Embarassing player encounters

[LChoy]

I posted this story a couple of times before, not so embarassing, just cool

I was in Austria for the World Championship of Hockey in 2005 (year of the strike). During the day, I was able to watch Canada vs Ukraine (2-0 Canada) and Sweden vs Latvia.
I was suppose to meet some friends at this student pub in Innsbruck but I never found them in the huge crowd. I was going to leave when I spot this guy that looked a lot like Roberto Luongo in the crowd. The more I stared, the more I realized it was him but I waded into the middle of the crowd to be closer just to make sure. Sure enough, he was talking to someone and words like "hockey", "Canada" came up. As soon as I confirmed it was him, I saw other Team Canada members in the crowd including Wade Redden, Jason York, Mike Fisher. I approached a guy that I thought was Joe Thornton. It wasn't him, but his older brother. Anyways, I zippered down my coat to reveal my Flames jersey and introduced myself. Told him I came from Canada to Europe on exchange and came here to watch the tournament. He was a really nice guy and took me around to meet the players and was my buddy for the night.

We first met Wade Redden. He was definitely a player and was with one woman after another, but he bought me a beer (after ragging me for being a Flames fan and the cup run, but he did say Ottawa was close to doing the same). Mike Fisher and Jason York did tequila shots with me. Luongo (in FLA back then) came over to the three of us and joined us for beers. The team liked coming to this place since it was pretty good music, but mostly students so they can enjoy the obsurity. Joe Thornton and Rick Nash were well known since they were playing in Europe at the time, so the European hockey fans at least knew who they were, so they would come by to give away sticks during the tournament

Robyn Regehr was pretty quiet and was by himself in the corner, away from the team and the crowd. He was very soft spoken but was very amazed by the Flames fans during the cup run. Regreted he didn't get a chance to come down and experience the red mile himself.

Next up was the TSN crew with Gord Miller and I think it was James Duthie. We chatted how it was too bad that Calgary and Toronto had reunited playoff fever in Canada last season only to have a hockey strike stall that momentum.

Later that night, Marty Turco and Dany Heatley came by. Marty was shorter than I thought but had a really hearty laugh. Didn't have much of an opportunity to chat with Heatley.

I hung out with Joe Thornton's older brother for the rest of the night. The Austrian National Women's curling team showed up, so the hockey players attention were turned to them for the night (esp Redden). Thornton offered to have me come out with the team until they move on to Vienna for the quarter finals but I was due back to the Netherlands the next day. It was a great night and a lot of memories. I have pictures somewhere, but I'm not sure how to post them on here

[TopChed]

This is an awesome thread.

The one time I met an athlete was this summer, at the World Cup in South Africa. I was with one of my friends, in line to board a flight from Johannesburg to Durban, and noticed a guy get in line behind us who was also a Holland supporter. Then, about 30 seconds later, I noticed he was with Steve Nash. Nobody else in the entire area recognized him, he just looked like a normal dude with a giant backpack and some tea.

I tapped my buddy on the shoulder and quietly asked if it was really Nash. He confirmed it, so we decided to go ask for a picture. He was super nice about it, and agreed to have his friend snap a couple pictures for us. As we handed his buddy our camera, he went to go under the dividing rope line thingy that separates airport lines. I felt really bad because because his bag kinda caught up on the rope, and he spilled his tea everywhere. So it was a really awkward moment, but I did meet Steve Nash, and cost him a tea.

Edit: Oh, and one of the best parts was getting on the plane afterwards. Some people who had been in line around us kept asking me "So who is this Steve guy? Is he famous?" I told them he was a famous Canadian basketball player and two time MVP, but I don't think they completely believed me, since we are almost the same height.

[8sPOT]

I have had various autograph signing run-ins with NHL players but one random encounter sticks out as especially awkward.

I was working at Liquor Depot while going to school in Edmonton during the 2003-04 season and I recall two large gentlemen walking into the store. I knew right away that one of them was Cory Cross (Oilers player) and the other must have been his Dad. I think he had just been traded or waived or something, but anyways, he comes up to the till and asks me in all seriousness "do you have any boxes we could take?". I said no, and couldn't help but laugh that an NHL player was asking for cardboard boxes at a liquor store.

