My battle with the University of Washington
I grew up in the Northwest and have been a lifelong supporter of the UW Huskies. I recently made one of my printouts and sent it to Marlon Shelton, a fifth year senior on the UW Basketball team. Marlon is the son of Sonics and Knicks great Lonnie Shelton. An injury last year probably will prevent Marlon from following his Dad's footsteps, but I wanted to congratulate him from coming back for his senior season. Here's my correspondence relating to this request. The text in purple is from the UW:
Dear Ben,
Thank you for your letter you sent to us regarding Marlon Shelton. However, due to the NCAA regulations related to student-athletes and autograph requests, we are unable to fulfill your request. If you are part of a charitable or non-profit agency, donations requests can be sent to:
Address and contact info withheld
As a fan, you are an important part of our success and we appreciate your interest in Husky Basketball. GO DAWGS!
Sincerely,
Men’s Basketball Staff
University of Washington
My response:
Nadine,
I received your letter yesterday denying me of an opportunity to get Marlon Shelton’s autograph. Marlon is an athlete that I admire greatly, not only for his genetic makeup of being the son of a former Seattle Supersonics star, but because he had persevered through his injury last season to come back this season and contribute as much as he can to the 2002-03 team.
I have been an autograph collector for many years. I am a collector, not a dealer. I do not own a card or memorabilia shop. If I was truly interested only in the monetary value of an autograph request, I would have sent my request to Doug Wrenn, who has NBA talent and who could be “worth” monetary value at a later date. If I was truly interested only in the monetary value of an autograph request, I would have sent something other than the printout that I created, on regular paper no less, to Marlon.
This was the first letter of any sort that I have received from a college stating that my request for an autograph was against NCAA regulations. I have had numerous NCAA athletes accommodate my autograph requests. Because of your letter, I ventured to the NCAA web site to find the official stance of the NCAA on autograph requests. I could not find the rule which you mentioned in your letter. Instead, if you do a search on the NCAA site for “autograph,” you will find a number of listings talking about different colleges have a “fan day” or “autograph sessions” for their fans. One listing even mentioned how Todd MacCulloch, a former Washington Huskies basketball player, signed autographs for fans at the Kingdome. I hope that you all didn’t suspend Todd or report him to the NCAA for being friendly to his fans.
You mentioned that if I was a part of a charity or non-profit agency, then you would accomdate my request. If your rules are to discourage “dealers” from making money on the players at UW, what is preventing these dealers from going to a charity event, bidding on an autographed item, and turning around and selling it on the open market? Surely that would be a violation as well.
I guess you could say that I was a non-profit agency. You see, I spent money to send that request to Marlon. I spent time on making a printout, put stamps on my self-addressed stamped envelope (which was not returned to me), as well as stamps on the envelope addressed to Marlon. Not to mention the cost of the envelopes themselves and the time involved in writing to you today. I’ve lost time and money…hence, non-profit.
Growing up in Tacoma, Washington, turned me into the Huskies fan that I am today even with my living in the opposite end of the 48 United States in Florida. Since it is impossible for me to fly to Seattle for a fan day, I must rely on your web site and the Seattle Times web site to keep me abreast of my Huskies. I’m deeply saddened by your observance of this policy but I guess with all the controversy surrounding Bob Bender and Cameron Dollar and their violation of rules, you must succumb to complete and utter compliance to the NCAA, whatever rules those may be.
I hope that I have not caused some student athletes to be in violation of the NCAA autograph rules. A number of those athletes were very kind to us autograph collectors when they were present here in Orlando for the College Football Awards earlier this month.
Please send to me, for the sake of my sanity, the exact wording from the NCAA regarding autograph requests. This way I know not to send any additional autograph requests to any University of Washington athletes.
Thank you for your time and, in advance, your reply to my inquiry.
Reply: This office does not send out individual athlete's autographs. This office
donates Husky memorabilia to charitable organizations for fund raising.
