Your best/worst IP Autograph experiences.

[Matt26]

I was cleaning out a cupboard over the weekend and in doing so, I stumbled across my old Cricket bat. What's so special about my old Gunn and Moore cricket bat you may ask?

Well apart from it being the bat I scored my one and only century with, it had also been signed on the back by my childhood cricketing idol, Steve Waugh.

Probably one of my best in person autograph experiences I've had.

As a bright eyed 14 year old clutching my brand new cricket bat, I headed down to a local suburban ground (Howell Oval, Penrith) to watch the NSW City Vs Country match. Howell Oval plays host to the Penrith First Grade games, however on this occasion, the players were of an international standard.

Both sides comprised many of the past, current and future Australian players. Mark Taylor, Michael Slater, Mike Whitney, Greg Matthews, Glenn McGrath, Adam Gilchrist (before he went to WA) etc, but the one player I wanted to meet and get an autograph from was my cricketing idol, Steve Waugh.

The game started out with the City side fielding, no chance yet for an auto. After lunch, which included the chance to bowl at and be belted out of the park by Michael Slater, I again took up the hunt for that elusive auto.

The City side batted last and after watching Waugh belt around the Country bowlers for about 15 minutes, he retired on 48 not out and dissapeared into the sheds.....the game finished and there was no sign of him.

I thought all chances for an autograph had been lost.

That was until just as we were about to leave, I saw Steve come out of the dressing rooms and sit down on one of the benches to have a chat with some people milling around outside.

I stealthy made my way over to where he was signing the odd autograph to try my luck.

After a minute or 2 he saw me holding my brand new bat (which was the exact same bat he was using at the time) and said to me, "How are you going? Do you mind if I have a look at your bat?"

I mumbled something that loosley resembled "Go for it" and for the next few seconds, here was my sporting idol, the one and only Steve Waugh, practicing his cover drive, his forward defense and his cut shot with MY cricket bat.

After a few more practise shots, he signed the bat on the back and said, "Gee thats a nicely weighted bat.......look after it!" I said "Thanks" and before I knew it I was on my way home from the ground, still smiling from the experience I had just had.

As a kid it couldnt get any better, getting the chance to meet my sporting idol, to have him play a few shots with MY cricket bat, and to give me something ill remember for the rest of my life......That was my best IP auto experience.

Love to hear anyone else's in person autograph experiences, good or bad!

Cheers
Matt

 

[WoobieZarz]

Great story Matt!

I only have 1 IP moment, which was a bad experience from my eyes.

It was only last year when the Boomers came to Hobart to play ?? Can't remember.

Anyways, it was getting close to half time, and I had a Bogut jersey I wanted to get signed, I raced down to where the players head off the court to the Locker Rooms, and when Bogey and Bruce approached, before I could ask, they both said "not now mate, after the game".

I thought that was pretty rude to start with. But thought, what the heck, and went back to my seat.

During the 4th QTR, they were saying over the PA that they players would come out after the game to sign. COOOL!!!!!

After the game, we waited 15 mins in a line, advancd about 5 meters, and then they announced that he wasnt coming out, he was staying with a trainer.

As a fan-base supporter, you'd have thought that he'd have come out, his first time in Hobart playing for the Boomers, and he sticks it out back stage......

 

[nenjabin]

Great story Matt

I've had 2 experiences.

First was going to the footy with my friends for my...11th? Birthday. At the time my idol was David Schwarz, but he wasn't playing cause it was while he had his knee reco.
We were sitting 2 rows back behind the old interchange at the G and Schwarta was sitting on the bench in a suit. At quarter time he was standing around and some kid in the front row called out 'Hey Schwarta, wanna sign my jumper?' and over he came, my hero! He signed my hat and scarf and while quiet, was nice.
One down point was that the jumper my parents had ordered for my birthday present with the number 5 on the back had come in late and I was to recieve it the next day!

Other experience was getting the Dees boys to sign my jumper for me once at training, and then the Tsunami 20/20 Cricket match against Collingwood. It wasn't bad, Robbo was nice and funny, Yze quiet, Jeff White alright, Brad Green showing off to the ladies, Neitz had a chat, but found it easier to get my jumper signed by all the players by instead giving it to my sister Suprisingly enough, footy players respond better to someone with breasts! :shock:

 

[fastbaja5b]

Laurie Keane (AFL Player, original Eagles team) at a WAFL match, left ground injured and was on interchange bench, went up for a walk around and signed a couple of Scanlens cards for me, think I was like 9 at the time!

