Jelous of that kid next to you?

[wildebeest 0]

I gotta say I feel the same way about autographs and whatnot. I went to a player meet and greet in january for the coyotes and it just seemed kinda awkward. here's these players stuck behind a table while a huge procession rolls by getting things signed, it's not like you're actually interacting with them or carrying on conversations, you're just handing them stuff and asking them to write their name on it.

I'd rather see a well-executed game (with the coyotes coming out on top, of course) and go home happy than fight for every puck, t-shirt, poster or stick that comes into the stands.

Also, nothing creepier than those guys that show up at the ballpark during BP with nets and buckets and collect 15-20 balls, then sell them outside the stadium. Happens all the time at Wrigley and it's just... gross.

EDIT: The fat drunk guy that takes a spill over the rail down the foul line onto the field in pursuit of the slow-rolling foul ball, pulls his pants back up over his asscrack, then climbs back over the wall into his seat in an effort to not get kicked out of the game -- THAT's creepier.

[skeeter14 0]

I go to a ton of AHL games in Albany. While I have the benefit of no one else being there, I have seats right behind the opposing bench and my girlfriend and I have come away with a few sticks, and pucks that end up in the bench. I always help the kids out for the most part because it comes full circle.

One time a couple years back a puck went into. the wilkes barre bench and dennis bonvie pointed at me to get my attention. he wanted the puck to go to the 5 or 6 year old in the row behind me. I catch it, and pass along. Later on in the game another puck in the bench. Joe Mullen, having seen what i did earlier, turned and tossed the puck to me with no hesitation. Its happened a few other times, and the good karma brought me some nice tapered shafts for free from the equipment manager.

It's disgusting though when you see a dude wrestle a stick from a players hands. seen that happen almost every time the philly phantoms are in town.

point of my ramble, if you get the opportunity to help kids out, do it, players take note and help you out. At least for me thats how it worked.

[Tailboard Jockey 25]

I gotta say I feel the same way about autographs and whatnot. I went to a player meet and greet in january for the coyotes and it just seemed kinda awkward. here's these players stuck behind a table while a huge procession rolls by getting things signed, it's not like you're actually interacting with them or carrying on conversations, you're just handing them stuff and asking them to write their name on it.

I'd rather see a well-executed game (with the coyotes coming out on top, of course) and go home happy than fight for every puck, t-shirt, poster or stick that comes into the stands.

Also, nothing creepier than those guys that show up at the ballpark during BP with nets and buckets and collect 15-20 balls, then sell them outside the stadium. Happens all the time at Wrigley and it's just... gross.

EDIT: The fat drunk guy that takes a spill over the rail down the foul line onto the field in pursuit of the slow-rolling foul ball, pulls his pants back up over his asscrack, then climbs back over the wall into his seat in an effort to not get kicked out of the game -- THAT's creepier.

My sentiments exactly (except for the Coyotes winning part :D ).

I occasionally go watch the Sharks practice during the regular season after my pick-up games (same place, and a few of them play with us in the off season), and I see these people just grovel to the players to get some used sticks or an autograph. That is creepy. Some people are into that stuff, I just don't have any desire for it. I know if my kids got an autographed stick or puck, they would just want to play street hockey with it. They don't care about autographs either.

[Penguinsfanatic 0]

Hell I'm 21 years old and if I got a stick and grabbed it at the same time of some little kid and I got it and he started crying I would tell his parents to go jack off and teach their kid they can't get everything they want lol.

Sometimes at games any type of games parents should be watching their children a little better. I live near Toledo, and usually go to quite a few Hens games each summer. My neighbor has season tickets on 3rd baseline right near the gate front row, and he usually gives them to me and my bro when he can't go. I don't know how many kids came up in front of my seat and were standing at the gate with the usher not really doing anything about it, when they are actually supposed to. I usually have to tell the kids to go back to their seat 1) because they are in my way 2) foul balls come off the bat so quick and if one of them got hit it wouldn't be pretty and some of those kids look at me like you're not my parent I'm not listening to you. Some kids these days have no respect because their parents are afraid to punish them.

[ean 0]

I may be in the minority here but I do not understand the fascination with game used sticks/pucks/what have you, as an adult. Sure as a kid it is nice because you idolize these guys and so to have something of theirs is very precious, but for me now, I could really care less if a stick was used by an "NHLer".

[wildebeest 0]

I may be in the minority here but I do not understand the fascination with game used sticks/pucks/what have you, as an adult. Sure as a kid it is nice because you idolize these guys and so to have something of theirs is very precious, but for me now, I could really care less if a stick was used by an "NHLer".

Jeez, you probably don't own any gem mint 10 rookie cards encased in lucite with a COA that you stayed up all night watching QVC to buy, either.

