autographs. Also heard that Ditka regularly signs autographs. Don't know who was at fault. But there is an easy solution for this and other autograph-related issues.

If you're an adult, don't ask another adult for an autograph. Don't come to Ditka with a box full of Mike Ditka pictures or action figures or non-action figures which you'll attempt to sell. Don't come with a single picture. Don't come with a piece of clean white paper you don't intend to sell.

I offered a solution years ago, and if it had been adopted the world would be a better place to live. You should not be able to ask anybody younger than you are for an autograph. True, race car driver Mark Martin would take a huge hit. But he's fit enough to escape when the pressure becomes too great.

What's the appeal of an autograph? You want to look at it or show it to your friends? Interaction between athletes and fans would go so much smoother if adults got out of the way and let kids move to the front of the autograph line....

http://blogs.charlotte.com/tom_talks/2010/02/unless-youre-a-kid-autographs-are-stupid.html

We're all fans here, what do think about this? Have you gotten autographs at training camp?

[cookinwithgas]

Screw that, an Panthers logo football without any autographs is just a football. It's about showing that you are passionate enough about your team go show up somewhere with a ball and a sharpie and stand in the heat for 3 hours to try and convince someone you admire to make that ball unique and something you will treasure forever.

[Mayor Qumiby]

I think if your a fan and want an autograph your age shouldnt matter.. I mean there are plenty of atheletes who have asked for autographs from their peers in the same or in other sports.. i see no problem unless its adults who push kids out of the way for a signature or only want an autograph so they can sell it.

[Hawk]

agreed....nothing wrong with asking for autographs at all...but I do hate those pricks that have a box full of crap they expect to have signed while the rest of the folks are looking for a helmet or jersey to get signed!

[Delhommey]

I'm all for stopping the losers that resell the autographs, but many times it is nice to have a memento that you've met someone famous besides a good story and a sore rectum (I'm looking at you, Andy Dick).

A single autograph is fine I think.

[Carolina Husker]

*Rubs Husker helmet with Mike Minter, Mike Rucker, Bo Pelini and Ndamukong Suh's autographs sexually under work desk*

[Liminy]

I agree with the fact that kids should get firsts on this, no adult should be getting in the way of a kid trying to get an autograph. I see no problem though otherwise, if I was a sports star I would love it if people of all ages wanted my autograph.

[Darth Biscuit]

I have no problem with people asking for autographs, but there's a time and a place for it... if a guy is eating dinner with his wife in a restaurant, it's not the time to go up to him and ask for an autograph... let him live in peace.

[CharlotteBeer.com]

I actually agree with him. It's silly for a grown man to go around asking other grown men to sign his cards, photos or jerseys.

Then again, I guess it's a little silly for us to watch said grown men play with each other for three hours every Sunday.

To each their own.

[csx]

autograph seeking adults are silly

[SMACKDAB]

Will everybody just sign here________________________________

and get this over with please?

[rico6]

There's a difference in asking for an autograph in an appropriate setting, and asking when he's with his family having a picnic, with the latter being harassment.

Ditka had every right to deny him the autograph unless they're paying for it.

:rofl:

[E CaT PanTHer]

when I think of annoying fans getting autographs and pushing kids aside just to get them, I think of Zack Hample.

[Brooklyn Bully]

I don't see the point. Wow, Steve Smith signed a football for me. Swell.

Then again, I have Mister Rogers autograph. He called me "the mack" on it. True story. So I guess if it's more than a signature it can have...some...mening to the person who gets it.