Journeyman said:
I beleive the year was 83 or 84(I worked the camp 83-86)...Duke had gotten their 1st NCAA bid under him and he was feeling pretty good about himself. At the camp Coach K was a huge prick, kids (this camp took ages 14 and up as I recall) would come up to him and want to talk to him and he would give them a major cold shoulder. What made it so hard for the guys to understand was coach V was the friendliest guy in the world and I guess they expected other coaches to be as well.
Dean was very nice, just not as outgoing. He was also god like to everyone at the camp so it was hard for most to approach him.
I will always say, Coach Valvano (sp?) was the nicest coach I ever met.
Not a prick, but a nice guy to me at least was Billy Ray Bates of the 1981 Portland Trailblazers. That was probably his best year in the NBA. Long story short, I was 11 at the time when he was visiting the apatment complex where I lived. He was going to his car one day after visiting (in hindesite) the local crack whore. Some friends and I recognized him and went over to say hi. He was totally cool to us kids and opened his BMW trunk and showed us a Louisville slugger someone had recently given him. He thought that was the coolest gift, and so he carried it around in his car at all times 
Not long after that short and insignicant meeting, Billy Ray Bates started on a slow and steady downward spiral in which I won't bother with the details.
Not long after that short and insignicant meeting, Billy Ray Bates started on a slow and steady downward spiral in which I won't bother with the details.
Former Heavyweight Champ Michael Moore......total douchebag. Stood face to face with me while I was working at an amusement park in 1994 after he overheard me call him an asshole!!! I was 19 at the time & almsot shit my pants. I figured either he does nothing or I'll be a rich man if he hits me.......needless to say, he clenched his fist and did nothing.
Nicest guys.....Marc Bruener, who I think is still with the Texans.....While I was working at JC Penneys (college years...lots of jobs.) in 1996, he was in the store signing autographs. He was on IR at the time and was on crutches yet still was smiling & nice to everyone.
Mike Logan of the Steelers is also an old friend of mine. We grew up playing baseball together and to this day he'll still come over and talk to me whenever he sees me out.
Jaromir Jagr was always drunk when he was out chasing ladies......dude knew how to have a good time.
Nicest guys.....Marc Bruener, who I think is still with the Texans.....While I was working at JC Penneys (college years...lots of jobs.) in 1996, he was in the store signing autographs. He was on IR at the time and was on crutches yet still was smiling & nice to everyone.
Mike Logan of the Steelers is also an old friend of mine. We grew up playing baseball together and to this day he'll still come over and talk to me whenever he sees me out.
Jaromir Jagr was always drunk when he was out chasing ladies......dude knew how to have a good time.
said it in a post a while back...my bro and me worked for the blue jays as a bat-boys growing up....
Down to earth people I knew were...Maury Wills, Juan Samuel, Jeter, Mike Timlin, Jacob Brumfield, many more...
Worst: Joe Carter, Eddie Murray, Larry Rothschild, Robin Ventura, Mike Stanley...
Best Umps...Laz Diaz, Eric Cooper...
Down to earth people I knew were...Maury Wills, Juan Samuel, Jeter, Mike Timlin, Jacob Brumfield, many more...
Worst: Joe Carter, Eddie Murray, Larry Rothschild, Robin Ventura, Mike Stanley...
Best Umps...Laz Diaz, Eric Cooper...
In my teens I was an autograph seeker until I went to college. Everyone has good/bad days. The biggest prick was Manny Ramirez. This is when he just got to AAA. I pleaded with him for 5 minutes to sign a card while he waited for a ride. Everyone else gave up. I got the autograph, but give me a break. Deon Sanders was a prick. One time I was in Baltimore during batting practice right next to the dugout. Usually I got cracked bats in AAA, but never at a major league park. Anyway Bill Hassleman, a catcher from Seattle, seemed to have cracked his bat. I asked him for it and he said later. I asked for it about another 3 times over 20 minutes. He said, "Jesus Christ kid, just take it." So I got it. His 1st at bat he hit a homer off Mussina. His next at bat he got plunked. This triggered an all out brawl. I'm sure some of you remember this fight maybe 15 years ago. I guess he was having a bad day.
