kprst6
07-30-2010, 09:37 AM
Just another reason why Pittsburgh Sports writers are all jokes and Ron Cooke is up there with Paul Ledewski!!!
Per Ron Cook's article...
"Autographs are supposed to be for kids, aren't they? They provide a link to their sports heroes. Just about every athlete I know gladly will sign all night for these, their youngest fans."
"Many adults will tell you they have made autograph-collecting a business. They are outside a team's locker room every night. Their only goal is to get sports memorabilia signed so they can sell it. These people annoy the players the most. If I were an athlete, I'd never sign for them. Surely, they will try to circumvent the Ravens' new policy by hiring kids to get their autographs."
"A lot will be wearing a Polamalu jersey or a Hines Ward jersey, even though their name might be Smith or Jones. Is it just me or is there something really strange about an adult walking around with someone else's name on his or her back?"
^This quote is what actually angered me. He is basically saying all fans are strange because they buy their favorite players jerseys and wear them? Can we buy "Ron Cooke Is a Joke" shirts to display our disgust toward him and forward the proceeds to charity?
My Rant in response...
First off, ADULTS PAY THE ATHLETES SALARIES and not their kids. They do this by being fans, purchasing officially licensed merchandise, and tickets to games and charity events. If someone is a fan and pays $300 for an authentic jersey, which is a lot of money for an article of clothing (how many people would buy a $300 Prada sweater? Not many), they are probably a big enough fan to want an autograph, just to show they actually met their favorite player(s). Some adults are despicable, however this is the minority. Player autographs help drive merchandise sales because ADULTS buy stuff to show support. Have you even seen any professional athletes game rooms? 75% of Professional Athletes have autograph and memorabilia collections... I guess that makes them childish... Oh yeah they do make millions of dollars for playing a childs GAME
Secondly, Mr Cooke, please state your sources of the so called many adults that are in the autograph selling business? 20 people out 10,000 people is a majority?
Finally, you are a SPORTS WRITER!!! HOW CAN YOU SAY PEOPLE THAT WEAR PLAYERS JERSEYS ARE CREAPY??? I guess the Millions of Sports Fans across the world that wear jerseys of their favorite players are "strange". If my calculations are correct... 10 million sports fans world wide in general that wear jerseys... vs 1 Pittsburgh Sports writers opinion makes you .000000001% of the majority and makes you even more credible? If teams didn't have fans, you wouldn't have a job!!!
Why don't we just take the fans out of sports and see if you still have a job.
I myself am not an autograph collector, although I do enjoy seeing friends and family collections because there is often a story involved and are usually good conversation starters.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10211/1076385-87.stm
Per Ron Cook's article...
"Autographs are supposed to be for kids, aren't they? They provide a link to their sports heroes. Just about every athlete I know gladly will sign all night for these, their youngest fans."
"Many adults will tell you they have made autograph-collecting a business. They are outside a team's locker room every night. Their only goal is to get sports memorabilia signed so they can sell it. These people annoy the players the most. If I were an athlete, I'd never sign for them. Surely, they will try to circumvent the Ravens' new policy by hiring kids to get their autographs."
"A lot will be wearing a Polamalu jersey or a Hines Ward jersey, even though their name might be Smith or Jones. Is it just me or is there something really strange about an adult walking around with someone else's name on his or her back?"
^This quote is what actually angered me. He is basically saying all fans are strange because they buy their favorite players jerseys and wear them? Can we buy "Ron Cooke Is a Joke" shirts to display our disgust toward him and forward the proceeds to charity?
My Rant in response...
First off, ADULTS PAY THE ATHLETES SALARIES and not their kids. They do this by being fans, purchasing officially licensed merchandise, and tickets to games and charity events. If someone is a fan and pays $300 for an authentic jersey, which is a lot of money for an article of clothing (how many people would buy a $300 Prada sweater? Not many), they are probably a big enough fan to want an autograph, just to show they actually met their favorite player(s). Some adults are despicable, however this is the minority. Player autographs help drive merchandise sales because ADULTS buy stuff to show support. Have you even seen any professional athletes game rooms? 75% of Professional Athletes have autograph and memorabilia collections... I guess that makes them childish... Oh yeah they do make millions of dollars for playing a childs GAME
Secondly, Mr Cooke, please state your sources of the so called many adults that are in the autograph selling business? 20 people out 10,000 people is a majority?
Finally, you are a SPORTS WRITER!!! HOW CAN YOU SAY PEOPLE THAT WEAR PLAYERS JERSEYS ARE CREAPY??? I guess the Millions of Sports Fans across the world that wear jerseys of their favorite players are "strange". If my calculations are correct... 10 million sports fans world wide in general that wear jerseys... vs 1 Pittsburgh Sports writers opinion makes you .000000001% of the majority and makes you even more credible? If teams didn't have fans, you wouldn't have a job!!!
Why don't we just take the fans out of sports and see if you still have a job.
I myself am not an autograph collector, although I do enjoy seeing friends and family collections because there is often a story involved and are usually good conversation starters.
http://www.post-gazette.com/pg/10211/1076385-87.stm