I suggest that you contact the Men's Basketball Office to inquire about
individual autographs. The basketball secretary is Jamee ***:
So, I forwarded my letter. About a week later, I got a response:
Our Compliance Department has approved your request for Marlon's autograph
and I am putting it in the mail today.
I'm also sending a copy of the rule from the 2002/03 NCAA Manual that
relates to your request. We really do appreciate your interest and support
of Husky Basketball.
If you have any questions let me know,
Jamee ***
When I get a copy of the rule, I will post it here on the web site. I'm very curious as to what the NCAA, also known as the National Communist Athletic Association, has to say about autographs.
| Orlando loses yet another team |
Orlando is no Mecca for Sports fans
News blurb: The Rays say they are selling the Double-A Orlando team to Montgomery, Ala., interests because they wouldn't have anywhere to play when their lease at the Disney complex expires after the 2003 season. The sale is pending approvals, with the Rays expected to maintain their affiliation. When it happens, they somehow won't have a minor-league team in the state.
So, I will need to get in as many Double A games this season as possible. The city of Orlando is just not a good place for autographers. First, the WNBA is moving and now the O-Rays are moving. My only hope is that the price of gas does not continue to sky rocket because I am now forced to make more road trips…Jacksonville for Double A baseball, St. Pete for Major League baseball, and I even have to travel close to an hour for the closest Single A team. Sheesh.
I’m just waiting for the Magic to be sold and moved to another city. Then, my autographing here in the town I live in will be zip. Nada. Zero.
And, lastly, shame on you Disney. You know that this town is not a baseball city but you have tried to extract as much money as possible from a Devil Rays team that doesn’t have much money in the first place. As a friend of mine said, “You can’t get blood from a stone.”
Knicks: Since the Knicks didn’t practice, I had only one shot to get some autographs…as they left the hotel for the game itself.
And I missed my chance.
I had a meeting that went long and by the time I got to the hotel, the first bus had already left with most of the players and Walt Frazier. I was told that Doleac, Thomas, Ward, and Frazier all stopped to sign. We never did see Herb Williams or Frank Williams leave the hotel. They may have hopped in a cab without us noticing. Non signers in the second bus: Spree, Shandon Anderson, Don Chaney. So, I got Allan Houston and Howard Eisley to sign one card each.
Tale of the tape: 2 autographs. Sucks.
Houston: Like I expected, the Rockets seemed to bring out all the casual autograph hounds. Our small autographing crowd went from the usual 5-8 people to around 30. We had spoken to the head of security for Houston and he told us that Yao does sign, but he only signs two to three items before he disappears into the bus or hotel or lockerroom. True to his word, Yao came out and signed for two lucky fans and got on the bus. I, unfortunately, was not one of the lucky few. However, at the time that everyone was scrambling to get Yao, I asked Calvin Murphy to sign for me. Calvin signed for two of us that weren’t in the mad rush for Yao.
But, we were all shocked when Steve “Franchise” Francis came out and signed for everyone. I gained a newfound respect for Francis when he gave a passing homeless man a twenty dollar bill. Very nice.
Funniest moment of the night was when I gave Jason Collier my printout to sign. The printout had three different action photos of him on it. I guess he thought they were three different cards because he signed all three photos on the same printout.
Glen Rice was friendly and signed for everyone as did Maurice Taylor and James Posey. Rudy Tomjanovich stopped and even said, “Hey, that’s really cool” when he saw my printout for him. Cuttino Mobley was the last one to the bus fifteen minutes late and didn’t stop because he was fifteen minutes late. Here’s my haul for the night:
Steve Francis: photo
Rudy T: printout
Moochie Norris: printout
Terrence Morris: printout
James Posey: photo
Glen Rice: 1 card
Juaquin Hawkins: printout
Eddie Griffin: 1 card
Kelvin Cato: 1 card
Calvin Murphy: 1 card
Maurice Taylor: photo
Jason Collier: printout (signed the same printout 3 times)
Larry Smith: 1 card
Indiana: Overall, a very pleasurable experience. Finally got Isiah for the first time. Reggie, again, did not sign but waved to all us autographers. Croshere didn’t travel with the team. Vern Fleming, of all people, ignored us.
