I am absolutely gutted :(

One day that absolutely crushed me was when I was told by Andrew Johns to, "Make it f$#@^ing quick mate", (exact words he used) when I politely asked for a photo with him. Here is a bloke that I idolized, tried to copy in the backyard, at training and in games, someone who I had always admired and looked up to telling me to make it f&^%#ing quick. I didnt know what to do. I was stunned. Then some groupie girl came along and started chatting him up and then he wouldnt even look at the camera - he just walked off with her. I was like, "Wow". Now dont get me wrong he didn't owe me anything, and if he had politely said, "Sorry not this time mate" or similar as I had politely asked him for a photo, not a problem I understand that. No issue at all. Just as I have no issue in guys turning down autograph requests or whatever if they aren't into it - but it can be done with grace and some politeness. Swearing at fans, especially kids! is just not on. The rudeness and arrogance that some of these guys have just bamboozles me at times.

But I think some of these guys could learn a thing or 2 from some of the UFC fighters I've met. One guy In particular Ryan Bader (who is fighting on the card this Sunday) was awesome. He continually ignored the security guards attempts to try and stop him from walking around the table to enable him to pose for a proper photo - arm around the fan (which took an extra 5 seconds), instead of both leaning over the table metres apart in one of those awkward poses.. His words to me were, "I wouldn't even be here if it wasn't for you guys, so the least I can do is have a proper photo with you all". There was an absolutely massive line their that day and you couldn't wipe the smile from his face, so friendly, chatting to everyone and shaking hands and cracking jokes. You could just tell he was really happy to be there mixing it with the fans. This is a memory I will always cherish. My girlfriend who hated the UFC at that time, and wrote the fighters off as barbarian killer types, and who I had to drag there, was so taken by him and his friendliness that she is now a fan and supporter of Bader and the sport!

Another UFC fighter Wanderlei Silva who is a massive name in the sport is well known for the time and friendliness he has with fans, happy to sign anything and pose for photos all day long, and thanks his fans for their support and wanting to meet him. And again, cant wipe the smile from his face. There are many stories of him that surface online all the time of him actually engaging in lengthy conversations with fans that stop to talk to him, which is just unbelievable.

These are guys that are loved and known around the world, not just in Australia. I think some of our current home grown 'stars' could learn a bit from their attitude.

I watched Bader in the Ultimate fighter, He was excellent!

Great to hear he is a good bloke too.

BTW, just curious, how do sizable charitable donations work from a tax perspective? How much could I realistically expect to get back as a deduction? Does anyone know?

Nazim, I just had a quick look on the Australian Tax Office website...then took two panadol!! Easiest way mate would be to phone whoever it is that does your tax return, or an accountant. Tax rules change all the time (under this Government in particular) so that's what I would be doing. Good luck!

Matty76 said:

Nazim, I just had a quick look on the Australian Tax Office website...then took two panadol!! Easiest way mate would be to phone whoever it is that does your tax return, or an accountant. Tax rules change all the time (under this Government in particular) so that's what I would be doing. Good luck!

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Yeah, I was trying to make sense of it as well

Just in case anyone is interested, my tax agent advises that the amount returned is pretty much the tax rate you pay.

So, for example, if my tax rate is 40%, I would get back $800 on a $2000 donation.

I think I'm going to take the advice of Warne's manager and "move on".

Ok i just got back a ttm from warney 4 cards we sent a donation of twenty bucks( cause thats all we could afford). recive back 2 cards signed 2 unsigned still in top loader and our letter. Going rate 10 bucks a sig???( Cheap compared to nazims Quote) Happy to get them back but just seems strange. They where personlised to us as well.. Just on anonther note i noticed warneys brother runs his foundation on thier website.....nice for him to give his brother a job.

Of course i cant pass over this thread as i love getting signatures in person and i do alot of TTMs. Im lucky to not have had any bad experiences as of yet in person (with regards to players not signing or being rude etc). A few TTMs i have received back unsigned or they never came back but that is the risk you take.

I just have to say though nicest football player i have ever met is Kevin Kingston hands down. Ive met him on multiple occasions - after a game in the Gold Coast i was waiting with an odd 10-20 other panthers fans for signatures and to meet the boys, he comes out first, puts his bag down, signs some stuff behind the rope they had set up, then walked in front of the rope to get photos taken with fans and to sign more signatures of people standing at the back. He is always smiling and polite. My daughter also met him at the recent panthers fan day, she told him that she came from QLD and he was amazed that she had come so far for a game of football and a fan day. He talked to her for a good 10 minutes, signed all of her custom cards and said they were awesome (im sure they like signing unique things too at times). So in total he gave her 5 signatures (4 cards and 1 on her painting) she didn't even pull all the cards out to be signed he just saw them in the folder and offered to sign them. She also got a photo taken with him. Ive become more of a fan of this bloke because of the experiences ive had. I even own a game worn jersey of his! http://www.ozcardtrader.com.au/community/threads/game-worn-kevin-kingston-jersey.101792/

Brplat said:

Of course i cant pass over this thread as i love getting signatures in person and i do alot of TTMs. Im lucky to not have had any bad experiences as of yet in person (with regards to players not signing or being rude etc). A few TTMs i have received back unsigned or they never came back but that is the risk you take.

