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Post by CentreHice on Apr 11, 2009 14:24:32 GMT -5
As much as I like hearing/experiencing that [insert public icon here] is a gracious/fantastic person (i.e. Jean Beliveau)...I also like it when stuff like this comes out. Gaston Has Sharp Words For Clemens------------------------------------------------------------------- In his book The Rocket That Fell to Earth, author Jeff Pearlman says Clemens, who arrived in Toronto the same season the Jays fired Gaston as manager, influenced the club to bring in Gaston's replacement, Tim Johnson.
Gaston, it turns out, hadn't heard the news, but it's not like hearing it changed his image of Clemens. That's been entrenched for more than a decade.
"He's an a-----e himself. A complete a-----e," Gaston said with a chuckle. "And I'll say that loud, right in his face. It was all about him. Ain't about nobody else but him."----------------------------------------------------------------------- Any other examples, positive or negative, please post here. Skilly has mentioned being snubbed by Gretzky when asking for an autograph. I have already related my stories of meeting Beliveau and Johnny Bower. Both extremely pleasant. |
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Post by franko on Apr 11, 2009 15:28:27 GMT -5
Somewhere on here is my scathing review of Daniel Alfredsson.
At least Clemensis honest -- you know he has a huge ego [same with Roy]. Alfie comes off as a real nice guy . . . but [at least back then] its all a facade. But maybe he's matured -- I hope so -- but I'll always look at him and see a jerk.
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Post by Skilly on Apr 11, 2009 16:54:08 GMT -5
Skilly has mentioned being snubbed by Gretzky when asking for an autograph. Threw out my Gretzky jersey (wasn't an expensive one mind you) and then took all his hockey cards and used them in the spokes of my bike (which I could kick myself for now - 2 rookie cards  ) But that day, one of my favourite hockey players, became an @ss**** .... never looked at him the same way again! |
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Post by ValkyrieNS on Apr 11, 2009 18:09:40 GMT -5
Tie Domi autographed a hockey card and a hat for me... and bought me a beer  |
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 11, 2009 22:22:06 GMT -5
Tie Domi autographed a hockey card and a hat for me... and bought me a beer The first good Tie Domi story I've ever heard....and that's from people who've had first-hand experiences with him. |
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Post by MC Habber on Apr 12, 2009 1:11:07 GMT -5
FWIW, a long time ago, someone told me she had worked in a bar frequented by hockey players (I forget where). She said that Gretzky was a really nice guy, and Chelios was a complete a$$****.
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Post by cigarviper on Apr 12, 2009 17:16:26 GMT -5
Everytime I hear of how much a class act Mike Modano is I wanna puke.
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 12, 2009 17:28:09 GMT -5
Everytime I hear of how much a class act Mike Modano is I wanna puke. Personal experience? |
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Post by cigarviper on Apr 12, 2009 19:46:16 GMT -5
Everytime I hear of how much a class act Mike Modano is I wanna puke. Personal experience? Maybe it was a bad night, although they won that night and were on the way to the restaurant at the Corel Centre to celebrate Guy Carbonneau's birthday. Having to wade through a sea of young fans hoping for an autograph or a sighting and he was anything but gracious and classy. More like rude, obnoxious and plain mean. Not to me directly, nor my kids but everyone. "F this. F that. Get outta my way. Don't touch the jacket, kid." kinda stuff. Carbo, on the other hand, was very accomodating to everyone. Hell, it only took a couple of minutes. |
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 13, 2009 9:14:13 GMT -5
Maybe it was a bad night, although they won that night and were on the way to the restaurant at the Corel Centre to celebrate Guy Carbonneau's birthday. Having to wade through a sea of young fans hoping for an autograph or a sighting and he was anything but gracious and classy. More like rude, obnoxious and plain mean. Not to me directly, nor my kids but everyone. "F this. F that. Get outta my way. Don't touch the jacket, kid." kinda stuff. Carbo, on the other hand, was very accomodating to everyone. Hell, it only took a couple of minutes. I remember just before/during the lockout, Modano said something about playing in the minors for $400/week wouldn't be enough to feed his dog for a month....or something to that effect. |