Jonathan Bender: 1 card
Jamison Brewer: printout
Primoz Brezec: printout
Jeff Foster: 1 card
Al Harrington: 1 card
Fred Jones: 1 card
Brad Miller: 2 cards
Jermaine O’Neal: 2 cards
Erick Strickland: 1 card
Jamaal Tinsley: printout
Isiah Thomas: 1 card
Mark Aguirre: 1 card
Detroit: Before practice, I went over to the hotel. I had three people I wanted: Ben Wallace, Coach Carlisle, and Jon Barry, as I’ve never gotten Barry in all the years I’ve been autographing. Mixed results. Still no Jon Barry (he ignored us) as did Ben Wallace, Cliff Robinson, and Corliss Williamson mumbled something when we asked him.
Pepe Sanchez: 1 card
Chucky Atkins: 2 cards
Chauncey Billips: 1 card (wouldn’t sign multiples…asked me “Which card?”)
Michael Curry: 1 card
Tayshaun Prince: 1 card (also wouldn’t sign multiples)
Mehmet Okur: printout
Richard Hamilton: printout
After practice, I went back and got the two I wanted…Ben Wallace on a full page from ESPN magazine and coach Carlisle on a printout I made commemorating his Coach of the Year honor. Jon Barry walked past me as I was getting Carlisle.
As I was leaving work for the day, the last bus for the Pistons had not left yet so I went over there for one last chance at Jon Barry. I got Cliff Robinson and Hubert Davis but Jon Barry was talking on his cell phone so still no Barry.
Da Bulls: Nice afternoon for autographing. The Bulls were very friendly, with
the exception of their "veteran leaders" in Donyell Marshall and
Jalen Rose, who didn't stop to sign or even acknowledge the crowd.
Here's my haul:
Lonny Baxter: printout
Tyson Chandler: printout
Jamal Crawford: printout
Eddy Curry: printout
Trenton Hassell: printout
Fred Hoiberg: printout
Roger Mason Jr: printout
Eddie Robinson: printout & card
Marcus Fizer: photo
Bill Cartwright: 1 card
Jay Williams: 2 Sports Illustrated magazines (different)
John Paxson and Bill Wennington were there for the broadcast and
signed for everyone. I didn't have anything with me for either.
Corie Blount apparently stopped in the morning and signed for
everyone (multiples) but didn't stop in the afternoon.
Phoenix Suns:
Pet peeve #1: I detest dealers. Yes, I occassionally sell my autographs but it is not my life. Phoenix brought out the idiots, who drove up from Miami to get Amare Stoudemire. When you show up to the hotel with four basketballs, are you not obvious? Get a real job. Please.
Pet peeve #2. Penny signed for everyone, eventhough his right hand is in a cast. So, he signed with his left hand which, naturally, made his autograph sloppy. I finally get a Penny Hardaway autograph but it looks like poo.
Pet peeve #3. Jake Voksuhl signed my printout but he was using someone else’s pen and the autograph looked horrible because of the pen. Simple rule to follow: keep the lid on the pen!
Pet peeve #4. It was 35 degrees in Florida. In Florida! I felt like I was autographing in Utah again. Sheesh.
Here's my haul:
Frank Johnson: card
Shawn Marion: card
Penny: photo (See above)
Stephon Marbury: photo (I finally got Stephon!!!)
