Whose autograph do you have?
October 14th 2008 00:49
Photograph courtesy Reuters
With news this morning that former Beatle Ringo Starr has posted a bizarre video of "peace and love" on his website saying he has had enough of fan mail and people seeking autographs prompts the question whose autograph do you have?
The Fab Four drummer's 44-second rant pleaded for fans to leave him alone and said he doesn't have time to sort through his mail box anymore.
"This is a serious message. I want to tell you please, after the 20th of October do not send fan mail to any address you have. Nothing will be signed. If that has a date on the envelope it's gonna be tossed, I'm warning you with peace and love," he said in the video titled Sorry, No More Signing Stuff.
While Im not exactly the most avid collector I am proud of the signings I managed to secure over a number years Ringo included.
In the main most of those Ive managed to meet are very down to earth ordinary folks just like you and I the most recent being that 70s icon - Leo Sayer who I was fortunate enough to chat with having been invited to after show drinks in Sydney a few weeks back.
So name names!
Boast if need be but whose autograph are you most proud of?
| 111 |
| Vote |
Subscribe to this blog
Comment by Damo
Comment by sportsbar
Fret X
in my young whipper snapper days i was a massive sports collector... Have to say although I have autographs of people like Courtney Ambrose and the West Indies great team of the early 90s, Bradmen etc.
My favourite was not a signature but an 'achievement'...
When NSW played West Indies at Number One sports ground in Newcastle in the traditional (now long gone) warm up match, I got to bowl to captains Steve Waugh and Richie Richardson in the nets... As a twelve year old it was a dream come true and I managed to bowl both of them... this will forever be with me...
(Don't tell anyone that after numerous overs they both somehow managed to leave a ball on middle stump
I was the happiest kid in the world, it meant much more than an autograph... I have bowled 2 of the best batsmen to ever walk the earth...
Now thats something I am happy to sign off with...
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Where did you get to met her?
As for Harvey Crumpet . . . is that Adam Elliott you're talking about . . . ?
Noice
Comment by sportsbar
Fret X
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Do you mean Curtely Ambrose or Courtney Walsh?
As for your bowling stats - there's a couple of scalps you can brag about til the end of your innings on this planet.
A mate I played cricket with in junior grades actually received a letter from "The Don" - after he'd read a piece in paper about his bowling exploits.
But Waugh and Richardson!
Bet you couldn't contain yourself.
Got'im
Comment by Lady Henrietta Muddling
Potter in a Harry
I was obsessed with cricket back then. Or possessed. The jury of Catholic priests are still out.
In 75/76, it was Aust vs WI. I used to take a scorebook along.
My mate and I were always the first ones there in the morning. 6am. The gates opened at 9am. By that time the line stretched out over the Montefiore Hill bridge. It was a sellout every day from memory.
We had various ways of getting into the members' stand. We usually cut through the curator Les Burdett's room cos it was always open at 6:01am.
If it was locked? We'd buy ten newspapers and pretend we were newsboys and the guy guarding the members always ushered us in.
So, after chucking the newspapers in the bin, we sat up in the luxury of the members' stand, with acess to the practice nets and a good view of the dressing rooms and the players. As kids, that was the height of being important.
During the match, I thought, wouldn't it be cool if I got all the players to sign their names in the spaces where you'd normally write their names.
So each night, I'd hang around until 9pm waiting for my heroes to come out and sign my scorebook.
It wasn't easy, cos some of them weren't too keen. So I'd catch a bus home. Or to the house of the family friend I was staying at.
One night a bloke picked me up as I was walking to the bus stop, and asked if I'd like a lift home. I was from the country. I thought that was pretty normal. And a car ride certainly beats a bus ride. But if you're ever been taken to a potential gay serial killer's house in Adelaide to watch pornos and get offers of drugs, and escape? You don't worry about the long walk home cos the buses have stopped running. You just thank your lucky stars, and go, I'll walk all the way home next time.
Being alive still, and not a victim of notorious, sexually depraved Adelaide kiliing group, The Family, I went to the cricket the next day, and hung around afterwards. To be honest, I didn't think much of it other than this guy was a bit weird. The umpire came out and asked, what are you waiting for son? I said, I'm trying to get all the players to autograph my scorebook.
He said, how many have you got so far? I said, not as many as I'd like. He said, give me your scorebook. I gave it to him. He waltzed back into the dressing rooms and got the lot. I mean we're talking about the Chappell's, Lillee, Thommo, Marshy, Viv Richards, Grenidge, Haynes, Roberts, Marshall, Holding, etc.
He even signed it where the umpires name was and got the other umpire to sign it.
Then he gave me free admission tickets for two people to the members for the remaining three days. So my mate and I used to rock up at 9am. Oh we were kings back then.
Now that Malcolm Marhsall is dead, it would probably be worth quite a bit.
What a shame my uncle put it in his shearing shed and the rats ate it.
Anyway, I only wrote that cos I thought you'd enjoy the story.
Comment by Bookgirl
in a past life, i was manic about collecting writers' autographs and i've managed to collect quite a few. years ago, i read a great book about the history of melbourne called 'bearbrass' written by robyn annears. i enjoyed it so much that when she appeared at fitzroy library, i went to hear her speak and get the book signed. i lent the book to my housemate who promptly lost on the No.1 tram. he didn't tell and went to the trouble of buying another copy and sending to to robyn to ask for another autograph. he told her he'd lost it on the No.1 tram. she was happy to comply, adding that she'd once had a fling with a conductor who worked on the No.1 tram!
anyway, i also have daryl somer's authograph... oh the shame....
