Ray Rice Disappointing At An Autograph Event

[Alexir]

First of all, Ray Rice the athlete is a beast. He is the work horse for our offense and I respect him for that.

However, I met him last night and he has to be the most cocky, arrogant person I have ever met. He was at a signing event (which his twitter account showed he wasn't thrilled about) and he refused to sign anything brought in.

He basically signed a bunch of pieces of paper, that had advertisements and a horribly pixelating picture on them.

We waited an hour and a half to get this guys signature and wish him a pro bowl season and he blew us off.

I went to shake his hand and said "Good Luck MOnday NIght" and when he shook my hand he didn't even look up or acknowledge me.

I have met many Ravens and Capitals in my life time and have never been so disrespected by a player in my life until last night.

Funny how Harbaugh harps about Character when his star running back thinks he is booby miles or smash williams from Friday Night Lights.

Lost a lot of respect for the dude.

Anyone else have any issues with him like this? I heard that he walked out on a bill somewhere in Baltimore.

[Geno the booter]

No...either you deserved it or are making it up!

Not only me, but tons of my friends have met Ray Rice out in public. Generally, at Panera (he is always there). He takes the time out to talk to fans and is the most down to earth guy on the team. Joe Flacco was nice in person but he is so calm, its just not the same as meeting Ray Rice.

Hes also my size which is cool . But, no where in his contract does it say that when he is out in public he has to sign autographs or take the time to talk to fans and what not. Even got a picture with him at Panera !!

And he does a lot of community things and there is a reason he got the key to his city. He has a ton of integrity and is very humble. Sorry you had a "problem" with him.

[Alexir]

[quote name='Geno the booter' date='06 December 2009 - 12:40 PM' timestamp='1260121211' post='302748']
No...either you deserved it or are making it up!

Not only me, but tons of my friends have met Ray Rice out in public. Generally, at Panera (he is always there). He takes the time out to talk to fans and is the most down to earth guy on the team. Joe Flacco was nice in person but he is so calm, its just not the same as meeting Ray Rice.

Hes also my size which is cool . But, no where in his contract does it say that when he is out in public he has to sign autographs or take the time to talk to fans and what not. Even got a picture with him at Panera !!

And he does a lot of community things and there is a reason he got the key to his city. He has a ton of integrity and is very humble. Sorry you had a "problem" with him.
[/quote]


Well obviously you didnt read anything I wrote, Rook.

He was paid to do a signing in Annapolis, Maryland last night and he refused to sign any footballs, jerseys or pictures. It bothered me more that he even turned down a young little kid who just wanted the guys name on a football.

Willis McGahee and Bart Scott were actually really nice and down to earth and even Matt Stover let my friend hold his super bowl ring.

I know he is not entitled to sign autographs in public but when he is getting paid to do it and he makes money of the fans buying his jersey, you would think he would be a little more enthusiastic.

[Sub-Zero]

im sorry you had to experience but thats just the way it is sometimes. People can be the most down to Earth people one minute and the biggest dope the next. It all just depends on the time, mood, etc. 

[Geno the booter]

[quote name='Alexir' date='06 December 2009 - 12:46 PM' timestamp='1260121609' post='302752']
Well obviously you didnt read anything I wrote, Rook.

He was paid to do a signing in Annapolis, Maryland last night and he refused to sign any footballs, jerseys or pictures. It bothered me more that he even turned down a young little kid who just wanted the guys name on a football.

Willis McGahee and Bart Scott were actually really nice and down to earth and even Matt Stover let my friend hold his super bowl ring.

I know he is not entitled to sign autographs in public but when he is getting paid to do it and he makes money of the fans buying his jersey, you would think he would be a little more enthusiastic.
[/quote]


Oh I like that name, rook...

Well atleast ya know Matt Stover is a good guy. I am friends with one of his daughters and whenever I'm with her hes always the friendliest guy =).

McGahee yea--he does interviews for children (like for projects).

Ray Rice is not a Tool...Suck the experiment up and move on~

[JEEPercreepermd]

Eh sorry for your bad experience. It sucks that you had to wait for hours for that. On the other hand, he might have just been having a bad day. Who knows? Let's hope it's a better experience if you have the opportunity to meet him again!