Jake Voksuhl: printout
Amare Stoudemire: printout (I cracked open the nice photo paper for
this one...looks sweet)
Scott Williams: 3 cards
Bo Outlaw: card
Joe Johnson: printout
Alton Ford: printout
Randy Brown: card
Cleveland Cavs: Yawn. I can’t remember being so unexcited about a team this year as I was with Cleveland. Not a bad signing team though Tyrone Hill would not sign and didn’t even acknowledge our existence. Ricky Davis signed for a few but I was too busy getting Milt Palacio that I didn’t get Ricky. Yeah, that was smart of me. I could have gotten an autograph of a guy averaging 20 points a game and I chose to get Milt Palacio. Bimbo signed for a few people but I was getting Boozer…Bimbo’s definitely become a bettter signer in his later years.
Zydrunas: 1 card
Chris Mihm: printout
Darius Miles: printout (signed like 15 pictures for one person…way too easy)
DeSagana Diop: printout
Carlos Boozer: printout (he’s the one I went for…another Duke success)
Jumaine Jones: card
Milt Palacio: printout
Michael Stewart: card
Dajuan Wagner: printout
Kansas State Hoops Coach Jim Woolridge: signed 8 X 10 photo (took eight days)
Bob Bailor: the first player taken by the Blue Jays in the expansion draft of '77. Signed one card and included a signed 4 X 6 Dodgers postcard.
Clay Parker: former Mariners pitcher (8 games in '92, 3 games in 1987) had one good year as a Yankee. Signed one card and included a signed Christian Athletes brochure.
Jason Gesser: Washington State QB that could have been considered for the Heisman if he could have beaten OSU and UW. Nevertheless, an awesome season and should be a NFL QB. Signed 3/3 printouts (one is for my bro who goes to WSU).
Scott Bankhead: former Mariners pitcher, most known for being a part of the Danny Tartabull trade. Also pitched for the Reds, Yankees, Royals, and Red Sox. He now owns a baseball camp in North Carolina. Signed 4/4.
Bill Singer: Pitcher on the first Toronto Blue Jays team that has the distinction of throwing the very first pitch as a Blue Jay pitcher. Had a decent career with a 20 win season with the Dodgers early in his career. Signed 1/1 card.
Rick Cerone: Catcher for many teams, including the first Toronto Blue Jays team. Signed 1/ card but didn’t fill out my questionairre.
George “Doc” Medich: Pitcher who had some great years with the Yankees and was briefly on the Mariners inaugural team. Filled out my questionairre (very insightful) and signed 2 index cards.
Rod Allen: Played briefly for the Mariners in the early 80s and was on the 1984 Tigers team. He was recently hired as an analyst for the Tigers broadcasting crew. Signed 2 index cards.
Marlon Shelton: UW Hoops Center, who is the son of NBA stud, Lonnie Shelton. Signed one printout. Had to do some serious grovelling for this autograph (see above for the details).
Brad Gulden: Played briefly for the Mariners in the early 80s as a backup catcher. Signed 2 index cards.
Miles Simon: Former U of A Hoops hero now plays in the CBA. 2 cards.
Blas Minor: Former Pirates pitcher, who also played for a brief moment with the Mariners (11 games in 1996). Signed 4/4 cards.
Brian Allard: Pitched for the Mariners in 1981 (7 games). Sent him two custom index cards which he signed for me.
Terry "Bud" Bulling: Was the backup catcher for the Mariners from 1981-1983. Sent him two custom index cards, which he signed. He also sent me two of his own baseball cards, one from the Twins and one from the Mariners. Nice success.
This is the second January in a row that I haven't been in Utah for the Sundance Film Festival. I miss it. This year's cast of characters in Park City include: Ben & Matt (of course) and Ben's fiancee, J.Lo. Others sighted in Park City: Al Pacino, Kevin Spacey, Holly Hunter, Gina Gershon, Britney Spears, Fred Durst, Morgan Freeman, Maccauley Culkin, Seth Green, Mena Suvari, Robert Downey Jr, Jessica Lange, Steve Buscemi, Forest Whitaker, Beck, Blondie...(sigh).
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