Ask any sporting enthusiast, regardless of their age, to nominate the first autograph they ever secured, and I’ll bet you they’d be able to tell you who it was, where it was, and when.
And what their “hero” said, if they said anything at all.
It could have been yesterday, when they’d leaned over the fence at the Sydney Cricket Ground and caught the attention of the great Dennis Lillee while he was fielding at fine leg in the Third Test against the Poms in ‘75.
Or when they’d run onto Collingwood’s beloved Victoria Park, on that blizzardly cold Melbourne afternoon back in July ‘84, and thrust their little brown autograph book in front of six-goal Magpie hero Peter Daicos.
Or when they’d nervously asked Wallaby centre Tim Horan to sign their match program as he was coming off the field at Ballymore, a two try hero in the Test victory over Scotland.
It’s as clear in their mind today, as it was when it happened, ten, twenty or thirty years ago.
Why are the memories so vivid?
Because autographs are powerful. The power of first impressions, multiplied by the power of hero worship, multiplied again, if you like, by the innocence of youth.
It’s one phenomenon our modern day sporting heroes shouldn’t have any trouble comprehending because most have felt the pangs themselves. They’ve leaned over that fence at a ground somewhere in Australia, or lined up at a junior coaching clinic, or outside a dressing shed and waited nervously to meet their hero.
Some are sensational ambassadors for their sport. They are generous with their time, patient and interactive.
Others tolerate the adulation and “signing” responsibilities in a perfunctory, contractual fashion and see it as a necessary evil. Something that just comes with the territory.
You’ll see them, sitting in the shade at the family fun day, their eyes shielded by the latest expensive sunglasses, signing caps, jerseys and posters with all the passion and emotion of a cannery worker righting pineapples that have toppled over on the conveyor belt.
We know it must get a little tiresome, being in such constant demand. We also know fans can be boorish, impolite, even intrusive. Particularly adults.
But consider this: these are the people who help pay your wage. And that 158th autograph you’ve just signed at the family day? It might also be the first that kid has ever collected. The kid who’ll be talking about it, positively or negatively, for the next thiety or forty years.
It’s a duty, yes, but it’s also an opportunity: to stay in touch, build a fan base, give something back. Getting rid of your rockstar sunnies and looking the young fan in the eye; there’s a good start.
As dual rugby international John Brass reminded a group of young footballers a few years back: “don’t worry about kids wanting your autograph. The time to start worrying is when they don’t want it.”
Tell us your first autograph story.
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