I haven't met any Ravens players, because I'm up north here it's hard for me to get down to the city given my daily schedule for events like that. But I am a huge Flyers fan as you probably already know from the off topic forum. When I was younger I went to a Flyers practice up in Voorhees, NJ. There were a ton of people waiting in the parking lot for autographs. Back then, my favorite player was Eric Lindros. Let's just say that was a HUGE disappointment. He was the last player to leave the facility. Before him other great players like Paul Coffee,Ron Hextal, John Leclair, Mark Recchi and others all stood there for atleast 30 min sigining things,and taking pictures. They were all very nice, even though they were probably tired and trying to go home. Then Eric Lindros storms out the door, so naturally everyone goes his direction, he litterally didn't even break stride he just took things and signed them as he walked directly to his car, didn't look at anyone or even say one thank you. From that moment on I liked him as a player but he was no longer a hero to me.

Also, my older brother went to an event that the Ripkens had back in the early 90's. Cal sr, Cal jr, and Billy Ripken were all there. My brother got his picture taken with all three of them individually. Now, tell me why Billy Ripken would give the camera the middle finger with an 8 year old kid sitting on his lap? From that moment on I despised that guy.

[JoeFlax]

ya gotta remember that the players are human too

as long as Ray helps the Ravens win, he's not a tool to me.

[Alexir]

[quote name='JoeFlax' date='06 December 2009 - 12:55 PM' timestamp='1260122139' post='302760']
ya gotta remember that the players are human too

as long as Ray helps the Ravens win, he's not a tool to me.
[/quote]

I mean I clearly said as an athlete I respect him but as a person I don't. I probably shouldn't used the word tool.

He was just kinda carrying on with his friend who was sitting next to him and was blowing people off, and when you are waiting an hour and half in the snow to meet the future of your team just to be snubbed, you get pretty pissed. That's why i waited a day before posting about it lol

[edreedfromtheu]

This is what's wrong with sports.

First of all, Rice doesn't get PAID to do these things. It's part of his community service as put in every NFL Player's contract. They have to perform X amount of hours/events/etc. He probably wasn't allowed to sign anything brought from home because the store holding the signing event wanted you to buy THEIR merchandise to get signed.

Second... who cares about a name on some piece of paper, item, etc.??? Especially if you're an adult, you really have to question your priorities in life. Isn't asking for another adult's signature a little degrading? Embarrassing? Cheer for your team, or your favorite players, but don't take this stuff so seriously. Don't hold these guys up like they are any more of a person than anyone else. They chose to play football, and you chose to do something else with your life. That's the only difference. No reason to go crazy because you see them in public. I mean, their talent isn't social networking or manners. Their talent is playing football. So go watch them play football. Don't go watch them sign memorabilia.

[Bltravens]

Its tough at times for players to be congenial at all times, we dont know what is going through their minds at times and what they had going on in the day that determines their mood. Football players are extremely emotional on top of that so at times they let their emotions seep through their personality maybe too much. Bad example but I was playing in a semi pro baseball league last summer and made a mental mistake catching a foul ball over my shoulder around the umbrella with a runner on 3rd in the top of the 10th and he ended up beating my throw to home. The flood gates opened after that play and they scored 2 more, after games kids and parents come on to the field and talk to us, ask for autographs, play some catch with us at times, I was so disgusted in my mistake that I grabbed my stuff and walked to the clubhouse. Now I didnt say no to anyone, but I also didnt give a kid a chance to ask me either, something Im not too happy I did looking back.

[Raveman]

To become such a star player so soon in the NFL, you wonder if it hasn't gone straight to his head.

[H8R]

This is just another Alexir riding on the coattails of Willis McGahee- Thread....

[Alexir]

[quote name='H8R' date='06 December 2009 - 01:51 PM' timestamp='1260125505' post='302802']
This is just another Alexir riding on the coattails of Willis McGahee- Thread....
[/quote]

haha you wish. Just saying the guy was a dbag last night. Im still voting for him for pro bowl.

[Alexir]

[quote name='edreedfromtheu' date='06 December 2009 - 01:40 PM' timestamp='1260124836' post='302789']
This is what's wrong with sports.

First of all, Rice doesn't get PAID to do these things. It's part of his community service as put in every NFL Player's contract. They have to perform X amount of hours/events/etc. He probably wasn't allowed to sign anything brought from home because the store holding the signing event wanted you to buy THEIR merchandise to get signed.