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Post by jkr on Apr 13, 2009 11:21:49 GMT -5
Maybe it was a bad night, although they won that night and were on the way to the restaurant at the Corel Centre to celebrate Guy Carbonneau's birthday. Having to wade through a sea of young fans hoping for an autograph or a sighting and he was anything but gracious and classy. More like rude, obnoxious and plain mean. Not to me directly, nor my kids but everyone. "F this. F that. Get outta my way. Don't touch the jacket, kid." kinda stuff. Carbo, on the other hand, was very accomodating to everyone. Hell, it only took a couple of minutes. I remember just before/during the lockout, Modano said something about playing in the minors for $400/week wouldn't be enough to feed his dog for a month....or something to that effect. I heard that too. I was wondering why they took the C from him, maybe it had something to do with his stellar personality. |
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Post by habernac on Apr 13, 2009 15:11:21 GMT -5
Skilly has mentioned being snubbed by Gretzky when asking for an autograph. Threw out my Gretzky jersey (wasn't an expensive one mind you) and then took all his hockey cards and used them in the spokes of my bike (which I could kick myself for now - 2 rookie cards ) But that day, one of my favourite hockey players, became an @ss**** .... never looked at him the same way again! you're one of the few. Met Gretz 23 years ago and he was fantastic. Got an autograph, picture with us holding the Cup and he talked to my Dad and I for 20 minutes. Maybe he had a bad day. |
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Post by The New Guy on Apr 13, 2009 15:50:21 GMT -5
My first (only) experience with hockey celebrities was when the Old-Time All-Stars came to town to play a game against the local men's league team. I don't recall who all was playing, but I know that Maurice Richard was the guest ref, which was pretty big for a young Canadiens fan like myself. The stars had had a card signing session before the game at the local Lion's club, but I had never been one for collecting signatures or anything of the like. Afterwards, however, my younger brother attemted to collect a few signatures for himself.
It didn't go well. My brother was a pretty small kid and could slip through the cracks between the other people easily, and he managed to get close enough to hear Maurice Richard telling off some kid in French before slamming shut the door.
I realize now that they probably didn't want a bunch of people crowding into their dressing room after a game (especially considering at least half of the people doing the crowding were drunken adults, and I believe in Maurice's case Henri was in attendance and at the same time not in the best of health) but it was pretty disconsoling then.
Some good did come out of it. While I was sitting near the entrance there was a young kid - maybe five or six) who was inconsolable. He had fought very hard to get an autograph, but had loaned someone his pen just before the door was closed. About fifteen minutes later one of the Mahovlich's (I don't recall which one) came out with a poster they had used to advertise the event signed by everyone in the dressing room - and the pen that he had loaned the other kid. I was - well, I wasn't more than nine or ten at the time - but I'll never forget the look on the kids face when he got that poster.
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Post by CentreHice on Apr 13, 2009 19:36:02 GMT -5
Don't know if they're nice or not department.....
Last October, I was walking down Bay Street, just north of Bloor....and I saw an icon of mine coming toward me. Geddy Lee.
It was just me and him. All I could do was stick out my hand and say, "Hey....it's a pleasure to meet you." He shook my hand and said, "Thank you."
And we went on our way.
------------------------------------------------------
Obviously, he knew I recognized him....but I wondered if he walked away thinking, "That was weird." or "I wish more people would just leave it simple like that."
