Has anyone been flat out refused an autograph from an athlete who had time to sign?

[BrentCrude]

Down through the years I have heard bad things about certain athletes where some will actually get mad at you or insult you for asking them for an autograph.One notable case was Chuck Knoblauch physically grabbing a kid in the Yankees hotel lobby when asked for an autograph.

I heard golfer Lee Trevino when he's alone out of the sight of the media and the masses can be down right gruff at times with people asking for autographs.Same thing goes for Ernie Ells.

So has anyone here ever been shocked by the behavior of an athlete when they asked them for an autograph?The guy that refused you an autograph took more time and energy telling you to go to hell than he would have if he signed you an autograph and talked nice to you.If you were refused,was it a money thing where the guy was like Pete Rose saying he just signs at paid events?

[zootiehead]

Whiffey Jr. turned down my nephew at spring training a few years ago.

[bettilimbroke999]

Tiger Woods turned me down when he was just standing there waiting to hit into 18 in the playoff at US Open this year, FUKIN BUM

[robzilla]

This guy isnt as athlete, but here's the story.

I was downtown London with a couple of my friends, when someone walked by us. I saw the guys face as he walked past me, and I couldnt believe it. It was The Honky Tonk Man!!! The WWF wrestler from the late 80s\early 90s.

So I say to my friends, "holy phuck! Its the Honky Tonk Man!" And they are like, "Who the hell is the Honky Tonk man?"

I run after the Honky Tonk Man to say whats up and to ask for an autograph. So the the honky tonk man says "yeah I'll sign your autograph for 20 bucks." I was in shock.... I go, did you just ask me for 20 bucks. by this time my friends are behind me watching my one of my childhood heros shut me down. So i didnt give the Honky Tonk man 20 bucks, he told me I was S.O.L. and I stood there in shock as he walked away while my friends laughed at me for asking a broke ass wanna be Elvis empersonator for an autograph.

Btw, this happend in 1999.

[louisvillekid]

damn Rob, you should of donated to his steroid fund.

i got turned down by Gregg Jeffries years ago at a Redbirds game, he was a up and coming prospect for the Mets and was playing with the Tidewater Tides, actually he had played briefly the season before with the Mets, me and my brother had seats over the 1st base dugout and kept trying all game and after the game, he signed a few other kids things, but not us.
I also got tuned down by Felton Spencer, he was a UofL basketball player, i saw him in a mall once, he acted like he was too busy.

[jgm1967]

I was never turned down as a kid but that was 25 years ago but I really understand nowadays why athletes and anyone really is are weary of autograph hounds and photo takers,

alot of people just want it for a keepsake, and alot of people just want to take a picture or an autograph and run to ebay.its like someone running up to you on the street and asking you for money, look at all those paparazzi hounding celebrities in LA

they just want a pic to sell to the tabloids ,an autograph to head to ebay.if I were a celebrity I would still sign though.

you never know who is the next travis bickle or these people

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1408843.stm

autographs and photo takers nowadays are very sleazy,I feel sorry for the kids who just want memorabilia

[smallon]

Tommy Hearns - rather his crew - around 25 years ago.

[betplom]

Only met a couple of players over the years and never asked.

Once in a while I get to talk with Lou Piniella when he is in Toronto, not that we are friends or anything but I met him years ago at a certain downtown Toronto off-track establishment that is housed in an upscale restaurant.

He was playing the horses and having a few drinks with his coaches, he's friends with the owner of the place so its a certainty he'll be there after the game when he's in town.

He's a nice dude (at least away from the game) and I never talk baseball with him, I think that would annoy him, after all, he's out having fun, I only talk horses, try and give him a heads up on the local racing scene here.

Lou Piniella, a good guy!