[TheBert 0]

Hell I'm 21 years old and if I got a stick and grabbed it at the same time of some little kid and I got it and he started crying I would tell his parents to go jack off and teach their kid they can't get everything they want lol.

Stay classy.

[JJ Thompson94 0]

Hell I'm 21 years old and if I got a stick and grabbed it at the same time of some little kid and I got it and he started crying I would tell his parents to go jack off and teach their kid they can't get everything they want lol.

I totally would do the same, I'm also 21 and I've wanted one forever and if I'm put into a once in a lifetime oppruntity to get one, it might seem F ed up but I would totally not give it to the kid, just because he's a kid. I'm like the most immature 21 year old ever, I think I'd enjoy the stick just as much as a kid.

Plus I'm not huge on autographs, I've met a decent amount of NHLers and celebrities that I've never asked for autographs, but a stick is a bit different. I wouldn't care about getting it autographed but a game used pro stock stick is pretty cool. People bug out over pro stock sticks and that one would be NHL game used. In fact if it were lefty and a good curve, i'd use it and totally rock it in games, and if it broke i'd keep the shaft in my closet and just keep it as a memory of a cool event in my life.

[Viking 1]

Am I the only person that knows the difference between a child and an adult?... If I catch a foul ball at a ballgame, I'm probably going to keep it. But I'm not going to wrestle a child for a hockey stick. And it's not because they're spoiled - it's because they're a child, and it probably means more to him. And it means something to me to let him have it - if I let him have it, I think "Wow, that kid is going to remember that the rest of his life" - whereas if I grab it out of his hands, he's going to think "That guy was a real asshole." The reason you don't grab the stick away from the kid is the same reason that you don't have colouring books, and that you don't run down the street chasing an ice cream truck. You already got your turn to be a kid, and now it's someone else's turn. If that were your kid, and some dick ripped something out of his hands, you'd probably punch him in the mouth; and what's more, you'd be right to do it.

[coyote1991 0]

I've never got anything from a game either, and I've never been all that bothered tbh. The only thing I ever got was a $5 Dunkin' voucher from the Bruin's last game...result

[Allsmokenopancake 0]

I caught a game puck at a caps/canes game. No fighting or shoving for it. Clean catch, gave it to the kid beside me.

The only things I have are a couple of practice pucks from the Caps prospect camp last July. The only reason I have those is I was working the penalty box for the final scrimmage of the day.

I got a couple of things autographed after practice, that I have displayed on my hockey shelf in the office (couple of pucks, ticket stubs, all being guarded by my 2 chris simon bobbleheads, and my ovey bobblehead).

I don't care about that stuff at the games, but I remember as a kid, I got one of packie bonnars gloves after a game, and it meant the world to me. I think of how much of a fan I was, and even more so after that, and then I think how much more those simple things like a puck, or a stick means to a kid.

Seriously, some of you are 21 and see no problem in engaging in full scale douchebaggery so you can put a freaking hockey stick into a closet and remember fondly the days you acted like twats?

People are broken

[hockeysc23 0]

Hell I'm 21 years old and if I got a stick and grabbed it at the same time of some little kid and I got it and he started crying I would tell his parents to go jack off and teach their kid they can't get everything they want lol.

I totally would do the same, I'm also 21 and I've wanted one forever and if I'm put into a once in a lifetime oppruntity to get one, it might seem F ed up but I would totally not give it to the kid, just because he's a kid. I'm like the most immature 21 year old ever, I think I'd enjoy the stick just as much as a kid.

Plus I'm not huge on autographs, I've met a decent amount of NHLers and celebrities that I've never asked for autographs, but a stick is a bit different. I wouldn't care about getting it autographed but a game used pro stock stick is pretty cool. People bug out over pro stock sticks and that one would be NHL game used. In fact if it were lefty and a good curve, i'd use it and totally rock it in games, and if it broke i'd keep the shaft in my closet and just keep it as a memory of a cool event in my life.

Well thats the clearest measure of age not being ANY measure of being an adult. You will one day get a stick rip it out of the hands of a kid then hopefully one day realize how ridiculous that was.

Grow up. If you catch one clean good for you keep it. If not do something nice and make someone else's day. It SHOULD make you feel just as good as if you had kept it.

[Penguinsfanatic 0]

I meant more so of the scenario of grabbing it without realizing the kid grabbed it. If I grabbed it and didn't realize he had it too and started to walk away and he started crying that's when I would say that, but if I knew the kid was standing there and I got it, I would be like here you go and let him have and make sure he got it

[Jason Harris 31]

I grew up loving hockey and all the games I've been to I've always wanted to get a puck or stick or something cool. My whole childhood I'd go to a game and look down and wish I'd be that lucky kid getting a once in lifetime souviner.

There's your answer.