Second... who cares about a name on some piece of paper, item, etc.??? Especially if you're an adult, you really have to question your priorities in life. Isn't asking for another adult's signature a little degrading? Embarrassing? Cheer for your team, or your favorite players, but don't take this stuff so seriously. Don't hold these guys up like they are any more of a person than anyone else. They chose to play football, and you chose to do something else with your life. That's the only difference. No reason to go crazy because you see them in public. I mean, their talent isn't social networking or manners. Their talent is playing football. So go watch them play football. Don't go watch them sign memorabilia.
[/quote]


First of all, Rice does GET PAID TO DO THESE THINGS. His agent sets up up with the location who PAYS HIM TO BE THERE. So get your facts right before you go on these glib rants.

Second of all, if you don't like autographs thats your thing, but don't knock other people. Don't know why you have to be such a C*$t about it. The best part of the signing is to talk to the guy and show him respect because he makes your sundays and mondays enjoyable after a long week of work and bull crap.

Third of all, like I said but you are too immature or blind to realize, I will still cheer for him but my comment was he could have been more generous and kind to his fan base and not seem so arrogant. None of the other guys were like that. I mean I've seen Gooden and Burgess at the bar and took shots with them. I don't put them on a pedestal. They are kinda of like "soldiers, Firefighters, or policeman" in the way we idolize these guys and we want them to know we support them no matter what.



And you think its embarassing for me to want to meet a player and that I should just watch the game yet you write a topic about who is playing at the halftime show in the super bowl. Now thats pathetic...

[BohBalmerOsbohs]

they do get paid to do this, Leron was here in OC at a PNC bank, and he got payed 10k for 3 hours. one of the bank associates there i know told me.


btw leron signed anything, and just last week Michael McCrary was here too. he was awesome!

[theFRANCHISE]

He got paid, he didn't get paid...he was nice, he was a jerk...he signed autographs, he blew people off...whatever.

These things happen, and honestly, unless you were forced to pay for store merchandise to be signed, I wouldn't feel too ripped off or gypped by the experience. Like commercials always say about things you see on TV, results may vary.

[Reddawn36]

[quote name='Alexir' date='06 December 2009 - 02:06 PM' timestamp='1260126403' post='302806']
First of all, Rice does GET PAID TO DO THESE THINGS. His agent sets up up with the location who PAYS HIM TO BE THERE. So get your facts right before you go on these glib rants.

Second of all, if you don't like autographs thats your thing, but don't knock other people. Don't know why you have to be such a C*$t about it. The best part of the signing is to talk to the guy and show him respect because he makes your sundays and mondays enjoyable after a long week of work and bull crap.

Third of all, like I said but you are too immature or blind to realize, I will still cheer for him but my comment was he could have been more generous and kind to his fan base and not seem so arrogant. None of the other guys were like that. I mean I've seen Gooden and Burgess at the bar and took shots with them. I don't put them on a pedestal. They are kinda of like "soldiers, Firefighters, or policeman" in the way we idolize these guys and we want them to know we support them no matter what.



And you think its embarassing for me to want to meet a player and that I should just watch the game yet you write a topic about who is playing at the halftime show in the super bowl. Now thats pathetic...
[/quote]

It's done and over with, and these nfl players are people too.. they have just as many mood/attitude changes as we do based on their surroundings, don't get me wrong I am in no way calling him out, nor am I defending what he may have done.

Maybe he was having a bad day, maybe he has always been that arrogant, maybe he was overwhelmed or tired, maybe like someone else said all this just went to his head... but they aren't any more or less of a person than you and I...

sucks that you had to wait an hour and a half... but maybe there is something the rest of us don't know (like he was only allowed to sign stuff bought at the store)

[McBoller]

That's pretty disappointing. My sister is supposed to be meeing with rice in the next week or 2 to be to be the new spokesman for pizza boli's like flacco is for pizza hut. She said she could get some autos, so I'll have to ask her how it goes. I was at a signing with jameel mcclain and leonhard last year and they were both VERY cool.

[Sizzle]

im sorry you felt that way but i can't say anything bad about the guy other than he is our offense.

[clayton89]

[quote name='Alexir' date='06 December 2009 - 01:34 PM' timestamp='1260120865' post='302747']
First of all, Ray Rice the athlete is a beast. He is the work horse for our offense and I respect him for that.

However, I met him last night and he has to be the most cocky, arrogant person I have ever met. He was at a signing event (which his twitter account showed he wasn't thrilled about) and he refused to sign anything brought in.

He basically signed a bunch of pieces of paper, that had advertisements and a horribly pixelating picture on them.

We waited an hour and a half to get this guys signature and wish him a pro bowl season and he blew us off.