Another prick was Darrel Miller, Reggie's brother. He played MLB. I was 13 yearsold and he started busting my balls for no reason. I wasn't even trying to get his autograph.
Pedro was always nice, when he was with Montreal. Even when people busted his balls about getting in a fight with Reggie Sanders, he still was nice. Schilling was nice when he was with Balt, Hous, and PHI. Don't know how they are now.
Another prick was Darrel Miller, Reggie's brother. He played MLB. I was 13 yearsold and he started busting my balls for no reason. I wasn't even trying to get his autograph.
Pedro was always nice, when he was with Montreal. Even when people busted his balls about getting in a fight with Reggie Sanders, he still was nice. Schilling was nice when he was with Balt, Hous, and PHI. Don't know how they are now.
robmpink<SCRIPT type=text/javascript> vbmenu_register("postmenu_3401856", true); </SCRIPT> Welcome to the Rx 
...nice first post.
I do remembeer the game...that was the game Cal Ripken injured his knee in the brawl and would have ended his streak had the O's not had an off day that following monday.
...nice first post.I do remembeer the game...that was the game Cal Ripken injured his knee in the brawl and would have ended his streak had the O's not had an off day that following monday.
1997 the Mariners were in town for a weekend set with the Yankees.
I had to work that Saturday and my office was 3 blocks from the Grand Hyatt in midtown NYC.
I left the office around 5:30 pm, and the Mariners bus arrived at the Grand Hyatt 5 minutes before I got there.
Some of the M's were hanging outside the lobby, I'm 3 feet right next to Jay Buhner and a 12 year old boy, cute as a button, approaches Buhner and says "Mr. Buhner, may I have your autograph please"
Buhner says "get away from me kid, and stiff arms him away
(sofly stiffarmed, but you don't touch a kid like that)
Total Jack-hole !
I had to work that Saturday and my office was 3 blocks from the Grand Hyatt in midtown NYC.
I left the office around 5:30 pm, and the Mariners bus arrived at the Grand Hyatt 5 minutes before I got there.
Some of the M's were hanging outside the lobby, I'm 3 feet right next to Jay Buhner and a 12 year old boy, cute as a button, approaches Buhner and says "Mr. Buhner, may I have your autograph please"
Buhner says "get away from me kid, and stiff arms him away
(sofly stiffarmed, but you don't touch a kid like that)
Total Jack-hole !
Nice Guys
Emmitt Smith: When I was 12 I saw him in a restaraunt and walked up to him and asked for an autograph. He was real nice, signed the auto and actually talked to me for a while. Looking back, I dont blame athletes or celebrities when they get mad when people come up and badger them during dinner. But Emmitt was real nice!
Chris DiMarco: I saw him in a golf course parking lot, my brother and I, (we were 17 and 15) and walked up to him to say whats up and ask for autograph. He was real nice and we realized we didnt have anything for him sign. He opened up his car and got two golf balls out of his car and signed them for us.
OJ: Met him in Vail as an adult. Nothing special, he was just a nice guy and didnt ignore me.
Jerks
Barry Bonds, a couple of the other guys mentioned.
Emmitt Smith: When I was 12 I saw him in a restaraunt and walked up to him and asked for an autograph. He was real nice, signed the auto and actually talked to me for a while. Looking back, I dont blame athletes or celebrities when they get mad when people come up and badger them during dinner. But Emmitt was real nice!
Chris DiMarco: I saw him in a golf course parking lot, my brother and I, (we were 17 and 15) and walked up to him to say whats up and ask for autograph. He was real nice and we realized we didnt have anything for him sign. He opened up his car and got two golf balls out of his car and signed them for us.
OJ: Met him in Vail as an adult. Nothing special, he was just a nice guy and didnt ignore me.
Jerks
Barry Bonds, a couple of the other guys mentioned.