We were all like you, hoping we'd catch the foul ball/puck, but you finally realize it's a $1.49 ball. If I caught one at this point, I'm not putting it into a glass case; I'd give it to my daughters to let them play with it. It won't change the fact I reached out and grabbed the ball.

Last September we were in the second row of the balcony at Camden Yard. A father was in the front row with his son, who appeared to have Downs Syndrome. A foul ball bounced right into the lap of the son, yet all my friends remarked that we would have still given the ball to the boy if it had come to one of us. None of us had ever caught a foul ball, but we realized that child's eyes would light up more.

[hockeysc23 0]

Exactly as stated above.

The Caps always have a game worn jersey promotion at the last game of every season. I have gone to that game every year for say 12 years. I have never won one and always wanted to but as time went on and I took my sister I know the memory would mean more if I won to let her go out on the ice to receive it.

[TheBert 0]

I meant more so of the scenario of grabbing it without realizing the kid grabbed it. If I grabbed it and didn't realize he had it too and started to walk away and he started crying that's when I would say that, but if I knew the kid was standing there and I got it, I would be like here you go and let him have and make sure he got it

[dix0r 0]

i remember going to an angels game as a kid, and trying to catch an incredibly high foul ball. the man behind me was too busy eating nachos or something to notice, and looked up at the last minute, only to have the ball completely destroy his nose. after bleeding profusely, he was subsequently ushered away. i may not have got the ball, but i will remember that for quite some time regardless, hah.

if you really want a puck, get there early and watch warm-ups from behind the net. seems like 2 or 3 usually go over and there's not many people there to 'compete' for them. i don't care enough to go out of my way for one, but it is a neat souvenir. a friend took me to a ducks game once when i was a kid and i caught a puck that was flipped out of play. that made my night.

[Viking 1]

^ That guy getting fucked up by the ball is one of the few cases where the adult does deserve the souvenir. Injury trumps youth.

[Doctor Hook 0]

I've never really caught anything at any sport, but if I would, I'd give it to the nearest kid. I can afford the things I want.

[chef_ducky 0]

I was at a Jays game once. Brian Roberts (Mr. Steroid) gave me a couple baseballs after the game. A kid came down to the security and was crying, saying a couple of 21 years olds took his ball he caught from a Vernon Wells foul ball. I gave the kid and his brother the two balls I got, and I thought the mother was gunna cry.

It is just simple things like that make a kids day

[marc_9 0]

I remember when I was about 11 and I was at a local QMJHL play-off game in the final round of the play-offs in what ended up being one of the final games. At the end of the game I went down by the tunnel where the players were skating off and when my favourite player came off the ice I asked him for his stick, he held it up for me and it was in my hands for about three seconds when some guy who was around 20 reached over top of me and snatched it out of my hands, he walked away before I could say anything. I still can't believe that anyone would be such a dick <_< .

[hockeytim18 0]

I remember back in the day going to see the Cubs and Dodgers play. My granpa took me and my dad early for warm ups. Sammy Sosa is throwing a ball around and looks up to see my and my granpa.

He throws the ball to him only to have some lady run down the steps and rip it right from his hands. I couldn't see being a jerk like that to a kid for a ball or stick or what have you. Hence the souveniers normally go to the kids.

[-brady2 0]

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

i've noticed you're quite the douchebag for little reason.

I'm lucky enough to have my dad catch a Joe Carter foul ball and get it signed for me, and my dad played ball with the bosox hitting coach, or atleast he was a few years ago and i got a edgar renteria signed ball. I also got a ferguson Jenkins signed baseball when he came to speak at our banquet during westerns.

I guess i was lucky having friends with connections and such, i got to shake hands with all the pheonix coyotes back in JR's days there because my best friend when i was a kid worked with the oilers organization.

I also have gone to a trappers game (aaa before they moved to texas) and been going for a ball for my little cousin hit by termel sledge and gotten pushed down concrete stairs by some 40 year old jackass.

[skeeter14 0]

I'm lucky enough to have my dad catch a Joe Carter foul ball and get it signed for me

That's pretty cool. However, as a Phillies fan, I'm obligated to hate Joe Carter until the end of eternity :P

[chippa13 1844]

Riiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiight.

i've noticed you're quite the douchebag for little reason.

I'm lucky enough to have my dad catch a Joe Carter foul ball and get it signed for me, and my dad played ball with the bosox hitting coach, or atleast he was a few years ago and i got a edgar renteria signed ball. I also got a ferguson Jenkins signed baseball when he came to speak at our banquet during westerns.

I guess i was lucky having friends with connections and such, i got to shake hands with all the pheonix coyotes back in JR's days there because my best friend when i was a kid worked with the oilers organization.

I also have gone to a trappers game (aaa before they moved to texas) and been going for a ball for my little cousin hit by termel sledge and gotten pushed down concrete stairs by some 40 year old jackass.

Damn you, Chadd.