On a side note, I was friends with Scottie Upshall as kids and about a dozen of us would go play in golf tournaments around the province. We bunked together in Lac La Biche one time and shot golf balls around the room for a few hours. Was always good at sports, as he was a grade below me but we played on the same hockey teams etc. I ran into him with Jaret Stoll maybe 6 years ago in Edmonton and we were having drinks together with my buddies. My Oilers' fan buddies couldn't believe they were able to casually talk and drink with these dudes.

[Sainters7]

Years ago I worked at Sport Chek in West Ed, and was helping this woman who was trying on some stuff (and frankly being kind of rude). Eventually her boyfriend came in to see how she was doing. He was this really big, ripped black guy, and even though I couldn't tell who he was, instantly I could tell he was an athlete, I initially was thinking he played for the Eskimos. Then all of a sudden it clicked: its Jarome Iginla! I had been helping his girlfriend the whole time and didn't even know it.

For some reason the words that came out of my mouth were, "Oh! Jarome Iginla! What's up?!!", to which he awkwardly responded "Uhh...not too much". He was very friendly but it was definitely a bit of an awkward convo, courtesy of myself. It was funny after because a couple co-workers who I was friends with (who could've cared less about hockey) heard me and for the next month or so, whenever I'd show up to work, they'd say "Oh! ______ _______ (my first AND last name)! What's up?!!" Haha what can I say, I was excited!

I thought the awesomest part was that Iggy had JUST re-signed with the Flames for big money literally two days before, yet when I went to ring him through up front, he handed me a coupon. I took it as he was still very grounded.

[flamesrule_kipper34]

Originally Posted by Sainters7

Years ago I worked at Sport Chek in West Ed, and was helping this woman who was trying on some stuff (and frankly being kind of rude). Eventually her boyfriend came in to see how she was doing. He was this really big, ripped black guy, and even though I couldn't tell who he was, instantly I could tell he was an athlete, I initially was thinking he played for the Eskimos. Then all of a sudden it clicked: its Jarome Iginla! I had been helping his girlfriend the whole time and didn't even know it.

For some reason the words that came out of my mouth were, "Oh! Jarome Iginla! What's up?!!", to which he awkwardly responded "Uhh...not too much". He was very friendly but it was definitely a bit of an awkward convo, courtesy of myself. It was funny after because a couple co-workers who I was friends with (who could've cared less about hockey) heard me and for the next month or so, whenever I'd show up to work, they'd say "Oh! ______ _______ (my first AND last name)! What's up?!!" Haha what can I say, I was excited!

I thought the awesomest part was that Iggy had JUST re-signed with the Flames for big money literally two days before, yet when I went to ring him through up front, he handed me a coupon. I took it as he was still very grounded.

Or cheap? Haha.

[Sainters7]

Another pro athlete story I have isn't hockey but NFL. This one isn't awkward, I just think its kind of funny. When I was living in Vancouver my cousin & I went to a football camp, and Indy Colts RB Dominic Rhodes (who IMO should've been Super Bowl XLI MVP, but I digress) was there. At the end of the day, he was signing autographs & taking pictures for a bunch of people.

I know athletes are used to fans kissing their ass, so I usually try to mess with them a little(not in a bad way, just joking around), its usually funny. So when it finally got to our turn, I asked him if we could get a pic. He said sure, so I handed him my camera and asked if he could take a pic of my cousin and I. He seemed kinda thrown off and said "Uhh, sure", took my camera and started lining up the shot. I finally started laughing and said, "No I'm just kidding, I want to get a pic with you". He still seemed confused, but handed me the camera and my cuz got a pic of Rhodes & I. We actually chatted for a couple mins after, as my ruse seemed to help snap him out of robot autograph mode, he's actually a pretty funny guy.

The funniest is when I got the pics back a couple weeks later (didn't have a digital camera back then). I hadn't realized it, but he actually had managed to snap a pic of me & my cuz. So I have this pic of my cuz & I side by side, with me laughing (he snapped it right as i was starting to tell him what I was doing), taken by an NFL RB. I laugh whenever I see that pic.