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Post by Skilly on Apr 14, 2009 5:07:20 GMT -5
Threw out my Gretzky jersey (wasn't an expensive one mind you) and then took all his hockey cards and used them in the spokes of my bike (which I could kick myself for now - 2 rookie cards ) But that day, one of my favourite hockey players, became an @ss**** .... never looked at him the same way again! you're one of the few. Met Gretz 23 years ago and he was fantastic. Got an autograph, picture with us holding the Cup and he talked to my Dad and I for 20 minutes. Maybe he had a bad day. I don't think so ... and even if it was a bad day, I didn't appreciate the outright lie he fed us. I've posted it before but to rehash it ... It was the summer of 1987. I woke up bright and early and walked the 7km from my house to the local arena (Memorial Stadium at the time). When they opened the doors to let the public in to see Team Canada practicing, I was one of the first inside. I was standing by myself near the benches, when I looked over and saw this small kid (I'd say he was no older than 6 or 7) banging on the glass. He was getting very frustrated and I looked around to see where his parents where, and his father was standing some distance back having a conversation with someone. So I walked over to see try and see what the kid was saying ... well it didn't take me long to figure it out, and I didn't even hear him. Because after a few steps, you could see the #99 with his back to the kid, just stood there talking to another player. The kid really wanted Gretzky's autograph. And even though I wasn't and still am not much of an autograph seeker (I never have anything "worthy" to sign with me), the prospect of getting Gretzky's autograph was electrify - especially to a 15 yr old kid. Gretzky was standing near the shorter glass, and I joined the kid trying to get his attention with "Mr. Gretzky. Mr. Gretzky." Well it was obvious to me he was ignoring us, and maybe, I shouldn't have, but I reached over (and the way Memorial was, it wasn't very hard to do) and tapped Gretzky on the helmet. He turned and I said "This kid and I were wondering if you'd give us your autograph" ... he barely even made eye contact with us and replied as he was skating away "I'm at practice, we don't sign auotgraphs during practice". Well, I would have thought that a very fine, reasonable excuse, except the guy he was talking to gave us his autograph. That guy was Doug Gilmour. And a second guy, came over for no apparent reason I could figure out at the time but to give us his autograph. I can't recall his name, I always thought it was Shanahan, but Shanahan wasn't on that team ... but after countless retelling of this story after beers with a good friend of mine who was there that day too but we didn't know each other at the time, he figures that it was either Hawerchuck or Dineen. There were players all around the ice, stopped and giving autographs. Maybe, Gretzky was justified, maybe I crossed the line by touching him, .... all I know is that his reason, was BS. |
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Post by jkr on Apr 14, 2009 14:09:31 GMT -5
you're one of the few. Met Gretz 23 years ago and he was fantastic. Got an autograph, picture with us holding the Cup and he talked to my Dad and I for 20 minutes. Maybe he had a bad day. I don't think so ... and even if it was a bad day, I didn't appreciate the outright lie he fed us. I've posted it before but to rehash it ... It was the summer of 1987. I woke up bright and early and walked the 7km from my house to the local arena (Memorial Stadium at the time). When they opened the doors to let the public in to see Team Canada practicing, I was one of the first inside. I was standing by myself near the benches, when I looked over and saw this small kid (I'd say he was no older than 6 or 7) banging on the glass. He was getting very frustrated and I looked around to see where his parents where, and his father was standing some distance back having a conversation with someone. So I walked over to see try and see what the kid was saying ... well it didn't take me long to figure it out, and I didn't even hear him. Because after a few steps, you could see the #99 with his back to the kid, just stood there talking to another player. The kid really wanted Gretzky's autograph. And even though I wasn't and still am not much of an autograph seeker (I never have anything "worthy" to sign with me), the prospect of getting Gretzky's autograph was electrify - especially to a 15 yr old kid. Gretzky was standing near the shorter glass, and I joined the kid trying to get his attention with "Mr. Gretzky. Mr. Gretzky." Well it was obvious to me he was ignoring us, and maybe, I shouldn't have, but I reached over (and the way Memorial was, it wasn't very hard to do) and tapped Gretzky on the helmet. He turned and I said "This kid and I were wondering if you'd give us your autograph" ... he barely even made eye contact with us and replied as he was skating away "I'm at practice, we don't sign auotgraphs during practice". Well, I would have thought that a very fine, reasonable excuse, except the guy he was talking to gave us his autograph. That guy was Doug Gilmour. And a second guy, came over for no apparent reason I could figure out at the time but to give us his autograph. I can't recall his name, I always thought it was Shanahan, but Shanahan wasn't on that team ... but after countless retelling of this story after beers with a good friend of mine who was there that day too but we didn't know each other at the time, he figures that it was either Hawerchuck or Dineen. There were players all around the ice, stopped and giving autographs. Maybe, Gretzky was justified, maybe I crossed the line by touching him, .... all I know is that his reason, was BS. You dared to touch his helmet. You're lucky Semenko didn't come over & punch you out.  |
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Post by habernac on Apr 14, 2009 15:25:45 GMT -5
If he doesn't sign autographs during practice, he doesn't sign during practice. Not sure how that would constitute "lying" Skilly. Meet him off the ice and I'd bet it's a different story.
New Guy, I met Maurice during one of those old timer events and got his autograph as well, he had a huge smile on his face signing everything in sight. It was my first ever hockey autograph.