I'll never forget this great encounter with Shaq about 5-6 years ago---Shaq was part owner of a sports bar/restaurant where the current ESPN Zone is now located in Midtown Manhattan, NYC. Shaq walks in on the third level where the souvenir/gift shop was located and went behind the counter and just started throwing every t-shirt he could find to everyone in attendance and then he signed every t-shirt that he threw. He was truly a big kid enjoying the moment.
This sways away from the topic a bit, but thought I would share it. As I mentioned in an earlier post here i used to be an autograph seeker from age 10-19. I live by the Philles AAA team and would go to Philly/Balt a lot. Anyway about 2 years ago (I was 28) I was playing let it ride at Caesars in AC. I was at the table awhile and an pain in my ass was sitting next to me. He just just really annoying. Spilled his drink, was chewing with a spitter at the table, etc. The dealer asked him if he used to play MLB. The guy was relunctant at first and said yes. He said he lived around the area. For some odd reason I remembered Al Leiter lived by Toms River, NJ. Anyway, it obviously wasn't Al. I know it was his brother, Mark Leiter. He played with the Tigers, and some other teams. This guy was a mess. Ahter talking some more he basically started crying on my shoulder. I guess he lost a newborn son and it was affected him. I'm not sure when it happened. Then he started complaining about $$$ he has to give his ex-wife. Then he started ragging on the dealer because he was losing. Then he won a little. Then I told him I remember him when he pitched with Toledo and played with Scott Aldred, Scott Livingston, etc. He thought it was weird that I knew so much about him. ?????? :missingte Then he told me about getting his million $$ contract, and how he has nothing now, just the MLB pension. The kicker is we were getting drinks from the drink lady. The first round I tipped her for our drinks. The next round he tipped her for our drinks, but she forgot his. He took the $1 back and told me I;m not tipping for your drink. What a loser.
Not an athlete story but...Barry Manilow has to be the biggest a#$ alive...I used to work in the arena business and we hosted his concert one night and in his rider (request sheet) he has that if anyone NOT from his entourage was to pass him in the hallway or be within 10 ft. they must stand and face the wall or turn the opposite direction as he passes. I guess he forgot where he came from.
robmpink said:
So you assumed he was Mark? It seems like the guy may have been pulling your leg....Also Leiter made over 10 million dollars in his career and had a fairly long MLB stay....
That is a crazy story , if Mark Leiter is flat broke that is another sad case.
I'm just curious how you were so sure it was Al's brother?
Journeyman,
He said he lived in Pine Beach, NJ. When I was younger I sent for players autographs as well. I remember Al Leiter was from Pine Beach, NJ. Since I knew it wasn't Al Leiter, it had to be his brother. I met both in person before (AAA) so I know it was him after the dealer said something. The dealer dealt for him before there and recognized him. Mark didn't really talk before the dealer said something so I'm 100% sure it wasn't someone playing around. As far as the $$$ goes he was referring to his biggest contract. If I could remember it was maybe for 3,4, or 5 million. He said the offer came through the fax machine. I guess just like in Jerry Mcwire. I don't have any doubts that it wasn't him. I also could see how he could go through the $$. With payments for his ex-wife, a new family, and possibly a gambling addiction, it sure could wipe out the 10 million he made while playing ball.
He said he lived in Pine Beach, NJ. When I was younger I sent for players autographs as well. I remember Al Leiter was from Pine Beach, NJ. Since I knew it wasn't Al Leiter, it had to be his brother. I met both in person before (AAA) so I know it was him after the dealer said something. The dealer dealt for him before there and recognized him. Mark didn't really talk before the dealer said something so I'm 100% sure it wasn't someone playing around. As far as the $$$ goes he was referring to his biggest contract. If I could remember it was maybe for 3,4, or 5 million. He said the offer came through the fax machine. I guess just like in Jerry Mcwire. I don't have any doubts that it wasn't him. I also could see how he could go through the $$. With payments for his ex-wife, a new family, and possibly a gambling addiction, it sure could wipe out the 10 million he made while playing ball.