I went to shake his hand and said "Good Luck MOnday NIght" and when he shook my hand he didn't even look up or acknowledge me.

I have met many Ravens and Capitals in my life time and have never been so disrespected by a player in my life until last night.

Funny how Harbaugh harps about Character when his star running back thinks he is booby miles or smash williams from Friday Night Lights.

Lost a lot of respect for the dude.

Anyone else have any issues with him like this? I heard that he walked out on a bill somewhere in Baltimore.
[/quote]
sorry about your experience dude, my dad met him last year at a sports memrobilia shop and my dad told me he was a very quite guy but very down to earth at the same time, i wish i could have had the chance to meet him

[FerrariFan87]

Perhaps there was a restriction put on him signing stuff from the outside to begin with, and it wasn't Rice's choice? Did you stop to consider that before you go and make judgments about a guy's character based on one insignificant autograph session?

[boogp]

sorry your feelings got hurt.

[Chi_Town_Raven]

First of all, it seems interesting that you would be knocking on Ray Rice, since we now how much of a McGahee you are. Second, all players all human, just like us. You can't expect anyone to be nice all the time. I'm not in anyway saying that Ray was being a dick. Lastly, if you want to see a dick, look at Michael Jordan. Not only have I heard countless rumors about him, including his HoF ceremony, but I met him when I was younger. It was at Larry Farmer Basketball camp, because his son was there. Not only did he yell at his son for getting owned by my sister, but he blew me off when I asked for an autograph. Mike Singletary is really nice though. His daughter went to my school.

[MagicianCamille]

Wow, Alexir has a bad experience with a Ravens player and posts about it and you guys attack him. Really classy.

You guys need to stop worshiping human beings. It's one thing to enjoy watching them play but to attack someone to defend someone you don't even know, just 'cause you like wtaching them play is pretty sad.

[bossman419]

I don't understand the fascination with another persons signature.

The reason players come off as standoffish or rude is because people are always bugging them for pictures and signatures. Don't you think it gets old after a while? I played soccer with Cal Ripken's son a long time ago, and I remember at least 25 people trying to get his autograph when he was trying to watch our game. He told them to flake off obviously. He was just trying to be a good father and people had to go bother him. Professional athletes are people too. If you see them in public just say "Hey" or something. Don't waste their time or make yourself look like a loser.

[MagicianCamille]

[quote name='bossman419' date='06 December 2009 - 06:14 PM' timestamp='1260141282' post='303053']
I don't understand the fascination with another persons signature.

The reason players come off as standoffish or rude is because people are always bugging them for pictures and signatures. Don't you think it gets old after a while? I played soccer with Cal Ripken's son a long time ago, and I remember at least 25 people trying to get his autograph when he was trying to watch our game. He told them to flake off obviously. He was just trying to be a good father and people had to go bother him. Professional athletes are people too. If you see them in public just say "Hey" or something. Don't waste their time or make yourself look like a loser.
[/quote]

Did you even read the OP? It was a SIGNING event. He was being paid to be there and greet fans. This wasn't some baseball game where the athlete was just hanging out and people were bothering him.

Wow. Some people.

[ZIBBY28]

this coming from McGahee's number one fan lol..

no, im just messing around.. I would be disappointed, too.

[MagicianCamille]

I'm a huge Ray Rice fan but if I spent almost 2 hours waiting to see him and he acted like that I'd be pretty pissed too. Yeah he's just another human being and I don't believe in worshiping athletes or actors or anyone famous, but I can sympathize if you spend time out of your day to go see one of your favorite players at an event they're supposed to be sociable at and they act like that. Pretty disrespectful and childish IMO. Don't agree to go to events like that if you're gonna be whiny about being there.

[bossman419]

[quote name='MagicianCamille' date='06 December 2009 - 06:20 PM' timestamp='1260141635' post='303058']
Did you even read the OP? It was a SIGNING event. He was being paid to be there and greet fans. This wasn't some baseball game where the athlete was just hanging out and people were bothering him.

Wow. Some people.
[/quote]
Who pissed in your corn flakes?

Yeah after reading my post again I realized it doesn't really reflect the topic but I guess the point I was trying to get across is some people just need to stop worshiping atheletes. Root for your favorite team and favorite players but leave it at that.

[Bltravens]

[quote name='bossman419' date='06 December 2009 - 05:31 PM' timestamp='1260142319' post='303070']
Who pissed in your corn flakes?
[/quote]
lol havent heard that in awhile