[ballin]

i seen adam pardy at the riders stamps game this year.. he was hurt at the time and i was sitting in my seat have a couple wobly pops when i seen this guy out of the corner of my eye and i said to myself, man did i go to high school with this guy he looks familiar, then all of a sudden i was all thats adam pardy............. man it was cold that day

[Dion]

When I first started working for Safeway I had a former CFL player and Stampeder great - Rudy Linterman as my assistant manager. One summer afternoon I was headed to my car to get a burger for lunch. Rudy sneaks up behind me and lifts me over his head. He proceeeds to spin me around and around 3 or 4 times and drops me on the hood of my car.

Watching all this happening was a mother and her 5 year old son. The son gets a pencil and paper from her mother and runs up to Rudy eyes wide open asking..... " Hulk Hogan can I have your autograph and why did you shave off your mustache?" Rudy then proceeds to give the kid his best Hulk Hogan impression.

Of course the mother knew it was Rudy Linterman but wasn't about to spoil her sons fun.

[old-fart]

Mine is also from Phoenix. Last season in early December we were down for a quick vacation with the kids and I knew the Flames would be there at the same time. I contacted Ken King, who hooked me up with Peter Hanlon (vp of communications I think). Anyway, he gets us in the watch the practice the day before, and arranges for us to go down behind the bench just outside the dressing room to meet the players for autographs as they come off the ice.

Anyway, we're standing there - me, my wife, my 5 year old son and 8 year old daughter and there is this big lineup of Flames players waiting to sign my son and daughter's jerseys. All the guys are awesome, joking with us, taking pictures with the kids, Moss gave my son a stick, etc. The last guy in line, McGratton, sees one of the Phoenix players down the hallway and starts yellng at him "hey you f'n f'r s-bag... I lost in that World Series pool... ha ha ha. you f'n f'r f f'n f'r s bag f'n f'r... ha ha ha... ya ya if only f'n f'r (insert some baseball players name here) played better I woulda f'n f'r beat f'n f'n f'r f f s-bag f'n f'r for sure... ha ha ha". I standing there, with my 5 year old son... "uh... don't use language like that ok son".... just as McGratton gets up to us... my son, maybe 3 feet tall, looks up at McGratton on his skates and mighta crapped a bit in his pants.

Incidentally, we missed Iginla, Kipper and Regehr as they had left the ice early. Peter went into the dressingroom to drag them out to sign / meet us. Iginla came out dressed for the street, spent some time taking with us, was great. Kipper came out in flip flops and shorts, shy, took some pictures. They couldn't find Regehr.

[mattyk19]

I think I posted this one a while ago - but I performed with my band at the Holt Renfrew opening in Calgary Nov '09. Dion Phaneuf was there along with Elisha Cuthbert. Was introduced to him after our first set. Asked how the game went... "not good man, not good." Turns out it was a 7-1 beat-down by the Hawks.

[MacDaddy77]

I have had a few encounters with Flames, the team dentist is in my building so they are often on the same elevator as me.

One story I have is 4 years ago when my daughter was about 9 months old we ran out of Formula so I had to run out to the Co-op on 24 st. I was rushing around not really paying attention to where I was going and came around one of the Aisles too sharp and quick and ran into Hall of Fames Peter Mahar, Knocked him straight on his a$$. After apoligizing and helping him up we had a pretty good laugh about it. He said I should teach some of "the guys" how to throw a check in the corners!!

I saw him a year later at a pub and he bought me a beer and remembered who I was

[rohara66]

Waiting outside the dome for autographs many times so we met pretty much all the players in the early 2000's.... anyways right after we traded for Chris Simon we bought some 8x10's to get signed. We wait and wait and wait and finally Oliwa pulls out in his suv rolls down his window and Eminem is just blasting haha. So loud we can barely hear him talking. Chris Simon is sitting in the passenger seat. We get a scribble from Oliwa, then Oliwa asks Simon if he wants to sign anything. He mumbles something and waves us away, lame. They peel away Eminem blaring.

Buddy asked Daryl Sutter for his autograph, Daryl's response."didn't your parents teach you how to say please" haha, he said please and got his autograph haha.