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
That is one heck of a yarn.
I remember with fondnest the 74/75 and 75/76 series. Thommo and Lillie were in full cry, Andy Roberts and Malcolm Marshall were terrorists in flannels and Viv Richards - whadda champion.
So many greats . . . then of course came World Series Cricket and life of course changed - some say for the better, some say for the money.
But what an outstanding tale!
I would never have thought about posing as a paper boy - what ingenuity . . . brilliant!
And to score both sides autographs PLUS the umpire's - outrageous.
I still have Rick McCosker's autograph - that I snared when he presented a couple trophies to me as a junior (they must've doctored my stats).
My only captive link to that time now (other than so many memories of Test Matches - a few of which my father actually took me to in Sydney) is that Mrs Nice Guy works with Doug Walter's wife - and happens to live only a few minutes from our own home.
Great story champ - I'm horribly impressed.
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
It's a tough gig to follow huh?
You must have quite a collection of great writers monikers I'd imagine. While some go on to huge amounts a fame - it doesn't mean they are any better or worse than so many others - they just have a better PR machine . . .
As for Daryl Sommers . . . well you're brave to admit that one.
Let you in on a secret - I've got Tony Barber's - ouch!
Stay well
Comment by James Rickard
unlucky_ fishermen.com
Angling Fish
Check this out...
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Don McLean!
Legend (as they say).
When I think about who I have on the Wall of Fame in the family room - you'd think I would've cracked it on the rock scene too by now . . . I guess talent had something to do with my stymied development though.
Cheers buddy
Comment by Deanna B
I was chosen to interview him and I asked for an autographed pic after the interview. It was a very exciting 15 minutes during my career... the memory and the memento will last my lifetime!
Comment by Damo
At a dance organized in her honour by a Sri Lankan committee my wife to belonged to. Freeman's coach at the time was a Sri Lankan.
She seemed like a genuinely nice person.
Elliot? That right his name was Elliot?
He gave a lecture about his career a few years ago. Also a friendly sort of fellow who was used to sell Tee Shirts on the St Kilda esplanade.
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
And isn't that what it's all about . . . that brush with fame.
Mind you - I've often wondered about fame . . . what is it that makes people clammer to be near someone they see on TV, movies yaddah yaddah?
They pull their trousers on one leg at a time like you and I - so not much different there.
Having worked at a television station for a stint - it's amazing how (when your face is in the public eye) perceptions change.
Still - it's bragging value huh?
Nice get - Burt Reynolds - and you've met him . . . chalk that one up.
Stay well - and nice work.
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
More your luck. I've heard that Cathy is a genuinely sincere person - sounds like you got to experience that first hand.
As for Elliot - is he back selling Tee's?
Cheers
Comment by Two Guys Sports
Baseball Slate
Blogging in America
Reviews R Us
I have also purchased some books for my wife that have been autographed by their authors. The first thing I ever gave to her was an anniversary edition of To Kill A Mockingbird autographed by reclusive author Harper Lee. It is her favorite book of all-time. She has read the book something like 137 times. lol
She is a fourth grade teacher so got sucked into the whole Harry Potter craze early on. she loves the books. I have since gotten her the first three Harry Potter books autographed by J.K. Rowling. The first one is actually the original British version.
Most recently I have gotten autographs of the Tulsa Talons Arena Football League- 2 team. One day I was working and we needed a few extra hands. the boss had been going to their games and went to the team's office a few times a month. He happened to mention that if any of the players needed some extra money we would need some help.
there is the AFL, and then the AF2. The Talons are an AF2 team which is for cities with populations lower than the teams in the AFL, and it also serves as a sort of farm system for player development. Because of that fact they are paid horribly. Just $250 a week when they are playing, and a $50 bonus if they win the game.
So three of them jumped at the chance to make some extra money. We had their #1 Wide Receiver, Running Back, and Cornerback come work with us. They offered me free tickets to come see a game. My wife and I, and my In-laws have been season ticket holders since.
Arena Football is the best sports league anywhere for fans. They toss merchandise into the stands throughout the game. After every game the home team and cheerleaders stick around after the game to sign autographs. I was hooked. I have several items autographed by the entire organization.
That season they played in the league's championship game, The Arena Cup. It was played in Shreveport, Louisiana, which is a bit of a trek from Tulsa. A group organized a bus trip to the game. The bus trip took like 7 hours each way. My wife and I went. the Talons won the game. Get this though. . . the fans were allowed to go onto the field and celebrate with the team. It was so amazing! We had a good 400-500 fans from Tulsa that made the trip one way or another. I sought out the two guys I had worked with and became friendly with. When I got to the one that I was closest with he just happened to be holding the Arena Cup Trophy. As I congratulated him I got one of those handshakes into a half hug and pat on should things, and actually touched the trophy! Now what other sport is there that a fan can touch the trophy during the game celebration?
Three days later they had a casual dinner party. I got my picture taken with the two players, one of which by the way was the game MVP, with the Arena Cup trophy. While there I got a t-shirt that I caught while at the game with all the official stuff listed on it autographed by the entire team. It is now framed and hanging. Truly something I will never forget.
Sorry for rambling on so much.
Gene
Comment by Mr Nice Guy
Pop Culturist
Pop Rock Factory
Whadda yarn!
Hate to see you try and win a 25 words or less competition prize.
Nice get all the same
Cheers
Comment by Two Guys Sports
Baseball Slate
Blogging in America
Reviews R Us