I just have to say though nicest football player i have ever met is Kevin Kingston hands down. Ive met him on multiple occasions - after a game in the Gold Coast i was waiting with an odd 10-20 other panthers fans for signatures and to meet the boys, he comes out first, puts his bag down, signs some stuff behind the rope they had set up, then walked in front of the rope to get photos taken with fans and to sign more signatures of people standing at the back. He is always smiling and polite. My daughter also met him at the recent panthers fan day, she told him that she came from QLD and he was amazed that she had come so far for a game of football and a fan day. He talked to her for a good 10 minutes, signed all of her custom cards and said they were awesome (im sure they like signing unique things too at times). So in total he gave her 5 signatures (4 cards and 1 on her painting) she didn't even pull all the cards out to be signed he just saw them in the folder and offered to sign them. She also got a photo taken with him. Ive become more of a fan of this bloke because of the experiences ive had. I even own a game worn jersey of his! http://www.ozcardtrader.com.au/community/threads/game-worn-kevin-kingston-jersey.101792/

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That is an awesome story about a real good guy....and Panther too!

I love hearing these stories!

ive never had a problem with mark waugh, signed a heap of cards up here in newcastle at a sports shop. He also signed 3 of his biographies for me....and he's always up here at the newcastle races, we saw him on a bucks show and he signed our bucks golf drinking game card AND let us have a photo...helped we're all cricketers though since we sprouted off about how good we were. Steve Waugh the same, was doing a book signing, he signed his autobiography, the peter fitzsimmons book that i brought along, 2 cards and the steve waugh medallion from the paper, and i knicked one of his lollies, told him i was dying of hunger for waiting so long, he just laughed. the only time ive had a non signing was when i was a kid the Aussie rugby league team was in Parkes (about 25 years ago now) and i was waiting in line to get steve roach's autograph, our junior team was called the tigers and i wanted my jumper signed, waited for what seemed like an hour in line, coming up to my turn, 2nd in line with a kid in magpies jersey getting it signed, chomping at the bit he signs the kids jersey in front of me, then its my turn and then some parrot (probably manager) says thats all for the time being kids!!! not only was i standing in line in the fricken heat but i was a fat kid and i had to climb to the top of the bloody grand stand, i was fricken buggered AND i didnt get an autograph, make things worse i only wanted David Gillespies autograph but he was at a different location so i had to fricken settle for steve roach which i didnt bloody get!

i do understand why players wont sign a lot of stuff with ebay and everything, what i dont understand is why they dont just buy their own stuff, sign it and sell it on ebay, im sure THAT isnt included in the salary cap!

It is a good point you make at the end there slobby - even though the items are somewhat "pricey", I admire the Abletts for setting up their own website and selling memorabilia from there. Seems a good way to protect yourself and I guess the buyer knows it IS authentic. I am amazed at the lack of personal sites that exist in Australia, moreso for retired players who aren't covered or restricted by Collective Bargaining regulations or agreements.

Matty76 said:

It is a good point you make at the end there slobby - even though the items are somewhat "pricey", I admire the Abletts for setting up their own website and selling memorabilia from there. Seems a good way to protect yourself and I guess the buyer knows it IS authentic. I am amazed at the lack of personal sites that exist in Australia, moreso for retired players who aren't covered or restricted by Collective Bargaining regulations or agreements.

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Just on the Ablett site, has it closed down, or is it at a different name to garyablett.com now? As I can't find it, and haven't been able to for some time now. Have always wanted a Senior sig...

I should add, there have been some cracking yarns in this thread

Looks as though the Ablett site has gone the way of the Dodo Luke - I managed to found some kind of weird-arsed "pre-move to Gold Coast" version which tells you 5/8 of f**k all, and provides a broken link to an auction site (think it is the IMG one that the clubs use).

There are 2 "supreme" Ablett Snr sig cards from 2006 on Ebay now plus another card from about '95 I think. He is still the best player I have ever seen.

Reiterates the point slobby made - the Abletts could be sitting on a goldmine!

Yeah those Supreme sigs are a touch outside my price range at the moment. When the Ablett site first started I was going to buy one of the signed pics. Then I thought that they should have an option where, for a price, you could post in a card or other piece of your own memorabilia to be signed. Would of been very keen for something like that, but there wasn't an option where you could email them to ask. Ended up forgetting about the whole site until recently... ah well

I just sent Gary Jnr a message on Facebook about the very subject....will let you know if he replies.

I have seen many Indian players' Autograph selling at ebay for more than $100 each,particularly those played 1 or 2 Test Matches.They did not get that sort of money while playing a domestic championship match.

Most of the collectors take signature 'free' and they do not sell.But finally they are sold and some money is surely involved.But players do not get anything.

Of-course there had been instance when collectors bought items for Chandrasekhar's medical expenses,but many Indian players did not get much,when they were in need.

When I was younger (about 7 or 8), we went to a BBQ at my god parents house. Their son in law is Gary Belcher from the Raiders (and probably explains me being a Raiders supporter) and he was there. I didn't really know until we got outside and my dad said, did you know who that guy with the mo was ? I said no, and he explained it was Gary Belcher from the Raiders and I should go back inside and get an autograph.

So I got up the courage and walked right up to him, and then asked him if he could get me Mal Meningas autograph.

Never did get that one