Had a good long conversation with Derrik Morris at one of those fan events they used to do at the dome (would have been over 10 years ago now I guess) about playing in Regina for the Pats as we had just moved here from Regina. Signed my Regina Pats shirt which was cool. Later that same day we met Jarome and he saw that Morris had signed my shirt and asked if we were from there, asked if we played minor hockey, what positions, what grade we were in. Been a Jarome fan ever since!

Snuck into the dome down by the dressing rooms (random door was left open) after a game and met Mario Lemieux (when he was still playing) got an autograph and a picture of me walking with him. He didn't stop or speak to anyone.

[Ethaniel]

Originally Posted by DrJ

I played on TJ Galiardi's team.

Let's just say our hockey development went in opposite directions

Helped teach Mike Green how to Skate. Obviously our hockey careers are much different as well. I also played hockey with Stone and a few others.

I was down at the 04 Draft with Mike Green and got to have some drinks and we went to the Disco with Ovechkin.

[kermitology]

Totally forgot about this one..

In the summer of 2002 (I think) I was wandering around the Saddledome with some friends as we had stolen a green ushering blazer for one of our friends who also worked as an usher. We were taking pictures with it in various places. We're up on the catwalk and notice that there is someone in the lower bowl in a Regehr jersey with a video camera.

We laugh at the fact that someone is wearing a Regehr jersey and go down to check it out. What do you know, it's actually Regehr, filming something for the raise a reader program. So after he's done, we ask him if we can take a few photos with him, he says sure, and then I asked him if he could pick up my friend by the scruff of the neck. He does so with ease and I take some pictures of him lifting my friend up by the collar, laughing and my friend acting scared. Oh, and my buddy was over 200lbs at the time, and there's Regehr lifting him up like it's no big deal.

[Regular_John]

I stood behind Dion Phaneuf in line at the Fed Ex airport depot one day, no clue until after he walked out and the person in the next line over asked the clerk "Was that Dion Phaneuf?", she waited till he was in his car to reply "Yes".

Didn't even clue in before hand when she had said "Here's your package, have a nice day Mr. Phaneuf". Wasn't until the other guy asked that I clued in

[gpflamesfan]

Once a team came to Grande Prairie for training camp and since air canada does not need to provide food service from GP they had to get a local catering company. They ended up hiring my brother company to make all their airplane food and he called me to ask if I wanted to go deliver the food and stuff. So I helped him move food, chatted with the stewardes about working with hockey players (she said it was fun and pretty laid back now but she worked the Canucks plane one year and it was hell). Then they gave me tickets to this meet and greet so I met all the players, coaches and prospects. The embarassing part is that it was the Oilers and I actually got them to sign a jersey for my girlfriend (now wife).

Then last season my I was at a Flames-Oilers game in Edmonton on Oct.8 when flames won in a shoot out. After the game I was chatting up with the guy sitting beside me and he told me I needed to buy my wife a flames jersey. I told him I was trying to get her to see the light. He then told me his wife was still an oilers fan even though her son played for the flames. The guy was Lankows Dad! So we chatted it up with his Dad and their family and they got my jersey signed by all the flames for me. It turned out to be a fun night.

[Bill Bumface]

We were walking into one of the hockey games for the Vancouver Olympics and my friend spots Cam Neely and Mark Messier. Messier kinda runs off (jerk) and Neely politely obliges. My friend passes his camera to one of the guys walking with him and asks if he minds snapping the picture. The camera was off and the guy taking the picture says with a tiny hint of annoyance/amusement in his voice "I'll take the picture but I don't turn them on". My friend turns it on and he snaps the picture. As they walk away we realize we just got Bill Ranford to take our picture. Whoops...

[dissentowner]

Originally Posted by Lchoy

I hung out with Joe Thornton's older brother for the rest of the night.

Was it Alex or John?

[ernie]

I'm embarassed every few weeks when in rec league I play against a guy who managed a few NHL games in his career though he was essentially a career AHL D-man/goon. I won't mention his name but it's just amazing how much better a guy who played pro is compared to everyone else.

[Nufy]

I spilled Beer on Phaneuf during the 2004 playoffs.

He was sitting in front of me one game during the Detroit series.

Actually I think I spilled beer on everyone who sat in front of me during the 2004 playoffs....

Sorry about that....