I've had a couple of meh experiences with hockey players. Met the whole team in about 94 in Edmonton. Muller, Keane, Odelein, Brashear and Petrov were memorably nice (Petrov spoke no english, I told Brashear to let him know I thought he'd had a great game. Brashear actually said something to him in russian and Petrov lit right up, smiled and said "Thank you!". Brashear laughed and told me that was pretty much the limit of poor Petrov's English.) Damphousse and Daignealut were dicks. Steve Shutt didn't impress me much when he was playing with the oldtimers (Lafleur was amazing, one of my favourite moments as a fan. Terrific, terrific experience). Dad got to play against them, said Shutty was a little more personable when he had a couple of beers in him.
Dryden was another class act. Always wanted to meet Robinson. Roy, too, but I'm afraid the Roy experience probably wouldn't be a great one.
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Post by Disgruntled70sHab on Apr 14, 2009 17:18:42 GMT -5
I think Cito Gaston hit on the head when he suggested that it's all about Clemens. However, while I admire what Clemens did for the game of baseball, I think whatever negatives are in his life are his own doing as well.
He did a lot to sell the game in Canada and more specifically in Toronto. He won two Cy Youngs with the Jays. But, he didn't have to finger Cito Gaston either. For that matter, I haven't heard any other player bad mouth Cito over the years (though I'm sure some have; just the nature of the beast).
As for meeting pro athletes; I've met Ron Tugnutt, Steve Shutt, Ivon Cournoyer, Gordie Howe, Carl Brewer, Ron Ellis, Johnny Bower, Syl Apps, Denis Potvin, Paul Sheard (who? A former drinking buddy of mine) Kirk Muller and Paul Henderson.
Probably forgot a few but of the lot, Cournoyer was probably the friendliest. There's an image of Ivon that won't go away; that was he posing with an elderly lady clad in a Montreal Canadiens jersey, a hand on each shoulder, the two of them beaming into the camera.
Paul Henderson and Ron Ellis were gentlemen too. If you ask them about '72, they'll both open up. I've met Henderson twice and each time he loved to talk about the series; "So where were you when it happened?" He's an ordained minister now I think. Ellis is a reborn Christian.
However, the most humble of all the athletes I've met was Glenroy Gilbert. He was never a professional, at least the way we associate professionals anyway. Glenroy was always running number 2 during our men's 4x100 metre relay glory days. I met him in an Ottawa west-end IGA and when he found out I was a former sprinter in high school he took some extra time to talk to me. Funny thing, as we were pulling away my niece noticed Gilbert walking out of the IGA. She rolled down the window of the car and yelled out, "THANKS GLENROY!!"
Notice she didn't say "THANKS ROGER". BTW, Glenroy waived back.
Cheers.
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Post by Skilly on Apr 14, 2009 17:32:39 GMT -5
If he doesn't sign autographs during practice, he doesn't sign during practice. Not sure how that would constitute "lying" Skilly. Meet him off the ice and I'd bet it's a different story. He didn't say "I dont sign autographs during practice" ... he said "We don't sign autographs ..." ie ..the team. So if the team doesn't ...then why the H-E-double hockey sticks were alot of players signing autographs, and Gilmour and Hawerchuk gave us theirs .... it wasn't "we", it was "I'm too good to do it, cause my signature will be worth something" ... thats what this 15 yr old took out of it. I once read a story many moons ago about how Gretzky stopped signing things ... I'm not sure if it was before or after (most likely after), but all I wanted him to sign was a blank piece of paper. And it wasn't like it was a real practice. It was more of a skate ... they did like less than 30 minutes of freelance drills and shooting ... anyway, I'm used to people defending the Great-One, he ain't so great to me ... |
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Post by Skilly on Apr 14, 2009 17:36:27 GMT -5
Paul Henderson and Ron Ellis were gentlemen too. If you ask them about '72, they'll both open up. I've met Henderson twice and each time he loved to talk about the series; "So where were you when it happened?" He's an ordained minister now I think. Ellis is a reborn Christian. I met Henderson too ... he was pretty friendly. I got him to sign a Henderson rookie card I have. He looked at it and said "Wow, who is that handsome young fella, ... that wasn't yesterday was it?" |
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