 

[Benny J]

I have had one opportunity!!

Chenara and I won a trip to NZ in 2005 to watch the Wallabies play the All Blacks in the Bledisloe Cup. Part of the trip was the opportunity to fly and stay with the Wallabies.

We got to meet a couple of them. Most were nice...particulary the younger players....you could tell were still getting used to the publicity. The older players (Rogers, Tiquiri etc) were assholes....and still blind from the night before.

 

[ducky_poo]

have a mini bat around here somewhere. back in middle 90's the Qld Bulls played a game against Zimbabwe and they were all signing during the game.

have AB, Heals, Stewie Law, bichel, kasper, and zimbabwe andy flower, heath streak most noteable

 

[The Truth]

Some nice stories. Used to take the odd day off school and Mum would take us down to the Sydney Cricket Ground for the day to watch the Sheffeield Shield Matches. It was good because you couldalways get good seats and it was near free to get in lol. The players were almost always willing to sign an auto for you if you knew some tricks. Managed to persuade Tom Moody out of his seat one time for an auto with a NSW shirt on lol! Brett Lee was NSW 12th man at that stage and Simon Katich the same for WA. They were always awesome to chat too before heading out for drinks breaks. They were the only 2 guys who came over to the same gate to head out with drinks and have a laugh. Good times. Got plenty of auto's back in the day.

 

[theflyinggerco]

Ive got a bunch of former AFL players that my uncle got for me when he was working at Nike, but the best one I have is a autograph of former Geelong bloodnut Neville Bruns that I got about 12-13 years ago as a 8 year old, a great day for a little Geelong fan!

I also have a autograph of Rowan Sawers on a footy record on 400th game umpiring... wonder where that is.

 

[Klattsy]

I get all my autos IP now. I'm sick of all the fake crap floating around on ebay. Seriously, how can some 'dealers' have over 20'000 signed items. Cards of every single player ever...unbelieveable some of the rubbish on there. I only use ebay for raw stuff that I will get signed.

I attend alot of the fan days for autos. Bronco's, Maroon's, Roar, Bulls ect. My best experiances where back in the Australian Baseball League days when my dad and I where friends with the old GM of the Brisbane Bandits (he's now the MLB liason for Australia) and he used to get us box seats, or into the dugouts or in the sheds. It was great. I had so much signed Bandits stuff. Now all I have left is 1 programme and two baseballs and some cards

Worst experiance was shared with my wife and I at a Bronco's signing session. We had some boots for Lockyer to sign and he graciously signed them with a happy birthday inscription. My wife continued down the line and she got Corey Parker to sign a Justin Hodges magazine (my fault I thought it was him from the other end) and Parker said "nice boots there" and my wife said "thank you, they're probably not as comfortable as the ones you guys get" and then Shaun Berrigan, who was next to Parker said, "yeah we don't wear that cheap stuff". COCK HEAD. I hate him. Glad he's pissing off.

I also got shut down by Tom Leahroyd-Lahrs at a Canberra game. He was to busy getting autos for someone else (a friend of his) he wouldn't sign all the fans stuff.

Apart from those two everythings been cool!

One day i'll get some pictures up of my collection.

Mark.

 

[ljandkg]

Coming from a rugby mad country I'll tell u a wee story - not exactly an IP auto but a good story. I was at uni in the early 90's and mad keen on the Otago rugby team here in Dunedin - I missed only one home game in 4 years - In that time they beat South Africa, the Lions and ever other team too. They had an awesome team and always used to go out on the piss a lot and meet the fans.
Anyway, at that time a friend of mine was going out with a very young talented reserve for Otago called Jeff Wilson - he went on to be a double ALL Black - ie he played for the All Blacks and also the Black caps. I got to meet him a few times and he was a friendly enough guy.
Anyway - my 21st comes around and I had a big do as u do and got mothered. My friend Mel then presents me with a blue and gold rugby ball signed from squad member 1 down to 22 with the manager, coach, masseuse everything and then a 'Happy Birthday Al' at the bottom.

It's an awesome keepsake and the team featured 11 All Blacks - I'll always keep it as a memory of a grand era of footy before it was professional.