tarheelhockey
Offside Review Specialist
I've never understood people like that. They're clearly not big fans as they don't even know who it is they're looking at. What could they possibly want to collect autographs for? Resale?
As far as resale is concerned, every time I shop for NHL merch online I wonder who's paying $30 for a puck with a non-verifiable autograph from some unmemorable scrub.
Just as an example:
https://www.sportsmemorabilia.com/team/carolina_hurricanes/nhl-slabbed-autographed-rookie-cards/
Someone's actually trying to pawn off a Damian Surma autographed card for $31... or Bruno St. Jacques or Ryan Bayda for $22.
Do they just post these in hopes that the world's biggest Bruno St. Jacques fan will someday wander through the door and buy it? How on earth do they get rid of inventory of stuff like this?
I'd only ever ask for an autograph if I had a kid with me. Otherwise, as big of a fan as I am, I'd have no interest in getting anyone's signature. That's just me, though, and I don't mean to judge any other adult men who like collecting them. I've ran into a few players over the years here in the gta and have met several canes players and just keep it short, give them a compliment etc.
I totally get the thrill of meeting a player, and to some extent an autograph kind of provides context for that little 30-second interaction. For that reason I really do get why adults show up to team events, catch players coming in and out of the game or practice, etc. I do that with my own kids, so that they get to see the players up close.
It's the hanging out in a public place, just waiting for someone who looks like he's probably a hockey player to walk by. That's a tad bit invasive for someone who's literally just walking down the street minding his own business.