UTGrad1975
< 25 Posts
Long time reader, first time poster. My 7 year old son and I attended the UCLA game last week. While walking around in the stadium, we saw two basketball players standing by themselves outside of a gate. One of them is my sons absolute favorite player. So, I thought it would be really fun for my son to take a picture with the two big guys. I approached both players and asked if it was ok for my son to take a picture with them. I was basically absolutely ignored by both players. I told them that it would make my sons day, but I still was basically ignored by both players, and I was standing directly in front of them! Not wanting to ruin the image of them for my son, I told my son that they were very busy people and couldn’t take a picture right now.
As I walked away from this encounter, I wondered whether I was wrong to approach them, or whether they were wrong to basically ignore me and my son? They could have made a little boys week, but instead, I believe, they chose to act rudely. As an athlete for the University of Texas, I must assume that they are approached often when they are out in public. When I am alone, I would never approach an athlete, but I did so because we were at an athletic event and I thought it would be fun for my son.
Do athletes at the University of Texas have an obligation to the fans to take pictures, sign autographs, etc.? Or, as fans, should we save those encounters for scheduled events where athletes are brought around for the sole purpose of interacting with fans.
This is not meant to trash any of the players. I had a conversation about this with friends, and everyone seemed to have different opinions. So, I thought I would get your thoughts. I know that there are always limits, and everyone deserves privacy. But, since I was at a UT athletic event, and they were by themselves, and I was still ignored, I was left with a bad taste in my mouth.
Thoughts?
As I walked away from this encounter, I wondered whether I was wrong to approach them, or whether they were wrong to basically ignore me and my son? They could have made a little boys week, but instead, I believe, they chose to act rudely. As an athlete for the University of Texas, I must assume that they are approached often when they are out in public. When I am alone, I would never approach an athlete, but I did so because we were at an athletic event and I thought it would be fun for my son.
Do athletes at the University of Texas have an obligation to the fans to take pictures, sign autographs, etc.? Or, as fans, should we save those encounters for scheduled events where athletes are brought around for the sole purpose of interacting with fans.
This is not meant to trash any of the players. I had a conversation about this with friends, and everyone seemed to have different opinions. So, I thought I would get your thoughts. I know that there are always limits, and everyone deserves privacy. But, since I was at a UT athletic event, and they were by themselves, and I was still ignored, I was left with a bad taste in my mouth.
Thoughts?
